Wadjarri words and pronunciation guide
Of the seven language groups in the Yamaji region, Wadjarri is the most common. Here are some Wadjarri words for you to practice.
Wadjarri Words
(Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, 2000)
| Wadjarri | English |
|---|---|
| people | |
| mayu | child |
| yagu | mother or aunt |
| nyarlu | woman |
| yamaji | man |
| body parts | |
| maga | head |
| guru | eye |
| mulya | nose |
| irra | mouth |
| gurlga | ear |
| mara | hand |
| warri | stomach |
| jina | foot |
| animals | |
| duthu | dog |
| marlu | kangaroo |
| guwiyarl | goanna |
| yalibirri | emu |
| environment | |
| baba | rain |
| garangu | sun |
| winda | tree |
| marda | mountain |
| burlga | grass |
| garla | fire |
*some words have spelling variations not listed her
(emphasis placed on the first syllable)
| consonants | ||
| b | between English ‘b’ and ‘p’ as in ‘spa’ | e.g. baba |
| d | between English ‘d’ and ‘t’ as in ‘stay’ | e.g. winda, marda |
| rd | as in American English ‘r’ as in ‘bird’ | e.g. marda |
| g | between English ‘g’ and ‘k’ as in ‘score’ | e.g. guru, garla |
| j | as in ‘jingle’ | e.g. jina |
| ly | as in ‘billion’ (never like ‘Billy’) | e.g. mulya |
| rl | as in American English ‘r’ as in ‘curl’ | e.g. gurlga, marlu, burlga |
| m | as in ‘monkey’ | e.g. maga |
| ng | as in ‘singing’ (never like ‘finger’) | e.g. garangu |
| ny | as in ‘onion’ (never like ‘any’) | e.g. nyarlu |
| r | as in ‘orange’ | e.g. mara |
| rr | between English ‘rt’ and ‘d’ as in ‘word’ | e.g. yalibirri, warri, irra |
| th | as in ‘width’ (never like ‘finger’) | e.g. duthu |
| w | as in ‘owe’ | e.g. guwiyarl |
| y | short sound as in ‘papa’ | e.g. baba |
| vowels | ||
| a | short sound as in ‘papa’ | e.g. baba |
| i | short sound as in ‘bit’ | e.g. irra |
| u | short sound as in ‘put’ (never like ‘bun&rrsquo;) | e.g. guru |
