Dictionary i
come. Baby talk, usually used with very small children only. Used only as a command. noun
species of bloodwood tree trv
ask. "Ngayu nyungundu babajin, Wanju nyulu?" "I asked him, Who is he?" trv
try. "ngayu baduriji dungaka, yinya bubu babanka", "I want to go fishing to try the place out" taste. "ngayu mayi wayjul-wayjul, babal saltmunku", "While I'm cooking the food I'll taste it for salt" n
older sister. "Yabaju-karra babarranda dungan mayika", "The younger brothers went to their older sister for food" n
grandmother, father's mother. "Babingka jija kujin-kujil", "Grand mother is looking after her grandchild" grandfather, mother's father dir
down, down river, down hill. "Ngayu bada beachmunbu dungan", "I went to the beach" intrv
bend down. "Yungu dukul badamaka", "You bend your head down" dir
underneath, below. "Kaban bada-bada tablebu", "The paper is under the table" intrv
to cry, "karrakay badin mayika", "the child cried for food" to wail, mourn. "jana banbadi yaba wulanya", "They are wailing because their older brother died" to sing. "Dikal yalibalaku banbadin", "The birds were singing early in the morning" to howl. "kaya-kaya banbadin majangka bawanya", "the dogs were howling because their master left them" n
hook and line. "ngayu badurriji bundanday", "I'm fishing (sitting with hook and line)" mod
again. "jana kuljubu jarba kunin baja, kunin baja", "They hit the snake again and again with stones" more. "yundu wunay baja?", "do you have more?" I don't know. "ngayu wanyu baja balkal", "I don't know what to tell" (This is used only with a question word) n
blue-tongue lizard place name. spring above middle camp, story site intrv
tired. "ngayu baja-burray jilbamun", "I'm tired after the walkabout" mod
very. "jana mayi jirray ajaku manin storemun", "They got very much food from the store" definitely. "ngayu kari bajakudungay", "I'm definitely not going" shows intensity. "nyulu bama bajaku", "he's a real aboriginal" n
species of rock python. Not many at Bloomfield, but many at Helenvale, Rossville and Shiptons Flats. They have a white head and will chase bald-headed people not wearing a hat beecause they think they are being copied noun
loya vine fern leaves, used in making mia-mia noun
loya vine fern leaves, used in making mia-mia adjective
painful. "Bangkarr bajaybajay flumunmun", "My body is sore after the fly" noun
nuisance. "Yinya karrkay bajurr bajaku", "That child is a big nuisance" transitive-verb
to scold. "Ngayu kangkal bajurr-bangkan, nyulu cassette dumbarrinya", "I scolded my child because he broke the cassette" transitive
dig. "Jana bubu bakan", "They dug a hole" stab, prick. "Sisterrangka needleda bakan", "Sister gave me a shot (pricked with a needle)" noun
short light brown or yellow water snake noun
toys with wheels. English loan word from buggy. noun
place name, the river and ground at Butcher's Hill noun
place name, point off Snapper Island noun
poison plant found at Rossville. tobacco. This is no longer in use for tobacco. noun
feathertail flider or sugar glider adjective
skinny, weak from sickness or not enough to eat. "Yundu balaman mayi karimun", "You became skinny from not having enough food" noun
place name. Plantation Creek and the ground around its mouth adj
level, flat a "Yundu balnhi wunay, bayan ngara bubunga balanbalanba.", "When you camp out, you should build your shelter on flat ground" noun
high tide place name - Okay Creek ground trv
shine "Wungaraba dayirr bajaku balban." , "The sun shone brightly" noun
lightning "Balbaynja dalbarrinji", "Lighting might strike" adj
leaky, "Bayan balibali, bana walalarrku", "The house is leaky, the water is coming in." noun
people belonging to open country noun
A kind of food. It is coked in the fire, groud up and eaten. noun
ladie's dilly bag, made from grass or black palm noun
something fishy place name, mouth of Bloomfield River, south side intransitive-verb
to be born, to come into being place name, mouth of Bloomfield River, south side being, "ngawa yilayku balkajin", "the baby was born yesterday" being, "nganka balkajinda", "there are are flowers now" transitive-verb
tell, "ngayu yunundu balkankuda", "I already told you" make, "nyulu kalka balkan", "he made a spear" intransitive-verb
discuss talk together noun
not quite fully grown boy's age before he becomes a warru modifier
doing something right properly with a fire as in cooking or hardening spears over a fire doing something right, "minya balnji baja wayju", "cook the meat properly" camping out, "jana balnji wunanay", "they are camping out" associative
not want, "ngayu diyika baluda", "I don't want any tea right now" don't want modifier
contrary to fact thought, "balu nyulu kadan", "I thought he came but he didn't" almost, just about, "ngayu balu jukijuki kunin", "I almost hit the chicken" allow, let, "diyi balu bujarmaka", "let the tea get cool" noun
people, mankind mankind aborigine, not a white person exclamation
my word, "bama ngaykunku, nganya balu kunijinkuda", "my word, I was almost hit" transitive verb
call by kinship term, "ngayu nyungunin bambal babi", "I call her grandmother" choose in the sense of claim adjective
me first first in line first to get something noun
a long thin variety of yam noun
place name - the ground at the mouth of the Bloomfield River on the south side through where Mr. Biddle's mission used to be noun
the people that belong to the mouth of the river and along the beach people who belong to Banabila noun
name given to a doctor man doctor noun
fresh water snake snake noun
place name - Spring Vale noun
point of tail tip of tail noun
species of tree also the fruit of the tree which is like a small cherry, ripe in December noun
waist on the side above the hips love handles transitive verb
to sing, shout, cry loudly, "kaykay-kaykayangka wulngku bangka-bangkangan", "the children sang loudly" sing shout wail cry loudly transitive verb
gather, accumulate, "ngayu Brisbane dungan, toy, kambi bangkal-bangkan yabaju-karragna", "When I went to Brisbane, I got (gathered) toys and clothing for my younger brothers" noun
tongs made from voya vine, used in cooking in a kurrma - an earth oven noun
place name of ground where Grass tree and Bijan creeks meet. noun
a kind of root, a medecine for sores. Boil the roots and wash the sores with the water. noun
a person's body, his flesh adjective
a person who is a nuisance adjective
a person who is in a hurry adjective
person who shows mercy noun
cousin full blood cousin noun
species of wild yam, small and round. They are roasted in the fire, ground up and eaten. Given to the child to make it talk. noun
relationship term, brother-in-law or sister-in-law. This shows actual relationship, not tribal relationship, someone who marries your actual brother or sister. transitive verb
to feel something, "nyulu nguwul-nguwulbu torch baran-baral", "He was feeling for his torch in the dark" noun
road, path, track, trail adjective
pale, as from sickness noun
species of small bird noun
Queensland nut, ripe in July-October yellow water snake noun
place name - in the China camp area noun
lap, "nyulu karrkay barunga kujil-kujil", "she is holding the child in her lap" lap, "nyulu karrkay baru-baka", "The child is spoiled - always wanting to be held" noun
person with a bad leg or arm, lame, crippled. adjective
not good at something transitive verb
escort, to take a person somewhere, "ngayu jinkurr barrman kaminda", "I took younger sister to grandmother" transitive verb
to leave something or some place, "ngayu Bloomfield bawan, Mossman dungan", "I left Bloomfield and went to Mossman" to quit something, "Kuyungku kari bajaku baykan, ngayu badu bawanda", "the fish wouldn't bite so I quit fishing" intransitive verb
stay, remain, is left, "jana bayanbaku dungan ngayu bawajin", "they all went home but I stayed" noun
flame, fire fire, "baya wayu", light a fire firewood, "nyulu baya mujan", "he collected firewood" noun
premature child, "yinya ngawa bayin bajaku", "That baby is very premature" very small child child spirit transitive-verb
ignore, don't pay attention to adjective
restless, always moving about transitive-verb
bite, "kayangka bikibiki baykan, kujinkuda", "the dog bit the pig and held on" intransitive-verb
ache, pain, "ngayu dukal baykal", "my head aches" intransitive-verb
ache, pain, "ngayu dukal baykal", "my head aches" noun
breast breast milk, "nyulu karrkay banbadi bibi nukanka", "The baby is crying, he wants to feed" noun
place name - Helenvale noun
place name - close to Ten Mile and upper reaches of the Daintree river transitive-verb
to lick, "karrkayangka icecream cone bijan", "The child licked the icecream cone" noun
five corner nut, found in the scrub place name, a hill near China Camp with lots of five corner nuts transitive-verb
to dream, "ngayu kurriyala bijarrin", "I dream about a carpet snake" noun
a kind of grub used for bait species of tree and its fruit. The fruit must be cooked first. transitive-verb
to study something auxilary
fast, rapid, "bana-bila", "fast running water" fast, rapid, "bangkarr bila", "a person in a hurry" intransitive-verb
homesick noun
grass used to make dilly bags noun
candle nut tree. The nuts are edible after roasting. noun
small shark which comes around mangroves and in the river black-tip shark associative
to know, "ngayu binal kari", "I don't know" to know, "Ngayu binal-binalku bundanka", "I want to know" transitive-verb
teach, "teacherangka kaykay-kaykay binal-bungan-bungal", "The teacher is teaching children" intransitive-verb
to go back to get something you left noun
shoulder fork in a tree or river noun
place name - top of divide btween the Daintree and Bloomfield watersheds transitive-verb
run someone down, gossip, "jana bama yindu binda-damal-damal", "They are running someone else down" explain, describe noun
place name - Stoney crossing in the upper Daintree River noun
place name - along Daintree River noun
place name - upper Daintree River noun
wrongly married according to tribal law poorly made or cooked, "binju tea", "tea that is too strong" small black snake, light or reddish belly, poisonous adjective
white or light colored noun
white-haired man or woman noun
species of tree with long finger-like seed which people used to eat but don't anyore. A white man supposedly got blind from eating it. noun
shooting star the spirit of a dead person which becomes a shooting star, someone recently dead. If you see a shooting star you know someone has or will soon die, as the shootying star can come before or during death. noun
curse plate. The face of the wrong-doer is painted on a piece of wood with charcoal. It is hung up and as it is twirling, the curse takes effect on the wrong-doer. noun
straw-necked ibis, which is the totem of the walarr moiety noun
bee eater, rainbow bird noun
paddle, oar. Often contracted to biruwybay or birubay noun
parrot, parakeet, lorikeet noun
kind of bad spirit a bad, savage person derogatory term for a white man noun
mother in law name of seprate language used to speak to in-laws manner
sitting with hands holding legs, "Nyulu biwurku bundanday", "He is sitting with his hands holding his legs" noun
purpoise, dugong, sea cow iron noun
gristle, sinew, string, blood vessel (especially wallaby tail sinew) noun
yam, which must be first roasted, then ground, then leached for a couple huors in many changes of water before it can be safely eaten noun
nyungkal - turtle spear point yalanji kurajan. noun
species of tree snake noun
small amount, "ngayu money buban wunay", "I have only a little bit of money" short time, "nyulu buban bundan", "He stayed a little while" intransitive verb
jumble, unimportant noun
groud, earth. "kambi bubujida", "the clothes are dirty now" a person's country, where he belonds, "nyungu bubu Shipton's Flats", "his country is Shipton's Flats" noun
spring at Middle Camp noun
Plantation Creek area noun
Shipton's Flat area, a junction of Grasstree and Bijan creeks noun
coconut grove across from mill noun
Daintree (site of old bama camp) noun
Black Mountains (also the caves there) noun
top end of Watermelon Creek noun
summit between Bloomfield and Rossville (sea view) noun
upper Watermelon Creek noun
Rattlesnake Point (story site) noun
Annan River area (between the Annan and the Bloomfield turnoff) noun
Shpton's Flat area (near the fork of Grasstree Creek) noun
Wayalla Plains (upper end of Plantation Creek) noun
rock in Bloomfield River noun
Grasstree (story site) noun
Mt. Yumalba, a montain new Mt. Poverty noun
Rattlesnake Point and Fritz Creek (story site) noun
north side of Bloomfield River mouth noun
south side of Bloomfield River mouth noun
south side of Bloomfield River mouth noun
southwards (story site of wind) noun
two jutting stones (snake story site) noun
Coconut grove near mouth of creek noun
lower end of Emogin (story site, big footprint) noun
creek south of Tribulation noun
point off Snapper Island noun
junction to Gold Hill noun
larvae and eggs of any kind of bee noun
boys from the time they are babies - ngawa - to older boys - warru noun
black messenger bird, totem of both dabu and walarr moieties noun
small black bee which nests in trees, has a light sting the honey from this bee the name of one of the clan moieties noun
pierced nose and nose peg. The piecing is always done by a man's biwul, his mother in law. Biwulungku dabul bakan. "My mother in law pierced his nose" place name - between upper Daintree River and Roaring Meg. The big rock here is a jarramali (thunder) and nose piecing story site. noun
human shin bone, for conveying messages to someone. The hollow bone is also used to catch a person's shadow which is then closed up inside the bone. This is then used to put withcraft on the person. He may also put a person's urine or other belonging inside. noun
small brownish kingfisher, totem of both dabu and walarr moieties. When this bird starts singing yo know you will get company, that someone is travelling. spirit noun
person's spirit after death. "Nyulu jalbu wulan, yinyayanka jana nyungu dajay warrmba-bunganka." "The woman died, that's why they want to find her spirit". Afer a dambunji (murderer) kills a person, the murdered person becomes a dajay. The witch doctor (rrunyuji) will then try to locate this dajay in order to ascertain who did the killing. All people's spirits become a dajay after death, not only those who are murdered. intransitive-verb
climb. "nyulu jukungu dakan", "he climbed the tree" get into a truck or car, "nyulu truckmunbu dakan", "he got on the truck" transitive-verb
to break something down destroy delberately drop something push someone down, to do anything of this sort, if you lose your temper, to call attention to oneself if one feels he has been wronged in some way. "Dingkarangka karrkay dakandin kuli-kadanymundu" "The man dropped the child because he was angry" noun
lazy or in the way. "Yundu daki-daki, dungayda", "You are lazy, get out of my way" noun
arm, branch of a tree, wing noun
cup panninkin, only rarely used now. noun
water gum tree (nyungkul dialect). "yalanji-jinajina", "This wood is good for woomeras" noun
brown and white scrub bird. The male has brown on the top of his head, a white strip past the eye. Tey clear an area, then many form a circle with on in the middle and the middle one will sing and dance. noun
hammer bird, totem of the walarr moiety noun
strike by lightning. "balbaynja juku dalbarrin", "the lightning struck the tree" ricochet, as a stone striking another stone and bouncing off or a person throwing a spear at a sea turtle and the spear glancing off the shell to quickly scold someone and then quickly leave. "bamangka kukubu dalbarrin", "the man scolded (him), (then left)" noun
freshwater sardine, red noun
species of tree, grows along beaches intranstive-verb
hatch. "warngku 10-bala, kaykay-kaykay dalkay", "after 10 days the little ones hatch out" transitive-verb
to blow up, as to blow up a balloon to break in little pieces, as a bottle noun
to beat up. "nyulu ngamungku karrkay dalkijin", "the mother beat up the child" transitive-verb
to crack a nut or whip,or shoot a gun to give a name or call a person by a name. "ngayu nyungunyin burri dalkin carol", "I gave her the name Carol" noun
archer fish (nyungkul dialect) yalanji - mujarrka noun
flathad (also dukul-barangka) adjective
well able to do something, courageous. (synonym - muna, burrkul-dandi) noun
flames which make light. "baya dalngarri-bunga", "make the fire give light" urine. "ngayu dalngarrinji dungay", "I have to go to the toilet" transitive-verb
to spear. "nyulu kalkabu kuyu daman", "he speared a fish with a spear" to sea. "ngayu kambi daman", "I made the dress" to baptise. "pastorangka nyungun banabu dukul daman", "the pastor baptised him" to wash. "nyulu yinkinba kambi daman", "she washed clothes in the creek" transitive-verb
twirl a fire drill intransitive-verb
fight with spears noun
shoes, boots, thongs, footwear noun
a spirit who kills people noun
a person who is possed with a spirit who kills, a murderer noun
yellow freshwater eelfish adjective
hard, tough healthy, strong pro-noun
King's Plains, a place transitive-verb
to drop something noun
boxwood tree, grows mainly in high places noun
so small that other things/people are being forced/squeezed out transitive-verb
deny relationship with someone transitive-verb
command form of give adjective
clean, clear, bright noun
rainbow bird, honey eater transitive-verb
to put clothes on transitive-verb
say something bad about someone noun
species of freshwater fish, like the jungle perch - bayi - but not around here. Found at Rossville and Shipton's Flats noun
scrub bird, dark grey with white breast noun
species of honey eater noun
rainbow lorikeet (parakeet) noun
bee eater, rainbow bird noun
a type of bird called buyi noun
small brown kingfisher noun
brown and white scrub bird noun
scrub hen, jungle fowl noun
chicken hawk (goshawk) noun
blue mountain parakeet noun
black cockatoo (nyungkul) noun
species of dove (ground pigeon) noun
torres strait island pigeon noun
magic to make people sick Thompson Creek camp noun
the people living originally at Thompson Creek. noun
war spear, has a stingray barb noun
zig-zag above Thomas Creek (place name) noun
hictory tree (a type of tree) noun
corkwood pine; the tree from whicch witchetty comes pronoun
Middle camp (place name) also rock in river. (story site) noun
hollow trunk of a tree noun
one who talks to the spirits of the dead noun
spirit. After a man is murdered by a dambunji, the dimur-dimur sucks the blood of the man who was killed to make him alive again. noun
a person who is able to summon up the dead transitive-verb
to roast on coals directional
middle, in between noun
base of a tree end of something transitive-verb
squeeze, knead noun
bell (english loan word) adjective
part, part full, part way noun
cream of tartar fur finecut tobacco powder adjective
smooth, as rock surface noun
a person who swears a lot, uses a lot of foul language intransitive-verb
to grind one's teeth, to gnash one's teeth noun
seagull which gives warning of an approaching storm music struck as a warning that a big corroboree is about to start message to a dead person to not make it a long night. This is done on the night the corpse is in the house noun
coolamon bark coffin or container for dead who were then placed in a cave adjective
level or flat place noun
The Daintree side of Rocky Point (place name) noun
generic term for spirit the spirit of a dead person noun
stone skull along path on top of the zig-zag (story site) noun
directional sign, one placed in position, (not a motion), as a heap of stones or grass twisted to point the way ring of soft materials to put on women's for carrying things transitive-verb
knock, clap transitive-verb
corroboree singing noun
bush, weeds, tangled growth noun
locust, large cicada found in mountains noun
kind of fruit (fig) that is edible after roasting noun
head bow of boat boss, from English head on a tape recorder adjective
sorrow to feel sleepy as if with a heavy head noun
flathead, species of fish. noun
broad-leafed bush that can be used as cover for a dirt oven, kurrma. noun
species of small lizard with big head noun
umbrella palm name of a place at Stucky's Gap transitive-verb
break, tear, rip noun
any hard covering such as bark of a tree, crust of bread, shell of turtle noun
a person facing south, or the slope of a hill facing south intransitive-verb
go. This is contracted to duway in fast speech. noun
bad spirit who in form of a crocodile, covered with crocodile skin noun
a growth on the bottom of a foot adjective
having lots of knobs, spikes, thorns, etc coarse noun
species of tree and its edible fruit spears made from this wood noun
a greedy person who has eaten all the food intrasitive-verb
walk on tiptoe noun
black palm black palm spear noun
stick, sapling, post, walking stick, horn adjective
adult ready or big enough for eating, big noun
home of the ancestors Maytown language for storm noun
Japanese (english loan word) noun
blank ant. Also their nest in rotten logs. noun
thunder out west, the start of all storms adjective
missed, as missed hearing it not strong enough noun
sand goanna. Only old people are allowed to eat it. noun
pandanus tree (screw palm) name of lower (bottom) camp in Ayton where there are lots of pandanus trees transitive-verb
to stand something up bail up, put up an animal noun
friar bird (leather-head) adjective
ahead, in front of, before time
at the first, in the beginning adjective
the first-born, first one transitive-verb
start a fire start to cook food adjective
loose, loosely put together intransitive-verb
jump, hop, skip get out of a truck, car, boat or plane noun
edible sea creature with a shell like a porcupine with prickles which lives on the rocks by the sea. (you fry the meat) adjective
always wanting to be high up - climbing trees noun
greenish black lizard about 12 inches long some mythological person/animal who split Snapper Island away from the main-land. Story of dakwurrdakwun cooking marra-bujabay in kurrma noun
high reaches of the mountains adjective
loosely, slack, gently, not strongly noun
species of poison nut tree, not edible for humans. Gum from this tree is not poisonous, used for making spears. transitive-verb
take the rough off a piece of wood with a tool or a piece of glass making a place level transitive-verb
to remove a hard or tough covering, e.g. a coconut noun
sea, large body of water noun
people belonging to the seaside noun
grub. Mareeba dialect for mujurr intransitive-verb
stand to come to a stop transitive-verb
to stop someone noun
blue quondong blue spotted fantail ray transitive-verb
to glue or stick something, using pitch or glue (yalanji only) intransitive-verb
to become stuck, to stick to to keep something that is not your own, but you don't steal it, just find it somewhere noun
stick, also used for sticky honey transitive-verb
to stick or glue something to something noun
a food made from flour cooked in water, which is thick, not soupy adjective
bristling, ready to fight noun
swift (species of bird) noun
along upper reaches of Daintree River adjective
well cooked, done adjective
nuisance, cheeky, trouble maker intransitive-verb
wash, bathe, swim transitive-verb
to give someone a bath noun
generic word for snake noun
poisonous snake (found in the Rossville-Shipton's Fault area) noun
short brown watersnake noun
red bellied black snake noun
light bellied black snake noun
black snake (bigger than the red bellied) noun
species of tree snake noun
brown snake or taipan (no distinction) noun
zebra striped water snake noun
carpet snake, North Queensland python (no distinction) noun
species of fish, grunter noun
rainbow serpent (mythological serpent) noun
species of fish, grunter noun
wash away drift, as things the drift by the tide adjective
high full grown or mature noun
upper reaches of Daintree River Junction to Gold Hill noun
tree-climbing kangaroo noun
thunder, thunderstorm, thunderheads praying mantis small species of stingray adjective
someone who is angry and yelling at people, who loses his temper noun
above Thompson Creek Camp (place name) (story site) noun
fig tree and its fruit noun
species of some shelled sea creature skin colour, a little lighter than usual but not light enough to be half-case manner
to be flat on one's stomach, prone intransitive-verb
to delay, stay away noun
message stick used to carry bad news, usually a stick about 4 inches long, with notches (If a person receives a sensation on the forehead, it is an indication of bad news) noun
an item, quartz, marble, bone - which is pulled out of a person's body by the witch doctor when sick noun
taro (english loan word) noun
trousers (english loan word) noun
scrub hen, also used to refer to the eggs and/or nest of scrub hen noun
someone who is always arguing or complaining intransitive-verb
to complain adjective
generous, liberal adjective
pleasant, nice to talk to intransitive-verb
to become stuck, stick to noun
name for policeman (sergeant) (english loan word) intransitive-verb
to feel sorrow, grief, pity transitive-verb
realize something bad intransitive-verb
turn around from stomach to back when lying down intransitive-verb
repent, to go a different way, morally intransitive-verb
become startled adjective
sweet, as sugarcane feel really good and satisfied, as after a good meal intransitive-verb
frightened directional
south and inland from the coast, south-west noun
species of large bat place name - cave between Kangkaji and Kaway (story site). Also called Kurrbi. noun
paperbark tree bark torch noun
species of wild fruit in scrub, a bushy plant, with long leaves, ripe in March. These leaves are also used to line a dirt oven (kurrma) noun
grandchild (one's son's children) noun
name of old house across the river from the mill, now burned down noun
roof of house the top of anything
place name. First ground upriver from the mouth of the Bloomfield River (south side) adjective
any food if, when cooked, is not hard but squishy (like sweet potatoes, or pumpkin) transitive-verb
stretch, to straighten intransitive-verb
to stretch - as on awakening from sleep noun
vareity of edible fig and the tree noun
near Spit Island, at the confluence of the Bloomfield River and Thompson Creek (place name) noun
headband made from seashells adjective
an animal that is a little fat transitive-verb
to make fire with a fire stick noun
mountain lizard. This lizard taught people how to use the firestick. intransitive-verb
to go by foot, to walk noun
chicken hawk, goshawk noun
water gum tree; this tree is good timber for woomeras (yalanji dialect) adjective
fast, quick, hurry. noun
spear with three prongs transitive-verb
to bite and leave a puncture mark, as a snake bite or some dog bites. noun
upper reaches of Roaring Meg River (place name) noun
silverfish honey ant, the abdomen enlarges after eating noun
species of tree, also its edible fruit, which is small and elongated and plum-like with a large seed. The tree has bark out of which baskets can be made. It peels off easily then is put into the fire for a minute to soften, then it is bent and the ends tied to form a basket. It is used to cook with - hot stones can also be put in the water in it - and it was used to carry bones of the dead. noun
poison nut tree. The nut is edible after roasting. The smoke is poisonous when roasting the nut. The bark and sap are poisonous, but water from cooked wattle tree bark will cure the poisoned skin. noun
Billygoat Creek (place name) adjective
spotted, as an animal noun
taipan, brown snake. (These are not distinguished) Young boys were made to eat the eyes of a jinkalmu in order to make them kuliji, fierce, good fighters. noun
body of a dead person when it is carried in the dubal (bark coffin) noun
younger sister, relationship term noun
ground lizard, larger than the blue-tongue lizard noun
fine day, cloudless sky noun
fine day, cloudless sky noun
coconut, the tree and the fruit noun
upper reaches of the Bloomfield River (place name) adjective
burnt, as food. Sometimes also the crust of bread. transitive-verb
to overcook, to burn the food transitive-verb
to taste, to upset someone, to stir him up to start a fire to start a motor noun
chips, small sticks to start a fire adjective
big amount, lots adjective
lonely, uninhabited, sad adjective
meat with no fat, an animal in poor condition. (This kind of animal will not be eaten) noun
pubic hair on both man and woman manner
through, as through a gate. adjective
the way you feel if someone talks bad about you intransitive-verb
complain, to chase, to cause to go away, as when a person or people are angry and make someone go away either by his running away or actually chasing him noun
kingfisher, white tailed noun
messenger night bird which carries the message. When you go somewhere, after you get there, you send a message back home by throwing fire. noun
below Stony Crossing in Daintree River (place name) noun
along Daintree River (place name) noun
cuckoo pheasant (also called bulbululul) noun
somewhere up high between Romeo and Rossville (place name) adjective
experienced, expert, clever at something manner
tricking, pretending noun
ironwood tree. The bark is burned to control thunderstorms, as is kangka, kanunjul and nganjirr intransitive-verb
back up, to sit down noun
back of ankle, back of heel sugar noun
chicken (english loan word) noun
tree, wood of any size from tree down to splinter noun
species of tree (english name unknown) noun
species of tree with edible cherry-like fruit noun
species of tree with edible fruit noun
ti tree (fruit must be cooked) noun
species of fig (large edible) noun
species of with edible fruit with long finger-like seeds noun
species with edible fruit which must be leaved (in water) noun
species of tree with edible fruit like soursop but smaller noun
tree (english name unknown) noun
watergum (also called Nyungkul) noun
species which grows along beaches noun
species with edible fruit noun
nut tree, poisonous fruit noun
species with edible small green apple noun
species of scrub zemia noun
wild plum (poisonous without leaching) noun
wild cherry (edible fruit) noun
Malaeuca gum (woolybutt) noun
species of tree (english name unknown) noun
black cherry (edible fruit) noun
species of tree species of bloodwood noun
silky maple (yellow maple timber) noun
species of fig (edible) noun
species of tree (english name unknown) noun
species of tree (english name unknown) noun
species of stringy bark noun
milbarkal (english name unknown) noun
species with poisonous sap noun
species of tree (with edible fruit) noun
small tree with thorns on branches noun
species of tree (english name unknown) noun
species with edible fruit noun
species with edible red seed noun
species of tree (with edible fig) noun
species with edible white seed noun
species of tree (english name unknown) noun
species of tree (english name unknown) noun
species of stringy bark noun
black wattle (yellow flower) noun
bronzewing dove. If the jukujuku sings out alone the people know that a stranger is coming or that someone may have died. noun
freshwater catfish (yalanji) noun
Aboriginal camp location along Daintree River noun
lizard from dreamtime noun
species of tree and its fruit, a small edible green apple which becomes ripe in the wet season transitive-verb
to slip (in fast speech, this is contracted to julbarrin) noun
guts, abdominal contents, lining of abdomen adjective
showoff, skiter, stubborn person, one who insists on doing what he wants noun
species of scrub zemia. Edible when ground and leaved with water noun
a belt of bark and hair wound around during mourning noun
where Haachs used to live (place name) noun
grey kangaroo, a darker variety than mayarriji noun
tar from a tree used to make spears noun
kind of oyster, larger than juwarru transitive-verb
to wash something intransitive-verb
to wash oneself noun
moomoo birds, night owl, night hawk noun
The grass seeds that get stuck in clothes, which come during the wet season noun
small lizard. Common in leaves and grass before and durin wet season, with reddish markings on head noun
wild plum which is poisonous and must be leached before eating noun
pumice stone, carborundum stone noun
species of tree, bid round leaves, smooth bark noun
wild cherry tree and its fruit noun
the big hill at the east side of the mouth of the Bloomfield River. Collins Hill (place name) noun
species of wild fruit, ripe in March - May. During the junjun season, the scrub turkey, which normally lives in the high country, will come down to feed on them noun
something, usually of no value adjective
truthful, straight noun
back of heel and ankle adjective
correct, straight, right modifier
earnestly, strongly intransitive-verb
bristling, ready to fight stand strongly, overcome transitive-verb
to fasten, join intransitive-verb
to be joined together transitive-verb
to trick someone by lying by word or action intransitive-verb
jurrilmal transitive-verb
turn something, move something noun
change direction, turn oneself repent transitive-verb
to push down, upset intransitive-verb
to trip, as to trip over a stone adjective
expert, good shooter or hunter transitive-verb
to discontinue following something transitive-verb
to lead. Can also be used in the sense of leading astray intransitive-verb
walk single file transitive-verb
catch up with. reach. intransitive-verb
keep up (with him), stuck (with him) in the sense of moving along. transitive-verb
to go after something to catch it noun
coconut grove where Biddle's Mission used to be (across from mill) noun
area across the river from Middle Camp (place name) noun
spoon made in old time adjective
lethargic, as from sickness noun
mud oyster. It is like a barnacle, only it clings to rock and mangroves. Smaller and flatter that julul. noun
great grandfather nephew, niece. If you are a man, your sister's children are your wuway. if you are a woman, your brother's children are you juway noun
guts, abdominal contents (nyungkul) conujunction
however, but. noun
fresh water lily flora and fauna belonging to the rain forest area noun
Bailey's Creek. Also kulngku. noun
Leichardt tree and its fruit. The fruit is edible, it is small and round with small seeds. If you have a sore joint, boil the bark in water, rub the cooled water on the sore joint. noun
Tributary Creek flowing into Thompson Creek adjective
rotten, bad or rotten smell. noun
King's Plains swamp (place name) noun
striped water snake, known as the zebra snake intransitive-verb
broken without money noun
black cockatoo (totem of the Dabu moiety) (Yalanji) noun
sharp sound or crashing sound, as of an axe cutting wood, or a tree falling noun
snail, the small one around here at night adjective
two things in one, as twins joined together, as in the darka nut or kajamarkay which has two nuts in one shell noun
clam shell, the giant clam noun
food which is ground up to make flour, i.e.e marra. Rolled in junjun leaves and left in water for several weeks, then ground and roasted noun
passionfruit (english loan word) noun
species of mangrove. A lo9ng thin fruit which must be soaked in water to make it edible. adjective
sore, achey bad tasting food, as sour milk or too strong curry salt water, ocean water noun
species of mangrove with a short thin fruit which becomes edible by leaching out the poison noun
the green upper part of the black palm tree from which the dilly bag is made manner
well, good at something transitive-verb
try something to see if it will be okay intransitive-verb
jump over direction
far away, very long ways away noun
for the lower end of Kangkaji Harry Dick's place (place name) noun
the mixture made from green ant larvae/pupae and eggs eaten for chest sickness and the common cold. adjective
together because of mutual interest transitive-verb
hug, embrace noun
cypress pine pitch - poisonous noun
discharge from the eye noun
kestral hawk, totem of dabu moiety. He taught the people to do the corroboreee. noun
vine with edible cherry noun
near Cape Tribulation (place name) (story site, big footprint) noun
fishing spear, also generic term for spear noun
caves near Black mountains, also Black Mountains noun
a locust in the mountains which tells when to collect turkey eggs the time to collect the eggs (event) transitive-verb
to tighten, to jam something in intransitive-verb
stuck, welded or glued together. Also the name for sticky plaster. hang on noun
species of lizard 8-10 feet long which plays a part in one of the legends adjective
undeveloped, green, unripe adjective
salty water, as in the sea or in a tidal river noun
woolly butt, Malaleuca gum noun
upper reaches of Daintree River noun
mothers brother (relationship term) great grandson (relationship term) noun
a person who commits adultery the trouble that comes to a village or home because of a person, man or woman, who is always committing adultery and so disrupting normal home life noun
a person who is continually making trouble because of his or licentiousness noun
upper reaches of Thompson Creek (place name) noun
old woman. Now sometimes called wulbuman, which is an English loan word noun
low level, within reach noun
cross-cousin (relationship term) (Children of my mother's brother or of my father's sister) noun
the liquid which drops from a corpse noun
grandfather (relationship term) (father's father) grandmother (relationship term) (mother's mother) noun
grandchild - daughter's child noun
strong drink, usually beer transitive-verb
to block, put in the way of transitive-verb
to take someone's place/job noun
wild grape, used for stomach disorders. Also used for the control of thunder storms, as is nganjirr and jujabala and kanunjul. noun
First bay south of Bloomfield River along coast noun
one's own child; son, daughter noun
low gap in mountain, mountain pass noun
mate, one who is with you so you will not be alone manner
right off, right through noun
resin of grass tree, used to make pitch to seal spear bindings. Also used in the control of thunder storms, as is nganjirr and jujabala and kangka. Kanunjul is also used to smoke the inside of a house after the owner dies. noun
freshwater catfish (nyungkul) (yalanji - julaji) Sometimes called walarrji, "with whiskers" noun
curse song. It is sung by one person against another who has seriously wronged him, i.e. stolen his wife. These songs are greatly feared, and act as a deterrent against wrongdoing. noun
headwaters of Granite Creek, the Bloomfield side of Romeo (place name) intransitive-verb
sneak around to see, reconnoiter noun
grass blanket to lie on, not to put over you also used as year, i.e. kararr jambul "two years" negative
negative, no negative conjunction meaning but or however in discourse, on the paragraph level used to indicate a change of focus negative
not enough, not quite noun
species of tree with leaves which are white underneath and when crushed are good for boils transitive-verb
to catch, grab, touch, arrest noun
coral crushed for lime noun
small one, child, young one noun
red jumper ant. Some people have gotten sick and comited after being bitten by them. noun
blue mountain parakeet noun
a hole in something, as in a board or a dress, or a crack in a house noun
ghost crab, fiddler crab noun
Roaring Meg Falls area (story site) noun
near Watermelon Creek (place name) noun
little ants, white or black noun
a shout, cooee, not far away noun
species of bloodwood tree noun
second bay south of the Bloomfield River on the coast exclamation
expression of delight on the arrival of a visitor (spoken with rising intonation on the second syllable) noun
species of tree and its fruit, a small edible black cherry, very sweet. Ripe in wet season. adjective
undeveloped, green, unripe raw noun
felt hat (literally the back of a dog) transitive-verb
to hook with a hook spear to charm, fascinate intransitive-verb
getting hooked charm (idioom) noun
children (contraction of karrkay-karrkay) transitive-verb
sweep, remove, wipe clean an animal - to remove the insides intransitive-verb
runny tummy, diarrhea noun
moon Roaring Meg Falls (site of moon story) noun
numb feeling discoloured skin where skin is a little lighter in colour in places, usually from untreated ringworm noun
mirror (english loan word from glass) transitive-verb
to lose, spill, waste adjective
alert, on guard (for yourself), keep an eye on someone, watch out adjective
easy crossing of water, water isn't rushing as during a floor transitive-verb
motion to get attention intransitive-verb
kind of a shocked feeling, get goose pimples, hair stands up
to sneeer at, mock, make someone feel ashamed noun
river oak, she oak. Type of pine along beach. adjective
amusing, cute, said of a baby when admiring him intranstive-verb
play (yalanji ) noun
female, used only for baby girls transitive-verb
forbid, block intransitive-verb
forbidden noun
brains grease, marrow, drippings from animal fat adjective
dull, stupid, insane, silly noun
big black freshwater eelfish noun
below the Roaring Meg Falls (place name) noun
below the Roaring Meg Falls (place name) noun
black and red seeds which are threaded to make a wankarr (necklace) question
question word (nyungkal) (yalanji - yala) noun
barramundi (yalanji) (nyungkul - murrabal) noun
species of small stingless bee, and its honey. The nests are found in the ground. adjective
slow (nyungkul only) noun
species of bloodwood tree transitive-verb
keep, hold, wait for. transitive-verb
guard something noun
brown and green pigeon noun
news the talk or language of a place noun
chatterbox, someone who is continually talking noun
said of a child who has just learned to talk. Literally "has talk now" "news mouth" intransitive-verb
to change your mind noun
dialect of the people of the ground around Maytown noun
used by speakers to refer to a dialect not their own noun
dialect of the coastal people, which includes the Bloomfield area noun
the talk of the people originally around Rossville and Shipton's Flats. noun
literally "talk of this place", now used to refer to the dialect and people of the China Camp-Daintree area. (also the generic name for all the dialects and people from Cooktown to Mossman) noun
the big spear used for spearing turtle, used as a harpoon noun
a mother who loses a child through death noun
one who commits adultery transitive-verb
pull, lift transitive-verb
to slap someone's cheek noun
axe, originally a stone axe noun
white beech, silky maple, yellow maple timbers noun
the resin gum of the cypress pine which is poisonous. It was used on spears in the old days, the effect lasts about two hours. noun
savage, always fighting noun
a person who is always fighting, always angry transitive-verb
tease, mock, make angry noun
sound made from drumming water. (This is done by percussion, the half-closed hand striking water.) noun
pebbles, small stones coins, money. This is going out of use. noun
Cape Tribilation (place name) noun
gecko, small house lizard noun
Bailey's Creek. Also Kaba-kada noun
the coconut grove near the mouth of the Creek at Ngamujin Beach (place name) adjective
short broken off pipe noun
near China Camp (story of Amazon women) noun
trade wind, fair wind adjective
well after being sick noun
species of fig tree with edible fruit. The fruit looks like an eyeball, it is ripe in August - October. noun
black cockatoo (nyungkul) (yalanji - kadanji) noun
The autumn time of the year when so many flowers are in bloom. noun
fluorescence under water (salt water), as behind a boat in the water at night transitive-verb
to join something to something, i.e. to tie something to something else. noun
Shipton's Flat (place name) transitive-verb
to finish something noun
a big day, celebration, as a dance, race meeting or corraborree direction
north along the coastl also used to refer to Cooktown adjective
pop-eyed, eyes open wide, eyes bulging out. transitive-verb
to hit to kill intransitive-verb
to fight with fists or sticks, hitting each other transitive-verb
to call someone to invite noun
species of palm tree. The bark can be used to make containers for cooking. The inside of the upper trunk of small ones is edible. intransitive-verb
to sneeze adjective
cleansed from a dead person's spirit. To make a person's things unusable again after death, they must be warmed or smoked - passed through smoke or waving smoking bark all around and inside it adjective
lame, cripple mentally ill noun
periwinkle, flat shellfish with a smooth shell noun
mountain and river flowing from mountain. This mountain is where the wild dogs stay. (wild dog legend, Shiption's Flat-Jubilee area) adjective
fat in food or fatty meat noun
a sharp corner in the upper reaches of Daintree River (place name) noun
turtle spear point (yalanji) (nyungkul - biyul) noun
species of tree and its fruit - wild peasun. The bark from this tree was used to make rope. Two long strands were twisted together and used for turtle rope. It was very strong. noun
larva of case moth, edible. Found in green wood. noun
butcherbird, stockwhip bird noun
a woman who has very recently given birth to a baby noun
slippery lizard the mythological person who was the husband of ngalba-bulal, the two sisters of Mt. Peter Botte. He was the husband of babarr, the older sister, but wanted the younger one. intransitive-verb
sink in mud or water noun
a spear point made from wattle and used for turtle spearing. it was put in the fire until it was hard enough to pierce through a turtle shell. noun
coconut grove across the river from the mill noun
plain turkey (native companion) noun
a person having no friends, poor, no one to help noun
cave between Kaway and Kangkaji (story site) noun
storm bird giant mythical bird very tall person intransitive-verb
go by a shortcut intransitive-verb
a fight between two men over a woman intransitive-verb
to look back, as on the trail noun
species of cicada or locusts noun
part of something, a part noun
species of freshwater fish intransitive-verb
argue, tongue fight noun
sentry bird which warns of crocodiles along the banks of the river. Totem of both the dabu and walarr noun
cicatrice, tribal marks wrinkles, as on forehead or on a newborn baby's side noun
woman's affection/love/lust to a man grub found in dry grass tree noun
a woman who is always falling in love noun
a woman who is in love with someone noun
species of mangrove with a long round seed noun
species of mangrove with a long round seed noun
bronze wing kookaburra direction
north and inland from the coast, north-west intransitive-verb
to whistle noun
posterior (not a rude term) transitive-verb
make fun of, tease in fun, make a joke noun
funny person, thing, or happening, joker noun
small conical shellfish, used for bait noun
war spear with quartz head noun
archerfish (nyungkul) noun
yellow freshwater eel noun
species of fresh water perch noun
blue spotted fantail ray noun
boney salmon, ox eye herring noun
fresh water catfish (yalanji) noun
fresh water catfish (nyungkul) noun
big black fresh water eel noun
small fresh water eel noun
small spotted sting ray noun
diamond fish or devil ray noun
species of fresh water eel noun
the Aboriginal camp at Thompson Creek. (english loan word, from landing) exclamation
shows mild surprise, something like English 'oh' noun
war (aboriginals fighting with spears) noun
the turn off to Main Camp above the Zig-zag noun
scrub, jungle, rain forest noun
boss (english loan word, from master) intransitive-verb
idiom for bossy noun
lazy, no good for hunting or working, used to refer to both dogs and people noun
matches (english loan word) noun
onion plant, edible herb noun
muscles of calf on leg noun
tar, or something black as tar or bitumen transitive-verb
change directions so you don't meet someone intransitive-verb
wait to be met transitive-verb
meet, as on the trail intransitive-verb
meet, as on the trail intransitive-verb
go to meet someone transitive-verb
follow to meet someone transitive-verb
send to meet someone adjunction
expert, good at noun
good at it, (anything), clever noun
the point between Kangkiji and Kaway. Jibul (bat) story is about this cave. intransitive-verb
admit, confess, tell the truth noun
spider and spider web life force. That which belongs to the body which is burned at a dead person's burning ceremony intransitive-verb
gooseflesh noun
hairy or lumpy surface, pimples noun
leg between knee and thigh noun
a bad spirit, which goes through walls and comes around when a person has been killed by a dambunji noun
corroboree when someone dies noun
mother (english loan word) noun
two, joined together but not a pair. This is not used anymore except by old people. transitive-verb
force give over to, turn over to report something bad, to tell on, to gossip about allow transitive-verb
the command form of the verb "get" noun
if you are a woman, younger brother's children. If you are a man, younger sister's children (relationship term) noun
moiety or subsection of the tribe noun
honeycomb. When your husband or child dies you put this into your hair noun
Cedar Bay (place name) noun
mangrove (english loan word) manner
throat and front of neck transitive-verb
watch or guard adjective
squeamish, nauseated noun
couple, husband and wife noun
where Main Roads camp was, near the summit of the Bloomfield-Helenvale Road (place name) adjective
one who takes things and doesn't put them back transitive-verb
to intend to steal something, but someone came so he had to leave it behind and couldn't take it transitive-verb
help. From English 'give a hand' intransitive-verb
have a go (idiom) adjective
clever with the bands, steal something sneak something intransitive-verb
rest, stop working adjective
always busy, always working noun
young girl, unmarried girl noun
near Watermelon Creek (place name) noun
on Main Camp trail (place name) (story site) noun
cloth. Originally a sail made of plaited palm leaves. noun
Rattlesnake point and the ground around there, also the taboo place up Fritz Creek (story site) adjective
Aboriginal. English loan word (from English outback slang) (In modern terms some people may also know as indiginous or first nations) Also could be spelt murray, murry, murri. (Also relevant to far north Queensland, not just the Bloomfield area) noun
zemia tree and the zemia nut which is roasted, ground and leaced to make flour wing intransitive-verb
to be in a real bad temper, temper tantrum, picking up things and throwing them to go somewhere (just children, not adults) thoughtlessly, not thinking of the danger noun
dugout canoe made of red cedar wood noun
species of mangrove, with apple-like seed only much bigger. The wood is hard and is good for making oars. noun
calm sea salt pan, where salt water has been noun
nickname for a stockman noun
edible wild cherry which has two or three seeds in each fruit. It grows on lows by the beach and has a shiny leaf. (english - native cherry) manner
with nothing, without any, empty adjective
bright red colour noun
the vine of the lawyer cane. Also user to refer to braces. noun
a coarse grass used in the making of dilly bags noun
small variety of freshwater eel. Only old people were allowed to eat it. noun
Gold Hill (place name) noun
a species of clinging plant or vine noun
sub-species of grey kangaroo, lighter in colour than the "julmbanu" noun
vegetable food or fruit generic term for food, whether vegetable or protein noun
knight fish, sometimes known as the port and light fish noun
white woman. English loan from "Missus" noun
where the bridge is over Wallabay Creek (place name) noun
pencil cedar. The skin of the seed is edible. noun
generic term for shell nautilus shell button noun
woomera used in mixed company when referring to a man's penis noun
along upper reaches of Daintree, between bubu Jiwulkal and Jangkarra transitive-verb
to show or tell something introduce noun
stinging tree jellyfish (because they also burn) noun
ear. Many idioms are compounded with "milka" as the base transitive-verb
remind, tempt, warn transitive-verb
think about transitive-verb
think about adjective
homesick, lonely, sad, worried transitive-verb
remember, recollect adjective
tired of so much noise transitive-verb
think about intransitive-verb
remember intransitive-verb
sin, yield to temptation intransitive-verb
can't sleep because of something on the mind intransitive-verb
listen obey adjective
can't hear, deaf adjective
contented, peaceful transitive-verb
sentence, as in court remind transitive-verb
remind, also used for explain intransitive-verb
forget forgive adjective
tame, quiet, brace, not afraid of or shy of, confident. intransitive-verb
squat, crouch. People fighting squat down so you cannot hit them with your spear, or when camping out, crouch down all night because of the rain (can't lie down because it is too wet) noun
the hook of the woomera that enters the end of the spear noun
oil nut tree. The fruit is like a small green apple, which when roasted in the fire, turns black. The black is rubbed on the hand and then on the hair to beautify it. adjective
correct, as a correct marriage according to tribal laws adjective
beautiful, nice, pretty transitive-verb
to keep/save food for someone transitive-verb
tidy up, make neat, straighten out. noun
meat, eggs (protein food) generic term for animal noun
scum on water whale oil noun
a wooden instrument to help throw spears more powerfully. This was used as an instrument of defence. After being found guilty, a man used to be given a woomera with which to ward off the spears thrown by a group of men. The aim was not to kill except for a capital offence. also rifle noun
pencil cedar. The fruit is the shape of a date and very sweet. noun
cockatoo crest the name of a hat made from cockatoo feathers. To make the hat, the feathers of the cockatoo are mixed with bees wax and the hat is used in ceremonies. noun
kidney bird, totem of the dabu moiety noun
eye species of tree, which has poisonous sap used to blind fish. You wrap orange seed in grass to keep the sap from touching your skin and the eyes of people, then smash under water. adjective
one who stares, looks hard, concentrates intransitive-verb
giddy, dizzy adjective
person who pretends he is not observing, but really does intransitive-verb
look, watch intransitive-verb
literate intransitive-verb
pray (literally to close your eyes) noun
species of mangrove. It has a poisonous sap which makes people blind. noun
motor car (english loan word) time
the time just before daylight, pre-dawn noun
wound not yet healed Watermelon Creek (place name) adjective
rotten, easily broken, decayed wood or cloth transitive-verb
collect, gather noun
species of fig tree and its fruit, which is edible, and is like a very small apple - ripe in August to October. It is red when ripe, grows out of the trunk of the tree. noun
archer fish (yalanji) (nyungkul - dalku) spotted Jewfish, fresh and saltwater, in King's Plains rivers noun
name given to a person who has spear marks on him noun
witchetty grub found in rotting wood noun
relationship term, mother's older sister, father's older brother noun
mussel. Found in fresh and brackish water. There are many up the Daintree near Bairds, some up Granite Creek. Has to be cleaned from the black stuff that tastes like tobacco. First roast it, then clean the "ear" out, then boil it or else eat it right away without boiling intransitive-verb
lean oneself back intransitive-verb
bend, stoop noun
species of tree and its edible fruit - becomes ripe in August-September. adjective
brackish, just when tide comes up into river intransitive-verb
bleeding adjective
red colour (yalanji) (nyungkul - ngala ngala) noun
star (yalanji) (nyungkul - dawar) noun
the other side of the Annan River bridge toward Cooktown, where the old bridge is underneath, cement on top intransitive-verb
ambitious noun
totem. This word spoken with a rising intonation is an enquiry into a person's secret life. state of mind to fight for no reason. The father of an unborn child becomes angry at a mate and he will hit the mate at slightest pretense. This is then a sign that his wife is pregnant. Can also be anyone who fights for no reason. This is also a sign someone is pregnant the spirit being who keeps a snake from biting a pregnant woman noun
fetish an article with supernatural powers intransitive-verb
content, happy, good feeling inside noun
dove wood used in a sacred corroboree intransitive-verb
clenched fist, closed fingers transitive-verb
to throw a spear with a woomera transitive-verb
to insert, to place inside something, as to insert a part in an engine adjective
proper, correct, careful, alert adjective
quiet, brave, not afraid, confident (used to describe someone who asks for things, not being shy) tame, as a tame pig noun
hair on man or animal noun
Torres Strait Islander. adjective
hairy, having a lot of hair noun
little tree with thorns on branches noun
forehead (yalanji) (nyungkul - yiman) noun
ground near fork of Grasstree Creek (Shipton's Flat area) (place name) noun
species of tree. When this is in bloom it is time for minya jalan. adjective
close fitting, tightly built, patched up noun
small paper wasp, yellow in colour with a bad sting. Its nest hangs in trees. transitive-verb
twist, stir transitive-verb
to turn around, to go around in circles (as when lost) noun
barramundi (yalanji) (nyungkul kudi) noun
tree kangaroo (yalanji) (nyungkul - jarrabina) noun
fighting spear (shovelhead), made from black palm noun
scabies species of lizard noun
scar, scab, initiation marks. Not an open wound noun
species of tree with edible fruit, two seeds one above the other, round like an apple. Ripe August - October transitive-verb
to break off twigs or small branches to harvest fruit from a tree adjective
round spoken of animals or plants folding up when interfered with, i.e. sensitive weed intransitive-verb
to become ashamed, shy, bashful transitive-verb
to shame someone intransitive-verb
scold, growl someone transitive-verb
to put things together manner
secretly, quietly between Tribulation and Bailey's creek noun
the tableland the other side of Rossville (place name) transitive-verb
singeing the hair of the pig before cooking adjective
funny, creepy feeling, like you have when something is crawling on you, nervous, a special feeling against. noun
umbrella part of umbrella palm direction
south and east; south along the coast used in referring to Cairns or Brisbane direction
across, over, the other side of intransitive-verb
lean back noun
stick of flexible bamboo used in nose piercing transitive-verb
to close, shut, bury noun
knife (english loan word) noun
species of shallow water oyster found on rock transitive-verb
seek, look for intransitive-verb
to be looked for to be lost transitive-verb
to eat, to drink noun
sound of a motor, rattling noise noun
ancestral home out west from which the special corroborees have come transitive-verb
soak, leach noun
near Grasstree where footprints are (Ngalba-bulal legend) time
hickory, good timber for woomeras noun
species of small crayfish, not eaten noun
mother's father (relationship term) intransitive-verb
to hide from someone, to run away noun
species of yam flame tree. The flowering of this tree signals the time when the scrub hen eggs are in season adjective
red (yalanji) (nyungkul - mula-mula) noun
Father-in-law, son-in-law (relationship term) noun
a term you can call a person when you can't say that person's name, i.e. if anyone has the same name as a recently dead person; or if someone has the same name as a woman's son-in-law. The taboo names for them become ngalba. noun
Mt. Peter Bottle (place name) noun
species of tree with edible red seed like an apple, ripe in August - October noun
below Roaring Meg Falls (place name) adjective
refreshed, as after a swim. Can also mean healthy, lively, happy, glad, mentally alert adjective
not seeing or noticing or recognising absence noun
to strong a taste, i.e. too sweet grog, liquor transitive-verb
to separate noun
Mother, mother's sisters, great grand-daughter (relationship term below Meg Falls (place name) noun
the main part in things that go naturally together, as the rifle and bullets, or the tape player in cassette player and tapes adjective
nuisance, always telling someone to do something transitive-verb
carry a rumour manner
only, for just a little bit, just that transitive-verb
ignorant of something transitive-verb
to be surprised or unexpected intransitive-verb
surprise noun
bark, as of a dog sound of a dog barking noun
taste voice of one's spirit left behind noun
father, father's brother (relationship term) manner
secret purpose, pretence manner
hinting to find out something, not asking straight out adjective
no good, wilted as nganka nganjay, "wilted flowers" bad smell. Methylated spirits is sometimes called nganjay noun
grass tree (blackboy). If jarramali (thunderstorm) comes, anyone can burn one of these; ironwood bark (jujabala) wild grape vines (kangka); or grasstree pitch (kanunjul). The smell will make the thunder go away noun
area across from Simm's Wharf behind Mangrove Island. (place name) pr
me, direct object of the verb adjective
old time Aboriginal trial. The one on trial has spears thrown at him. If he is able to dodge them, he goes free. exclamation
reaction to hurt adjective
get ready, be prepared adjective
not good at anything noun
onion (english loan word) sugar bag noun
upper Daintree River (place name) transitive-verb
build spread noun
species of shell fish, edible transitive-verb
win over, beat to pass noun
near Romeo (place name) adjective
obliging, easy to get along with because he does what you ask him adjective
husky, or squeaky voice noun
a shout from a long ways away noun
always coming for food noun
name for spouse (used only by old people now) noun
my for me, for my benefit noun
a cold, or any sickness of the lungs as bronchitis noun
have a cold or chest complaint noun
We were going heard a grunt, a pig coming intransitive-verb
to grunt intransitive-verb
to grunt intransitive-verb
roar or growl like a dog noun
fidgety, restless, uneasy noun
beetle fully developed from mujurr (witchetty grub) noun
moray eel. Also used sometimes for sea snake between kangkiji and Kaway (snake story site) noun
Aboriginal law, the dreamtime stories anything to do with the dreamtime noun
a man or woman who is jealous-suspicious of his/her mate noun
a person who is always jealous, always suspicious of what his/her spouse is up to noun
something or someone that is always funny/playful intransitive-verb
playing together noun
for fun or in fun, pretend intransitive-verb
to play (yalanji) (nyungkul - kinkay) noun
a man calls his sister's daughters (ngujurr) (relationship term) noun
the asking for things intransitive-verb
to beg, ask noun
someone who is always asking things, beggar adjective
good well, not sick good in the moral sense adjective
pretty, beautiful noun
voice without words, also to hum a tune adjective
person with teeth missing adjective
fully trained boy. In the old time the boys were put through a course of physical training which included marches, hunting, etc. By about the age of 20, they were ngumbal, fully trained and eligible to marry. noun
little spotted bandicoot noun
up above the Zigzag on way to Main Camp adjective
dark. It is usually contracted to nguwulnguwul or to ngulngul in fast speech noun
charcoal; hot coals or hot ashes noun
an open place (yalanji - nyungkul - warrmba) noun
imagination, something you can't see but can picture in your mind adjective
to be in a hurry noun
dilly bag the tree bark used to make into strips and weave fishing nets and dilly bags spider web placenta manner
too soon for others who aren't yet ready transitive-verb
straighten, measure, aim. transitive-verb
jealous, envious, because of another's possessions. noun
shadow, picture, statue, movie, cards, reflection in a mirror or smooth water noun
decorated butt of woomera noun
rope, also dilly bag made from rope noun
mopoke, owl edible fig and the tree name of rock near Pearce's place, visible only at low tide (story site) noun
tree and its edible fruit, found only in deep scrub noun
a woman's husband's younger brother, a man's wife's younger sister (relationship term) intransitive-verb
appear, show oneself transitive-verb
to kill as soon as the thing you kill is seen transitive-verb
plan to do, but unable to; to want something but can't get it. adjective
sticky (as honey) transitive-verb
to perceive, to hear, to see. If you need to specify between seeing and hearing, you can say milkabu nyajil (hear), and miyilda nyajil "see" transitive-verb
to know without seeing or hearing transitive-verb
to know without seeing or hearing transitive-verb
the command form of nyajil noun
rubbish, (but not household rubbish) such as dead leaves or stuff washed up on the beach. Also leaf mould from scrub, good for growing things. transitive-verb
to stop someone, to prevent, to stop a motor intransitive-verb
spill out adjective
aged, wrinkled, shrunken. Can refer to people, cloth or food, as an old wrinkled apple. transitive-verb
step on, tread on, pinch, squash transitive-verb
snatch, grab intransitive-verb
bump against something intransitive-verb
to grunt manner
the big green ant that is eaten, comes in December - January noun
noise of crying, weeping, mourning. intransitive-verb
to start crying intransitive-verb
boast, skite transitive-verb
to smell or taste noun
leech coolibah tree (messmate) adjective
confused, all mixed up intransitive-verb
to return, go back noun
direct object him, her, it (Yalanji) (Nyungkul - nyungunyin) transitive-verb
to recognize; to see and know someone before he sees and knows you transitive-verb
extinguish, or to put a fire or light out transitive-verb
to poke out the tongue noun
noise, people noise refers to last stages of labour noun
people making too much noise transitive-verb
to grind, sharpen transitive-verb
blame, accuse noun
Torres Strait Island pigeon noun
species of tree with edible white seed the size of an apple, ripe. August - October noun
gesture of affection, to pinch or pat a person's cheek, usually done to a baby transitive-verb
weather - rain or cold - entering manner
wrong, incorrect children of an incorrect marriage noun
big yellow March fly crow noun
wooden sword. The Port Douglas and rain forest people used them adjective
light colour, white noun
half-caste (darker than barbi half-caste) noun
spreading branches of a tree intransitive-verb
to enter, to go into transitive-verb
to cause to enter, to put into noun
whiskers, beard name of one of the tribe moieties type of honey bee, almost like the dabu (other moiety), but bigger and nests in trees noun
literally "with whiskers". Freshwater catfish are sometimes called this adjective
being good at working or getting food, as a good hunter noun
up above mission site, bordering Wujal-wujal (place name) noun
near Grasstree where big footprints are (Ngalba-bulal story) (place name) noun
butterfly small stingaray, spotted. Looks like a butterfly flying through the water flying fish species of mangrove - long round seed adjective
recently bereaved, in mourning intransitive-verb
lean or lay down intransitive-verb
bend down noun
diamond fish, devil ray noun
English. This is not used very much anymore noun
one who interferes to stop a fight. He holds the arms of a relative so he can't fight anymore transitive-verb
open wake (someone) up take clothes off intransitive-verb
to hang to float, as a log on the water transitive-verb
to hang up transitive-verb
to beg, to ask for something - Nyungkul noun
species of bird. Sings out early in the morning, sounds like a saw near Thompson Creek. Story of that place has the same name (place name) intransitive-verb
to faint adjective
someone who is going around after sex everywhere, can't stay in one place intransitive-verb
disappearing, becoming few intransitive-verb
reconcile intransitive-verb
giddy, dizzy transitive-verb
look around transitive-verb
provide, put out transitive-verb
explain, tell the news intransitive-verb
share out, portion out noun
species of tree. The fruit is a long sweet seed, ripe in August - October. It is edible if ripe, if unripe it must be roasted first. noun
fish hawk, brown hark, red-backed sea eagle. One of the sacred birds. intransitive-verb
to get up, to move out of the way, to come out noun
policeman (hat turned up) noun
a fruit bearing vine, found at Main Camp transitive-verb
choose; separate out, examine, then choose; count noun
small tree or wood goanna noun
species of ti tree, used for bark painting. Bark also used for roof of house question
how, which, how many transitive-verb
desire to accompany, but unable to question
who (nyungkul) (yalanji - wanya) noun
a tree which grows along the water and has red flowers necklace made from little black and red seeds called kubirr-kubirr and threaded on a string noun
upper reaches of Daintree River question
who (yalanji) (nyungkul - wanju) question
why, i.e. as cause of accident or sickness question
with what (what (do you) use) noun
king fish, Queensland groper, rock cod noun
sign, call, message which is sent by telepathy transitive-verb
to throw a message to another person by telepathy. A coal is taken from the fire and thrown into the dark. noun
species of tree, messmate or stringy bark noun
bailer shell used in the old time for a billy transitive-verb
doubt, not believe to run someone down intransitive-verb
to lie defend oneself when accused noun
habitual sleeper, one who is always sleeping intransitive-verb
to sleep intransitive-verb
to sleep heavily noun
water spirit name of mythical tribe of women in Kumarkaji story upper reaches of the Thompson Creek (place name) (story site) transitive-verb
to purify (by smoking) the things of dead people because of spirits noun
axe house made of grass, "beehive house" intransitive-verb
to run, to fly noun
Sister-in-law or brother-in-law (actual) (relationship term) transitive-verb
to watch, to see where someone is going adjective
can't come close because of relationship noun
Helenvale English loan, from Watkins noun
type of tribal dance, corroboree noun
uncovered or exposed place, in the open transitive-verb
find (yalanji) (nyungkul - ngunnga - bungal) intransitive-verb
to groan, suffer because of pain and/or sickness noun
tree bark which can be used as vine. it was used to make fishnets, which were dragged through the water in the dry season when the water goes down. noun
the spirit of a man breath ass
wish, want, need, love, like intransitive-verb
to have a rest adjective
worried, anxious, yearn transitive-verb
give something and take it back again intransitive-verb
to go back all the time to the same place, as a good place to fish intransitive-verb
satisfied, feel good about something adjective
short-winded, gasping intransitive-verb
anxious, dread, to fear consequences the beating of one's heart noun
spirit left behind in a tree whose voice (nganja) is singing out ass
to love very much, like very much ass
used instead of a dead person's name intransitive-verb
to have a rest intransitive-verb
to hold one's breath transitive-verb
to make happy, glad promise intransitive-verb
thirsty exhausted, tired intransitive-verb
to breathe heavily, to sigh transitive-verb
wish, hope, usually without prospects of getting what you wish for noun
cottontree. Canoes were made out of these and the candlenut tree, bilar. When it blooms (big red flowers) it signals the start of the scrub hen egg season noun
Wayalla Plains (place name) noun
white person (waybul) (nyungkal yalanji) noun
white person (waybala) (nyungkal yalanji) intransitive-verb
jumping around because he's happy good dancer transitive-verb
to cook food to burn something intransitive-verb
to burn oneself intransitive-verb
to swell up to rise, as bread dough rising direction
the other side of. Fast speech for ngubar-ngubar. intransitive-verb
strain the heart, as from lifting something heavy noun
hump, as on a Brahman bull noun
site of present mission and up to the waterfall (place name) noun
Wujal Wujal (place name) transitive-verb
blame because of your relationship to the guilty one, as if a child steals something, then the owner will blame the mother. noun
sponge made from grass, used as a sop for eating honey or soup transitive-verb
to frighten by tricking noun
hairy yam must be cooked, ground and leaved before eating noun
freshwater prawn, the big one with long legs transitive-verb
follow weave make a fence imitate intransitive-verb
to die to become unconcious noun
old woman (english loan word) noun
sacred dance of women at which the men sing but do not dance adjective
to empty out, bail out noun
old man (english loan word) an old animal husband adjective
for nothing, for no reason intransitive-verb
to lie down to sleep to have intransitive-verb
state of being noun
name of the English bee and its honey. Also used for honey bought in store adjective
quiet, lethargic, half asleep, won't do anything, shy, doesn't talk. Opposite of ngalu-ngalu transitive-verb
bring, take noun
Mt Alexandra (place name) transitive-verb
to finish food up intransitive-verb
the sun comes out from behind the cloud intransitive-verb
sun rise. The sun is coming up. noun
cry of a woman in distress noun
point straight out from Bloomfield River (place name) noun
domestic turkey, not the scrub turkey noun
no personality, no style, not a pleasure to be with intransitive-verb
to dance, swing to gamble noun
tip of tail or top of tree, but not point of hill noun
fog, mist rising from the river noun
hornet, bumblebee. Nests in a stump or the ground adjective
spotted, striped, speckled manner
crossways, lopsided intransitive-verb
hurt, ache noun
someone who is always stealing noun
small crab found on reef adjective
unable to see properly - if too far away, too dark, too small noun
whip (english loan word) transitive-verb
to whip someone noun
species of tree found in the scrub noun
spirit of sick person. Only a few people who know the wuynkul can see and talk to him. if they stare at him he hits them with a stick and the next day they become sick. He has eyes in front and behind him, and can see if bama stare at him. He can appear as a person, as a hairy brute with long teeth and a bad smell, or as a wild pig or snake. When by other persons, he has left the sick person. noun
one who is possessed by the wuyngkul spirit noun
species of fish - Striped toby, also toadfish exclamation
exclamation of surprise, attention getter. noun
older brother freshwater eel - has a big head and is smaller than dandarribina. It does not have much taste, no fat, people don't eat it unless there's no other meat. adjective
full (of food) (nyungkul) (yalanji - yanji) exclamation
expressing astonishment to another's statement. (nyungkul - yukil) transitive-verb
to say or do manner
also, in the same way demonstrative
this area or place demonstrative
at this place (nyungkul) (yalanji - yaluy) time
at the same time, when time
early morning (english loan word, from early) noun
sea turtle, poisonous if sacs aren't removed noun
manta ray (yalanji) (nyungkul - yidi) noun
eagle hawk. Totem of all the Kuku-Yalanji people. It represents the country to which they belong demonstrative
here, this place (yalanji) (nyungkul - yanyu) noun
household goods, collection of personal things adjective
something used before, as scraps, rubbish, leftovers. Things that float up on the beach such as timber, usable things only. ready transitive-verb
get ready, prepare noun
green ant. There are used as a medecine for the common cold and other chest complaints. They can be crushed and the odour inhaled to cure headache; or the eggs, larvae, and pupae from the nexts can be mixed with salt water and taken noun
handkerchief (english loan word) noun
rustling noise, as the wind blowing through trees or grass adjective
replete, full, satisfied after eating (yalanji) (nyungkul - yajin) transitive-verb
to see and examine close up demonstrative
this, here (nyungkul) (yalanji - yuluy, yanya) adjective
fresh water (opposite of kalki) right, not angry or cheeky cool, not too hot intransitive-verb
strain, sprain manner
all the time, regularly, repeatedly, always direction
that way. This is always accompanied by a gesture. noun
bee, the smallest bee in the bush noun
rainbow snake (mythical serpent) deep water hole noun
black wattle tree and its yellow flower noun
stingray. Long ago only old people were allowed to eat it, but now this isn't followed much. Spearing one will bring on thunder and rainstorms. transitive-verb
scatter (like seeds) adjective
strong, hard, swift noun
loya cane. Also walking stick made from the loya cane. The roots were used to make the walking stick. noun
Snapper island (place name) noun
between Kangkiji and Kaway (place name) noun
spotted manta ray (nyungkul) (yalanji - yalnganji) noun
shell of egg fish scales noun
little silver of something, as a silver of glass transitive-verb
to split - as wood noun
above the Stoney crossing in the Daintree River (place name) transitive-verb
to take clothes, shoes off (yalanji only) noun
hardened beeswax, hardened with ironwood root juice. The juice is extracted by heating and is used to make spears. time
late afternoon, when the sun is in the west intransitive-verb
in disorder and disarray noun
forehead (nyungkul) (yalanji - munju) adjective
a round face, like an Islander transitive-verb
come too close, knock down intransitive-verb
to grunt intransitive-verb
lying on the side noun
dilly bag for holding remains noun
species of fig tree with edible fruit (longest black fruit which becomes rip in the wet) time
then, next, after that transitive-verb
to frighten transitive-verb
drag, roll noun
everywhere to talk "this way and that" noun
taboo (yalanji) (nyungkul - jabul) transitive-verb
to scratch, to scape intransitive-verb
to shout, cry out transitive-verb
to rip open/apart noun
many-pronged fish spear transitive-verb
start something, like a motor adjective
true (nyungkul) (yalanji - yalakay) noun
a song sung by old men on behalf of someone whose relative has died in an unknown or far coutnry. The song is to send the dead man's spirit back to the right place noun
board, plank. Contrast with kimil, "round stick" noun
any soft covering such as skin or vegetable or fruit peeling adjective
poor physical condition, lean transitive-verb
welcome, to sing out to someone to welcome him praise intransitive-verb
brag skite noun
mountain near Mt. Poverty (place name) pronoun
it's up to you (idiom) transitive-verb
send to allow to go free from custody adjective
your, singular possessive for you pronoun
you (object, Yalanji) pronoun
you (object, Nyungkul) intransitive-verb
suck down, as in quicksand or mud noun
species of tree, called "dead finish" by whites. It is found only in Kuku-Nyungkul country except for one tree standing all alone at Main camp which is in Kuku-Yalanji country. The story is that he came from Romeo and was in Love with (bujanji) but was rejected and is now standing alone transitive-verb
to join together by means of something else, as nailing, sewing, etc. exclamation
exclamation of surprise and awe, usually prolonged and said in a breathy voice and level intonation noun
a father is called this when he loses a child through death