Lesson 1 – Colours, Numbers and Daily Conversation

 

In this lesson you will learn how to introduce yourself to someone. You can ask them how they are, and tell them a bit about yourself too. There are also a few ways to say goodbye. At the end of the lesson, let’s learn some words for numbers and colours.

 

Check out the following videos to listen to some more conversation in Arabana:

Kids Speaking Arabana

Daily Conversation


INTRODUCING YOURSELF

Arabana
English
Arru
Hello
Wara anpa?
Who are you?

wara means who and anpa means you

Antha Mervyn-anha.
I am Mervyn.

antha means I

 

NOTE: The ending -nha is used after a person’s name. If the name ends in a vowel sound (a,e,i,o,u), then use -anha or -inha. If the name doesn’t end in a vowel, use -nha.

Intyara-nganha anpa?
Where are you from?

intyara means where, the ending -nganha means originally from and anpa means you

Antha Marree-nganha.
I'm originally from Marree.

antha means I and the ending -nganha means originally from

Antha nhikirnda-nganha.
I'm originally from here.

antha means I, nhikirnda means here and the ending -nganha means originally from

Anpa ngurku?
Are you well?

anpa means you and ngurku meaning well

Arayi
Yes
Arayi, antha ngurku.
Yes, I'm well.

aayi means yes, antha means I and ngurku means good/well

Padni
No
Maltya antha ngurku.
I'm not well.

maltya means not, antha means I and ngurku means good/well


FEELINGS AND ACTIONS

Antha walki-walkirnda.
I'm a bit crook.

antha means I and walki-walkirnda means a bit sick/crook

Antha ngantaranta.
I'm tired.

antha means I and ngantaranta means tired.

Antha madlhirinta.
I'm cold.

antha means I, madlhirinta means cold

Marutya tharkarnda.
It's hot.

marutya meaning hot and tharkarnda meaning standing/being

Antha wadlhampu.
I'm hungry.

antha meaning I and wadlhampu meaning hungry

Antha yankathara-wanta.
I'm thirsty.

antha means I, yankathara means thirsty and -wanta meaning feel.

Minha-thirnda anpa?
What are you up to?

minha means what and anpa means you

Athu tyalpa tharnirnda.
I'm eating food.

athu means I, tyalpa means food and tharnirnda means eating

Antha wadni wangkarda.
I'm singing a song.

antha means Iwadni means song and wangkarda means singing.

Minha anpa wayarnda?
What do you want?

minha means what, anpa means you and wayarnda means want

Athu tyalpa wayarnda.
I want some food.

athu means Ityalpa means food and wayarnda means want

Athu kutha wayarnda.
I want some water.

athu means Ikutha means water and wayarnda means want

Minha anpa tharnilhuku wayarnda?
What do you want to eat?

minha means whatanpa means you, tharnilhuku means to eat and wayarnda means want

Athu tyalpa ngadlyurru wayarnda, puntyu nyurdu.
I want green veggies and meat.

athu means I, tyalpa means vegetables, ngadlyurru means green, wayarnda means want, puntyu means meat and nyurdu means also


COMING AND GOING

Intyara yukarnda?
Where are (you) going?

intyara means where and yukarnda means going

Antha ngura-ruku thikarnda.
I am returning home.

antha means I, ngura means home, the ending -ruku means to/towards  and thikarnda means return

Antha punga-punga-ruku yukarnda.
I am going to the toilet.

antha means I, punga-punga means toilet, the ending -ruku means to/towards and yukarnda means going

I am staying.
Antha thangkarda.

antha means I and thangkarda means staying.

Wangarra nhanhi!
See (you) tomorrow!

wangarra means tomorrow and nhanhi means see

Athu unanha anti nhanhinhanga!
I'll see you soon!

athu means I, unanha means you, anti means soon and nhanhinhanga means will see

Antha yukarnda.
I'm going.

antha means I and yukarnda means going.

Yukapai!
Let's go!

yuka by itself means to go

Ukarai!
Deadly!

This word is used when something has done something really Deadly or great!

Kalti-kalti!
Deadly!

This word is used when something is looking really Deadly or flash!

Yutaki!
All done!

Yutaki means all done, all finished


COLOURS

waka
black
warru
white
ngadlyurru
green
miraka
red
mathu
yellow
arkapa
brown

NUMBERS

nguyu
one
parkulu
two
kulpari
three
parkulu-parkulu
four
mara
five

Arabana numbers didn’t go past three traditionally. Mara five is simply the word for hand. For larger numbers, simply add together these numbers. For example, kulpari-kulpari could be used for six.

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