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Rotuman — top 625 words

High-frequency vocabulary for English speakers. Reveal each card, then rate your recall — the schedule adapts (SM-2) and is stored on your device.

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Full word list

#RotumanEnglish
1Noa'iahello; greetings; thank you
2Noa'ia 'e mạurigreetings (lit. 'thank you for being alive')
3Noa'ia gagaj 'atakoagreetings, everyone
4Noa'ia 'e mạuri gagaj 'atakoagreetings to you all
5Ka 'äe tapen?how are you? (to one person)
6Ka 'ạuạr tapen?how are you? (to two people)
7Ka 'ạus tapen?how are you? (to three or more)
8Gou lelei fạiåkse'eaI am fine, thank you
9Fạiåkse'eathank you
10Fạiåksiathank you (alternative spelling)
11Figaleleiplease
12Turo'excuse me (passing in front of someone)
13Hanis ma röt'åksorry (lit. 'please be forgiving')
14Hanis ma se feksorry (lit. 'please do not be angry')
15Se fekI'm sorry (lit. 'don't be angry')
16Se fuabless you (said to someone who sneezes)
17Hanisioflove (sign-off at the end of a letter)
18Noa'ia ma surumplease come in
19Fạiåkse'ea 'e rē tēla'āthank you for the food (for preparing it)
20Fạiåkse'ea 'e ös tēla'āthank you for the food (for serving it)
21Noa'ia 'e hanisithank you for your kindness
22Hö' ma ạlalumgoodbye (said to those who are leaving)
23La' ma ạlalumgoodbye (said to those who are leaving)
24Fu' ma ạlalumgoodbye (said to those who are staying)
25Fu' 'ạmus ma ạlalumgoodbye, all of you who are staying
26Gagaja noa'iathank God
27'Äe täla la'-au?goodbye (said only to the one leaving)
28'Äe täla fu'u-ougoodbye (said only to the one staying)
29Noa'ia ma 'itar ôr se'it has been good to talk with you
30'Itar la ôr hoi'åklet's chat again
31La' ma ne'ne' 'äego and be well
32Mạrie'!bravo! (shout of approval at a dance)
33Hanuj!'Story!' - the storyteller's opening call
34Mā!'Yes!' - the audience's reply to Hanuj!
35lalum 'äe 'e terån te'ismay you be blessed this day (to one person)
36lalum 'ạuạr 'e gasav te'ismay you two be blessed this week
37lalum 'ạus 'e gasav pumuạ te'ismay you all be blessed this special week
38Ka sei ta 'ou asa?what is your name?
39'Otou asa le ___my name is ___
40Ka 'äe fạu his?how old are you?
41Gou fạu ___I am ___ years old
42Ka 'äe noh 'e tei?where do you live?
43Gou noh 'e ___I live in ___
44Ka 'äe le' ne tei?where are you from?
45Gou le' ne ___I am a person from ___
46Ka 'äe fā ne tei?where are you from? (asked of a man)
47Ka 'äe hån ne tei?where are you from? (asked of a woman)
48Ka 'äe la' se tei?where are you going?
49Gou la' se ___I am going to ___
50Ka 'äe leum 'e tei?where did you come from?
51Gou leum 'e ___I came from ___
52Ka 'äe rak 'e tei?where do you go to school?
53Gou rak 'e ___I go to school at ___
54Ka 'äe garue 'e tei?where do you work?
55Gou garue 'e ___I work at ___
56Ka sei ta 'ou ö'rua?who are your parents?
57Ka sei ta 'ou ö'fā ta?who is your father?
58Ka sei ta 'ou ö'hön ta?who is your mother?
59Gou pā ___I want to ___
60'Iomdrink! (imperative)
61'tēeat! (imperative)
62Mössleep! (imperative)
63gouI, me
64'äeyou (one person)
65iahe, she
66'itarwe two
67'ạuạryou two
68'ạusyou (three or more)
69iristhey, them
70'ạmisus, we (exclusive), as in the Lord's Prayer
71'otomy (Vamarasi spelling)
72'otoumy
73'ouyour (of one person)
74'onhis, her, its
75'otomisour
76'osour (inclusive), as in 'os fäega 'our language'
77tathe (article, at the end of the noun phrase)
78heta, an (indefinite article)
79-ta, an (indefinite article suffixed to the noun phrase)
80seto, towards (preposition)
81'eat, in, from (preposition)
82neof (preposition)
83kaand; but; (also a question marker)
84maand
85maneand (variant)
86lawill (future particle)
87tälawill (future particle)
88kat ... ranot (the two-part negative)
89kal ... rawill not (future negative)
90sei?who?
91tei?where?
92his?how many?
93'ihere; yes
94kikiathere
95thing, things
96'atakoaall, everyone
97tape'maalso, too
98hoi'åkagain
99hoi'ạkiadditional, again
100kobecause
101mumuabefore, in front
102muribehind
103rereabove, the space above
104jiothe bottom; the pointed end of a coconut
105fakapauabsolutely
106'itakeabout, concerning
107nōnō maafter a while
108'igkå'no
109'i, 'īyes
110ōzero
111one
112rua / ruạtwo (long form / short form)
113folu / folthree (long / short)
114häke / häkfour (long / short)
115lima / liạmfive (long / short)
116ono / onsix (long / short)
117hifu / hifseven (long / short)
118vạlu / vạleight (long / short)
119siva / siạvnine (long / short)
120saghulu / saghulten (long / short)
121saghul ma tāeleven
122saghul ma ruạtwelve
123saghul ma folthirteen
124saghul ma häkfourteen
125saghul ma liạmfifteen
126saghul ma onsixteen
127saghul ma hifseventeen
128saghul ma vạleighteen
129saghul ma siạvnineteen
130ruạghulu / ruạghultwenty
131folaghulthirty
132häkaghulforty
133limaghulfifty
134onaghulsixty
135hifaghulseventy
136vạlạghuleighty
137sivaghulninety
138folaghul ma häkthirty-four
139onaghul ma onsixty-six
140'On tāfirst
141'On ruasecond
142'On foluthird
143'On häkefourth
144'On limafifth
145'On saghulutenth
146fika / fiakfigure, numeral (long / short)
147rē fika / rē fiạkmathematics
148hatato count, to reckon
149fiak tauna'iaddition, an addition sum
150'ekaacre
151male; man; husband
152hạni / hånfemale; woman; wife
153hạnteidear (affectionate address to a woman)
154o'i / ö'parent
155o'o'i / ö'ö'parents
156ö'ruaone's two parents
157le'e / le'child
158lele'achildren
159räi'children (Vamarasi spelling)
160ö'fāfather
161o'honi / ö'hönmother; mother's sister
162sigoanamesake
163le' fāson
164le' hạni / le' håndaughter
165le' susu / le' susbaby
166le' mea'me'asmall child
167ma'piga / ma'piạggrandparent
168ma'kiga / ma'kiạggrandchild
169ma'piạg fāgrandfather
170ma'piạg hạnigrandmother
171ma'kiạg fāgrandson
172ma'kiạg hạnigranddaughter
173sạsiga / sạsiạgsibling; cousin
174sạsiạg hạnisister
175sạsiạg fābrother
176såghạni / såghånmother's sister
177såghạinamother's sisters (plural)
178sagaväne / sagavänfather's brother
179tinirạu / tinrạuprince
180sina / siạnprincess
181kạinagaclan, kin group
182kạunohogafamily, household
183haharạgiadolescent, young person
184mafuaadult age; a ceremonial spokesman, elder orator
185'inosmarried
186famör / fāmoripeople, the people
187rako / rakeducation; to study, to learn
188rī rako / rī rakschool
189kilasa / kilasclass
190fạuyear
191rumu / rumroom
192le' rē rakoteacher
193fā rē rakoteacher (male)
194hån rē rakoteacher (female)
195le' rē rak puerschool principal
196hat tēreading
197fạ'i / fȧ'to write
198få' tēwriting (as a school subject)
199a'ne'ne' forophysical education
200mane'a / manea'sport, game; to play
201suạ maka / suạ maksinging
202jạu tēplaying a musical instrument
203pån tēart, painting
204kạurakoga / kạurakoagschoolmates
205kạumane'aga / kạumane'agfriends
206fạiva / fạiạvtalent, skill
207'ineaknowledge; to know, to come to oneself
208poto / potwisdom; clever, a clever plan
209garuework; to work
210ut garueag tathe workplace
211tāku / tākdoctor (Vamarasi spelling tãku / tãk)
212kilakaaccountant
213'ofesoffice
214'afbag
215hạihanisiga / hạihanisiạgmutual compassion
216hugag'eseaunity
217hạigarueaga / hạigarueagco-operation
218hạifaktē'ạkigamutual respect
219hạiåf'ạkigamutual care
220huạg mäeav hanisikind, compassionate
221huạg fe'eniindustrious, hard-working
222huạg atmạiwise
223huạg röt'åk tēlong-suffering, patient
224huag to'acourageous
225huag ne'ne'icourageous, strong-hearted
226huag totokacalm
227huag mafuaadult-minded, mature
228huag se mäeavbrave
229mäevacourage
230moumoucourageous
231ag raksa'abad character
232oaf'ofa / oaf'oafhappiness, joy
233hanisi / hanislove; to love
234'ofa / 'oaflove
235feafear
236feke / fekanger
237fek'ạkito be angry because of
238kokono / kokonworry, sadness
239hanono / hanondowncast
240fürmaria / fürmariạpeace, contentment
241seguafraid to come near
242masrag'ạkito be ashamed about
243sosa'ato feel abhorrence
244ava / avtime
245av roaa long time
246terånday
247terạnitthe day, this day
248gasava / gasavweek
249mạnrēMonday
250rån ruaTuesday
251rån folu / rån folWednesday
252rån häke / rån häkThursday
253rån lima / rån liạmFriday
254terån a'ita / terån a'iạtSaturday (Methodist usage)
255rån ono / rån onSaturday (Roman Catholic usage)
256terån sapatōSunday (Methodist usage)
257terån ha'aSunday (Roman Catholic usage)
258sapatōthe Sabbath
259huạl ne fạu tathe months of the year
260JanueriJanuary
261FepueriFebruary
262Maja / MajiMarch
263'EpereliApril
264May
265JulaiJuly
266'OkositaAugust
267SepitempaSeptember
268'OkotopaOctober
269NovempaNovember
270TisempaDecember
271asoaafternoon
272utasathe earlier part of the afternoon
273usuto come early in the morning
274roato continue for a long time
275hanua / hanueland, home island; abroad
276'otou hanue tamy home
277house, building
278rī rot tathe church (the building)
279rotu / rotchurch; prayer; Christian worship
280marä' tathe park
281marä' mane'ag tathe playground
282hune'ele / hune'el tabeach, the beach
283rī funuạg faraoa tathe bakery
284koroa tathe shop
285rī hahalag pensin tathe petrol station
286rī 'tēag tathe restaurant
287rī keleag mạl tathe cinema
288tạn kakauạg tathe swimming pool
289taon tathe town
290hạspet tathe hospital
291tạk tathe doctor
292tạk ne 'al tathe dentist
293taonocity
294itu'udistrict (Rotuma has seven)
295ho'agaa sub-grouping of households
296fuạg rithe house foundation attached to a chiefly title
297marä'ecourtyard, village green
298ufagacoast
299'anacave
300tamuracemetery
301solo / solmountain, hill
302RotumaRotuma
303Fiti / FitFiji
304Niu SirạgiNew Zealand (Vamarasi spelling Niu Sirãgi)
305SetnēSydney (Vamarasi spelling Setnê)
306'OtakoOtago
307LepanoniLebanon
308Noa'tạuNoa'tạu, the senior district of Rotuma
309OinafaOinafa district (site of the main wharf)
310Itu'ti'uItu'ti'u district (the government station)
311Malha'aMalha'a district (the airport and high school)
312JujuJuju district
313Pep'jeiPep'jei district
314Itu'mutaItu'muta district
315ạfạfu / ạfạfmist
316esu / espawpaw, papaya
317äfe / äfthousand; liver
318ȧr'ạki / ȧr'ȧkto guess
319fạ'purouhat
320hefu / hefstar, stars
321isu / isnose
322juli / jüla kind of bird
323kalofi / kalöfeggs
324lāhapa / lāhapleg
325magkōmangoes
326niucoconut; copra
327ponapa / ponappineapple
328tạnu / tạnwater
329usa / uạsrain
330ül'ạki / ül'ȧkto steer
331vaonet
332'uhi / 'ühyam
333Uli / Ülto steer
334'Uli / 'Ülwheel; tyre; skin
335Ofi / Öfto finish
336'öfto chase; to cut, to snip
337kokomischievous, bad
338kōkōthorny, prickly
339totoblood; lineage
340tōtōto speak, to utter
341hosa / hoasflower
342pija / piajrat
343mori / mörorange (the fruit)
344tole / tölto carry on the shoulder
345kuji / küj(Churchward headword; short form küj)
346kofi / köfcoffee
347lole / lölcandy, sweets
348pepa / peappaper
349suka / suaksugar
350mose / mösto sleep
351futi / fütto pull
352fara / farto ask for, to seek
353sope / söpstrand of hair
354'epa / 'eapmat
355ho'a / hoa'to take
356la'o / la'to go
357vãhi / våhto finish (Vamarasi spelling)
358mea'me'a / mea'mea'small, young
359mamasa / mamasthe mamasa or 'drying' welcome ceremony
360hãsu / hãsgall bladder (Vamarasi spelling)
361maho / mahto become cold
362fo'a / foa'to land, to step on
363rãhi / råhfire (Vamarasi spelling)
364fere / ferto fly
365para / parto decay
366hola / hoalspread out; spreading
367füri / fürzigzag (of a mat pattern)
368a'su / ạssteam
369a'ti / ȧtto gather shellfish
370'uhapaarm
371'efebelly, abdomen
372suibone
373susubreast
374fatfatachest
375kumkumuchin; beard
376'ejuthe back of the head
377tauagmafathe back of the head
378fupugathe crown of the head
379forobody
380'uliskin; bark; crust
381maf pogiblind
382maf pulaable to see
383'ạlalogaadenoids
384ne'ne'well, in good health; strong
385mạurilife, living, wellbeing
386alato cease functioning, to die
387'atuaa corpse; the spirit of a dead person
388'oroi tathe abode of the spirits of the dead
389okraoto ache continuously but not severely
390hununukato breathe with difficulty
391kohmūto cough something up
392heguto blow the nose
393pugaan abscess
394mạtiticold, to be cold
395tēla'āfood
396'i'inianimal food: meat, fish or eggs
397faraoabread
398faraoa utua piece of bread
399faraoa hapaa slice of bread
400kekecake
401pạribanana
402par 'ạita bunch of bananas
403säea banana whose bunches grow upright
404'ulubreadfruit
405tapikocassava
406lolococonut cream
407niusia bunch of coconuts
408fekeipudding of grated taro or cassava starch, coconut cream, sugar
409mara ma 'a'anataro pudding
410fakakạibanana pudding
411kavakava, the ceremonial drink
412ti pạribanana tea
413'aklulua bud
414hoas 'aklulua flower bud
415majaa branch
416a branch; a coconut frond
417a bundle of leaves
418leap hāthe bundle of leaves used to cover a koua
419'ại fakravaa cross (crossed pieces of wood)
420puafrangipani
421ragakạriginger
422tieregardenia
423mạiroa kind of shrub
424lajecoral
425a coral reef
426mạnmạnuan animal of the land or air
427pusicat
428koubull, cattle
429hufhufubat
430gogoa kind of seabird
431kukūa dove
432kaläea kind of bird
433tuituia kind of ant
434ro'ataa kind of stinging ant
435fikouhermit crab
436kamkamarock crab
437'utetesand crab
438sa'ar'aracentipede
439sokra'asailfish
440peauwave
441lạgisky; air
442aogacloud
443rạhuashes
444mahalacharcoal, coal
445'umeaclay
446vaka / vakcanoe
447kateathe hull of a canoe, as opposed to the outrigger
448'afobasket
449taugaa kind of basket
450'ajaravaa basket made of green coconut leaf
451mosegabed; a chiefly title
452takagabed; couch
453nofo'achair
454pesinibowl, basin
455'umefean individual eating platform
456puku / pukbook
457puk heta book
458Puk Ha'athe Holy Bible in Rotuman
459pepa heta sheet of paper
460kianrecandle
461sikaretecigarette
462koticoat
463fạlibelt; clothes
464hạ'fạlisarong, wrap-around
465mon uama woman's top worn with the hạ'fạli
466'oroa sash tied at the waist for ceremonies
467hạ'uclothes
468mä'leaworking clothes
469ukaa thick fishing line
470unusennit cord
471kävethe cord used to tie on a load
472kasaarrow
473fanabow
474'iaaxe (originally a stone axe)
475agsaraadze
476kalapaclub
477serucomb; to comb
478paketebucket
479kesecase, box; coffin
480kākōcargo
481uhabark cloth (no longer made)
482lahlahablack
483keleblack
484jaravablue
485rạhrạhubrown
486mia' rahrahubrown or dull red
487totlahablack and blue, bruised
488huạl kelea coil of the darker pandanus strips
489huạl fisia coil of the lighter pandanus strips
490ti'ubig
491titi'ubig (plural)
492hiti'ucomparatively big
493ma'oibig in quantity, plentiful
494hepabroad, wide
495riri'ismall (as in joan riri'i, gooseflesh)
496leleigood; all right
497raksa'abad; in bad condition
498tē raksa'aa bad thing
499keleag leleibeautiful
500helavabeautiful
501airecorrect, actual
502nojo / nonojocorrect, straight
503feicrooked
504ma'ma'aclean, pure
505tafaclear; a clear space
506mam'asacruel
507pumuạprecious, treasured
508räeto see
509ho'ito return, to come back
510leumto come (towards the speaker)
511åsto visit
512noho / nohto live, to stay, to remain
513kukuto cook
514faoto cook the night before
515a'mamosato cook until done
516susunuto burn
517jalato burn off grass
518fufuto burn lime
519fạmuto bury
520hilito choose
521he'oto call
522he'ạkito call out
523vatato crawl
524hurato break up (of a meeting)
525fạkito break off
526fuato break open
527kaoto chop a coconut or nut in two
528fạito chop down
529'apoto carry on the back
530rạ'uto carry in the arms
531kạ'uto carry under the arm
532tạrito accept
533sapoto accept
534to accept someone's advice or decision
535a'sokoto accept, to accomplish, to carry out
536sai'oto ask about, to enquire
537to do, to make, to act towards
538to be able to do; to get, to arrive at
539mouto adhere, to hold fast
540pirito cling to (as wet clothes to the body)
541osito adorn; a change of clothes at a mamasa
542voi'ạkito admire
543'ạligato acknowledge
544aier'ạkito believe
545mamnakito be accustomed to
546faksogeto abstain from food, to fast
547taunạ'ito add together, to come together
548su'ito add water to
549fakpututo accumulate
550pukefor a feeling to come strongly over one
551tokato come to an end
552sokoto come about, to come to pass
553hoa'to take, to carry off
554pureto rule, to have authority over
555pure'agakingdom, rule, dominion
556naamto give
557fạu'ạkiato forgive
558sarasin, transgression
559sại'ạkiato deliver, to set free
560ȧf'ȧkto hallow, to make honoured
561ma'ma'holy
562he'amaI wish, if only
563'apeithe fine white pandanus mat, the most sacred Rotuman object
564is käkä'e'the tip of her fingers' - a woman's own 'apei
565agruaa very large pandanus mat
566sa'agathe shiny part of the pandanus leaf used for 'apei
567'ar'arathe black part removed from a pandanus leaf
568rag sa'agathe process of stripping the pandanus leaf
569hulaa large coil of prepared pandanus strips
570tefuithe Rotuman ceremonial garland
571fuia single unit of the tefui garland
572kouathe earth oven, and the food cooked in it
573kato'agaa traditional ceremony or celebration
574päegathe pile of mats an honoured guest sits on
575a wedding
576terån a'sūa birthday
577'oj'ạkithe ritual for a first-born child
578hen rạu'ifia ritual apology
579aragvakaa funeral
580takại tathe return of a widowed spouse to the parental home
581kakạu sạsithe fifth-day observance after a burial
582he' 'atuathe call made at a funeral
583'afaa basket of koua food presented to dignitaries
584tạutoga / tạutoagthe principal Rotuman ceremonial dance
585tạutoag hafathe communal tạutoga danced by men and women
586tạutoag fāthe men's tạutoga
587suathe first section of the tạutoga
588tiạp hīthe melodic chant section of the tạutoga
589tiạp forạuthe section of the tạutoga adapted from foreign music
590maka / makdance; to dance
591nạu tēthe anointing of dancers with scented oil
592hanuju / hanuja tale or story, especially a fictitious one
593rogoa report; news of a witnessed event
594rogrog ne āv tāhistory (lit. 'the report of the time')
595gagaja / gagajchief; lord
596gagaj 'es itu'ua district chief
597gagaj 'es ho'agathe sub-chief of a household group
598fa 'es itu'uchief of a district
599sạuthe traditional paramount ritual office of Rotuma
600muathe chief ranking next to the sạu in former times
601huliạg ne 'umefe'turning over the eating platform' - a chief's naming rite
602forạua returnee, one coming home from abroad
603la'oa visiting party bringing mats and gifts
604'Ạitu / 'ẠitGod
605'Ạit Manathe Almighty, the All-Powerful
606Tagroathe supreme deity of the pre-Christian Rotuman pantheon
607manasupernatural power
608Hanuạ Fạvi'the land that hangs from the sky', the home of Tagroa
609ha'aholy, sacred
610fekạua minister of religion
611'ekaresaiaa church member
612rī rotuchurch building
613Fäeag Rotuạmthe Rotuman language
614fäegalanguage, speech; a case, a matter
615ag fak hanuathe culture and custom of the land
616ag fak RotumaRotuman custom
617vetạkiato sustain, to keep going
618fäeag 'es 'aouseful words
619'atumotuisland group, archipelago
620hạ'fạli tathe sarong
621vasvasthe hibiscus-stem bark used as the tefui cord
622kạuat tathe hibiscus stem
623lum tathe seaweed used in a tefui
624paufuthe male pandanus flower used for tefui stars
625'apeaa root crop whose leaf wraps the tefui