Lesson 3 – Family

Let’s learn some words to talk about family members and people. We’ll learn to talk about our family and ask questions about families as well.

We’ll also have a look at some more general words for people and practise some simple sentences using what we’ve learnt.


Words for family

Wangkangurru
English
ama
mum
anya
dad
kaku
sister
utyityi
brother
ka
uncle
piya
aunt
athata
grandfather
kadnhinhi
grandmother
nhupa
husband/wife

Words for people

Moving on from words directly related to the family, let’s have a look at some words and sentences for people in more general terms.

nharla
man, person in general
ulyurla
woman
yuwu
man
mathapurda
old man
wiya-wiya
young boy
kuya-kuya
young girl
thuthirla
teenage boy
mankara
teenage girl
kupa-kupa
baby
arlaluwa
child
arlaluwa-kari
children
arlaluwa padni
no kids
arlaluwa pinya-kithi
lots of kids

Talking about family and people

Let’s ask some questions to find out who people are and how they are related to others.

 

You might ask, Unkunha nhupa?Unkunha means your and nhupa means partner.

Unkunha nhupa?
Is that your partner?

 

Minha pidla unkunha nhupa? means What is your partner’s name? Minha means whatpidla means name, unkunha means your, and nhupa means partner

Minha pidla unkunha nhupa?
What is your partner's name?

 

You might ask someone Is that your child? by saying Unkunha arlaluwa?. Unkunha means your and arlaluwa means child.

Unkunha arlaluwa?
Is that your child?

 

To ask what someone’s child’s name is you would say Minha pidla unkunha arlaluwa? Minha means whatpidla means nameunkunha means your and arlaluwa means child.

Minha pidla unkunha arlaluwa?
What is your child's name?

 

They might answer Antha arlaluwa Bill-anha. Antha means Iarlaluwa means child and -anha is added to the end of the name to show that it is a name.

NOTE: If someone’s name ends in a vowel sounds, then the ending -nha is used. For example, Sue-nha. If their name ends in a non-vowel sound, then use -anha. For example, Bob-anha.

Antha arlaluwa Bill-anha.
My child is Bill.

 

To ask who someone is you would say Wara uka? Wara means who and uka means he/she/it.

Waṟa uka?
Who is she?

 

To answer you might say Uka anthunha ama. Uka means she, he, itanthunha means my and ama means mum.

Uka anthunha ama.
She is my mum.
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