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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| # | Rotuman | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | hello; greetings; thank you | |
| 2 | greetings (lit. 'thank you for being alive') | |
| 3 | greetings, everyone | |
| 4 | greetings to you all | |
| 5 | how are you? (to one person) | |
| 6 | how are you? (to two people) | |
| 7 | how are you? (to three or more) | |
| 8 | I am fine, thank you | |
| 9 | thank you | |
| 10 | thank you (alternative spelling) | |
| 11 | please | |
| 12 | excuse me (passing in front of someone) | |
| 13 | sorry (lit. 'please be forgiving') | |
| 14 | sorry (lit. 'please do not be angry') | |
| 15 | I'm sorry (lit. 'don't be angry') | |
| 16 | bless you (said to someone who sneezes) | |
| 17 | love (sign-off at the end of a letter) | |
| 18 | please come in | |
| 19 | thank you for the food (for preparing it) | |
| 20 | thank you for the food (for serving it) | |
| 21 | thank you for your kindness | |
| 22 | goodbye (said to those who are leaving) | |
| 23 | goodbye (said to those who are leaving) | |
| 24 | goodbye (said to those who are staying) | |
| 25 | goodbye, all of you who are staying | |
| 26 | thank God | |
| 27 | goodbye (said only to the one leaving) | |
| 28 | goodbye (said only to the one staying) | |
| 29 | it has been good to talk with you | |
| 30 | let's chat again | |
| 31 | go and be well | |
| 32 | bravo! (shout of approval at a dance) | |
| 33 | 'Story!' - the storyteller's opening call | |
| 34 | 'Yes!' - the audience's reply to Hanuj! | |
| 35 | may you be blessed this day (to one person) | |
| 36 | may you two be blessed this week | |
| 37 | may you all be blessed this special week | |
| 38 | what is your name? | |
| 39 | my name is ___ | |
| 40 | how old are you? | |
| 41 | I am ___ years old | |
| 42 | where do you live? | |
| 43 | I live in ___ | |
| 44 | where are you from? | |
| 45 | I am a person from ___ | |
| 46 | where are you from? (asked of a man) | |
| 47 | where are you from? (asked of a woman) | |
| 48 | where are you going? | |
| 49 | I am going to ___ | |
| 50 | where did you come from? | |
| 51 | I came from ___ | |
| 52 | where do you go to school? | |
| 53 | I go to school at ___ | |
| 54 | where do you work? | |
| 55 | I work at ___ | |
| 56 | who are your parents? | |
| 57 | who is your father? | |
| 58 | who is your mother? | |
| 59 | I want to ___ | |
| 60 | drink! (imperative) | |
| 61 | eat! (imperative) | |
| 62 | sleep! (imperative) | |
| 63 | I, me | |
| 64 | you (one person) | |
| 65 | he, she | |
| 66 | we two | |
| 67 | you two | |
| 68 | you (three or more) | |
| 69 | they, them | |
| 70 | us, we (exclusive), as in the Lord's Prayer | |
| 71 | my (Vamarasi spelling) | |
| 72 | my | |
| 73 | your (of one person) | |
| 74 | his, her, its | |
| 75 | our | |
| 76 | our (inclusive), as in 'os fäega 'our language' | |
| 77 | the (article, at the end of the noun phrase) | |
| 78 | a, an (indefinite article) | |
| 79 | a, an (indefinite article suffixed to the noun phrase) | |
| 80 | to, towards (preposition) | |
| 81 | at, in, from (preposition) | |
| 82 | of (preposition) | |
| 83 | and; but; (also a question marker) | |
| 84 | and | |
| 85 | and (variant) | |
| 86 | will (future particle) | |
| 87 | will (future particle) | |
| 88 | not (the two-part negative) | |
| 89 | will not (future negative) | |
| 90 | who? | |
| 91 | where? | |
| 92 | how many? | |
| 93 | here; yes | |
| 94 | there | |
| 95 | thing, things | |
| 96 | all, everyone | |
| 97 | also, too | |
| 98 | again | |
| 99 | additional, again | |
| 100 | because | |
| 101 | before, in front | |
| 102 | behind | |
| 103 | above, the space above | |
| 104 | the bottom; the pointed end of a coconut | |
| 105 | absolutely | |
| 106 | about, concerning | |
| 107 | after a while | |
| 108 | no | |
| 109 | yes | |
| 110 | zero | |
| 111 | one | |
| 112 | two (long form / short form) | |
| 113 | three (long / short) | |
| 114 | four (long / short) | |
| 115 | five (long / short) | |
| 116 | six (long / short) | |
| 117 | seven (long / short) | |
| 118 | eight (long / short) | |
| 119 | nine (long / short) | |
| 120 | ten (long / short) | |
| 121 | eleven | |
| 122 | twelve | |
| 123 | thirteen | |
| 124 | fourteen | |
| 125 | fifteen | |
| 126 | sixteen | |
| 127 | seventeen | |
| 128 | eighteen | |
| 129 | nineteen | |
| 130 | twenty | |
| 131 | thirty | |
| 132 | forty | |
| 133 | fifty | |
| 134 | sixty | |
| 135 | seventy | |
| 136 | eighty | |
| 137 | ninety | |
| 138 | thirty-four | |
| 139 | sixty-six | |
| 140 | first | |
| 141 | second | |
| 142 | third | |
| 143 | fourth | |
| 144 | fifth | |
| 145 | tenth | |
| 146 | figure, numeral (long / short) | |
| 147 | mathematics | |
| 148 | to count, to reckon | |
| 149 | addition, an addition sum | |
| 150 | acre | |
| 151 | male; man; husband | |
| 152 | female; woman; wife | |
| 153 | dear (affectionate address to a woman) | |
| 154 | parent | |
| 155 | parents | |
| 156 | one's two parents | |
| 157 | child | |
| 158 | children | |
| 159 | children (Vamarasi spelling) | |
| 160 | father | |
| 161 | mother; mother's sister | |
| 162 | namesake | |
| 163 | son | |
| 164 | daughter | |
| 165 | baby | |
| 166 | small child | |
| 167 | grandparent | |
| 168 | grandchild | |
| 169 | grandfather | |
| 170 | grandmother | |
| 171 | grandson | |
| 172 | granddaughter | |
| 173 | sibling; cousin | |
| 174 | sister | |
| 175 | brother | |
| 176 | mother's sister | |
| 177 | mother's sisters (plural) | |
| 178 | father's brother | |
| 179 | prince | |
| 180 | princess | |
| 181 | clan, kin group | |
| 182 | family, household | |
| 183 | adolescent, young person | |
| 184 | adult age; a ceremonial spokesman, elder orator | |
| 185 | married | |
| 186 | people, the people | |
| 187 | education; to study, to learn | |
| 188 | school | |
| 189 | class | |
| 190 | year | |
| 191 | room | |
| 192 | teacher | |
| 193 | teacher (male) | |
| 194 | teacher (female) | |
| 195 | school principal | |
| 196 | reading | |
| 197 | to write | |
| 198 | writing (as a school subject) | |
| 199 | physical education | |
| 200 | sport, game; to play | |
| 201 | singing | |
| 202 | playing a musical instrument | |
| 203 | art, painting | |
| 204 | schoolmates | |
| 205 | friends | |
| 206 | talent, skill | |
| 207 | knowledge; to know, to come to oneself | |
| 208 | wisdom; clever, a clever plan | |
| 209 | work; to work | |
| 210 | the workplace | |
| 211 | doctor (Vamarasi spelling tãku / tãk) | |
| 212 | accountant | |
| 213 | office | |
| 214 | bag | |
| 215 | mutual compassion | |
| 216 | unity | |
| 217 | co-operation | |
| 218 | mutual respect | |
| 219 | mutual care | |
| 220 | kind, compassionate | |
| 221 | industrious, hard-working | |
| 222 | wise | |
| 223 | long-suffering, patient | |
| 224 | courageous | |
| 225 | courageous, strong-hearted | |
| 226 | calm | |
| 227 | adult-minded, mature | |
| 228 | brave | |
| 229 | courage | |
| 230 | courageous | |
| 231 | bad character | |
| 232 | happiness, joy | |
| 233 | love; to love | |
| 234 | love | |
| 235 | fear | |
| 236 | anger | |
| 237 | to be angry because of | |
| 238 | worry, sadness | |
| 239 | downcast | |
| 240 | peace, contentment | |
| 241 | afraid to come near | |
| 242 | to be ashamed about | |
| 243 | to feel abhorrence | |
| 244 | time | |
| 245 | a long time | |
| 246 | day | |
| 247 | the day, this day | |
| 248 | week | |
| 249 | Monday | |
| 250 | Tuesday | |
| 251 | Wednesday | |
| 252 | Thursday | |
| 253 | Friday | |
| 254 | Saturday (Methodist usage) | |
| 255 | Saturday (Roman Catholic usage) | |
| 256 | Sunday (Methodist usage) | |
| 257 | Sunday (Roman Catholic usage) | |
| 258 | the Sabbath | |
| 259 | the months of the year | |
| 260 | January | |
| 261 | February | |
| 262 | March | |
| 263 | April | |
| 264 | May | |
| 265 | July | |
| 266 | August | |
| 267 | September | |
| 268 | October | |
| 269 | November | |
| 270 | December | |
| 271 | afternoon | |
| 272 | the earlier part of the afternoon | |
| 273 | to come early in the morning | |
| 274 | to continue for a long time | |
| 275 | land, home island; abroad | |
| 276 | my home | |
| 277 | house, building | |
| 278 | the church (the building) | |
| 279 | church; prayer; Christian worship | |
| 280 | the park | |
| 281 | the playground | |
| 282 | beach, the beach | |
| 283 | the bakery | |
| 284 | the shop | |
| 285 | the petrol station | |
| 286 | the restaurant | |
| 287 | the cinema | |
| 288 | the swimming pool | |
| 289 | the town | |
| 290 | the hospital | |
| 291 | the doctor | |
| 292 | the dentist | |
| 293 | city | |
| 294 | district (Rotuma has seven) | |
| 295 | a sub-grouping of households | |
| 296 | the house foundation attached to a chiefly title | |
| 297 | courtyard, village green | |
| 298 | coast | |
| 299 | cave | |
| 300 | cemetery | |
| 301 | mountain, hill | |
| 302 | Rotuma | |
| 303 | Fiji | |
| 304 | New Zealand (Vamarasi spelling Niu Sirãgi) | |
| 305 | Sydney (Vamarasi spelling Setnê) | |
| 306 | Otago | |
| 307 | Lebanon | |
| 308 | Noa'tạu, the senior district of Rotuma | |
| 309 | Oinafa district (site of the main wharf) | |
| 310 | Itu'ti'u district (the government station) | |
| 311 | Malha'a district (the airport and high school) | |
| 312 | Juju district | |
| 313 | Pep'jei district | |
| 314 | Itu'muta district | |
| 315 | mist | |
| 316 | pawpaw, papaya | |
| 317 | thousand; liver | |
| 318 | to guess | |
| 319 | hat | |
| 320 | star, stars | |
| 321 | nose | |
| 322 | a kind of bird | |
| 323 | eggs | |
| 324 | leg | |
| 325 | mangoes | |
| 326 | coconut; copra | |
| 327 | pineapple | |
| 328 | water | |
| 329 | rain | |
| 330 | to steer | |
| 331 | net | |
| 332 | yam | |
| 333 | to steer | |
| 334 | wheel; tyre; skin | |
| 335 | to finish | |
| 336 | to chase; to cut, to snip | |
| 337 | mischievous, bad | |
| 338 | thorny, prickly | |
| 339 | blood; lineage | |
| 340 | to speak, to utter | |
| 341 | flower | |
| 342 | rat | |
| 343 | orange (the fruit) | |
| 344 | to carry on the shoulder | |
| 345 | (Churchward headword; short form küj) | |
| 346 | coffee | |
| 347 | candy, sweets | |
| 348 | paper | |
| 349 | sugar | |
| 350 | to sleep | |
| 351 | to pull | |
| 352 | to ask for, to seek | |
| 353 | strand of hair | |
| 354 | mat | |
| 355 | to take | |
| 356 | to go | |
| 357 | to finish (Vamarasi spelling) | |
| 358 | small, young | |
| 359 | the mamasa or 'drying' welcome ceremony | |
| 360 | gall bladder (Vamarasi spelling) | |
| 361 | to become cold | |
| 362 | to land, to step on | |
| 363 | fire (Vamarasi spelling) | |
| 364 | to fly | |
| 365 | to decay | |
| 366 | spread out; spreading | |
| 367 | zigzag (of a mat pattern) | |
| 368 | steam | |
| 369 | to gather shellfish | |
| 370 | arm | |
| 371 | belly, abdomen | |
| 372 | bone | |
| 373 | breast | |
| 374 | chest | |
| 375 | chin; beard | |
| 376 | the back of the head | |
| 377 | the back of the head | |
| 378 | the crown of the head | |
| 379 | body | |
| 380 | skin; bark; crust | |
| 381 | blind | |
| 382 | able to see | |
| 383 | adenoids | |
| 384 | well, in good health; strong | |
| 385 | life, living, wellbeing | |
| 386 | to cease functioning, to die | |
| 387 | a corpse; the spirit of a dead person | |
| 388 | the abode of the spirits of the dead | |
| 389 | to ache continuously but not severely | |
| 390 | to breathe with difficulty | |
| 391 | to cough something up | |
| 392 | to blow the nose | |
| 393 | an abscess | |
| 394 | cold, to be cold | |
| 395 | food | |
| 396 | animal food: meat, fish or eggs | |
| 397 | bread | |
| 398 | a piece of bread | |
| 399 | a slice of bread | |
| 400 | cake | |
| 401 | banana | |
| 402 | a bunch of bananas | |
| 403 | a banana whose bunches grow upright | |
| 404 | breadfruit | |
| 405 | cassava | |
| 406 | coconut cream | |
| 407 | a bunch of coconuts | |
| 408 | pudding of grated taro or cassava starch, coconut cream, sugar | |
| 409 | taro pudding | |
| 410 | banana pudding | |
| 411 | kava, the ceremonial drink | |
| 412 | banana tea | |
| 413 | a bud | |
| 414 | a flower bud | |
| 415 | a branch | |
| 416 | a branch; a coconut frond | |
| 417 | a bundle of leaves | |
| 418 | the bundle of leaves used to cover a koua | |
| 419 | a cross (crossed pieces of wood) | |
| 420 | frangipani | |
| 421 | ginger | |
| 422 | gardenia | |
| 423 | a kind of shrub | |
| 424 | coral | |
| 425 | a coral reef | |
| 426 | an animal of the land or air | |
| 427 | cat | |
| 428 | bull, cattle | |
| 429 | bat | |
| 430 | a kind of seabird | |
| 431 | a dove | |
| 432 | a kind of bird | |
| 433 | a kind of ant | |
| 434 | a kind of stinging ant | |
| 435 | hermit crab | |
| 436 | rock crab | |
| 437 | sand crab | |
| 438 | centipede | |
| 439 | sailfish | |
| 440 | wave | |
| 441 | sky; air | |
| 442 | cloud | |
| 443 | ashes | |
| 444 | charcoal, coal | |
| 445 | clay | |
| 446 | canoe | |
| 447 | the hull of a canoe, as opposed to the outrigger | |
| 448 | basket | |
| 449 | a kind of basket | |
| 450 | a basket made of green coconut leaf | |
| 451 | bed; a chiefly title | |
| 452 | bed; couch | |
| 453 | chair | |
| 454 | bowl, basin | |
| 455 | an individual eating platform | |
| 456 | book | |
| 457 | a book | |
| 458 | the Holy Bible in Rotuman | |
| 459 | a sheet of paper | |
| 460 | candle | |
| 461 | cigarette | |
| 462 | coat | |
| 463 | belt; clothes | |
| 464 | sarong, wrap-around | |
| 465 | a woman's top worn with the hạ'fạli | |
| 466 | a sash tied at the waist for ceremonies | |
| 467 | clothes | |
| 468 | working clothes | |
| 469 | a thick fishing line | |
| 470 | sennit cord | |
| 471 | the cord used to tie on a load | |
| 472 | arrow | |
| 473 | bow | |
| 474 | axe (originally a stone axe) | |
| 475 | adze | |
| 476 | club | |
| 477 | comb; to comb | |
| 478 | bucket | |
| 479 | case, box; coffin | |
| 480 | cargo | |
| 481 | bark cloth (no longer made) | |
| 482 | black | |
| 483 | black | |
| 484 | blue | |
| 485 | brown | |
| 486 | brown or dull red | |
| 487 | black and blue, bruised | |
| 488 | a coil of the darker pandanus strips | |
| 489 | a coil of the lighter pandanus strips | |
| 490 | big | |
| 491 | big (plural) | |
| 492 | comparatively big | |
| 493 | big in quantity, plentiful | |
| 494 | broad, wide | |
| 495 | small (as in joan riri'i, gooseflesh) | |
| 496 | good; all right | |
| 497 | bad; in bad condition | |
| 498 | a bad thing | |
| 499 | beautiful | |
| 500 | beautiful | |
| 501 | correct, actual | |
| 502 | correct, straight | |
| 503 | crooked | |
| 504 | clean, pure | |
| 505 | clear; a clear space | |
| 506 | cruel | |
| 507 | precious, treasured | |
| 508 | to see | |
| 509 | to return, to come back | |
| 510 | to come (towards the speaker) | |
| 511 | to visit | |
| 512 | to live, to stay, to remain | |
| 513 | to cook | |
| 514 | to cook the night before | |
| 515 | to cook until done | |
| 516 | to burn | |
| 517 | to burn off grass | |
| 518 | to burn lime | |
| 519 | to bury | |
| 520 | to choose | |
| 521 | to call | |
| 522 | to call out | |
| 523 | to crawl | |
| 524 | to break up (of a meeting) | |
| 525 | to break off | |
| 526 | to break open | |
| 527 | to chop a coconut or nut in two | |
| 528 | to chop down | |
| 529 | to carry on the back | |
| 530 | to carry in the arms | |
| 531 | to carry under the arm | |
| 532 | to accept | |
| 533 | to accept | |
| 534 | to accept someone's advice or decision | |
| 535 | to accept, to accomplish, to carry out | |
| 536 | to ask about, to enquire | |
| 537 | to do, to make, to act towards | |
| 538 | to be able to do; to get, to arrive at | |
| 539 | to adhere, to hold fast | |
| 540 | to cling to (as wet clothes to the body) | |
| 541 | to adorn; a change of clothes at a mamasa | |
| 542 | to admire | |
| 543 | to acknowledge | |
| 544 | to believe | |
| 545 | to be accustomed to | |
| 546 | to abstain from food, to fast | |
| 547 | to add together, to come together | |
| 548 | to add water to | |
| 549 | to accumulate | |
| 550 | for a feeling to come strongly over one | |
| 551 | to come to an end | |
| 552 | to come about, to come to pass | |
| 553 | to take, to carry off | |
| 554 | to rule, to have authority over | |
| 555 | kingdom, rule, dominion | |
| 556 | to give | |
| 557 | to forgive | |
| 558 | sin, transgression | |
| 559 | to deliver, to set free | |
| 560 | to hallow, to make honoured | |
| 561 | holy | |
| 562 | I wish, if only | |
| 563 | the fine white pandanus mat, the most sacred Rotuman object | |
| 564 | 'the tip of her fingers' - a woman's own 'apei | |
| 565 | a very large pandanus mat | |
| 566 | the shiny part of the pandanus leaf used for 'apei | |
| 567 | the black part removed from a pandanus leaf | |
| 568 | the process of stripping the pandanus leaf | |
| 569 | a large coil of prepared pandanus strips | |
| 570 | the Rotuman ceremonial garland | |
| 571 | a single unit of the tefui garland | |
| 572 | the earth oven, and the food cooked in it | |
| 573 | a traditional ceremony or celebration | |
| 574 | the pile of mats an honoured guest sits on | |
| 575 | a wedding | |
| 576 | a birthday | |
| 577 | the ritual for a first-born child | |
| 578 | a ritual apology | |
| 579 | a funeral | |
| 580 | the return of a widowed spouse to the parental home | |
| 581 | the fifth-day observance after a burial | |
| 582 | the call made at a funeral | |
| 583 | a basket of koua food presented to dignitaries | |
| 584 | the principal Rotuman ceremonial dance | |
| 585 | the communal tạutoga danced by men and women | |
| 586 | the men's tạutoga | |
| 587 | the first section of the tạutoga | |
| 588 | the melodic chant section of the tạutoga | |
| 589 | the section of the tạutoga adapted from foreign music | |
| 590 | dance; to dance | |
| 591 | the anointing of dancers with scented oil | |
| 592 | a tale or story, especially a fictitious one | |
| 593 | a report; news of a witnessed event | |
| 594 | history (lit. 'the report of the time') | |
| 595 | chief; lord | |
| 596 | a district chief | |
| 597 | the sub-chief of a household group | |
| 598 | chief of a district | |
| 599 | the traditional paramount ritual office of Rotuma | |
| 600 | the chief ranking next to the sạu in former times | |
| 601 | 'turning over the eating platform' - a chief's naming rite | |
| 602 | a returnee, one coming home from abroad | |
| 603 | a visiting party bringing mats and gifts | |
| 604 | God | |
| 605 | the Almighty, the All-Powerful | |
| 606 | the supreme deity of the pre-Christian Rotuman pantheon | |
| 607 | supernatural power | |
| 608 | 'the land that hangs from the sky', the home of Tagroa | |
| 609 | holy, sacred | |
| 610 | a minister of religion | |
| 611 | a church member | |
| 612 | church building | |
| 613 | the Rotuman language | |
| 614 | language, speech; a case, a matter | |
| 615 | the culture and custom of the land | |
| 616 | Rotuman custom | |
| 617 | to sustain, to keep going | |
| 618 | useful words | |
| 619 | island group, archipelago | |
| 620 | the sarong | |
| 621 | the hibiscus-stem bark used as the tefui cord | |
| 622 | the hibiscus stem | |
| 623 | the seaweed used in a tefui | |
| 624 | the male pandanus flower used for tefui stars | |
| 625 | a root crop whose leaf wraps the tefui |