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Lesson 3 – Plants and Animals

Let’s learn some of the plant names and food that you can find on Yarluyandi Country. This lesson also includes words and sentences for animals, snakes, reptiles, birds, fish and insects. Don’t forget to listen to the accompanying recordings to help with your pronunciation.

Plants

kalu

provine, a plant used for making string

kantha

grass

kanyu

native mistletoe

kawulka

lignum

kukumu

hollow tree

kulka

beefwood tree

kungariya

Waddy tree

kurantyarla

whitewood tree, cattle bush

kurla warda

small piece of wood, stick

madlawi

green birdflower

mangaru

bulb of wild onion

mukiri

little gooseberry

parranta

Dead finish tree

pari

edible seed, any seed that can be made into flour

patharra

box tree

puka-puka

species of lignum

thalpu

bean tree

tyulurunga

edible nightshade berry

wintyirri pari

wild beantree

witha

stick

Here are some sentences about plants to practise using these words:

parra-parra means tall, long.

Patharra parra-parra.

The box tree is tall.

ngathu means I, pityirrinha means red, and puta-yarra means eating.

Ngathu pityirrinha kanyu puta-yarra.

I am eating red mistletoe (berries).

Animals

karimparda

goanna

kidni-thaka

scorpion

kundi

mosquito

kuranta

sticknest rat

mara-kata-kata

small lizard

miriwiri

maggots

muntyu

fly

muri

ants

nguntya

any animal eaten for meat

pithiputha

sandflies

puki-pukira

bony bream

thantripila

large dark snake with black head

thirita

dog

tyilpuru

small bird (probably Horsfield's bushlark)

tyukurru

kangaroo

wangu

snake

warkatyi

emu

wari-wari

fish (general term)

wirru

crane

Here are some sentences about animals to practise using these words:

palki-palkira means fat, in good condition.

Tyukurru palki-palkira.

The kangaroo is in good condition.

padna-yarra means running away.

Warkatyi padna-yarra.

The emu is running away.

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