The Yuin people of the south-east coast of New South Wales were
traditionally made up of 13 major tribal groups, encompassing the area
from Botany Bay west to Campbelltown, then following and including

the eastern mountains of the Great Dividing Range to south of what
we now know as the New South Wales and Victoria border.
The 13 major traditional tribal groups were, from north to south:
Dharawal of Sydney
Allowrie of Wollongong
Wodi Wodi of Nowra
Jerrinja of Orient Point
Wandiwondian of Wandandian
Murramurrang of Ulladulla
Walbunja of Batemans Bay/Mogo
Munkata-Yuin of Braidwood
Brinja-Yuin of Moruya
Arralyin of Araluen
Djirringanj of Wallaga/Bega
Wathargadarls/Wallagadarns of Bermagui
Dhawa of Eden
Collectively we are the Black Duck people, ‘Umbarra’ (wambaara)
being the totem of the Yuin people. Water birds feature strongly in our
tribe and clan group totems and are reﬂected in several Dreamtime
stories.
In today’s climate of Native Title, misrepresentation in ofﬁcial
documents and media and the loss of traditional Aboriginal
knowledge-holders, these deﬁnitions are contentious. The most

common term used on the South Coast is Yuin people. This is broadly
accepted by the Aboriginal community.
According to language archival material collected by various people
from Aboriginal informants between the years 1834 and 1902, the
traditional languages or the New South Wales south-east coast are:
Dharrawal
The southern parts of Sydney and Botany Bay to Nowra
Dhurga
South of Nowra to Narooma inclusive of Braidwood and Araluen
Djirringanj
Narooma to Bega inclusive of Wallaga Lake and Bermagui
Dhawa
Eden to the north-eastern parts of Victoria
A dialect called Dharumba was spoken around Wandandian where
the Dharrawal and Dhurga languages merged. At the time of
publication of this dictionary, the names of other dialects are unknown.
7
2 / YUIN PEOPLE AND THE SOUTH-EAST COAST LANGUAGES
The south coast languages belong to the Pama–Nyungan languages,
the most wide-spread family of Australian Aboriginal languages that –
prior to 1788 – covered 90%
of the continent. It was made up of more than 300 languages. The
name ‘Pama–

Nyungan’ is derived from the names of the two most widely separated
groups, the Pama languages of the north-east and the Nyungan
languages of the south-west. All of these languages are descended
from a single ancestor language that spread across the continent. The
10% of non–Pama-Nyungan languages includes those spoken in the
Kimberley and the Top End.
As a result of adverse government policies over
the past 200 years the majority of Aboriginal
Language is the road
people were forced to live on missions and
reserves, creating a mixture of different lanmap of a culture, it
guage groups. In addition, Aboriginal people
tells you where its
were actively discouraged from speaking their
languages. Due to fear of punishment and the
people come from
intermingling of languages over several generations, it can be unclear how a language
and where they are
might have been spoken before colonisation
going.

without linguistic expertise.
RITA MAE BROWN
A common myth perpetuated by some scholUS AUTHOR
ars is that the South Coast languages are spoken by very few, mainly the elderly, or are on
the verge of extinction. This misconception
continues even today, when the evidence
strongly suggests otherwise. It is true that some South Coast
Aboriginal people cannot speak their languages ﬂuently, and likely
never will. We are all possessively cling-ing to knowledge of words
and phrases in our traditional languages handed down through the
generations, despite efforts to stiﬂe and deny that.
We are forever indebted to the handful of people who persisted
through adversity and recorded from reliable informants the remnants
of our languages. In more recent years the work done by linguists has
allowed for the differentiation of our languages, the revival and
renewal of our native tongue, and has contributed beyond belief to the
empowerment of Aboriginal communities and individuals.
8
3 / USING THIS DICTIONARY
3 / USING THIS DICTIONARY
ELEANOR JORGENSEN

The Dhurga Dictionary and Learner’s Grammar has been designed for
Yuin people to use as a resource to help learn their language,
increase their vocabulary, and develop literacy in Dhurga. It contains
information about Dhurga and the Yuin people, how to use the
dictionary and understand the entries, and the dictionary itself. This
includes guides on how to pronounce and spell Dhurga words,
information on what
‘parts of speech’ are, details on how to form a sentence and other
grammatical information, and instructions for ﬁnding the original
written source of the words in this dictionary.
There are three ways the dictionary is organised: an alphabetical (B–
Y) list of Dhurga words with English deﬁnitions, an alphabetical (A–Z)
list of English words and their Dhurga translations, and an English list
of categories (e.g. birds, body parts, tools and toys) in which there are
the Dhurga words that fall into that category.
The Dhurga Dictionary contains 728 words. Each entry includes a
head word, its part of speech, deﬁnition, and a source code which
indicates by which linguist and in which publication the term is
attributed to Dhurga. Some words have been given a colour.
This helps you remember what part of speech they are. Each word
might also have a picture, and/or an example sentence to show you
how to use the word in a sentence.
We hope that you will ﬁnd the Dhurga Dictionary useful and enjoyable
to read.
Walawaani!
9
4 / DHURGA PRONUNCIATION AND SPELLING
4 / DHURGA PRONUNCIATION AND SPELLING

Understanding the sounds of Dhurga will help you pronounce and
learn the words in this dictionary. The pronunciation of each of the
sounds is listed below, written using a standard spelling system
(orthography). Dhurga has some sounds that English has, but also
some that are not in English. To help learn the pronunciation, we have
provided English words that have a similar sound or given instructions
on how to position your tongue to form the sound. The spelling used in
this dictionary is based on those used in Jutta Besold’s PhD thesis,
and is generally similar to how many Indigenous Australian languages
are written.
VOWELS
Dhurga has six vowels. These can be paired up into ‘short’ and ‘long’
vowels. To a speaker of Australian English, long vowels might seem
very similar to their short counterparts. Think of it like you are holding
the sound longer, like it is stretched out.
a as in bus
aa as in past
i as in bit
ii as in bee
u as in put
uu as in too
CONSONANTS
Some Dhurga consonants are hard to tell apart for English speakers.
For instance, d and dh are very similar, as are n and nh. The spelling
helps you remember the difference between sounds. When you see
an h in the spelling, your tongue should be to your teeth, like for the dh
and nh sounds. When you see a j in the spelling, it sounds like there is
a y sound following the consonant, like for the dj and nj sounds.

b as in book
d as in dog
dh like dog but with tongue under top teeth
dj as in judge or dew
g as in good
l as in look
m as in many
n as in no
ng as in song, not as in ﬁnger
nh like n but with tongue under top teeth
nj as in new
r as in rain
10
4 / DHURGA PRONUNCIATION AND SPELLING
rd as in bird — say this with an American accent so you really
pronounce the r sound rl as in swirl — say this with an American
accent so you really pronounce the r sound rn as in corn — say this
with an American accent so you really pronounce the r sound rr as in
purr — roll your tongue
w as in well
y as in yell
FULL STOPS IN WORDS

Some entries in this dictionary have a full stop (.) in them (e.g.
yabin.gi ‘lean, thin’).
This full stop tells you to pronounce the n and g as two separate
sounds, rather than the single sound ng.
CAPITAL V IN WORDS
Some entries in this dictionary have a capital V in them (e.g.
mayarmVga ‘ﬂy’). This is because it is not clear what the vowel sound
should be, and to stay as accurate as possible to the Dhurga language
we did not want to just choose a vowel. For these entries check the
variants for possible pronunciations. These are always ordered i, a, u
(e.g.
mayarmiga, mayarmaga, mayarmuga). This is the only time you will
see capitals in Dhurga. We do not use capital letters at the start of a
sentence or for proper nouns.
STRESS IN WORDS
Stress is a term for which part of the word has emphasis. Dhurga has
an easy stress pattern to remember, you should always emphasise
the ﬁrst syllable of a word (e.g.
duraya ‘river’).
11
5 / GUIDES TO PARTS OF SPEECH
5 / GUIDE TO PARTS OF SPEECH
All words have a ‘part of speech’, a category they belong to that
determines what can be attached to them and what role they have in a
sentence. Some of the parts of speech in Dhurga may be familiar to
English speakers — most if not all languages have verbs (actions) and
nouns (things and people). Below is the complete list of parts of

speech referred to in this dictionary, their abbreviations, and a brief
explanation of each of them. To make using the dictionary easier, we
have colour coded the Dhurga words based on their part of speech. In
this guide we have colour coded the name of the part of speech in the
same way.
Adjective (adj.) is a describing word. It gives more information about
the noun (e.g.
big dog). Adjectives in this dictionary are brown.
Conjunction (conj.) is a joining word. It connects sentences or parts
of a sentence (e.g. I ran to the door and opened it).
Demonstratives (dem.) ‘point’ to something around the speaker. In
English demonstratives include ‘this, that, these, those’. Often in
languages there are two kinds of demonstratives, one kind points to
things close to the speaker (English
‘this, these’), another kind points to things further away (English ‘that,
those’).
Demonstratives in this dictionary are yellow.
Exclamation (excl.) expresses surprise, strong emotion, or pain (e.g.
ow!).
Interrogative (inter.) is a question word (e.g. who, what, where).
Interrogatives in this dictionary are purple.
Kin (kin) is a member of a family, a relative, someone who is
connected to you by blood or marriage (e.g. mother, father’s brother
(uncle)).
Noun (n.) is a word for a person, place, or thing. Nouns can be
classiﬁed as ‘common nouns’ which are general things (e.g. chair,
tree, house) and ‘proper nouns’ (see below) which are things which
have a speciﬁc name (e.g. Australia, Sydney, John).

Nouns in this dictionary are red.
Proper Noun (nprop.) is a thing which has a speciﬁc, often one of a
kind name.
They include personal names, place names, and constellations. In
English, proper nouns always begin with a capital letter no matter
where they are in a sentence.
Number (num.) counting words (e.g. one, four). Numbers in this
dictionary are green.
Particle (part.) is a word that only has meaning when used with other
words.
Phrase (phr.) is a sequence of two or more words that often go
together, it is a unit that is larger than a word but smaller or equal to a
sentence (e.g. ‘let’s go’, ‘safe journey’).
Pronoun (pro.) is a word that can replace a noun, most often a person
(e.g. I hit the ball, she hugged me). Pronouns in this dictionary are
pink.
12
8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY
-ndjali suf.
Indicates that the action is done to each other or that it is done to
myself/ourselves/himself/hersel 5 / G
f/the UI
mD
sel EvS TO P

es et
A
c. ReRcTS O
iproc F S
al/rPeEﬂEeCxiH
ve.
— ngama-ndjali-wang waranganj-bara.
— Let’s swap boomerangs.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.2.2-148.
-ng pro.
you (one person) and I (ﬁrst person dual inclusive subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
Spatial (spat.) is a word relating to space (e.g. far, near). Spatial and
temporal words (see b
-nel
gow
a)i
pnt
ro.
his diction

wa
e try a
hre re o
e o ra
rmn
or g
e e.
, but NOT you (ﬁrst person plural exclusive subject).
Sufﬁx
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
(suf.) is a unit less than a word that cannot stand alone and must be
attached to the end of another word. Most grammatical information in
Dhurga is given by suf-ngal pro.
our (ﬁrst person dual exclusive possessive).
ﬁxes. All sufﬁxes in this d
SO i
Uc
Rti
Co
E: n

Aa
-r
P. y b
292 Jeg
Be i
snw
.
ith a hyphen (-) (e.g. -dhuga ‘my’).
Temporal (temp.) is a word relating to a time (e.g. yesterday). Spatial
(see above)
-ngala pro.
he/she/it and I, but NOT you (ﬁrst person dual exclusive subject).
and temporal words in t
Sh
O is d
URC ic
E: t
A i-o
P. n
2a

3r
3Jya
Bes re o
.
range.
Intransitive Verb (vi.) is an action which something does, that does
not involve
-ngalangga pro. he/she/it and I, but NOT you (ﬁrst person dual
exclusive object).
doing it to something else (e.g. run, sleep, travel, die). Intransitive
verbs in this dic-SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
tionary are light blue.
-ngamba
Transitive Ver
sb
uf.
Negates the action, indicating it did not happen or will not happen.
(vt.) is an action that is done to something else (e.g. build, destroy).
This attaches to the verb AFTER a tense marker.
Transitive verbs in this dictionary are dark blue.
— djama-ngamba-ga.

— I’m not talking.
SOURCE: A-P.275 JBes.
-ngana pro.
us three or more, including you (ﬁrst person plural inclusive object).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-ng
DHURG anang
A HEADW ga
us three or more, but NOT you (ﬁrst person plural exclusive object).
ORD:
p
THE C ro.
OLOUR INDICATES
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
PART OF SPEECH
PART OF SPEECH
DEFINITION
-ngga pro.
me (ﬁrst person singular object).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.

-nggul suf.
Belonging to. Genitive case marker.
VARIANT: -ngal
OTHER PRONUNCIATIONS
— birriiwa-y ngayaga-nggul
DHURGA EXAMPLE SENTENCE
— the spear belongs to me.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
SOURCE: A-P.207/B-P.202 JBes. U-M.2.2-51.
-ngu pro.
Your (second person singular possessive).
VARIANT: -djung
SOURCE: A-P.292 J
SOURCE C Bes
ODE .
-ngul pro.
our (ﬁrst person dual inclusive possessive).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
32
13

6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
This section of the dictionary provides detailed explanations on the
grammar of Dhurga, including word order, what to include on a noun
or a verb, the order of parts of speech that modify a noun, and forming
more complex sentences like questions and commands.
WORD ORDER
Dhurga is very different from English in the way it conveys information
about who is doing what in a sentence. English has a strict word order
that tells you what the subject (person/thing doing the action) is, and
what the object (person/thing the action is being done to) is. In
Dhurga, word order is much more ﬂexible. There are three main ways
you can form a sentence, from most common to least common:
Subject, Object, Verb
yuwinj-dju djaruga-mbara dhabaga-l-ul
man-subject wallaby-two catch-past-them
A man caught a couple wallabies.
Verb, (Subject), Object
djirabu-ga madbu-dhuga bunbal-dha
hang.up-I bag-my tree-on
I’ll hang my bag on the tree.
Subject, Verb, Object
wadhangarr-a badha-l njiinj gungara
dog-subject bit-past that possum

The dog bit that possum.
Subject Verb Object is the least common and may be due to the
inﬂuence of English.
Though word order is very variable, there is a general rule that the
object does not go before the subject. However, you can get
sentences without a stand-alone subject.
When a person is the subject of a sentence, often there is no standalone subject and these sentences tend to be Verb Object sentences,
as seen above. Object Verb sentences without a stand-alone subject
seem to be used to emphasise the object as the important part of the
sentence.
Object Verb
ngadju ngundha-ga njiinj
water drink.present-I this
I am drinking water (and not some other drink).
The main thing to remember is that whatever is the topic (the main
thing being focused on, or the most important piece of information),
you put that ﬁrst.
14
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
BUILDING A NOUN
Dhurga is very helpful because it tells us what is a subject and what is
an object regardless of what order they are in. Dhurga shows this
information by attaching what is called a ‘case marker’ to the nouns in
a sentence.

The most important case marker is the ergative case marker. The
ergative case marker is attached to the noun that is the subject of a
sentence. But it is only used when the subject is acting on something
else (only used to mark the subject of a sentence with both a subject
AND object). If the sentence has a subject and verb but no object
(nothing which an action is being done to), then no marker is put on
the noun.
There are two ergative markers in Dhurga: -dju and -ngga. We don’t
have enough information about them to say with certainty when one
should be used over the other. You can choose. These two markers
each have two forms, depending on what sound they follow. -dju
becomes -u if the last sound of the noun it is attached to is rr or r. ngga becomes -a if the last sound of the noun it is attached to is rr or
r.
There are seven other case markers in Dhurga that each describe a
different relation-ship between nouns in a sentence.
The locative case marker -dha is put on a noun to indicate something
else is on/at/
in that noun.
dhugan-dha
camp-at
at camp
The locative case marker -dha becomes -a if the word it attaches to
end in r, rr or l.
yuwinj njindjilan bunbal-a
man this side tree-at
The man is on this side of the tree.

-dha is also the allative case marker, which is put on a noun to
indicate motion towards that noun.
bunbal-dha
tree-to
to the tree
To tell if -dha means ‘at/on’ or ‘towards’ depends on what verb is being
used. -dha means ‘towards’ only if the verb is describing motion like
‘go’, ‘go down’, ‘go up’ etc.
The instrumental case marker is also -dha. It is put on a noun to
indicate the noun is a tool that is used for something.
15
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
waranganj-dha gambadja-la-ga
boomerang-with kill-past-I
I killed it with a boomerang.
You can tell when -dha is the instrumental case marker because it will
be put on nouns that can be used as tools.
The ablative case marker -din is put on a noun to indicate motion
away from that noun. It is often used on ngarn ‘place’ as a general
term after the more speciﬁc place is marked with a locative marker:
dhugan-dha ngarn-din
camp-at place-from
from the camp

The genitive case marker -nggul is put on a noun or pronoun to
indicate that this noun possesses another noun in the sentence. The
possessor follows the possessed in the sentence.
birriiwa ngayaga-nggul
spear I-belong
The spear belongs to me.
The benefactive case markers -gul, -lul and -mu are put on a noun
or interrogative pronoun (who or what) to indicate the verb is being
done for them/on their behalf.
-gul is used after a consonant and -lul is used after a vowel. It is
unclear if there are any rules about when -mu should be used.
wananga-lul njiinj
who-for this
Who is this for?
The purposive case markers -buran and -wuran are put on a noun to
indicate that the verb is done for the purpose of that noun, it is the goal
of the action. -buran is used after a consonant and -wuran is used
after a vowel.
biyan birribanj-buran waba-n
father emu-for go-nonpast
Father is going for that emu.
You can add the diminutive -yanga to a noun to indicate it is small and
/ or cute. You may recognise it from the word gubidja-yanga ‘little
toe’. Nouns may also be marked for number; that is, how many of the
noun there are.

16
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
Dhurga makes a distinction between singular, dual, and plural forms.
The dual markers -bara, -wara or -mbara indicates there are two. For
example, waranganj-bara means ‘two boomerangs’ or ‘both
boomerangs’. -bara is used after consonants, except rr and ng. -wara
is used after vowels and rr. -mbara is used after vowels and ng. The
plural markers -baraga, -waraga, and -mbaraga show that there are
three or more. They have the same rules for when to use them as their
dual counterparts.
For example, waranganj-baraga ‘many boomerangs’. We have no
examples of both number marking and case marking both attached to
a noun. This may or may not be possible.
Nouns may also mark possession with possessive pronouns that
attach to the end of the noun to indicate who it is owned by.
Possessive pronouns attach to the noun after number marking:
waranganj-bara-dhuga
boomerang-two-my
both of my boomerangs
These number and possession markers do not seem to occur with
case markers.
ORDER OF PARTS RELATED TO THE NOUN
Across languages, nouns are usually modiﬁed by other parts of
speech. Adjectives describe some quality of the noun like its size,
colour, texture etc. (e.g. ‘big, blue, bumpy’). Demonstratives point out
where the noun is in relation to the speaker (e.g.

‘this, that’). Numbers and plural marking tell you how many of that
noun there are (e.g. ‘three cats’).
There is some ﬂexibility in the order of these. Most commonly, the
order is: (ADJECTIVE)
NOUN
CASE MARKER (POSSESSIVE/NUMBER)
(DEMONSTRATIVE)
gubidja waranganj-dha njiinj
small boomerang-with this
with this small boomerang
However, adjectives can also go after the noun.
djaruga biraga
wallaby big
a big wallaby
17
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
There are no examples of nouns modiﬁed by both numbers and case
marking, or both possessives and case marking — it is unclear if they
can occur on the same noun and, if so, what order they attach to the
noun in. There are also no examples of any stand-alone numbers
such as dhawa ‘ten’ or djiriba ‘two’ or any other numbers. We do not
know if they should go before or after the noun in Dhurga.
USING PRONOUNS

There are two types of pronouns in Dhurga: ones that can exist by
themselves; and ones that must be attached to other words
(possessive pronouns attach to nouns, all other bound pronouns
attach to verbs). Bound pronouns are much more commonly used
than stand-alone pronouns. Pronouns are different from nouns in that
they do not take the ergative marker. This is because you can use a
pronoun as the subject of a sentence regardless of whether there is
an object in the sentence or not.
These pronouns might be a bit confusing at ﬁrst because many of
them translate to exactly the same word in English. Like with the
nouns, Dhurga makes a distinction between singular, dual, and plural
forms of pronouns, while English only has singular and plural forms.
Dual means two, plural means three or more. For example, yindiwu is
translated as ‘you two’ because it is speciﬁcally about two people, not
more or less. If you’re referring to more than two people, you would
use yindiwan.
Dhurga also pays attention to whether the person/people listening to
the speaker is included or excluded from the pronoun. For example,
there is a distinction between ngayawung ‘we two (which includes
you)’, where the two people are the speaker and the listener, and
ngayawangala ‘we two (not including you)’ where the two people are
the speaker and someone else, but not the listener.
There are two ways to say ‘my / mine’ in Dhurga: -dha and -dhuga. dha is used when the thing or person that relates to you is
‘inalienable’. This means that it will always belong to you and cannot
be given away or lost, like body parts and family members (e.g.
minga-dha ‘my mother’). -dhuga is used if the thing is ‘alienable’.
This is something that can be given away or lost, like a book, car or
piece of clothing (e.g.
yaraman-dhuga ‘my horse’). This distinction between alienable and
inalienable possession is only for ‘my / mine’.

Another thing to pay attention to is whether the pronoun is a subject or
an object in the sentence. The stand-alone pronouns that we have in
this dictionary are subject pronouns; we sadly do not have any
examples of object pronouns. However, we do have examples of both
subject and object forms of bound pronouns, which must be attached
to a verb. Use the subject forms for the person or people who are
doing the action. For instance, -ng ‘we’ means ‘you and I’ and in the
example bundha-la-ng
‘we two bit it’ tells you who is doing the biting. Use the object forms for
the person or people who the action is being done to. For instance, ngal ‘we’ means ‘you and me’
and in the example bundha-la-ngal ‘it bit us two’ tells you who is
being bitten. It is important to make sure you are using the right
pronoun in your sentence. This may 18
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
be confusing but just remember English also makes distinctions
between subject and object pronouns; for example, ‘I’ is used only as
a subject and ‘me’ is used only as an object.
Finally, some third person bound pronouns do not exist in Dhurga.
There is no form for ‘he/she/it’, ‘him/her/it’, ‘them two’ or ‘them three or
more’. This means that where you would normally have to attach a
subject or object pronoun to the verb, you attach nothing. Because this
is the only situation when it is not necessary to attach these bound
pronouns, if you see a verb that does not have a subject pronoun
attached to it, you can assume it is a third person singular subject
‘he/she/it’. If a verb does not have an object pronoun attached, it will
be a third person object (either ‘him/her/it’, ‘them two’ or ‘them three or
more’).
BUILDING A VERB

In Dhurga, verbs give information not only about the action and when
it happened, but also restate who did the action, and to whom, by
attaching bound pronouns to the verb.
Think of the verb in Dhurga like a form you have to ﬁll out, where
speciﬁc information has to go in speciﬁc places. The form is not
complete until the necessary information is there. The order of
information that attaches to a verb is given below. (Note that
explanations for the words in brackets appear on pages 21, 22 and 23.)
(ASPECT/
(REFLEXIVE/
SUBJECT
OBJECT
VERB
(CAUSATIVE)
TENSE
(NEGATION)
MODAL)
RECIPROCAL)
MARKER
MARKER
All the information in brackets is optional and can be left out.
Everything without brackets (tense, subject marker and object marker)
needs to be attached to the verb if possible, otherwise the verb does
not make sense.

Some verbs cannot have the object marker attached to them. Think
about the English word ‘fall’ — is it possible to fall something? No! The
noun itself is doing the falling, rather than acting on something else.
Verbs that cannot have an object marker are called intransitive
verbs. In the dictionary these verbs have the part of speech ‘vi’.
For a verb that must have an object, the most basic verb you can form
is verb — tense
— subject — object.
dhambamu-la-ga-lu
see-past-I-you two
I saw you two.
A more complex sentence would look like the example below, but
usually verbs will not be this complicated.
19
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
dhana-ma-mba-la-ngamba-ga-nji
eat-cause-continuous-past-not-I-you
I was not feeding you.
Tense means the time the action took place. In Dhurga, events either
took place in the past, or in the ‘non-past’. Non-past covers the
present, the future, and ongoing actions.
The past tense marker is usually -la, but sometimes it is just -l.
There is only one situation when the past tense marker is -l: when the
past tense marker is the last thing attached to the verb. This happens

when the subject of the action is ‘he/she/it’ and the verb does not have
an object (e.g. maru-l ‘he/she/it ran’).
It also happens if both your subject and object are third person:
‘he/she/it/they/them’
(e.g. bundha-l ‘it bit her’).
When a second person singular ‘you’ is the subject of the verb then
this combines with the past tense marker (-la plus -nji) to make -li ‘you
in the past’.
dhambamu-li-ngga
see-you.past-me
You saw me.
The non-past marker is usually -n. However, as with the past tense
marker, if you have a second person singular ‘you’ as the subject of
the verb then this combines with the non-past tense marker (-n plus nji) to make -ni.
Verbs with ﬁrst person (I/we) subjects also do not use -n. Instead they
change the last vowel of the verb. Changing the vowel to -a indicates
the action is occurring in the present. Changing the vowel to -u
indicates a future event.
Other information about the time when actions occurred is given with
stand-alone words like bugiya ‘yesterday’ and gaway ‘soon’. These
words go after the verb and any noun that is stand-alone and the
object of the sentence or is involved in some way with the action.
Subject markers are listed below. They are the bound pronouns
discussed above.
-ga

I
-ni
you (one person) (in the present or future NOT past)*
-li
you (one person) (in the past) *
-ng
we two (you and I)
-ngala
we two (that person and I, but NOT you)
-(w)u
you two
20
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
-wara
those two
-nj
we three or more, including you
-nga
we three or more, but NOT you
-n

you three or more
-waraga
they three or more
* These are the forms mentioned above that have combined with the
tense marker.
Object markers are listed below, they are the bound pronouns
discussed above.
-ngga
me
-nji
you (one person)
-ngal
us two (you and me)
-ngalangga
us two (that person and me, but NOT you)
-lu
you two
-ngana
us three or more, including you
-nganangga
us three or more, but NOT you

-nhurr
you three or more
There is one ending that describes both subject and object, but is a
single ‘fused’
ending:
-gun I (do something to) you
marra ngama-wa-gun
ﬁsh give-will-I>you
I will give you ﬁsh.
Reciprocity describes actions that things/people do to each another
at the same time.
In English we use ‘each other’ to indicate this (e.g. ‘we saw each
other’). Reﬂexivity describes doing an action to oneself. In English we
use ‘myself’, ‘yourself’, ‘herself’,
‘ourselves’ etc. Both reciprocity and reﬂexivity are indicated the same
way in Dhurga, using the sufﬁx -ndjali. This sufﬁx is put before the
subject marker. There won’t be any object marker because when an
action is reﬂexive or reciprocal the person/thing doing the action is the
same person/thing that it is being done to.
Reﬂexive
djamu-ndjali-ga
talk.future-myself-I
I will talk to myself.
21

6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
Reciprocal
djama-ndjali-ngala
give-each.other-we
We give each other (boomerangs).
Aspect markers tell us whether an action is ﬁnished or not or gives
more information about how long the action is taking. This can be
easily confused with tense but is a different thing. Compare the
English ‘I was walking’ with ‘I had walked’, which both describe past
actions but one action is ongoing and one is completed.
The aspect marker -mba is used for continuous action.
ganji mudhuga-mba-la-ga
ﬁre make-continuous-past-I
I was making a ﬁre.
There is also a stand-alone word gabi that is an aspectual marker. It
is put before the verb to indicate the action is complete. It only seems
to co-occur with the past tense marker.
wadhungurr gabi bundha-l gungara
dog complete bite-past possum The dog killed the possum.
We only have two examples of the causative marker -ma in Dhurga,
so its exact use is uncertain. This marker indicates that something is
causing someone to do something. For example, dhana ‘eat’
becomes dhana-ma ‘feed’. The causative is put before the tense
marker.

waranj-dha dhana-ma-n-ga
child-my eat-cause-nonpast-I
I am feeding my child.
Modal markers tell us about the speaker’s perception of the action
being carried out, information like expectation, desire, or their
knowledge about the event. We do not have many examples of
modals in Dhurga.
The irrealis marker -wa indicates that the action is a possibility,
imagined or hypothetical. It can be used to express intent to do
something in the future or discuss possible or probable events.
yiribu-wa-ga buran njun
enter.future-will-I cave that
I’m going to go inside that cave.
22
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
Just as there is a purposive marker that attaches to a noun, there is
one that attaches to a verb. The modal marker -ri indicates that the
action is occurring for a purpose or is the goal of a previous action. It
attaches to the verb after the tense marker but before the subject
marker.
ngadju dawandha-ri-ga
water want-for-I
I want for water (I am thirsty).

This may also be used to make polite requests ‘could I/you please (do
this)’.
The hortative marker -ya is used to suggest or ask to be allowed to
do something.
Think of English sentences ‘Let’s go to the beach’ or ‘Let them go to
the movies’. -ya goes between the tense marker and the subject
marker. To use it when talking about the ﬁrst person (I/we) you have to
change the last vowel of the verb to a ‘u’ e.g. wanain wanu-ya-ng ‘let’s leave’.
There is also a stand-alone word wanda that means ‘perhaps’ or
‘maybe’. This is put before the verb in the one example we have of it in
Dhurga:
bunbal ganji wanda djamaru-ga
tree wood maybe collect-I
Maybe I will collect some wood.
NEGATION
The negation marker -ngamba indicates that the sentence or action
did not happen.
It follows tense marking in Dhurga:
binga-la-ngamba-ga
throw-past-not-I
I did not throw (it).
FORMING QUESTIONS

There are two ways of asking a question in Dhurga. The ﬁrst way is to
use a question word like wananga ‘who’, minja ‘what’, wandung
‘when’, wadha ‘where’, mali ‘why’
or yuga ‘how’. These are used if you want information about
something. They are put at the start of the sentence.
wadha wadhangarr
where dog
Where is the dog?
23
6 / HOW TO MAKE A SENTENCE
These question words can have case markers attached to them:
wanangga-lul njiinj
who-for this
Who is this for?
There is also a way of forming a question if the answer is ngay ‘yes’ or
dhagayil ‘no’.
These are formed just like a statement but have a rising intonation at
the end. This is the same questioning tone we use in English
questions.
FORMING COMMANDS
In Dhurga, if you want to tell someone to do something, you have to
alter the verb.
First you change the ﬁnal vowel of the verb to -u, like the future tense
marker. Next you add -r, -ru, or -ran. -r is used if you are telling one

person to do something, -ru is used if you are telling two people to do
something, and -ran is used if you are telling more than two people to
do something.
djamu-r
talk.future-command
Talk!
Unlike with normal verbs, commands do not need any subject or
object markers to make sense.
LINKING SENTENCES TOGETHER
We have evidence for two ways of linking sentences in Dhurga. They
both translate to
‘and’. Use ya if the subjects of the two sentences are different and
have already been introduced, or if you are listing things ‘this and this
and this and this etc.’ If the subject of the two sentences is the same
(done by the same person or thing) then use ba.
nangu-l ya (mambi) ganama-l
sleep-past and (eel) burn-past
They slept and the eel burned.
yuwinj yana-l dhugan-dha ba yiriba-l
man come-past hut-to and enter-past The man came to the hut and
entered.
24
7 / HOW TO FIND THE SOURCES OF WORDS IN THE
DICTIONARY

7 / HOW TO FIND THE SOURCES OF WORDS IN THE
DICTIONARY
Each word in this dictionary has a source code (e.g. U-M.1.1.). This
code tells you where you can ﬁnd the original mention of the word in
other papers, books, and word lists.
The source codes used here have been taken from Jutta Besold’s
PhD thesis ‘Language Recovery of the New South Wales South Coast
Aboriginal Languages’ . A word might have more than one source
code if it appears in several of the sources below. Some of these
sources are online, but many are held by libraries and must be
requested.
A source code provides some or all of the following information: 1.
Name of place of collection or name of language
2. Name of language collector
3. Whether the material is in published (1) or unpublished (2) 4. Year of
publication, if applicable
5. Page number, if applicable
6. Name of informant, if applicable
7.
Name of social group informant belongs to, if applicable
PLACENAME AND LANGUAGE CODES
A
Dharrawal
B

Bega
BB
Batemans Bay
DM Dharumba
JB
Jervis Bay
MY Moruya
SCL South Coast Languages
U
Dhurga
ULL Ulladulla
Y
Yuin
LANGUAGE COLLECTOR CODES
AH Alfred Howitt
AM Andrew Mackenzie
C
Edward Curr
CCU Continuous Community Use
E

Diana Eades
G
Joseph Gaimard
HH Horatio Hale
JBes Jutta Besold
JL
James Larmer
M
Robert Hamilton Mathews
RD Richard Dawsey
For the sources relating to Jutta Besold’s thesis, the letter ‘A’ or ‘B’ and
page number (P.XXX) written before the source code tells you where
a word is found: ‘A’ stands for 25
7 / HOW TO FIND THE SOURCES OF WORDS IN THE
DICTIONARY
Part A and ‘B’ stands for part B, e.g. B-P.217 JBes. indicates the word
is found on page 217 of Part B.
If you want to ﬁnd the original source of a word, check the source code
and use the table below to ﬁnd the corresponding written source. So,
in the source code U-M.2.2–76:
U tells you that the language is Dhurga
M tells you that Robert Hamilton Mathews collected the word 2.2 is the
term for this unpublished document

By looking at the table below we ﬁnd that U-M.2.2 is the ‘Thurga and
Jirringany Notebook’ stored at the National Library of Australia. 76 tells
us the word should be on page 76 of this notebook.
Code
Source
A/U-E or U-E
Eades, Diana Kelloway 1976, The Dharawal and Dhurga Languages of
the New South Wales South Coast, Australian Institute of Aboriginal
Studies.
BB-JL or U-BB-JL
Larmer, James 1898, ‘Native vocabulary of miscellaneous New South
Wales Objects’, Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New
South Wales Vol.
32, pp. 223–229.
CCU.
Not recorded but has continued community use.
DM-AM-1874 or
Mackenzie, Andrew 1874, ‘Specimen of Native Australian Languages’,
DM-AM.1
Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and
Ireland, Vol. 3
London: Turner & Co, pp. 247–261.
DM-AM-1877

Mackenzie, Andrew 1877, ‘Guayamin’ [and other stories], Journal of
the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Vol 7
London: Turner & Co., pp. 269–274.
DM-AM-1878
Mackenzie, Andrew 1878. ‘Australian languages and traditions’,
Journal of the Anthropological Institute Vol. 7 No. 3, 125, 232–274.
DM-M.1.8
Mathews, Robert Hamilton 1902, ‘The Murawarri and other Australian
Languages’, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland
Vol. 18, pp. 52–68.
DM-M.2.6
Mathews, Robert Hamilton n.d., ‘Thooru˘mba’ Notebook 4’, Mathews
Collection MS 8006, National Library of Australia, pp. 27–31.
JB-C
Curr, Edward 1887, The Australian Race — its origin, languages,
customs, place of landing in Australia, and the routes by which it
spread itself over that continent, Melbourne: John Ferrer, Government
Printer.
JB-G
Gaimard, Joseph Paul 1834, ‘Vocabulaire de la Langue des Habitans
de la Baie Jervis (Australie)’ in D. D’Urville, Voyage de découvertes de
l’Astrolabe philologie, Paris: Le Ministere de la Marine, pp. 11–13.
26
7 / HOW TO FIND THE SOURCES OF WORDS IN THE
DICTIONARY

Code
Source
JB-RD
Dawsey, Richard 1887, ‘No.194. – From Jervis Bay to Mount
Dromedary –
additional words’ in Curr 1887 Vol. 3, pp. 420–421.
JBes.
Besold, Jutta 2013, ‘Language recovery of the New South Wales
South Coast Aboriginal languages’, Australian National University.
MY-HH or U-HH
Hale, Horatio 1846, Ethnography and Philology United States
Exploring Expeditions during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842,
Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard.
SCL-M-1904
Mathews, Robert Hamilton 1904, ‘Ethnological Notes on the Aboriginal
tribes of New South Wales and Victoria’, Journal and Proceedings of
the Royal Society of NSW Vol. 38, pp. 203–381.
U-AH
Howitt, Alfred n.d., ‘Pieces of Information on the tribe of Aborigines
inhabiting the country between Mallagoota Inlet & Shoalhaven
N.S.W.’, Howitt Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne.
U-AM
Mackenzie, Andrew 1874, ‘Specimen of Native Australian Languages’,
The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and

Ireland Vol. 3, pp. 247–261 London: Turner & Co.
U-C
Curr, Edward 1887, The Australian Race — its origin, languages,
customs, place of landing in Australia, and the routes by which it
spread itself over that continent, Melbourne: John Ferrer, Government
Printer.
UL-JL-226
Larmer, James September 1832, ‘Notebook of Australian Aboriginal
vocabularies, 1832–1853’ Larmer Collection MLMSS 7213 Mitchell
Library, Sydney.
U-M.2.2 or DMMathews, Robert Hamilton n.d., ‘Thurga and Jirringany Notebook’.
M.2.2
Mathews Collection MS 8006, National Library of Australia.
Y-AH1054 or
Howitt, Alfred n.d., ‘Kinterms in Yuin and Yuin sentences’. Howitt
Collection, Y-AH.1-54
State Library of Victoria, Melbourne.
27

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY
SUFFIXES

-abul pro.
Their (third person dual possessive).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-bara suf.
Dual marker (two things/people, a couple of, use after a consonant).
VARIANT: -wara (after a vowel or rr), -mbara (after a vowel or ng)
— ngama-ndjali-wang waranganj-bara.
— Let’s swap boomerangs.
SOURCE: B-P.211/B-P.214 JBes. U-M.2.2-148.
-baraga suf.
Plural marker (three or more things/people, use after a consonant).
VARIANT: -waraga (after a vowel or rr), -mbaraga (after a vowel or ng)
— waranganj-baraga yili-g-in.
— I carry several boomerangs.
SOURCE: B-P.211/B-P.218 JBes. U-M.1.2-104.
-bul pro.
Your (second person dual possessive).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-buran suf.

Use of, for the purpose of (used after a consonant). Purposive on
nouns.
VARIANT: -wuran (after a vowel)
— biyan birribanj-buran waba-n.
— Father went for that emu.
SOURCE: A-P.158 JBes.
-dha pro.
My/mine (inalienable – use when the thing cannot be given away or
taken).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-dha suf.
In/at/on (locative case).
VARIANT: -a (when the word it attaches to ends in r, rr or l) SOURCE:
A-P.292JBes.
— waranganj yuna-la-ga dhugan-dha
— I kept a boomerang at the camp.
SOURCE: B-P.185.JBes. DM-M.1.8-60.
-dha suf.
Towards/to (allative case).
— yana-la-ga dhugan-dha-dha
— I came to my camp.

SOURCE: A-P.191JBes DM-AM.1-248. DM-AM-1874-256-UI /Bu1. UM.1.1. U-RD-423.
29

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w
y
-dha suf.
With/using (instrumental case).
— waranganj-dha bayi-la-ga
— I kil ed it with a boomerang.
SOURCE: B-P.197JBes. U-M.2.2-41.
-dhuga pro.
My/mine (alienable — use when the thing can be given away or
taken).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-din suf.
Motion away from a place or object. Ablative case.
VARIANT: di
— wabu-n ngarn-din.
— We will go away from that place.
SOURCE: A-P.158 JBes.

-djan pro.
Their (third person plural possessive).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-dju suf.
Subject of an action that is done to something else. Subject of
transitive verb. Ergative case marker.
VARIANT: -u
— yuwinj-dju djaruga dhabaga-mili-l.
— A man caught a wal aby for himself.
SOURCE: A-P.158 JBes.
-djur pro.
Your (second person plural possessive).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-ga pro.
I (ﬁrst person singular subject).
VARIANT: -g (if followed by a vowel)
— djinjama-ga waranganj yabandja-ga njiinj.
— I will make a boomerang
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-gudha suf.

Having the highest amount of a quality e.g. best, biggest, fastest.
Superlative construction.
— biragang-gudha djiin-da.
— That’s the biggest one [boomerang].
SOURCE: B-P.192 JBes. U-M.2.2-17.
-gudhu suf.
Having more of a quality than another thing or person e.g. better,
bigger, faster. Comparative construction.
— dhambamu-la-ga biragang-gudhu buru djingandi ban.guri-dji
nhaway.
— I saw a bigger kangaroo on the hill today.
SOURCE: B-P.193/A-P.208 JBes. U-M.2.2-16 U-M.2.2-17.
30

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
-gul suf.
For, on behalf of (after a consonant). Benefactive case marker.
VARIANT: -lul (after a vowel) -mu
— dhabaga-la-ga mara njiinj ngayagang-gul. wananga-lul njiinj.
— I caught this ﬁsh for myself. Who is this for?

SOURCE: B-P.192 JBes. U-M.2.2-139 U-M.1.1-56.
-gun pro.
I (do something to) you. Describes both subject and object in a single
‘fused’ ending.
— mara ngama-wu-gun.
— I will give you ﬁsh.
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-gunda suf.
Very. Intensiﬁer.
— djabadj wari-gunda wabu-l.
— djabadj [King Merriman] travelled a long way.
SOURCE: B-P.196 JBes. U-M.2.2-40.
-in pro.
Them three or more (third person plural object).
— buru-waraga dhambamu-la-g-in.
— I saw a lot of kangaroos.
SOURCE: B-P.205/B-P.218 JBes. U-M.2.2-35 U-M.1.2-104.
-la suf.
Past tense, attached to a verb to show the action occurred in the past.

VARIANT: -l if a third person singular subject (he/she/it) is the actor of
an intransitive verb (a verb that is not done to anything) OR if the verb
has no other sufﬁxes after the past tense sufﬁx. Use -li if the person
doing the action is second person singular ‘you (one person)’ because
it is a shortened way of saying la-nji.
— manawar-ngala ngama-la-ga birdhulay.
— I gave our daughter a bandicoot.
SOURCE: B-P.192 JBes. U-M.2.2-16.
-li pro.
You (one person). Use only for actions in the past. (second person
singular subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-lu pro.
You two (second person dual object).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-ma suf.
Indicates that the actor has made something happen or made
someone do something. Causative marker.
— yidhala-ma-ga.
— I am hungry.
SOURCE: B-P.190 JBes. U-M.2.2-8.
31

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w
y
-mba suf.
Indicates the action it is attached to is ongoing, continued action.
— ganji mudhuga-mba-la-ga.
— I was making a ﬁre some time ago.
SOURCE: B-P.189 JBes. U-M.2.2-7.
-mbu suf.
Put on a noun or adjective to turn it into a verb. Verbalizer.
— bulwal-mbu-la-ga.
— I was strong (yesterday).
SOURCE: A-P.282 JBes.
-n pro.
You three or more (second person plural subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-ndjali suf.
Indicates that the action is done to each other or that it is done to
myself/ourselves/himself/herself/themselves etc. Reciprocal/reﬂexive.
— ngama-ndjali-wang waranganj-bara.

— Let’s swap boomerangs.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.2.2-148.
-ng pro.
You (one person) and I (ﬁrst person dual inclusive subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-nga pro.
We three or more, but not you (ﬁrst person plural exclusive subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-ngal pro.
Our (ﬁrst person dual exclusive possessive).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-ngala pro.
He/she/it and I, but not you (ﬁrst person dual exclusive subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-ngalangga pro. He/she/it and I, but not you (ﬁrst person dual
exclusive object).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-ngamba suf.
Negates the action, indicating it did not happen or will not happen.
This attaches to the verb after a tense marker.

— djama-ngamba-ga.
— I’m not talking.
SOURCE: A-P.275 JBes.
-ngana pro.
Us three or more, including you (ﬁrst person plural inclusive object).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-nganangga
Us three or more, but not you (ﬁrst person plural exclusive object).
pro.
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-ngga pro.
Me (ﬁrst person singular object).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
32

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
-nggul suf.
Belonging to. Genitive case marker.
VARIANT: -ngal

— birriiwa-y ngayaga-nggul.
— the spear belongs to me.
SOURCE: A-P.207/B-P.202 JBes. U-M.2.2-51.
-ngu pro.
Your (second person singular possessive).
VARIANT: -djung
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-ngul pro.
Our (ﬁrst person dual inclusive possessive).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-nhurr pro.
You three or more (second person plural object).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-ni pro.
You (one person). Use only for actions in the present or future not
past.
(second person singular subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-nj pro.
We three or more, including you (ﬁrst person plural inclusive subject).

SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-nji pro.
You (one person) (second person singular object).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-njin pro.
Our (ﬁrst person plural inclusive possessive).
— njin-dju-waraga Dhalbu Dhalbu ngarn-din yabu-la.
— These people came from Tilba.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.2.2-48.
-njinungga pro. Our (ﬁrst person plural exclusive possessive).
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-r suf.
Turns the verb into a demand or order addressed towards ‘you’
(second person singular). Also involves changing the ﬁnal vowel of the
verb to ‘u’. Imperative construction.
— djamu-r.
— You two will talk.
SOURCE: A-P.265 JBes. U-M.1.1-57.
-ran suf.
Turns the verb into a demand or order addressed towards ‘you’ (three
or more) (second person plural). Also involves changing the ﬁnal

vowel of the verb to ‘u’. Imperative construction.
— djamu-ran
— All of you will talk.
SOURCE: A-P.265 JBes. U-M.1.1-57.
33

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w
y
-ri suf.
In order to. Would you please (do this). Purposive marker on verbs.
SOURCE: A-P.267 JBes.
-ru suf.
Turns the verb into a demand or order addressed towards ‘you two’
(second person dual). Also involves changing the ﬁnal vowel of the
verb to ‘u’. Imperative construction.
— wabu-ru dhugan-dul.
— You two go to your camp.
SOURCE: A-P.265 JBes. U-M.2.2-145.
-u pro.
Her/his/its. Used after a consonant (third person singular possessive).

VARIANT: -nu used after a vowel or rr/r
SOURCE: A-P.292 JBes.
-wa suf.
Put on a verb to indicate the action is a possibility, imagined or
hypothetical. Also used to suggest an action ‘let’s’. Irrealis tense
marker.
— ganji mudhuga-wa-ga.
— I will make a ﬁre.
SOURCE: B-P.187 JBes. U-M.2.2-7 U-M.2.2-148.
-wara pro.
They two (third person dual subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-waraga pro.
They three or more (third person plural subject).
SOURCE: A-P.233 JBes.
-wu pro.
You two (second person dual subject). Use after a vowel.
VARIANT: -u (after a consonant)
— bulawal-mbu-l-u.
— You two were strong.
SOURCE: B-P.195/P.216 JBes.

-ya suf.
Used to urge someone to let/allow someone else to do something.
Also used to suggest an action ‘let’s’. Hortitive marker.
— dyamu-ya-wara.
— Let them two talk.
SOURCE: A-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1-57.
-yanga suf.
Little. Diminutive marker.
— gubidja-yanga.
— little toe.
SOURCE: A-P.200/210 JBes.
34

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
b
ba conj.
And; or. Used to join sentences when they have the same subject.
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. CCU. Loanword from Dharrawal.
baaba kin.

Father.
— baaba-dha gulaminji n dhugan-dha.
— Father is running around the hut.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.2.2-48. U-RD-422. MY-HH-480.
baabirr n.
Honeysuckle.
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. U-M.1.1.
baadja nprop.
True Valley (place name?).
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. U-M.1.1.
baanga kin.
Father.
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. U-M.1.1. Y-AH.1-54.
baba n.
Stingray.
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. U-RD-421.
babadhal n.
Geebung.
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. U-M.1.1.
badba- vt.

Go over, climb over the top of something.
SOURCE: B-P.201/P.182 JBes. U-M.2.2-48.
badha n.
Creek, waterhole.
VARIANT: badhay.
— yuwinj yili-n ngadju badha.
— The man brings water from the waterhole.
SOURCE: B-P.206 JBes. U-M.2.2-44. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-139. U-M.2.2146. U-M.1.2-106.
badha- vt.
Bite.
— wadhangarr-a badha-l njiinj gungara.
— The dog bit the possum.
SOURCE: B-P.191 JBes. U-M.2.2-75. U-M.2.2-14. DM-M.2.6-30.
badhaalima n.
Wallaby or pademelon.
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
badhawal n.
Fighting boomerang; ﬁghting hook.
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. U-M.2.2-39. U-M.1.1.

35

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w
y bagan n.
Earth; ground.
SOURCE: B-P.241 JBes. DM-AM.1-255. U-RD-423. DM-AM-1878-271WAND/No-Tu.
bagaranj n.
Sun; heat.
— bagaranj yiriba.
— sunset.
SOURCE: B-P.197 JBes. U-M.2.2-46. MY-HH-481. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.240.U-M.2.2-43.
BB-JL-225. DM-AM-1878:269-JB-GY.
bagiindj n.
Clever man or women.
SOURCE: CCU.
bala temp.
Near, close, sometime in the near future, by and by.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.2.2-150.
balawu- vi.

Go along, move along the side of something.
— balawu-wa-ga
— I’m going along the side.
SOURCE: B-P.211 JBes. U-M.2.2-147.
balirr n.
Dust.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-AH/JH.
baliya n.
North-east wind.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-RD-421. U-M.1.1.
bambara n.
Venereal; sexual organs, private parts.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bana n.
Rain.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-C-17 U-RD-423. MY-HH-481. BBJL-225. DM-AM-1878-271-WAND/NO-TU.
banabi nprop.
Name for Wall Street to Waterworks (place name).
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.1.2-106.

bandjiwug n.
Shoe, shoes.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-E.
banga- vt.
Paddle, push through the water with a paddle/oar.
— banga-la-ga ngadju-dha madjari.
— I paddled a canoe in the water.
SOURCE: B-P.209 JBes. U-M.2.2-147.
bangadjan n.
Stick used for killing people, club.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U/A-E.
bangawu n.
Lizard.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-RD-421.
36

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
banggaada n.
Wombat.

SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
banggawu n.
Burrawang; plant of the Macrozamia genus.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.1.1.
banggu n.
Sugar glider; ﬂying fox.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.2.105. BB-JL-226. U-M.1.1.
bangguri n.
Mountain.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-16. U-M.2.2-148.
bangli n.
Cup.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-E.
banhung adj.
Male; used to identify sex in birds only.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.1.2.105.
banjawal spat.
Other side, opposite side.
— waba-ga banjawal gudjarr gumbawurr-wuran.
— I’m going over the other side of the lagoon for koalas.

SOURCE: B-P.208 JBes. U-M.2.2-146.
baraal n.
Rock wallaby.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. BB-JL-226.
baraang n.
Rug; ground cover.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U/A-E.
bardju n.
Footprint.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-RD-422. U-BB-JL-226.
bardju- vi.
Swim.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-RD-422. U-BB-JL-226.
baridbu- vt.
Cross something towards the speaker, come across, traverse.
— baridbu-la-ga madjari gudjarr-a.
— I came across the lagoon in a canoe.
SOURCE: B-P.209 JBes. U-M.2.2-146 U-M.2.2-147.
barimu- vt.
Cover up, conceal.

SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-M.2.2-75.
bariwariganyan Echo.
n.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-M.1.1.
barlaa adj.
Short (in distance/height/time).
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-M.1.1.
37

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w
y barlga n.
Back, the back of, behind.
— mayi-n barlga-dha.
— He is sitting behind me.
SOURCE: B-P.207 JBes. U-M.1.1.
barra n.
Eel; both freshwater and saltwater.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-M.1.1.
barra barra n.
Sea, salt water.

SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-RD-421.
barraar n.
Shrub, scrub land, bush.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-RD-420.
barraaran n.
Snapper (ﬁsh).
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-M.1.1.
barrumbarra n. Native peppermint.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-M.1.1.
barrunda n.
Male koala.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-M.1.1.
baru spat.
Middle, in the middle of.
— baru dhugan-da.
— In the middle of the camp.
SOURCE: B-P.213 JBes U-M.2.2-149.
baruwalwa
One who knows everything; Aboriginal proper name.
nprop.

SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-AH/JH.
bawanyu n.
Picture, rock or bark painting.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bawarr n.
Wattle; species not known.
SOURCE: B-P.243 JBes. U-RD-421.
bayandha- vt.
Say.
SOURCE: B-P.193 JBes. U-M.2.2-21.
bayi- vt.
Strike; beat; hit; kill.
— waranganj bayi-la-ga gungara-ra waranganj bayi-la-ga njiinj.
— I kil ed a possum with a boomerang.
SOURCE: B-P.191 JBes. U-M.2.2-14 DM-M.2.6-29. U-M.2.2-79. UM.1.1. U-M.2.2-75.
U-M.1.8-60. U-M.2.2-44.
baying kin.
Father.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-RD-422.

38

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
bayunga kin.
Grandmother, mother’s mother.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-RD-421.
biburnungga n. Brown hawk.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bidhanga n.
Oyster.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-RD-421.
bidhu n.
Mountain range.
— badba-ga bidhu.
— I go over the mountains.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.2.2-48. DM-AM.1-248. BB-JL-226.
bidhudhu n.
Wattle (generic).
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.

bidjaya n.
Old man.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. BB-JL-225.
biidja n.
Blanket/cloak.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-E.
biinda- vi.
Rise, get up, stand up.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.2.2-77.
bila n.
Forest oak.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bilima n.
Turtle.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bilwurr adj.
Flat.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bilyaguwin- vt.
Kill.

SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-RD-420.
bimbaya n.
Shield for spears.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-C.1-35. U-RD-423. U-M.2.2-40.
bindjaringaring Plover.
n.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bindji n.
Stomach, front, in front of.
VARIANT: bindhi
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. B-G-12. BB-JL-225.
bindjilaan adj.
Pregnant.
SOURCE: CCU.
39

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w
y binga-vt.
Throw, toss.
— binga-ngamba-ga.

— I didn’t throw it.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1-73. DM-AM-1878:269-JB-GY. DMAM-1874:248.
U-M.2.6-28.
bingal n.
Chest/torso of a human or animal.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1. MY-HH-480.
binin.gala n.
Light; sunlight, moonlight.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
binyaaru n.
Cormorant.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
biraawara n.
Shag.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
biraga adj.
Large; big.
— biraga-mbara ngayaga dhambamu-la-ga.
— I saw a bigger one.

SOURCE: B-P.191 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-423. U-M.2.2-135. BB-JL226.
biraga yuludha Big toe.
n.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
biraya n.
War spear.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-RD-423.
birdhuulay n.
Bandicoot.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.2.2-16.
biriin n.
Sleeping lizard; shingleback.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-M.1.1.
birimbamin n.
Translated as ‘Fisherman Jack’; most likely a ﬁsh.
SOURCE: B-P.244 JBes. U-AH/JH.
birrabirra adj.
Light in weight.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.1.1.

birribanj n.
Emu.
— biyan birribanj-buran waba-n.
— Father is going after an emu.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. DM-AM.1-254. U-M.2.2-45. BB-JL-225.
40

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
birriiwa n.
Hunting spear.
— birriiwa ngayaga-nggul
— The spear belongs to me
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.1.1.
birruwa n.
Crayﬁsh.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-RD-422.
biryuula n.
Spear made from reed.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-RD-423.

biwaawa n.
Cold east wind.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
biwan n.
Animal fat, grease.
SOURCE: A-P.103 U-M.1.1. U-RD-423.
biyan kin.
Father.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.2.2-48 U-M.2.2-46.
biyanhung adj.
Male; used for animals.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.1.1.
biyay n.
Bag.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-E-89.
bubandhan adj. Round.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bubugurning n. Death adder (snake).
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bubul n.

Sore, scab, blister.
VARIANT: bubuu
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-E.
budjan n.
Bird (generic).
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bugaali n.
Ring-tailed possum.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bugiya temp.
Yesterday.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.2.2-47. U-RD-423. DM-AM.1-253. BBJL-226.
buguri n.
Ring-tailed possum.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-RD-421.
41

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y bulambii-vt.

Lean, rest against, lean something against something else.
— bulambii-wa-ga birriiwa-dhuga bunbal-a.
— I’ll rest my spear against the tree.
SOURCE: B-P.212 JBes. U-M.2.2-148.
bulumu- vi.
Wash, clean, bathe.
SOURCE: B-P.245 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
bulwal adj.
Strong.
— bulwal-wu-ga.
— I am strong.
SOURCE: B-P.195 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-22. U-M.2.2-23.
bumawa n.
Thunder.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. BB-JL-225.
bumulaga n.
Morning.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-47.
bun.gali n.
Coolamon. Bark container used for carrying water.

SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-RD-421. U-M.1.1.
bun.garri n.
Hill.
VARIANT: ban.guri
— gawalga biraga djinganda ban.guri-dji nhaway dhambamu-laga.
— I saw a big wal aby over there on the hill today.
SOURCE: B-P.242 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-16.
bunaan n.
Corroboree; initiation ritual.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-E.
bunbal n.
Tree (generic), wood, stick, waddy.
— yuwinj njiindji-lan bunbal-a.
— The man is on this side of the tree.
SOURCE: B-P.208 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2. UL-JL-266.
bunbun n.
Tree bark.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bunda n.

Thigh.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-E. U-M.1.1. JB-C.1-31. JB-RD-423. MYHH-480. DM-AM.1-255.
bundha- vt.
Bite.
— wadhungur yuwinj bundha-l.
— The dog bit a man.
SOURCE: B-P.196 JBes. U-M.2.2-38.
42

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
bundhi n.
Club, waddy.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-41.
bundja- vi.
Remember.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
bundjala- vi.
Think.

SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1-72.
bungala n.
Swamp yam.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1.
bura n.
Rock; stone.
VARIANT: burra
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-BB-JL-225. U-RD-423. U-HH-481. UM.1.1.
buraadja temp.
Tomorrow.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.2.2-47. U-BB-JL-225.
buraagawalin Day after tomorrow.
temp.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.2.2-47.
buraali- vi.
Answer, respond.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.2.2-75.
buran n.
Cave.

— yiribu-wa-ga buran njun.
— I’m going inside that cave.
SOURCE: B-P.211 JBes. U-M.2.2-148.
burawara adj.
Black.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1.
burdulu- vt.
Kick, hit with foot.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
burlgunj adj.
Dirty, unclean, murky water.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1.
burnaaga n.
Goanna; ‘tree iguana’.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-36.
burnda n.
Penis.
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1.
burra n.
Semen.

SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-RD-423. U-HH-481. U-M.1.1.
43

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y burrburran n.
Native quail; possibly endangered ‘plains wanderer’.
VARIANT: burrburr
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-M.1.1.
buru n.
Kangaroo; most likely eastern grey kangaroo.
— dhambamu-la-ga biraga buru.
— I saw a large kangaroo.
SOURCE: B-P.192 JBes. U-M.2.2-16 U-M.1.2.105. DM-AM-1877-272Wand/Hu-TuPu. DM-M.2.6-30. DM-AM.1-254. U-M.1.1. U-RD-422. UAH/JH. BB-JL-225.
UL-JL-266.
burumayal n.
Bream (ﬁsh).
SOURCE: B-P.246 JBes. U-RD-420. U-M.1.1. U-AH/JH.
burunga- vt.
Shake, rattle.

SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
buubundhaaga Lump, mound, natural surroundings.
n.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-M.1.1.
buwambay adj. Fast, quick.
SOURCE: B-P.199 JBes. U-M.2.2-45.
buwarla n.
Teatree.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-M.1.1.
buyi adj.
Quick, fast.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-BB-JL-226.
buyu n.
Shin bone.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-38. U-C.1-33.
44

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
d

daarlawan n.
Great white shark.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-M.1.1. JB-G-12.
dadha n.
Clothes, clothing.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U/A-E.
dandala adj.
Small, little.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-BB-JL-226.
dawandha- vi.
Want.
— ngadju dawandha-ri-ga.
— I want water; I am thirsty.
SOURCE: B-P.187 JBes. U-M.2.2-6.
dulagaal n.
Yowie, hairy man.
SOURCE: CCU.
dundhun n.
Firestick.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U/A-E.

dunggul n.
Heel.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1.
duraya n.
River.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. BB-JL-226.
durun.gadja
Three.
num.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.2.2-55. BB-JL-226.
duruuwa n.
Smoke (from a ﬁre).
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-RD-423. U-M.1.1.
45

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y dh
dhaadjar n.
Centipede.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-M.1.1.

dhaaga n.
Mouth.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. MY-HH-480. BB-JL-225. U-M.1.1-68.
dhaaligir n.
Toy canoe; a child’s play canoe.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-M.1.1.
dhaawarri n.
Porpoise.
VARIANT: dawaray
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
dhaba temp.
Before, to do an action before another action.
— dhambamu-li dhaba njunga.
— Did you ever see him before?
SOURCE: A-P.314 JBes.
dhabaga- vt.
Catch, hunt (an animal).
— dhabaga-la-ga mara njiinj ngayagang-gul. wananga-lul njiinj.
— I caught this ﬁsh for myself. who is this for?
SOURCE: B-P.206 JBes. U-M.2.2-139 U-M.1.1-58.

dhadha kin.
Elder brother; father’s brother’s son; mother’s sister’s son.
SOURCE: B-P.247 JBes. U-RD-422. U-M.2.2-39. U-M.1.1. Y-AH.1-54.
dhagadj n.
Frost.
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-225.
dhagala n.
Flathead (ﬁsh).
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.1.1. JB-G-13.
dhagarr n.
Cold (weather), winter.
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-147. U-M.2.2-150. BB-JL225.
dhagayil part.
No; nothing; ‘I don’t know’.
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. JB-C.1-39 JB-RD-423. U-M.2.2-150. UL-JL226. BB-JL-225.
dhalanj n.
Tongue.
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. MY-HH-480.
dhalibawa- vi.

Go up, ascend, move upwards.
— dhalibawa-ga bun.garri.
— I go up the hil .
SOURCE: B-P.218 JBes. U-M.1.1-59.
dhambamu- vt. See.
— dhambamu-la-ga biraga buru.
— I saw a large kangaroo.
SOURCE: B-P.192 JBes. U-M.2.2-16.
46

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
dhana n.
Foot, feet.
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.1.1. MY-HH-480. BB-JL-225. DM-AM.1255.
dhana- vi.
Eat.
— gungara-ngga djirawara dhana-n.
— The possum is eating leaves.

SOURCE: B-P.216 JBes. U-RD-421. U-RD-423. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-76.
JB-C.1-43. JB-G-12.
dhanadha n.
Sole of foot.
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.1.1.
dhanama n.
Wife.
VARIANT: dhagur
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
dhanga n.
Non–meat-based food, bread.
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-420. U-RD-423. BB-JL-226.
UL-JL-266.
dhangga- vt.
Hang up on something, put on a branch.
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
dharaganja- vt. Cut, chop (tree).
SOURCE: B-P.248 JBes. U-M.2.2-75. U-M.1.1-72.
dhari- vi.
Stand, stand up, be on your feet.
— yuwinj dhari-n njiinj-a gudjarr-a.

— A man stands this side of the lagoon.
SOURCE: B-P.208 JBes. U-M.2.2-146 U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-79.
dharraani n.
Spotted gum.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
dharrawa n.
Cabbage tree.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1.
dhawa num.
Ten.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.2.2-55.
dhawamalanj A lot, many.
num.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.2.2-55.
dhawara n.
Moon; night.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. MY-HH-481. U-RD-423. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-225.
BB-JL-226.
dhudbandhul Full, full of something.
adj.

SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1.
dhuduga- vt.
Touch.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
47

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y dhugan n.
Camp; hut; home.
— wala-ya-n dhugan-a djalung.
— He is running to the hut over there.
SOURCE: B-P.200 JBes. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-226. UL-JL-266.
dhuladhula n.
Branch, branches (of a tree).
— gungara mayi-n dhuladhula
— The possum is sitting among the branches.
SOURCE: B-P.202 JBes. U-M.2.2-48.
dhumbaa n.
Charcoal.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.2.2-75.

dhumbama- vt. Look at, observe.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1-72.
dhunbanga- vt. Lose (something).
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
dhunbunyil adj. Shallow, not deep.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1-71.
dhundala n.
Hail, frozen rain.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1.
dhurga spat.
Right, on the right of.
— dhurga-njung djiin.
— This one on your right.
SOURCE: B-P.215 JBes. U-M.2.2-152.
dhuri- vi.
Grow up, grow (of plants).
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1-72.
dhuril n.
Crab.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-RD-421.

dhurliing n.
Elbow.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1.
dhuula n.
Fish hook.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-E.
48

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
dj
djaadjawan n.
Sand.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djaadjularan adj. Angry.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djaadjurna n.
Throwing stick.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djabadj n.

Black duck, totem of the Yuin people, King Merriman’s (Elder’s)
name.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.2.2-8. DM-M.2.2-27.
djabag phr.
‘Throw the ﬁshing line.’
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-AH/JH.
djabur n.
Calf of leg.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djagula n.
Lyrebird.
SOURCE: B-P.249 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421. BB-JL-225. BB-JL-226.
djama- vi.
Talk, speak.
— djama-ndjali-ngala.
— We are talking to each other.
SOURCE: B-P.204 JBes. U-M.1.1. DM-M.2.6-30.
djamaga adj.
Good.
— djamaga ngayaga.

— I am good.
SOURCE: B-P.187 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-47. U-M.2.2-17. RD-423.
MY-HH-481.
U-M.2.2-76. BB-JL-226. DM-M.2.6-27.
djamaru- vt.
take, collect, gather.
VARIANT: djamari djamara
— bunbal ganji wanda djamaru-ga
— Perhaps I will take some wood.
SOURCE: B-P.189 JBes. U-M.2.2-7.
djambi kin.
Brother-in-law; man married to one’s sister.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. DM-AM-1874-256-Ul /Bi-Bu1. DM-AM-1874257-Ul /Th-Bu2. U-WR.4.
djanbabu- vi.
Be silent.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djaraagar n.
Jew lizard.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.1.
49

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y djarambaadhi Spear (generic).
n.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djarambu- vi.
Be quiet.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
djarraranj adj.
Sharp, sharp edge (blade).
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djaruga n.
Wallaby.
— yuwinj-dju djaruga dhabaga-l.
— A man caught a wal aby.
SOURCE: B-P.217 JBes. U-M.1.1-58.
djawur n.
Head hair.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.1. MY-HH. BB-JL-225.
djibVr n.

Kidney.
VARIANT: djibir, djibar, djibur etc.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-E.
djiibarra n.
Small mullet (ﬁsh).
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djiin.ga adj.
Sweet.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djiinj dem.
There; that; it also.
— biragang-gudha djiinj-da.
— That’s the biggest one [boomerang].
SOURCE: A-P.296 JBes.
djilawa n.
Urine, pee.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djilawaray adj.
Grey.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.1.2-106.

djinaabli n.
Blanket.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U/A-E.
djinadha spat.
That thing, person, or location which is over there, in the
distance.
— bulwal-wu-l wanggan djinadha.
— That woman was strong.
SOURCE: B-P.195 JBes. U-M.2.2-46.
djinalibura spat. Far, further away, a long way away.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. U-M.2.2-46.
50

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
djinama- vt.
Make, create.
SOURCE: B-P.250 JBes. DM-AM-1874-256-Ul /Bi-Bu1. U-M.2.2-42.
djinganda dem.
That place, a place/location in the distance.

— gawalga biraga djinganda ban.guri-dji nhaway dhambamu-laga.
— I saw a big wal aby over there on the hill today.
SOURCE: A-P.228/B-P.192 JBes. U-M.2.2-16.
djinggi n.
Star (generic).
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1. JB-C.1-25/JB-RD-423. BB-JL-225.
djingiya n.
Dew.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djinjama- vt.
Make, complete, produce, or build something.
— djinjama-ga waranganj yabandja-ga njiinj.
— I will make a boomerang.
SOURCE: B-P.202 JBes. U-M.2.2-42. U-M.2.2-75.
djinug n.
Echidna.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U/A-E.
djiraali n.
Blood.

SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djiraama n.
Paddle, oar.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-E.
djirabard n.
Water dragon, water goanna.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djirabu- vt.
Hang up on something, put on a branch.
— djirabu-ga madbu-dhuga bunbal-a.
— I’ll hang my bag on the tree.
SOURCE: B-P.212 JBes. U-M.2.2-148.
djirangara n.
Tree fern.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djirawara n.
Leaves (of a plant).
— gungara-ngga djirawara dhana-n.
— The possum is eating leaves.
SOURCE: B-P.216 JBes. U-M.2.2-44. U-M.1.1.

djiriba num.
Two.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.2.2-55.
51

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y djiriibawal
Four.
djiriibawal num. SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.2.2-55.
djiriilbun n.
Toad ﬁsh.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djirindjiring n.
East wind.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1.
djungga n.
Octopus.
SOURCE: B-P.251 JBes. U-M.1.1.
52

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
g
gaaga n.
Yamstick (for digging up yams).
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-39.
gaandi n.
Money, smoke, tobacco.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.1.1. UL-JL-266.
gaanga n.
Woman that has lost at least one of her children.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.2.2-38.
gaariin adj.
Late (in the day).
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.2.2-46.
gabaanu n.
Head, egg.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.1.1. MY-HH. DM-AM.1-255.
gababa n.

Bad spirit.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. BB-JL-225.
gabamanga n.
My head.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-RD-420.
gabi part.
Indicates actions were completed in the past. Completitive
marker.
— wadhungurr gabi bundha-l gungara.
— The dog kil ed the possum.
SOURCE: B-P.196 JBes. U-M.2.2-41.
gabudbandhaninga- Thirsty.
vi.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gabugubal n.
Youth; uninitiated boy.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.1.2-102. U-RD-421.
gabun adj.
Very good.
SOURCE: CCU.

gadagadabalin n.
Masturbation.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gadhu n.
Rough sea.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. DM-AM-1874-256-Ul /Bi-Bu1. U-RD-421. UAH.
U-M.1.1.
gadjigung n.
Armpit.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. A/U-E.
gagurr n.
Hole, gully.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. BB-JL-226. U-M.1.1.
53

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y gala n.
Vulva; vagina.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.1.1.

galaa n.
Summer, warm weather.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.2.2-150. BB-JL-225.
galaabawan adj.
Weak.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-M.1.1.
galawa- vi.
Climb; go up; ascend.
SOURCE: B-P.252 JBes. U-RD-420. U-M.2.2-75.
galu n.
Slate-coloured crane.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-RD-421.
galungara n.
Lillypilly tree.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gama n.
Jagged spear.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. DM-AM-1874-256-Ul /Bi-Bu1. U-M.1.1.
gamara n.
Old man.

— gamara-njun dhagur.
— The old man’s wife. SOURCE: B-P.198 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-44.
gamba n.
Bone marrow.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-AH/JH.
gambadja- vt.
Fight; kill.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.2.2-14. U-M.1.1-72.
gambambara n.
Spring; season.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.2.2-147.
gambanj n.
Silver bream (ﬁsh).
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gambugalag n.
Bullock, ox.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. UL-JL-266.
gambuladja- vt.
Break, smash.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-75.

gami n.
Neck, throat.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. JB-G-13 JB-G-12 MY-HH-480.
ganagubadh n.
Echidna.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.1.1.
54

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
ganama- vt.
Burn; cook.
SOURCE: B-P.253 U-M.1.3-279. U-M.2.2-75.
ganandhimila- vt.
Learn.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
ganaya- vt.
Ask, request.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.2.2-75.
gandidjaalinba n.

Sexual intercourse.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. MY-HH-480 U-M.1.1.
ganggul n.
Flank, rump, side of an animal.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.1.1.
ganggulwara adj.
Crooked, bent.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gangwari n.
Dog (rare generic).
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-AH/JH.
ganji n.
Fire. Firewood.
— ganji mudhuga-la-ga.
— I made a ﬁre just now.
SOURCE: B-P.189 JBes. U-M.2.2-43. U-RD-423. MY-HH-481.
ganundhu- vt.
Taste.
SOURCE: B-P.253 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
garaambu- vi.

Drown.
— wanggan garaambu-l badha nguna.
— A woman drowned in the creek.
SOURCE: B-P.197 JBes. U-M.2.2-43.
garaangalirr- vi.
Turn away, turn back on.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
garal n.
Fog.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garalu n.
Monkey.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. BB-JL-226.
garamunda n.
Flying fox.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garanga- vt.
Steal, pillage.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
55

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y garangadada n.
Alcohol, grog.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. BB-JL-226.
garanganganj n.
Knife made from shell or stone.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garawad n.
Fish spear.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gardira- vt.
Tear, rip.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
garganga- vt.
Hold, carry in hands.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
gari n.
Snake (generic).
— wanggan-dha waranj-u gari dhana-n.

— The woman’s child is eating snake.
SOURCE: B-P.216 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-422.
gariba n.
Flat-tailed mullet.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garidba- vt.
Lift, pick up.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
garidja n.
Canoe.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-RD-423. U-M.1.1.
garindja n.
Youth.
SOURCE: CCU.
garn.ga n.
Old woman.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garnina adj.
Bad.

SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1. MY-HH-481. BB-JL-226. JB-RD423 JB-G-12.
garragadj adj.
Slow.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garragalambiwan adj. Empty.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garraywaa nprop.
Milky Way.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garri n.
Belly button.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
56

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
garrurr n.
Bull ant.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.

garu n.
Snot.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-E.
garudhan adj.
Greedy.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
garuga- vt.
Call out, shout.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-RD-420.
garun n.
Back of the neck, nape of the neck.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U/A-E.
garungguba n.
Pelican.
SOURCE: B-P.254 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gawalgang n.
Male; used for animals, not birds.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.2.105.
gawan n.
Bad spirit.

SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. BB-JL-225.
gawanggal n.
Honey.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gaway temp.
Soon, by and by.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-RD-423.
gaygan n.
Arm.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1. DM-AM.1-255.
gilwa n.
Darkness.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gimbanya n.
Blackfella man, Aboriginal man.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-RD-422.
gubaa n.
Stringybark.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gubar n.

Red ochre.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-RD-421.
gubi n.
Small guard ﬁsh.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gubidja adj.
Small; little.
— gubidja waranganj njiinj.
— That’s a small boomerang.
SOURCE: B-P.192 JBes. U-M.2.2-17 U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-135. U-M.1.2103.
57

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y gubidjayanga n.
Little toe.
VARIANT: gubidja yuludha
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gudjarr n.
Lagoon, small lake.

— waba-ga banjawal gudjarr gumbawurr-wuran.
— I’m going over the other side of the lagoon for koalas.
SOURCE: B-P.208 JBes. U-M.2.2-147. U-M.2.2-146. DM-AM-1874-248.
gudjaru n.
Club, waddy.
VARIANT: gudjaaru
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-RD-420.
gugawal n.
Wood.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gugiwan n.
Disabled person, injured animal.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-RD-421.
gugu n.
Shoulder.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.1.3-276.
gugunyal n.
Kookaburra.
VARIANT: gugunyaaru
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1.

gula- vt.
Spear, impale with a spear, kill with a spear.
— birriiwa gula-la-ga gungara njiinj.
— I speared a possum.
SOURCE: B-P.191 JBes. U-M.2.2-14.
gulaminjiin- vi.
Run around.
— baaba-dha gulaminji n dhugan-dha
— Father is running around the hut.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.2.2-48.
gulungulu n.
Thumb.
SOURCE: B-P.255 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gumbaawar n.
Koala.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gumbaraga n.
Teal duck.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gumbari n.

Shadow (of a tree).
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
58

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
gumbiira n.
Spear, reeds.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gumburruuga n.
Male possum.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gunama n.
Snow; cold west wind.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-225.
gunarug n.
Wood duck.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gundhagundha adj.
Clear; sparkling.

SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gundja n.
Sore, blister.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gundja- vi.
Roast (over ﬁre).
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-RD-420.
gundjama- vi.
Sick, ill.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gundjiran n.
Sirius, the constellation Canis Major. Also called the Greater Dog;
which represents Orion’s larger hunting dog; and as
such is commonly referred to as the ‘Dog Star’.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gundu n.
Forehead.
VARIANT: ngulu
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-225.
gungaba- vi.

Fall, fall down, drop.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1-72. U-M.2.2-76.
gungala spat.
The side of, next to, beside.
— yuwinj gungala-dha mayi-n.
— The man is sitting beside me.
SOURCE: B-P.209 JBes. U-M.2.2-147.
gungara n.
Possum.
— mara ngama-wu-gun gungara ngama-wu-yi-ngga.
— I will give you ﬁsh and you will give me possum.
SOURCE: B-P.212 JBes. U-M.2.2-148 U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2. BB-JL-226.
guni n.
Faeces, anus, bowels, intestines.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
59

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y gunjung n.
Black swan.

VARIANT: gunju
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-422.
gunungama n.
Alpha Orionis, Betelgeuse.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
guraaman n.
Kurrajong, Illawarra ﬂame tree.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
guraamanj n.
Land yam.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
guraban n.
Koala.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurabarr n.
White box (tree).
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurabungari- vt.
Frighten, scare.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.

gurad n.
Ground, dirt, soil.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. CCU.
guradhu n.
Brolga crane.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
guragura adj.
Quick, fast.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
guragurr n.
Short-nosed bandicoot.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
guranguran n.
Lightning.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurarayga n.
Brolga crane.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurawari n.
Swan; likely to be white.

SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-RD-422.
gurbungama n.
Ribs of canoe.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurdgard n.
Big frog.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
60

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
gurgul n.
Bloodwood.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurgun n.
Intestines, guts, bowels.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
guri n.
Ear.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. MY-HH-480. BB-JL-225. U-RD-422.

gurimbaga n.
Magpie.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurlanj n.
Locust.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurnamunya adj.
Wrong.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurndiira n.
Ironbark eucalyptus.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurngamba- vi.
Sorry, be regretful.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
guruba- vi.
Be afraid, be scared.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurubangamba- vi.
Brave, courageous, ‘don’t be afraid’.

SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gurugama n.
West wind.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-RD-421. U-RD-423. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-225.
gurugundha- vt.
Be afraid of, be scared of.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
gurumbu- vi.
Go around, circle, orbit.
— gurumbu-wa-ga bunbal-a.
— I’m going round the tree.
SOURCE: B-P.211 JBes. U-M.2.2-147.
gurungadj n.
Mythical character; large aquatic monster.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. SCL-M-1904-345.
gururu adj.
Female, used for animals.
— gururu gunawur waranj-u dhana-ma-n djirawara.
— The female koala’s young is eating leaves.
SOURCE: B-P.198 JBes. U-M.2.2-44 U-M.1.1.

61

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y guwinj n.
Ghost, spirit of the dead.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. CCU.
guwinjma- vt.
Twist, wring.
SOURCE: B-P.257 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
guya n.
South.
SOURCE: B-P.138 JBes.
guyangal n.
Southerner, ‘south belonging’.
SOURCE: A-P.207 JBes. DM-AM-1874-256-ULL/Bi-Bu1.
guyari n.
Brolga crane.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-RD-422.
guyudu adj.
Cold.

SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-423.
gwiyaala n.
Stingaree (a species of stingray).
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.1.1.
gwiyirrwurrwurr n.
Curlew (bird).
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.1.1.
62

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
m
ma n.
Fish.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-RD-422.
maaran n.
Seagull.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
mabara n.
Eye.

SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.1.1.
mabumban spat.
Nearby, close.
SOURCE: B-P.120/B-P.258 JBes. U-M.2.2-46.
madbu n.
String bag; net bag.
— djirabu-ga madbu-dhuga bunbal-a.
— I’ll hang my bag on the tree.
SOURCE: B-P.212 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-44.
madhang adj.
Strong.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-RD-421.
madhawarn n.
Swamp mahogany.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-RD-421. U-M.1.1.
madjari n.
Canoe.
— baridbu-la-ga madjari gudjarr-a.
— I came across the lagoon in a canoe.

SOURCE: B-P.209 JBes. U-M.2.2-147 BB-JL-226. DM-AM-1874-256Ul /Bi-Bu1.
U-BB-JL-225.
maga n.
Carpet snake.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. BB-JL-225.
mali inter.
Why.
— mali wabu-l-i.
— Why did you go?
SOURCE: B-P.200 JBes. U-M.2.2-47.
malyan n.
Eaglehawk.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.1.2.106.
mama kin.
Elder sister.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.2.2-39. U-M.1.1. U-RD-422.
mamaadja n.
Native cherry tree.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.1.1.

mamang kin.
Mother; mother’s sister; father’s brother’s wife.
SOURCE: B-P.258 JBes. U-M.2.2-39. U-M.1.1. U-RD-422.
63

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y mambi n.
Eel.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes.
mana n.
Hand (commonly used).
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1. MY-HH-480. BB-JL-225. DM-AM.1255.
manalinga num.
Four.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. BB-JL-226.
manawal num.
Ten (commonly used).
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. BB-JL-226.
mandarlu n.

Boil, infected sore.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-RD-421.
mandha n.
Jaw.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1.
mandidja n.
Meat.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. BB-JL-226.
manduga n.
Maggot.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-RD-421.
mangara adj.
Bad.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. BB-JL-225.
mangga n.
Fern.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
mani kin.
Mother.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-RD-422.

manjamanja adj.
Red.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1.
maraba n.
Kangaroo.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. BB-JL-226.
marandi- vt.
Bring, carry along.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-75.
marga n.
Shield.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-C.1-35. U-RD-423.
marindamu- vt.
fetch, bring back something for someone.
SOURCE: B-P.197 JBes. U-M.2.2-43.
marlugudhaaga- Desire sexually.
vt.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1.
64

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
marra n.
Fish (generic).
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-226. UL-JL-266. JB-G-12.
DM-AM-1874-256-Ul /Bi-Bu1.
marrarr n.
Spider.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421.
marriya n.
Emu.
SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1.
maru- vi.
Run.
— wananga maru-l njalung.
— Which of them ran here?
SOURCE: B-P.194 JBes. U-M.2.2-22.
maruga- vi.
Live, be alive.

SOURCE: B-P.259 JBes. U-M.1.1.
mawaradj n.
Squeaking tree.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-51.
maya- vi.
Sit.
— wanggana manyanga nguna-ng dhugan-dha maya-ndu.
— The she-eaglehawk is sitting on her nest.
SOURCE: B-P.198 JBes. U-M.2.2-44.
mayaaga kin.
Younger brother.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.1.1.
mayanda kin.
Mother.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-RD-422. P.262 MY-HH-480.
mayarmVga n.
Fly.
VARIANT: mayarmiga, mayarmaga, mayarmuga etc.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-RD-422. JB-C.1-15.
mayawar kin.

Son.
SOURCE: CCU.
mayi- vi.
Sit; stay; live.
— gungara mayi-n dhuladhula
— The possum is sitting among the branches
SOURCE: B-P.202 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-79. U-RD-423. BB-JL-226.
midandhal num.
One.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.2.2-36. U-M.2.2-55. BB-JL-226.
midbawanj adj.
Blind.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.1.1.
65

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y midhagani n.
Quoll, native cat.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes.
miigurn n.

Clitoris.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.1.1.
miingga n.
Grasstree.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.1.1.
milidhu n.
Boomerang shield.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.1.1.
milumba adj.
Sparkle, shine, shimmer.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-79.
mina n.
Finger.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-RD-420.
mina- vt.
Hold.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. DM-AM-1874-256-Ul /Bi-Bu1.
minga n.
Mother.
SOURCE: A-P.125 JBes. U-M.1.1.

minja inter.
What.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.2.2. U-M.1.1-56. BB-JL-226.
minmirgun n.
Eyebrow.
SOURCE: B-P.260 JBes. U-M.1.1.
mirdandhagu num. Once only, not repeated.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.2.2-47.
miridjiga n.
Long-nosed bandicoot, also the name of Canopus found in the
constellation Carina ‘The Keel’.
— yidhungurr-u murnawar-nu miridjiga nguma-n.
— A woman gives a bandicoot to her daughter.
SOURCE: B-P.191 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-AH/JH. U-M.2.2-15.
mirigang n.
Dog (generic).
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-AM1. U-RD-422. U-C.1-11. BB-JL-226.
miringama n.
South wind.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-RD-421. MY-HH-481. U-M.1.1.

mirribi n.
Thunder.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.1.1.
66

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
mirriwarr n.
Sky.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.1.1.
mubura- vi.
Die.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-75.
mudhuga- vt.
Make, create.
— ganji mudhuga-la-ga.
— I made a ﬁre just now.
SOURCE: B-P.189 JBes. U-M.2.2-7.
mudj n.
Friend.

VARIANT: mudji
SOURCE: CCU.
mudjingaal nprop.
Friend; spirit protector and guide.
VARIANT: mudj mudji
SOURCE: CCU.
mula n.
Louse.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.1.1.
muladha n.
Old woman.
SOURCE: B-P.198 JBes. BB-JL-225.
mumaga n.
A smelly hairy short mythological creature with white fur.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-RD-422. SCL-M-1904-345.
mundha n.
Black snake.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.1.2.106. U-RD-421. DM-AM-1874-255.
mundji n.
Bum, rump.

SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.1.1.
mundu- vt.
Drink.
— njinduwangala ngadju mundu-li-ngala.
— He and I are drinking water.
SOURCE: B-P.195 JBes. U-M.2.2-23.
munduba n.
Tomahawk made from stone.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-226.
mundur adj.
Heavy.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.1.1.
mungala n.
Cloud.
VARIANT: munguru
SOURCE: B-P.261/262 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-421. BB-JL-225.
67

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y mungandhawara Two.

num.
SOURCE: B-P.261 JBes. U-M.2.2-36. U-M.2.2-55.
munggura n.
Home.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
munjamunja adj.
Red.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.2.2-75.
munyunga n.
Eaglehawk.
VARIANT: manyanga
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1. DM-AM1 DM-AM.1-255.
mura n.
Stone, testicle.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-RD-423.
murandjanyan n.
Shadow (of a man).
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
murawan- vi.
Alive.

VARIANT: muraawan
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
murdubura adj.
Blunt.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
muriyira n.
Whale.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
murnawal n.
Hand.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.2.2-55.
murnawar kin.
Daughter.
— yidhungurr-u murnawar-nu miridjiga nguma-n.
— A woman gives a bandicoot to her daughter.
SOURCE: B-P.191 JBes. U-M.2.2-15. U-M.2.2-16. U-M.2.2-53.
murnunggan kin.
Younger sister.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
murrurn n.

Bee.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
muru n.
Abdomen.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
muruda n.
Footprint.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-RD-422.
68

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
muruguru n.
Pubic hair.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
murumba n.
Brown snake.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-RD-421.
murun n.
Blow-ﬂy.

SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-RD-421.
muryan n.
Mist.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
muyulu n.
Clever man.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
69

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
wyn
naaga n.
Fly.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.1.1.
naaraa- vt.
Bind, tie.
SOURCE: B-P.262 JBes. U-M.2.2-75.
nadba n.
Knife, blade.
VARIANT: nadhba, nadjba

SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. A/U-E-91.
nadjung kin.
Grandmother, father’s mother.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. Y-AH1054/6a+b.
naga- vt.
See.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-RD-423.
nambadja- vt.
Catch.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-M.2.2-75. U-M.1.1-72.
nanbanggara-ga
Lame, disabled, injured.
adj.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-M.1.1.
nangga- vi.
Sit, sit down.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
nangu- vi.
Sleep, rest.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-RD-423.

nanilu n.
Musk duck.
VARIANT: naniilu
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-RD-421.
nanuma- vt.
Know.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-M.2.2-72.
naraawanj n.
Helper, assistant for the Elders.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-M.1.1.
narum n.
Meat-based food.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-RD-423.
nawa n.
Heat, sun, day.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-C.1-37. U-M.1.1. U-C.1-25 U-RD-423. JBC.1-27.
nawan- adj.
Hot.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-M.1.1.

70

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
niluga n.
Mosquito.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-RD-422.
niraguwin adj.
Deaf.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-RD-421.
nirini- vt.
Come down, climb down, head down.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-RD-420.
nugurr n.
Nose, beak.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-C.1-21. U-RD-422. JB-G-11.
numbula- vt.
Kiss.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
nunga- vi.

Weep, cry.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.2.2-79. U-RD-420. DM-AM-1878:269JB-GY.
nunganung adj.
Female, used for animals.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.2.105.
nunggurr n.
Back of the neck, nape of the neck.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
nurridj n.
Umbilical cord.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
71

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y ng
ngabunaa n.
Female breast.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-M.1.1-68.
ngadjili- vi.

Laugh.
SOURCE: B-P.263 JBes. U-M.2.2-76. U-M.1.1-72.
ngadju n.
Water or fresh water.
VARIANT: ngadjung
— njinduwangala ngadju mundu-li-ngala.
— He and I are drinking water.
SOURCE: B-P.195 JBes. U-C.1-7 U-RD-420/423. U-HH-481. BB-JL225.
ngalaga spat.
Left, on the left of.
SOURCE: B-P.215 JBes. U-M.2.2-152.
ngama- vt.
Give.
— mara ngama-wu-gun gungara ngama-wu-yi-ngga
— I will give you ﬁsh and you will give me possum.
SOURCE: B-P.212 JBes. U-M.1.1-58. U-M.2.2-76. U-M.2.2-16. DM-AM253. DM-AM-265. DM-AM-1878:269-JB-GY. DM-AM-1878:271WAND/NO-TU.
ngaminjang n.
Female breast, breastmilk.

SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. DM-AM.1-255. U-M.1.1. U-RD-423. JB-C.1-7.
JB-G-12.
nganayu n.
Tooth, teeth.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-C.1-23. U-RD-423.
ngandhawar n.
Mountain ash tree.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-M.1.1.
nganing n.
Neck.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-M.1.1. DM-AM-1878:269-JB-GY.
ngara- vi.
Hear.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-M.2.2-76. U-M.1.1-72.
ngaral n.
Black cockatoo.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-RD-421.
ngarambilil- vt.
Drop out of hand, scatter.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.

ngaranggal n.
Woman.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-M.1.2-106. U-M.1.2-105.
ngarawan n.
East, distant sea.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-M.1.1. DM-AM-1878-271-WAND/NO-TU.
72

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
ngarn n.
Place, location.
— dhugan-da ngarn-din wabi-wa-nga.
— We are going from the camp.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.2.2-48 U-M.2.2-41.
ngarri n.
Leg.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. BB-JL-225.
ngarri n.
Shin.

SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. BB-JL-225.
ngawal n.
White cockatoo.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-422.
ngawu n.
Blood.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U/A-E.
ngay part.
Yes.
SOURCE: B-P.264 JBes. U-C.1-39/U-RD-423. U-M.2.2-150. BB-JL225. JB-G-12.
UL-JL-226.
ngayaga pro.
I (ﬁrst person singular subject).
— djamaga ngayaga.
— I am good.
SOURCE: A-P.187 U-RD-423. DM-M.2.6-29. U-M.2.2-7. DM-AM1878:269-JB-GY.
DM-AM-1878-271-WAND/NO-TU.
ngayawanga pro. We three or more, not including you (ﬁrst
person plural exclusive subject).

VARIANT: ngaywinga
SOURCE: A-P.226 JBes.
ngayawangala We two, not including you (ﬁrst person dual
exclusive subject).
pro.
SOURCE: A-P.226 JBes.
ngayawanj pro.
We three or more, including you. (ﬁrst person plural inclusive
subject).
— djamaga-mbanj ngayawanj.
— We are all good.
SOURCE: A-P.226/B-P.188 JBes. U-M.2.2-7.
ngayawung pro. We two, including you. (ﬁrst person dual
inclusive subject).
SOURCE: A-P.226 JBes.
ngaylugu n.
Mosquito.
SOURCE: B-P.265 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-42.
nginbaga phr.
I don’t know.
SOURCE: B-P.265 JBes. U-RD-423.

73

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y ngubulinj n.
Heat.
SOURCE: B-P.256 JBes. U-M.1.1.
ngudba- vi.
Go into, be submerged in (e.g. water).
— ngadju ngudba-ga.
— I’m going into the water.
SOURCE: B-P.211 JBes. U-M.2.2-148.
nguma- vt.
Give.
— yidhungurr-u murnawar-nu miridjiga nguma-n.
— A woman gives a bandicoot to her daughter.
SOURCE: B-P.191 JBes. U-M.1.1-72. U-M.2.2-75.
ngumbudhaa- vt. Like, love.
SOURCE: B-P.265 JBes. U-M.1.1-72.
ngumung n.
Knee.

SOURCE: B-P.265 JBes. U-M.1.1. DM-AM-1878-271-WAND/NO-TU.
JB-G-12.
nguna spat.
In, between, in among.
— buru nguna bunbal-wara.
— The kangaroo is between two trees.
SOURCE: B-P.197/B-P.218 JBes. U-M.2.2-43 U-M.1.1-59.
ngunarungura- Be jealous.
vi.
SOURCE: B-P.265 JBes. U-M.1.1.
ngundaga adj.
Thirsty.
SOURCE: B-P.265 JBes. U-RD-423.
ngundhu- vt.
Drink, suck.
— ngadju ngundhu-lu-ga.
— I am going to drink it.
SOURCE: B-P.203 JBes. U-M.2.2-79. U-M.2.2-75. U-M.1.1. DM-AM253. U-M.2.2-46. U-M.2.2-42.
ngura n.
Camp, nest, hut.

SOURCE: B-P.265 JBes. U-M.1.2.106.
ngurdu ngurdu n. Nostril.
SOURCE: B-P.265 JBes. U-M.1.1.
ngurlwan n.
Droplet (of liquid).
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
ngurnda adj.
Black.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-M.2.2-75.
ngurungaru n.
Day.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-M.1.1.
74

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
nh
nhaga- vi.
Fly, soar.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.

nhaway temp.
Today.
— dhambamu-la-ga biragang-gudhu buru djingandi ban.guri-dji
nhaway.
— I saw a bigger kangaroo on the hill today.
SOURCE: B-P.192 JBes. U-M.2.2-47. U-M.2.2-17.
nhuruubabaa n.
Mud.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-M.1.1.
75

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y nj
nja- vt.
See.
— nja-la-ga wanggan djiin.
— I saw a woman.
SOURCE: B-P.193/B-P.266 JBes. U-M.2.2-22. U-M.2.2-77.
njaagarn adj.
Sharp, pointy.

SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-M.1.1.
njama- vt.
Give.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-M.1.8-60.
njanadha dem.
There; that.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-M.2.2-46.
njariwang n.
Thunder.
SOURCE: B-P.266 JBes. U-AH/JH.
njiindjilan spat.
This side of, on the side closest to the speaker.
— yuwinj njiindji-lan bunbal-a.
— The man is on this side of the tree.
SOURCE: B-P.208 JBes. U-M.2.2-146 U-M.2.2-147.
njiinj dem.
This; here.
— gubidja waranganj njiinj.
— That’s a small boomerang.
SOURCE: B-P.192 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-46. DM-M.2.6-27.

njinmula- vt.
Pinch, squeeze.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
njirinj n.
Grass cuttings.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
njirra n.
Fish hawk.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
njiru- vi.
Go down, descend, move downwards.
— njiru-wa-ga bun.garri.
— I am going down the hil .
SOURCE: B-P.218 JBes. U-M.1.1-59.
njun dem.
There; that.
— gungara njun ngayaga-nggul.
— That is my possum.
SOURCE: B-P.190 JBes. U-M.2.2-14 U-M.2.2-148.
njungga- vi.

Cry, sob.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.2.2-75.
76

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
njunil dem.
This place/location.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
njurgun n.
Bullrush.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
77

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
wyw
waadhu n.
Skin.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-423. MY-HH-480.
waagura n.

Crow.
— yuwinj-dji waagura binga-la waranganj-dji.
— A man threw a boomerang at a crow.
SOURCE: B-P.183 JBes. U-RD-422. U-M.2.2-36. U-M.1.1. U-AH/JH.
waanhal adj.
Ripe.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
waari n.
Paddle, oar.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
waba- vi.
Go.
— biyan birribanj-buran waba-n
— Your father is going after an emu.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-226. U-M.2.2-48. UL-JL-226.
wabandi- vt.
Take, go away with.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wadha inter.
Where.

SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. DM-AM.1-248. DM-AM-1874-256-Ul /Bi-Bu1.
DM-AM.1.
U-M.2.2-46. DM-AM-1878:269-JB-GY. DM-AM-1878-271-WAND/NOTU. DM-AM-B#1. DM-AM-B#2.
wadhan n.
Grass (generic).
— wanggan-a buru warranj-u wadhan dhana-n.
— The she-kangaroo’s young one is eating grass.
SOURCE: B-P.196 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-43. BB-JL-225.
wadhanagarr
Female dog (bitch).
wangganmaaru SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-M.2.2.
n.
wadhangarr n.
Dog.
— wadhangarr-a badha-l njiinj gungara.
— The dog kil ed the possum.
SOURCE: B-P.189 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2. U-M.2.2-14. U-M.2.2-38. UM.2.2-41.
U-M.1.1-52. U-M.2.2-45. U-M.2.2-46.
wadhiin nprop.

King Merriman’s name, meaning ‘point of land’.
SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-AH/JH.
wagal n.
Black bream.
SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-M.1.1.
78

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
wagurr n.
Carpet snake.
SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-RD-421.
wala- vi.
Run, jog.
— wala-ya-n dhugan-a djalung.
— He runs wel .
SOURCE: B-P.200 JBes. U-M.2.2-77. U-RD-420. U-M.2.2-45. U-M.2.246.
U-M.2.2-48. U-M.1.1.
walarr n.

Head.
SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-M.1.2-106.
walawaani phr.
‘Safe journey.’ A greeting used in meeting and/or parting.
SOURCE: CCU.
wali- vi.
Return, come back, give back.
— wali-mba-wa-nj njalundjil.
— We will come back here.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.2.2-76. U-M.2.2-48.
walimbura n.
Shark.
SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wambaara n.
Black duck.
SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-RD-422. U-AH/JH. U-M.1.1. BB-JL-226.
wambur adj.
Stupid.
SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wana- vi.

Leave, exit, leave something be, drop a topic of conversation.
SOURCE: B-P.268 JBes. U-M.2.2-76. DM-AM-1877:269-JB-GY. DMAM-1874:256-Ul /Bi-Bu1.
wananga inter.
Who.
— wananga-lul njiinj.
— Who is this for?
SOURCE: A-P.196 DM-M.2.2-8. DM-M.2.6-28. DM-M.1.8-60. U-RD-423.
U-M.2.2-22. U-M.1.1-56.
wanda part.
Perhaps, maybe.
— bunbal ganji wanda djamaru-ga
— Perhaps I will take some wood.
SOURCE: B-P.189 JBes. U-M.2.2-7.
wandaya n.
Bark vessel for carrying water.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. U-RD-421.
79

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y wandhu-vi.
Crawl, move around on hands and knees.
— wandhu-wa-n bidhu.
— He will crawl up the mountain.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.2.2-48.
wandung inter.
When.
SOURCE: A-P.220 JBes.
wanggaadi nprop. Pleiades; a star cluster also known as the
Seven. Sisters and Messier 45.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wanggaali n.
Kangaroo rat; potoroo.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wanggan n.
Aboriginal woman, young woman.
— wanggan-dha dhugan-u njiinj.
— There is the woman’s hut.
SOURCE: A-P.195 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-422. U-M.2.2-17. U-M.2.2-43.
U-M.2.2-44.

U-M.2.2-48.
wangganmana Female, used for animals.
adj.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wara adj.
Dead.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1. DM-AM-B#2. DM-AM-1878:269. UM.2.2-75.
U-RD-423.
wara vi.
Die.
SOURCE: B-P.267 JBes. U-M.1.1. DM-AM-B#2. DM-AM-1878:269. UM.2.2-75.
U-RD-423.
wara- vi.
Jump, leap.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. U-RD-420.
waraawara n.
String; ﬁshing line.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. U-M.1.1.
waradaga- vi.

Jump, leap.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. U-M.2.2-76. U-RD-420.
waragadhaan adj. Deaf.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. U-M.1.1.
waram kin.
Husband’s son; husband’s brother’s son; sister’s son; wife’s son.
SOURCE: B-P.269 JBes. Y-AH1054/6ab.
80

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
waranganj n.
Boomerang.
— wananga-gal waranganj njiin.
— Whose boomerang is that?
SOURCE: A-P.207 U-M.1.1. U-RD-423. U-M.2.2-135. U-M.2.2-22. DMM.2.6-28.
DM-AM-1878:269-JB-GY. U-M.2.2-14.
waranj n.
Small child, small boy, baby (human or animal).

— gururu gunawur waranj-u dhana-ma-n djirawara.
— The female koala’s young is eating leaves.
SOURCE: A-P.197 U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-44. U-RD-422. U-M.2.2-45. BBJL-225. DM-AM-1878:269-JB-GY. DM-AM-B#1. U-M.2.2-43. U-M.2.246. U-M.2.2-47. U-M.1.1-53. U-M.2.2-148. DM-M.2.6-28.
warawandjar- vi.
Spread.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
wardaalimala- vt. Seek, look for.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.2.2-77.
wari n.
Old man.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-RD-422.
waridba- vi.
Play, do an entertaining activity.
SOURCE: B-P.210 JBes. U-M.2.2-147.
warigal n.
Wild dog; dingo.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-AH/JH. Loanword from
Wiradjuri or other language.
warigala n.

Mullet (ﬁsh).
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-RD-420. U-AH/JH.
warigamban temp. Distant, long time in past or future.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.1.1.
warlu n.
Chin, beard.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.1.1-68. MY-HH-480.
warnadha phr.
Let go.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
warrabugan n.
Whiting (ﬁsh).
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.1.1.
warri adj.
Grey.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.1.1.
81

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y wayalad n.

Black cockatoo.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wiling n.
Lip.
SOURCE: B-P.270 JBes. U-M.1.1. MY-HH-480. BB-JL-225.
wulaga n.
Tree bark.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-RD-423.
wulimbura n.
Shark.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-RD-421.
wumbalwara n.
River oak.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wumura n.
Spear thrower; woomera.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.1.1.
wuraambin n.
Guard ﬁsh.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.1.1.

wurawura adj.
White.
VARIANT: wuurawuura, warrawarra
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.2.2-75. U-M.1.1.
82

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
y
ya conj.
And. Used to join sentences when they have different subjects.
SOURCE: B-P.305 JBes. CCU. Loanword from Dharrawal.
yaala n.
Red gum.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yabandjaaga- Make, create.
vt.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yabin.gi adj.
Lean, thin, skinny.

SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yabu- vi.
Inquire, ask.
— njin-dju-waraga Dhalbu Dhalbu ngarn-din yabu-la.
— These people came from Tilba.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-RD-420.
yabuda n.
Calf of leg.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-RD-420.
yabundja- vt.
Cut out, carve (boomerangs).
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.2.2-42. U-M.2.2-76.
yagun temp.
Then, introduces an action that occurs after another action.
SOURCE: A-P.228 JBes.
yagunadha adj.
Right.
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yalangbaradha Five.
num.

VARIANT: yaalangbaradha
SOURCE: B-P.271 JBes. BB-JL-266.
yambagan n.
Fern tree.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-RD-421.
yana- vi.
Walk, go, come.
VARIANT: yanaga, yanuga
— yana-la-ga dhugan-dha-dha.
— I came to the camp.
SOURCE: A-P.191 DM-AM.1-248. DM-AM-1874-256-Ul /Bi-Bu1. UM.1.1. U-RD-423.
yandabal n.
Girl.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.1.2-102. U-RD-421.
yangan- vi.
Swim.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
83

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y yangga-vi.
Sing.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.2.2-79.
yara- vt.
Throw, throw a spear or boomerang.
SOURCE: B-P.201 JBes. U-M.2.2-48.
yaradba- vi.
Fly over (of birds). ﬂy over a place.
— waagura yaradba-n ngungay.
— A crow ﬂies over the ﬂat.
SOURCE: B-P.210 JBes. U-M.2.2-147.
yaradirawal
The day after the day after tomorrow; in three days.
temp.
VARIANT: yaradi rawal
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.2.2-47.
yaraman n.
Horse.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. BB-JL-226. DM-AM.1-255.

yaran n.
Beard.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yaranbul n.
Platypus.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-RD-421.
yarin n.
Chin.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. MY-HH-480.
yarungarn adj.
Long.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yawa- vi.
Speak, talk.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1. U-M.2.2-79.
yaway phr.
‘Come here!’
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.2.2-75. BB-JL-226. U-RD-423.
yawiya n.
Myrtle.

SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yiburr n.
Nut of the burrawang.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yidbu- vi.
Be tired.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yidhalama- vi.
Hungry.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.1.1.
84

b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj w y / 8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
yidhungurr n.
Woman that has children.
— yidhungurr-u murnawar-nu miridjiga nguma-n.
— A woman gives a bandicoot to her daughter.
SOURCE: A-P.300 JBes. U-M.2.2-15. U-M.2.2-43. U-M.1.1-5.
yidjima- vt.

Do it, do something.
SOURCE: B-P.212 JBes. U-M.2.2-148.
yilaga- vi.
Rejoice, be happy.
SOURCE: B-P.272 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
yili- vt.
Carry.
— yuwinj yili-n ngadju badha.
— The man brings water from the waterhole.
SOURCE: B-P.206 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yimar adj.
Female, used for kangaroo.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yinal narawan n. Plains, ﬂat country.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. BB-JL-226.
yindiga pro.
You singular, used after a consonant (second person singular
subject).
VARIANT: njindiga (after a vowel)
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-WR.4. JB-C.1-41. U-RD-423.

yindiwan pro.
You three or more, used after a consonant (second person plural
subject).
VARIANT: njindiwan (after a vowel)
SOURCE: A-P.226 JBes.
yindiwu pro.
You two, used after a consonant (second person dual subject).
VARIANT: njindiwu (after a vowel)
SOURCE: A-P.226 JBes.
yinul n.
Lining of canoe.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yira n.
Tooth, teeth.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-C.1-23. U-RD-423. MY-HH-480; BB-JL225.
yiragala n.
Seal.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-RD-421.
yiriba- vi.
Go inside, enter (an enclosed space). Set, go down (of the sun).

VARIANT: yiribu
— yiribu-wa-ga buran njun.
— I’m going inside that cave.
SOURCE: B-P.197/P.211 JBes. U-M.2.2-43 U-M.2.2-148.
85

8 / DHURGA TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY / b d dh dj g m n ng nh nj
w y yiribini n.
Evening, night.
SOURCE: A-P.273 JBes. U-M.2.2-47.
yiridbu- vt.
Go through, pass through.
— yiridbu-la-ga dhumul-a.
— I went through the scrub.
SOURCE: B-P.209 JBes. U-M.2.2-147.
yirimbaagun n. Jew ﬁsh.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yirinbul n.
Wood duck.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-RD-422.

yiringga- vi.
Be glad, be happy.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yuga inter.
How, I don’t know.
— yuga nanama-n-i
— How do you know?
SOURCE: A-P.200 U-M.2.2-48.
yulu n.
Finger, ﬁngernail.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yuna- vt.
Keep.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.2.2-76.
yuraga n.
Sun.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. UL-JL-266.
yurang n.
Young man.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. BB-JL-225.

yurdubaaga n.
Erect penis.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yuri- vt.
Hit, kill.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.1.2-106.
yuwindja nprop.
Orion’s Belt, the stars Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka in the
constellation of Orion.
SOURCE: B-P.273 JBes. U-M.1.1.
yuwinj n.
Man, Aboriginal people of NSW South Coast.
— djamu-ga djiin yuwinj
— I’m going to speak to that man
SOURCE: B-P.200 JBes. U-M.1.2.105 U-M.2.2-42. DM-M.2.6-29. DMAM.1-254.
JB-C.1-9.
86
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER
big frog n. gurdgard.
a

big toe n. biraga yuludha.
abdomen n. muru.
bind vt. naaraa-.
afraid vi. guruba-.
bird n. budjan (generic).
afraid of vt. gurugundha-.
bitch (female dog) n. wadhanagarr
alcohol n. garangadada.
wangganmaaru.
alive vi. murawan-, maruga-.
bite vt. badha-, bundha-.
allow suf. -ya (attaches to the verb).
black adj. ngurnda, burawara.
Alpha Orionis nprop. gunungama.
black bream n. wagal.
and conj. ba (used to join sentences when black cockatoo n.
ngaral, wayalad.
they have the same subject), ya (used to
black duck n. djabadj, wambaara.
join sentences when they have different

black snake n. mundha.
subjects).
black swan n. gunjung.
angry adj. djaadjularan.
blanket n. djinaabli, biidja.
answer vi. buraali-.
blind adj. midbawanj.
arm n. gaygan.
blister n. gundja, bubul.
armpit n. gadjigung.
blood n. djiraali, ngawu.
ask vt. ganaya-.
bloodwood n. gurgul.
assistant n. naraawanj.
blow-ﬂy n. murun.
at suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to show that blunt adj.
murdubura.
something or someone is in/at/on it).
boil n. mandarlu.
away from suf. -din (motion away from a

boomerang n. waranganj, badhawal.
place or object).
bottom of the foot n. dhanadha.
branch n. dhuladhula.
brave vi. gurubangamba-.
b
break vt. gambuladja-.
back n. barlga.
bream n. burumayal.
bad adj. mangara, garnina.
breast n. ngabunaa.
bad spirit n. gababa, gawan.
breastmilk n. ngaminjang.
bag n. biyay.
bring vt. marandi-.
bandicoot n. birdhuulay.
bring back vt. marindamu-.
beak n. nugurr.
brolga (slate crane) n. guradhu, galu,
beard n. yaran, warlu.

gurarayga, guyari.
bee n. murrurn.
brother in law kin. djambi.
before temp. dhaba.
brown hawk n. biburnungga.
behind spat. barlga.
brown snake n. murumba.
belly button n. garri.
build vt. djinjama-.
belong to suf. -nggul (attaches to a noun).
bull ant n. garrurr.
between spat. nguna.
bullrush n. njurgun.
big adj. biraga.
bum n. mundji.
87
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER
burn vt. ganama-.
continue to suf. -mba (attaches to the verb to burrawang n.
banggawu.

indicate continued action).
burrawang nut n. yiburr.
cook vt. ganama-.
bush n. gabi, barraar.
coolamon n. bun.gali, wandaya.
by suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to show that cormorant n.
binyaaru.
something or someone is in/at/on/near it).
corroboree n. bunaan.
cover up vt. barimu-.
crab n. dhuril.
c
crawl vi. wandhu-.
crayﬁsh n. birruwa.
cabbage tree n. dharrawa.
creek n. badha.
calf (of leg) n. djabur, yabuda.
crooked adj. ganggulwara.
call out vt. garuga-.
crow n. waagura.

camp n. dhugan (common use), ngura.
cry vi. njungga-, nunga-.
canoe n. madjari (common use), garidja.
cup n. bangli.
carpet snake n. maga, wagurr.
curlew n. gwiyirrwurrwurr.
carry vt. yili-, garganga-.
cut vt. dharaganja-.
catch vt. nambadja-, dhabaga- (catch an
animal).
cave n. buran.
d
centipede n. dhaadjar.
charcoal n. dhumbaa.
dad kin. baaba (common use), baying, biyan, child n. waranj.
baanga.
chin n. yarin, warlu.
darkness n. gilwa.
cigarette n. bunda.
daughter kin. murnawar.

clear adj. gundhagundha.
day n. ngurungaru, nawa.
clever man n. bagiindj.
day after tomorrow temp. buraagawalin.
clever woman n. bagiindj.
dead adj. wara.
climb vi. galawa-.
deaf adj. niraguwin, waragadhaan.
clitoris n. miigurn.
death adder n. bubugurning.
close (in space) spat. mabumban.
desire (sexually) vt. marlugudhaaga-.
close (in time) temp. bala.
dew n. djingiya.
clothing n. dadha.
die vi. mubura-, wara-.
cloud n. mungala.
dingo, wild dog n. warigal.
club n. bundhi, gudjaru, bangadjan.
dirt n. gurad, bagan.

cold n. dhagarr.
dirty adj. burlgunj.
cold east wind n. biwaawa.
disabled adj. nanbanggaraga.
cold west wind n. gunama.
disabled person n. gugiwan.
collect vt. djamaru-.
do vt. yidjima-.
come vt. yana-.
dog n. wadhangarr (common use), mirigang
come across vt. baridbu- (cross something in (generic), gangwari
(rare generic), warigal
the direction of the speaker).
(wild dog).
come down vt. nirini-.
dog (female, bitch) n. wadhangarr,
come here phr. yaway.
wangganmaaru.
88
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER

drink vt. ngundhu-, mundu-.
female dog, bitch n. wadhanagarr
drop vt. gungaba-.
wangganmaaru.
droplet n. ngurlwan.
fern n. mangga.
drown vi. garaambu-.
fetch vt. marindamu-.
dust n. balirr.
ﬁght vt. gambadja-.
ﬁghting hook n. badhawal.
e
ﬁnger n. mina, yulu.
ﬁngernail n. yulu.
each other suf. -ndjali.
ﬁre n. ganji.
eaglehawk n. malyan, munyunga.
ﬁrestick n. dundhun.
ear n. guri.
ﬁrewood n. ganji.

earth n. bagan.
ﬁsh n. marra (common use), ma, mina.
east n. ngarawan.
ﬁsh hawk n. njirra.
east wind n. djirindjiring.
ﬁsh hook n. dhuula.
eat vi. dhana-.
ﬁsherman jack n. birimbamin.
echidna n. djinug, ganagubadh.
ﬁshing line n. waraawara, djabag (a phrase echo n.
bariwariganyan.
meaning ‘throw the ﬁshing line’).
eel n. barra, mambi.
ﬁshing spear n. garawad.
egg n. gabaanu.
elbow n. dhurliing.
ﬁve num. mana (common use), murnawal,
elder brother kin. dhadha.
yalangbaradha.
elder sister kin. mama.

ﬂank n. ganggul.
empty adj. garragalambiwan.
ﬂat adj. bilwurr.
emu n. birribanj (common use), marriya.
ﬂat country n. yinal narawan.
evening n. yiribini.
ﬂat tailed mullet n. gariba.
eye n. mabara.
ﬂathead n. dhagala.
eyebrow n. minmirgun.
ﬂy n. mayarmVga, naaga.
ﬂying fox n. garamunda.
f
fog n. garal.
footprint n. bardju, muruda.
faeces n. guni.
for suf. -buran (for the purpose of, put on a fall vi. gungaba-.
noun), -gul (on behalf of, put on a noun).
far away spat. djinalibura.
forehead n. gundu.

fast adj. buwambay, buyi, guragura.
forest oak n. bila.
fat n. biwan.
four num. djiriibawal djiriibawal (common father kin. baaba
(common use), baying,
use), manalinga.
biyan, baanga.
friend n. mudj, mudjingaal.
father’s brother’s son kin. dhadha.
frighten vt. gurabungari-.
father’s brother’s wife kin. mamang.
frost n. dhagadj.
feet n. dhana.
female (animal) adj. gururu, wangganmana, full adj.
dhudbandhul.
nunganung.
further away spat. djinadha (over there, in the female (kangaroo)
adj. yimar.
distance).
89
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER

hear vi. ngara-.
g
heat n. bagaranj, ngubulinj, nawa.
geebung tree n. babadhal.
heavy adj. mundur.
get up vi. biinda-.
heel n. dunggul.
girl n. yandabal.
her (bound possessive) pro. -u.
give vt. ngama- (common use, VARIANT:
here dem. njiinj.
nguma-), njama-.
hill n. bun.garri.
go vi. waba-, yana-.
his (bound possessive) pro. -u.
go along vi. balawu-.
hit vt. bayi- (common use), yuri-.
go around vi. gurumbu-.
hold vt. mina-, garganga- (carry in hands).
go down vi. njiru-.

hole n. gagurr.
go inside vi. yiriba- (enter, also used to home n. munggura.
mean set e.g. sunset).
honey n. gawanggal.
go into vi. ngudba-.
honeysuckle n. baabirr.
horse n. yaraman.
go over vt. badba-.
hot adj. nawan-.
go through vt. yiridbu-.
how inter. yuga.
go up vi. dhalibawa-.
hungry vi. yidhalama-.
goanna n. burnaaga.
hunting spear n. birriiwa.
good adj. djamaga.
husband’s brother’s son kin. waram.
grandmother kin. bayunga (mother’s
husband’s son kin. waram.
mother), nadjung (father’s mother).

hut n. dhugan (common use), ngura.
grass n. wadhan (generic).
grass cuttings n. njirinj.
grass tree n. miingga.
i
great white shark n. daarlawan.
greedy adj. garudhan.
I (bound subject) pro. -ga.
grey adj. djilawaray, warri.
I (stand-alone) pro. ngayaga.
ground n. gurad, bagan.
I don’t know phr. nginbaga, dhagayil, yuga.
grow vi. dhuri-.
impale vt. gula-.
guard ﬁsh n. wuraambin.
in suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to show that gully n. gagurr.
something or someone is in/at/on it).
in front spat. bindji.
in order to suf. -ri (attaches to the verb).
h

intestines n. gurgun (common use), guni.
ironbark eucalyptus n. gurndiira.
hail n. dhundala.
its (bound possessive) suf. -u.
hair n. djawur.
hairy man (mythical creature) n. dulagaal, mumaga.
j
hand n. mana (common use), murnawal.
hang up vt. djirabu- (common use),
jagged spear n. gama.
dhangga-.
jaw n. mandha.
happy, rejoice vi. yilaga-, yiringga-.
jealous vi. ngunarungura-.
head n. gabaanu (common use), walarr.
jew ﬁsh n. yirimbaagun.
90
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER
jew lizard n. djaraagar.
like, love vt. ngumbudhaa-.

jump vi. waradaga- (common use), wara-.
lillypilly tree n. galungara.
lining of canoe n. yinul.
lips n. wiling.
k
little toe n. gubidjayanga.
kangaroo n. buru (most likely eastern grey), live vi. mayi-,
maruga-.
maraba.
lizard n. bangawu (generic).
kangaroo rat n. wanggaali.
location n. ngarn.
keep vt. yuna-.
locust n. gurlanj.
kick vt. burdulu-.
long adj. yarungarn.
kidney n. djibVr.
long-nosed bandicoot n. miridjiga.
kill vt. gambadja- (common use), bayi-, yuri-, long time ago temp.
warigamban.
bilyaguwin-.

look at vt. dhumbama-.
King Merriman nprop. wadhiin.
look for vt. wardaalimala-.
kiss vt. numbula-.
lose vt. dhunbanga-.
knee n. ngumung.
louse n. mula.
knife n. nadba, garanganganj (made from
love, like vt. ngumbudhaa-.
shell or stone).
lumpy ground n. buubundhaaga.
know vt. nanuma-.
lyrebird n. djagula.
koala n. gumbaawar, guraban.
kookaburra n. gugunyal.
kurrajong (Illawarra ﬂame tree) n.
m
guraaman
maggot n. manduga.
magpie n. gurimbaga.

l
make vt. djinjama-, djinama-, mudhuga(used with ganji to mean ‘make a ﬁre’),
lagoon n. gudjarr.
yabandjaaga-.
land yam n. guraamanj.
make (a boomerang) vt. yabundja-.
late adj. gaariin.
make happen suf. -ma (attaches to the
laugh vi. ngadjili-.
verb to indicate that someone is causing
learn vt. ganandhimila-.
someone else to do the action).
leave vi. wana- (leave, exit, but also drop a male (animal) adj.
biyanhung.
topic in conversation), waba-.
male (bird) adj. banhung.
leaves n. djirawara.
male animal n. gawalgang.
left spat. ngalaga.

male cousin kin. dhadha.
leg n. ngarri (also shin), buyu (shine bone).
male koala n. barrunda.
let suf. -ya (attaches to the verb).
male possum n. gumburruuga.
let go of vt. ngarambilil-.
let go! phr. warnadha.
man n. gimbanya.
light n. binin.gala (both sunlight and
many num. dhawamalanj
moonlight).
many suf. -baraga (plural marker, attaches light (weight) adj.
birrabirra.
to a noun to indicate there are more than
lightning n. guranguran.
two of them, used only after a consonant),
91
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER
-waraga (after a vowel or rr), -mbaraga
my (bound possessive) pro. -dha (if

(after a vowel or ng)
possessed thing cannot be given away e.g.
marrow n. gamba.
body parts or kin), -dhuga (if possessed
masturbation n. gadagadabalin.
thing can be given away e.g. tools or
maybe part. wanda.
shelter).
me (bound object) pro. -ngga.
my head n. gabamanga.
meat n. mandidja.
myrtle n. yawiya.
meat-based food n. narum.
middle spat. baru.
n
Milky Way nprop. garraywaa.
mine (bound possessive) pro. -dha (if
native cat n. midhagani.
possessed thing cannot be given away e.g.
native cherry tree n. mamaadja.

body parts or kin), -dhuga (if possessed
native peppermint n. barrumbarra.
thing can be given away e.g. tools or
native quail n. burrburran.
shelter).
neck n. nganing, gami, garun (back of neck), mist n. muryan.
nunggurr (back of neck).
money n. gaandi.
nest n. ngura.
monkey n. garalu.
never suf. -ngamba (attaches to the verb).
moon n. dhawara.
next to spat. gungala.
more of suf. -gudhu (attaches to an adjective night n. yiribini,
dhawara.
to describe having more of a quality than
no part. dhagayil.
another thing or person).
non–meat-based food n. dhanga.
morning n. bumulaga.

north east wind n. baliya.
Moruya nprop. place name, said to mean
nose n. nugurr.
‘where the water is crossable by foot’.
nostril n. ngurdu ngurdu.
mosquito n. niluga, ngaylugu.
most suf. -gudha (attached to an adjective o
to describe the highest amount of that
quality).
octopus n. djungga.
mother kin. minga (common use), mamang,
old man n. gamara (common use), bidjaya,
mani, mayanda, gaanga (woman who has
wari.
lost children), yidhungurr (woman that had
old woman n. muladha (common use),
children).
garn.ga.
mother’s sister kin. mamang.

on suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to show that mother’s sister’s
son kin. dhadha.
something or someone is in/at/on it).
mountain n. bangguri (common use), bidhu.
once num. mirdandhagu (once, not
mountain ash tree n. ngandhawar.
repeated).
mountain range n. bidhu.
one num. midandhal.
mouth n. dhaaga.
or conj. ba.
mud n. nhuruubabaa.
Orion’s Belt (Betelgeuse) nprop. yuwindja.
mullet n. warigala.
other side of spat. banjawal.
mum kin. mamang.
our (bound possessive) pro. -ngul (us two, musk duck n. nanilu.
including the listener), -ngal (use, not
92
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER

including the listener), -njin (us lot, including
ring-tailed possum n. bugaali, buguri.
the listener), -njinungga (us lot, not including
ripe adj. waanhal.
the listener).
river n. duraya.
over there dem. djinganda.
river oak n. wumbalwara.
ox n. gambugalag.
roast vi. gundja-.
oyster n. bidhanga.
rock n. bura.
rock wallaby n. baraal.
rough sea n. gadhu.
p
round adj. bubandhan.
paddle n. waari, djiraama.
rug n. baraang.
pelican n. garungguba.
rump n. mundji (bum), ganggul (ﬂank).

penis n. burnda, yurdubaaga (erect penis).
run vi. maru-, wala-.
pick up vt. garidba-.
run around vi. gulaminjiin-.
picture n. bawanyu.
pinch vt. njinmula-.
place n. ngarn.
s
platypus n. yaranbul.
safe journey phr. walawaani.
play vi. waridba-.
sand n. djaadjawan.
Pleiades (Seven Sisters) nprop. wanggaadi.
say vt. bayandha-.
plover n. bindjaringaring.
scab n. bubul.
porpoise n. dhaawarri.
scare vt. gurabungari-.
possum n. gungara.
scared vi. guruba-.

pregnant adj. bindjilaan.
pubic hair n. muruguru.
scared of vt. gurugundha-.
sea n. barra barra (also salt water), ngarawan (distant sea), gadhu
(rough sea).
q
seagull n. maaran.
seal n. yiragala.
quick adj. buwambay, buyi, guragura.
season n. gambambara.
quiet vi. djarambu-.
see vt. dhambamu-, nja-, naga-.
semen n. burra.
r
sexual intercourse n. gandidjaalinba.
sexual organs n. bambara.
rain n. bana.
shadow (of a man) n. murandjanyan.
red adj. munjamunja (VARIANT: manjamanja).
shadow (of tree) n. gumbari.

red gum n. yaala.
shag n. biraawara.
red ochre n. gubar.
shake vt. burunga-.
reed spear n. biryuula, gumbiira.
shallow adj. dhunbunyil.
reeds n. gumbiira.
shark n. wulimbura (generic, VARIANT:
remember vi. bundja-.
rest against vt. bulambii-.
walimbura).
return vi. wali-.
shark (great white) n. daarlawan.
ribs of canoe n. gurbungama.
sharp adj. njaagarn, djarraranj (sharp
right spat. dhurga (on the right side of).
edged).
93
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER
shield n. marga (generic), milidhu

southerner n. guyangal.
(boomerang shield), bimbaya (spear
sparkle adj. milumba.
shield).
sparkling adj. gundhagundha.
shimmer adj. milumba.
speak vi. yawa-, djama-.
shin n. ngarri (also entire leg), buyu (shin spear n. djarambaadhi
(generic), gumbi ra.
bone).
spear thrower n. wumura.
shin bone n. buyu.
spider n. marrarr.
shine adj. milumba.
spirit of the dead n. guwinj.
shingleback, sleeping lizard n. biriin.
spirit protector nprop. mudjingaal.
shoes n. bandjiwug.
spotted gum n. dharraani.
short adj. barlaa.

spread vi. warawandjar-.
short-nosed bandicoot n. guragurr.
spring n. gambambara.
shoulder n. gugu.
squeaking tree n. mawaradj.
shrub n. barraar, gabi.
stand vi. dhari-.
sick vi. gundjama-.
star n. djinggi.
silent vi. djanbabu-.
steal vt. garanga-.
silver bream n. gambanj.
stingaree n. gwiyaala.
sing vi. yangga-.
stingray n. baba (generic), gwiyaala.
Sirius nprop. gundjiran.
stomach n. bindji.
sister’s son kin. dhadha.
stone n. mura, bura.
sit vi. maya- (common use), mayi-, nangga-.

stone tomahawk n. munduba.
skin n. waadhu.
string n. waraawara.
skinny adj. yabin.gi.
string bag n. madbu (net bag).
sky n. mirriwarr.
stringybark n. gubaa.
slate crane n. gurarayga, guyari, guradhu, strong adj. bulwal
(common use), madhang.
galu.
stupid adj. wambur.
sleep vi. nangu-.
suck vi. ngundhu-.
sleeping lizard, shingleback n. biriin.
sugar glider n. banggu.
slow adj. garragadj.
summer n. galaa.
small adj. gubidja (common use), dandala.
sun n. yuraga, bagaranj (only found with
small guard ﬁsh n. gubi.

yiribu to mean ‘sunset’), nawa.
small mullet n. djiibarra.
swamp mahogany n. madhawarn.
smoke n. duruuwa.
swamp yam n. bungala.
snake n. gari (generic).
swan n. gurawari (most likely white swan).
snapper n. barraaran.
sweet adj. djiin.ga.
snot n. garu.
swim vi. bardju-, yangan-.
snow n. gunama.
soil n. gurad, bagan.
son kin. mayawar.
t
soon temp. gaway.
sore n. bubul, mandarlu, gundja.
take vt. djamaru- (collect), wabandi- (take sorry vi. gurngamba-.
away).
south n. guya.

talk vi. djama- (common use), yawa-.
south wind n. miringama.
taste vt. ganundhu-.
94
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER
teal duck n. gumbaraga.
torso n. bingal (chest of a human or animal).
tear vt. gardira-.
touch vt. dhuduga-.
teatree n. buwarla.
toward/to suf. -dha.
teeth n. yira (common use), nganayu.
toy canoe n. dhaaligir.
ten num. manawal (common use), dhawa.
tree n. bunbal (generic).
testicles n. mura.
tree bark n. bunbun, wulaga.
that dem. djiinj, njun, njanadha (that person/
tree fern n. djirangara, yambagan (most
thing).

likely these are speciﬁc kinds of fern tree, but
three days time temp. yaradirawal (the day unknown what).
after the day after tomorrow).
True Valley nprop. baadja (unknown place
The Keel (constellation) nprop. miridjiga.
name).
their (bound possessive) pro. -abul (those turn away vi.
garaangalirr-.
two’s), -djan (that lot’s).
turtle n. bilima.
them (bound object) pro. -in (them lot).
twist vt. guwinjma-.
then temp. yagun (introduces an action that two num. djiriba
(common use),
occurs after another action).
mungandhawara
there dem. djiinj, njun, njanadha (that place).
two suf. -bara (dual marker, attaches to a they (bound subject)
pro. -wara (those two), noun to indicate there are two of them,
-waraga (that lot).
used only after a consonant), -wara (after a

thigh n. bunda.
vowel or rr), -mbara (after a vowel or ng)
think vi. bundjala-.
thirsty adj. ngundaga.
u
this dem. njiinj.
this place dem. njunil.
umbilical cord n. nurridj.
this side of spat. njiindjilan.
urine n. djilawa.
three num. durun.gadja.
us (bound object) pro. -ngal (you and
throw vt. binga- (common use), yara- (throw a me), -ngalangga
(us two, not including
weapon), nanuma-.
listener), -ngana (us lot, including listener),
throwing stick n. djaadjurna.
-nganangga (us lot, not including listener).
thumb n. gulungulu.
thunder n. bumawa, mirribi, njariwang.

tie vt. naaraa-.
v
tired vi. yidbu-.
vagina n. gala.
to herself suf. -ndjali.
very suf. -gunda.
to himself suf. -ndjali.
very good adj. gabun.
to myself suf. -ndjali.
to ourselves suf. -ndjali.
to themselves suf. -ndjali.
w
toad ﬁsh n. djiriilbun.
tobacco n. gaandi.
walk vi. yana-.
today temp. nhaway.
wallaby n. badhaalima (generic), djaruga, tomorrow temp.
buraadja.
baraal (rock wallaby).
tongue n. dhalanj.

want vt. dawandha-.
tooth n. yira (common use), nganayu.
war spear n. biraya.
95
9 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER
warm weather n. galaa.
y
wash vt. bulumu-.
water n. ngadju (generic, or fresh water in yamstick n. gaaga.
contrast to salt water).
yes part. ngay.
yesterday temp. bugiya.
water goanna n. djirabard.
you (bound object) pro. -nji (you, one
water monster n. gurungadj.
person), -lu (you two), -nhurr (you lot).
waterhole n. badha.
you (bound subject) pro. -ni (you, one
wattle n. bidhudhu (generic), bawarr.
person, used only in present or future tense),

we (bound subject) pro. -ng (you and I),
-li (you, one person, used only in past tense),
-ngala (we two, not including listener), -nj
-wu (you two, use if the verb it attaches to
(we lot, including listener), -nga (we lot, not
ends in a vowel, if it ends in a consonant use
including listener).
-u), -n (you lot).
we (stand-alone) pro. ngayawung (you and
you (stand-alone) pro. yindiga (you, one
I), ngayawangala (we two, not including the
person, VARIANT: njindiga), yindiwu (you
listener), ngayawanj (we lot, including the
two, VARIANT: njindiwu), yindiwan (you lot,
listener), ngayawanga (we lot, not including
VARIANT: njindiwan).
the listener).
young man n. yurang.
young woman n. wanggan.
weak adj. galaabawan.

younger brother kin. mayaaga.
west wind n. gurugama.
younger sister kin. murnunggan.
whale n. muriyira.
your (bound possessive) pro. -ngu (your, one what inter. minja.
person), -bul (you two’s), -djur (you lot’s).
when inter. wandung.
youth n. garindja (generic), gabugubal
where inter. wadha.
(uninitiated).
white adj. wurawura.
Yuin People n. yuwinj.
white box n. gurabarr.
white cockatoo n. ngawal.
whiting n. warrabugan.
who inter. wananga.
why inter. mali.
wife n. dhanama.
wife’s son kin. waram.
winter n. dhagarr.

with suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to say that the noun was used
to do the verb).
woman n. ngaranggal.
wombat n. banggaada.
wood n. gugawal.
wood duck n. gunarug, yirinbul.
would you please suf. -ri (attaches to a verb to make a request).
wrong adj. gurnamunya.
96

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
female (kangaroo) adj. yimar.
ADJECTIVES
angry adj. djaadjularan.

ﬂat adj. bilwurr.
bad adj. mangara, garnina.
big adj. biraga.
full adj. dhudbandhul.
blind adj. midbawanj.
blunt adj. murdubura.
clear adj. gundhagundha.
cold adj. guyudu.
good adj. djamaga.
greedy adj. garudhan.
heavy adj. mundur.
crooked adj. ganggulwara.
dead adj. wara.
deaf adj. niraguwin, waragadhaan.
dirty adj. burlgunj.
disabled adj. nanbanggaraga.
hot adj. nawan-.
empty adj. garragalambiwan.
late adj. gaariin.
fast adj. buwambay, buyi, guragura.

light (weight) adj. birrabirra.
female (animal) adj. gururu, wangganmana, long adj. yarungarn.
nunganung.
97

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
male (animal) adj. biyanhung.
slow adj. garragadj.
male (bird) adj. banhung.
small adj. gubidja (common use), dandala.

pregnant adj. bindjilaan.
sparkle adj. milumba.
quick adj. buwambay, buyi, guragura.
right adj. yagunadha (correct, done well).
sparkling adj. gundhagundha.
ripe adj. waanhal.
strong adj. bulwal (common use), madhang.
round adj. bubandhan.
stupid adj. wambur.
shallow adj. dhunbunyil.
sweet adj. djiin.ga.
sharp adj. njaagarn, djarraranj (sharp
thirsty adj. ngundaga.
edged).
very good adj. gabun.
shimmer adj. milumba.
weak adj. galaabawan.
shine adj. milumba.
wrong adj. gurnamunya.
short adj. barlaa.

skinny adj. yabin.gi.
98

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
crow n. waagura.
BIRDS
beak n. nugurr.
bird n. budjan (generic).
black cockatoo n. ngaral, wayalad.

curlew n. gwiyirrwurrwurr.
eaglehawk n. malyan, munyunga.
emu n. birribanj (common use), marriya.
black duck n. djabadj, wambaara.
black swan n. gunjung.
brolga (slate crane) n. guradhu, galu,
gurarayga, guyari.
ﬁsh hawk n. njirra.
kookaburra n. gugunyal.
brown hawk n. biburnungga.
cormorant n. binyaaru.
lyrebird n. djagula.
99

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
magpie n. gurimbaga.
CLOTHING & SHELTER
blanket n. djinaabli, biidja.

camp n. dhugan (common use), ngura.
clothing n. dadha.
musk duck n. nanilu.
native quail n. burrburran.
pelican n. garungguba.
plover n. bindjaringaring.
seagull n. maaran.
shag n. biraawara.
home n. munggura.
swan n. gurawari (most likely white swan).
teal duck n. gumbaraga.
white cockatoo n. ngawal.
hut n. dhugan (common use), ngura.
nest n. ngura.
rug n. baraang.
shoes n. bandjiwug.
wood duck n. gunarug, yirinbul.
100

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
COLOURS
ENVIRONMENT
black adj. ngurnda, burawara.

cave n. buran.
grey adj. djilawaray, warri.
charcoal n. dhumbaa.
cloud n. mungala.
red adj. munjamunja (VARIANT:
manjamanja).
cold n. dhagarr.
cold east wind n. biwaawa.
cold west wind n. gunama.
creek n. badha.
darkness n. gilwa.
white adj. wurawura.
dew n. djingiya.
dirt n. gurad, bagan.
droplet n. ngurlwan.
dust n. balirr.
earth n. bagan.
east wind n. djirindjiring.
echo n. bariwariganyan.
evening n. yiribini.

CRUSTACEANS & MOLLUSCS
ﬁre n. ganji.
crab n. dhuril.
crayﬁsh n. birruwa.
ﬂat country n. yinal narawan.
oyster n. bidhanga.
fog n. garal.
101

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
frost n. dhagadj.
mountain n. bangguri (common use), bidhu.
ground n. gurad, bagan.
gully n. gagurr.
mountain range n. bidhu.
hail n. dhundala.
heat n. bagaranj, ngubulinj, nawa.
hill n. bun.garri.

mud n. nhuruubabaa.
night n. yiribini, dhawara.
north east wind n. baliya.
hole n. gagurr.
place n. ngarn.
lagoon n. gudjarr.
rain n. bana.
light n. binin.gala (both sunlight and
moonlight).
lightning n. guranguran.
red ochre n. gubar.
river n. duraya.
rock n. bura.
rough sea n. gadhu.
sand n. djaadjawan.
sea n. barra barra (also salt water), ngarawan (distant sea), gadhu
(rough sea).
season n. gambambara.
shadow (of tree) n. gumbari.
sky n. mirriwarr.

location n. ngarn.
smoke n. duruuwa.
lumpy ground n. buubundhaaga.
snow n. gunama.
mist n. muryan.
soil n. gurad, bagan.
morning n. bumulaga.
102

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
south wind n. miringama.

FISH
spring n. gambambara.
stone n. mura, bura.
black bream n. wagal.
summer n. galaa.
thunder n. bumawa, mirribi, njariwang.
bream n. burumayal.
warm weather n. galaa.
water n. ngadju (generic, or fresh water in contrast to salt water).
eel n. barra, mambi.
ﬁsh n. marra (common use), ma, mina.
ﬁsherman jack n. birimbamin.
ﬂat-tailed mullet n. gariba.
ﬂathead n. dhagala.
great white shark n. daarlawan.
guard ﬁsh n. wuraambin.
jew ﬁsh n. yirimbaagun.
mullet n. warigala.
waterhole n. badha.
octopus n. djungga.

west wind n. gurugama.
winter n. dhagarr.
shark n. wulimbura (generic, VARIANT:
walimbura).
shark (great white) n. daarlawan.
silver bream n. gambanj.
small guard ﬁsh n. gubi.
small mullet n. djiibarra.
snapper n. barraaran.
stingaree n. gwiyaala.
toad ﬁsh n. djiriilbun.
whiting n. warrabugan.
103

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
FOOD
HUMAN BODY
egg n. gabaanu.
abdomen n. muru.
honey n. gawanggal.
arm n. gaygan.
marrow n. gamba.
armpit n. gadjigung.
back n. barlga.
meat n. mandidja.
beard n. yaran, warlu.
belly button n. garri.
big toe n. biraga yuludha.
blister n. gundja, bubul.

blood n. djiraali, ngawu.
boil n. mandarlu.
bottom of the foot n. dhanadha.
breast n. ngabunaa.
meat-based food n. narum.
non–meat-based food n. dhanga.
breastmilk n. ngaminjang.
bum n. mundji.
calf (of leg) n. djabur, yabuda.
chin n. yarin, warlu.
clitoris n. miigurn.
ear n. guri.
elbow n. dhurliing.
eye n. mabara.
104

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
forehead n. gundu.
eyebrow n. minmirgun.
hair n. djawur.
hand n. mana (common use), murnawal.
faeces n. guni.
fat n. biwan.
feet n. dhana.

head n. gabaanu (common use), walarr.
ﬁnger n. mina, yulu.
heel n. dunggul.
intestines n. gurgun (common use), guni.
ﬁngernail n. yulu.
ﬂank n. ganggul.
footprint n. bardju, muruda.
jaw n. mandha.
kidney n. djibVr.
knee n. ngumung.
legs n. ngarri (also entire leg), buyu (shin bone).
105

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
lips n. wiling.
shin n. ngarri (also entire leg), buyu (shin little toe n.
gubidjayanga.
bone).
masturbation n. gadagadabalin.
mouth n. dhaaga.
my head n. gabamanga.

neck n. nganing, gami, garun (back of neck), nunggurr (back of
neck).
shin bone n. buyu.
shoulder n. gugu.
nose n. nugurr.
skin n. waadhu.
snot n. garu.
sore n. bubul, mandarlu, gundja.
stomach n. bindji.
teeth n. yira (common use), nganayu.
testicles n. mura.
thigh n. bunda.
nostril n. ngurdu ngurdu.
thumb n. gulungulu.
penis n. burnda, yurdubaaga (erect penis).
tongue n. dhalanj.
pubic hair n. muruguru.
tooth n. yira (common use), nganayu.
rump n. mundji (bum), ganggul (ﬂank).
torso n. bingal (chest of a human or animal).

scab n. bubul.
umbilical cord n. nurridj.
semen n. burra.
urine n. djilawa.
sexual intercourse n. gandidjaalinba.
vagina n. gala.
sexual organs n. bambara.
shadow (of a man) n. murandjanyan.
106

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
horse n. yaraman.
MAMMALS (LAND)
bandicoot n. birdhuulay.
dingo n. warigal.
kangaroo n. buru (most likely eastern grey), maraba.
dog n. wadhangarr (common use), mirigang
(generic), gangwari (rare generic), warigal
(wild dog).
echidna n. djinug, ganagubadh.
kangaroo rat n. wanggaali.
koala n. gumbaawar, guraban.
long-nosed bandicoot n. miridjiga.
female dog n. wadhanagarr
male animal n. gawalgang.

wangganmaaru.
male koala n. barrunda.
male possum n. gumburruuga.
ﬂying fox n. garamunda.
monkey n. garalu.
native cat n. midhagani.
ox n. gambugalag.
107

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
possum n. gungara.
MEASUREMENTS OF TIME,
DISTANCE & LOCATION
before temp. dhaba.
behind spat. barlga.
between spat. nguna.
close (in space) spat. mabumban.
close (in time) temp. bala.
ring-tailed possum n. bugaali, buguri.
day n. ngurungaru, nawa.
rock wallaby n. baraal.
day after tomorrow temp. buraagawalin.
short-nosed bandicoot n. guragurr.
east n. ngarawan.
sugar glider n. banggu.

far away spat. djinalibura.
wallaby n. badhaalima (generic), djaruga, further away spat.
djinadha (over there, in the baraal (rock wallaby).
distance).
here dem. njiinj.
wombat n. banggaada.
in front spat. bindji.
left spat. ngalaga.
long time ago temp. warigamban.
middle spat. baru.
next to spat. gungala.
other side of spat. banjawal.
over there dem. djinganda.
right spat. dhurga (on the right side of).
soon temp. gaway.
south n. guya.
that dem. djiinj, njun, njanadha (that person/
thing).
108

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
three days time temp. yaradirawal (the day NAMES OF PEOPLE
AND PLACES
after the day after tomorrow).
then temp. yagun (introduces an action that occurs after another
action).
King Merriman nprop. wadhiin.
there dem. djiinj, njun, njanadha (that place).
this dem. njiinj.
this place dem. njunil.
this side of spat. njiindjilan.
Moruya nprop. place name, said to mean
‘where the water is crossable by foot’.
True Valley nprop. baadja (unknown place
name).
today temp. nhaway.
tomorrow temp. buraadja.
NUMBERS
yesterday temp. bugiya.
ﬁve num. mana (common use), murnawal,
yalangbaradha.

four num. djiriibawal djiriibawal (common use), manalinga.
many num. dhawamalanj
once num. mirdandhagu (once, not
repeated).
one num. midandhal.
ten num. manawal (common use), dhawa.
three num. durun.gadja.
two num. djiriba (common use),
mungandhawara
109

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
male cousin kin. dhadha.
PEOPLE & KINSHIP
man n. gimbanya.
brother-in-law kin. djambi.
child n. waranj.
dad kin. baaba (common use), baying, biyan, mother kin. minga
(common use), mamang,

baanga.
mani, mayanda, yidhungurr, gaanga
daughter kin. murnawar.
(woman who has lost children)
disabled person n. gugiwan.
mother’s sister kin. mamang.
elder brother kin. dhadha.
mother’s sister’s son kin. dhadha.
elder sister kin. mama.
mum kin. mamang.
father kin. baaba (common use), baying,
old man n. gamara (common use), bidjaya,
biyan, baanga.
wari.
father’s brother’s son kin. dhadha.
old woman n. muladha (common use), garn.
father’s brother’s wife kin. mamang.
ga.
friend n. mudj, mudjingaal.
sister’s son kin. dhadha.

girl n. yandabal.
son kin. mayawar.
grandmother kin. bayunga (mother’s
southerner n. guyangal.
mother), nadjung (father’s mother).
wife n. dhanama.
husband’s brother’s son kin. waram.
wife’s son kin. waram.
husband’s son kin. waram.
110

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
woman n. ngaranggal.
PHRASES & PARTICLES
and conj. ba (used to join sentences when they have the same
subject), ya (used to
join sentences when they have different
subjects).
come here phr. yaway.

young man n. yurang.
young woman n. wanggan.
younger brother kin. mayaaga.
I don’t know phr. nginbaga, dhagayil, yuga.
younger sister kin. murnunggan.
let go! phr. warnadha.
youth n. garindja (generic), gabugubal
maybe part. wanda.
(uninitiated).
no part. dhagayil.
or conj. ba.
safe journey phr. walawaani.
yes part. ngay.
Yuin People n. yuwinj.
111

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
forest oak n. bila.
PLANTS
geebung tree n. babadhal.
bloodwood n. gurgul.
branch n. dhuladhula.
bullrush n. njurgun.

grass n. wadhan (generic).
grass cuttings n. njirinj.
grass tree n. miingga.
honeysuckle n. baabirr.
ironbark eucalyptus n. gurndiira.
burrawang n. banggawu.
kurrajong (Illawarra ﬂame tree) n.
guraaman
burrawang nut n. yiburr.
land yam n. guraamanj.
bush n. gabi, barraar.
leaves n. djirawara.
cabbage tree n. dharrawa.
lillypilly tree n. galungara.
fern n. mangga.
mountain ash tree n. ngandhawar.
myrtle n. yawiya.
112

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
native cherry tree n. mamaadja.
PRONOUNS
her (bound possessive) pro. -u.
his (bound possessive) pro. -u.
I (bound subject) pro. -ga.
I (stand-alone) pro. ngayaga.
me (bound object) pro. -ngga.
mine (bound possessive) pro. -dha (if

possessed thing cannot be given away e.g.
body parts or kin), -dhuga (if possessed
thing can be given away e.g. tools or
shelter).
my (bound possessive) pro. -dha (if
possessed thing cannot be given away e.g.
body parts or kin), -dhuga (if possessed
thing can be given away e.g. tools or
native peppermint n. barrumbarra.
shelter).
red gum n. yaala.
our (bound possessive) pro. -ngul (us
reeds n. gumbiira.
two, including the listener), -ngal (us, not
river oak n. wumbalwara.
including the listener), -njin (us lot, including
shrub n. barraar, gabi.
the listener), -njinungga (us lot, not including
spotted gum n. dharraani.
the listener).

squeaking tree n. mawaradj.
their (bound possessive) pro. -abul (those stringybark n. gubaa.
two’s), -djan (that lot’s).
swamp yam n. bungala.
them (bound object) pro. -in (them lot).
swamp mahogany n. madhawarn.
they (bound subject) pro. -wara (those two), teatree n. buwarla.
-waraga (that lot).
tree n. bunbal (generic).
us (bound object) pro. -ngal (you and
tree bark n. bunbun, wulaga.
me), -ngalangga (us two, not including
tree fern n. djirangara, yambagan (species’
listener), -ngana (us lot, including listener),
unknown).
-nganangga (us lot, not including listener).
wattle n. bidhudhu (generic), bawarr.
we (bound subject) pro. -ng (you and I),
white box n. gurabarr.
-ngala (we two, not including listener), -nj

wood n. gugawal.
(we lot, including listener), -nga (we lot, not
including listener).
we (stand-alone) pro. ngayawung (you and
I), ngayawangala (we two, not including the
POST CONTACT
listener), ngayawanj (we lot, including the
listener), ngayawanga (we lot, not including
alcohol n. garangadada.
the listener).
cigarette n. bunda.
you (bound object) pro. -nji (you, one
money n. gaandi.
person), -lu (you two), -nhurr (you lot).
picture n. bawanyu.
tobacco n. gaandi.
113

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
you (bound subject) pro. -ni (you, one
REPTILES
person, used only in present or future tense),
-li (you, one person, used only in past tense),
black snake n. mundha.
-wu (you two, use if the verb it attaches to
brown snake n. murumba.
ends in a vowel, if it ends in a consonant use
carpet snake n. maga, wagurr.
-u), -n (you lot).
death adder n. bubugurning.

you (stand-alone) pro. yindiga (you, one
person, VARIANT: njindiga), yindiwu (you
goanna n. burnaaga.
two, VARIANT: njindiwu), yindiwan (you lot,
VARIANT: njindiwan).
your (bound possessive) pro. -ngu (your, one person), -bul (you
two’s), -djur (you lot’s).
QUESTIONS
jew lizard n. djaraagar.
lizard n. bangawu (generic).
how inter. yuga.
sleeping lizard, shingleback n. biriin.
what inter. minja.
when inter. wandung.
snake n. gari (generic).
where inter. wadha.
who inter. wananga.
why inter. mali.
water goanna n. djirabard.
SOLAR SYSTEM

Alpha Orionis (Betelgeuse) nprop.
gunungama.
Milky Way nprop. garraywaa.
moon n. dhawara.
Orion’s Belt nprop. yuwindja.
Pleiades (Seven Sisters) nprop. wanggaadi.
Sirius nprop. gundjiran.
star n. djinggi.
sun n. yuraga, bagaranj (with yiribu to mean
‘sunset’), nawa.
The Keel nprop. miridjiga.
114
10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
SPIDERS, INSECTS AND BUGS
SUFFIXES
bee n. murrurn.
allow suf. -ya (attaches to the verb).
blow-ﬂy n. murun.
at suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to show that bull ant n. garrurr.
something or someone is in/at/on it).

centipede n. dhaadjar.
away from suf. -din (motion away from a
ﬂy n. mayarmVga, naaga.
place or object).
locust n. gurlanj.
belong to suf. -nggul (attaches to a noun).
louse n. mula.
by suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to show that maggot n. manduga.
something or someone is in/at/on/near it).
mosquito n. niluga, ngaylugu.
continue to suf. -mba (attaches to the verb to spider n. marrarr.
indicate continued action).
each other suf. -ndjali.
for suf. -buran (for the purpose of, put on a noun), -gul (on behalf
of, put on a noun).
SPIRITUAL BELIEFS, CEREMONY
in suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to show that AND RITUAL
something or someone is in/at/on it).
in order to suf. -ri (attaches to the verb).
assistant n. naraawanj.

its (bound possessive) suf. -u.
bad spirit n. gababa, gawan.
let suf. -ya (attaches to the verb).
clever man n. bagiindj.
make happen suf. -ma (attaches to the
clever man n. muyulu.
verb to indicate that someone is causing
clever woman n. bagiindj.
someone else to do the action).
corroboree n. bunaan.
many suf. -baraga (plural marker, attaches hairy man (mythical
creature) n. dulagaal, to a noun to indicate there are more than
mumaga.
two of them, used only after a consonant),
spirit of the dead n. guwinj.
-waraga (after a vowel or rr), -mbaraga
spirit protector nprop. mudjingaal.
(after a vowel or ng)
water monster n. gurungadj.
more of suf. -gudhu (attaches to an adjective to describe having
more of a quality than

another thing or person).
most suf. -gudha (attached to an adjective to describe the
highest amount of that
quality).
never suf. -ngamba (attaches to the verb).
on suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to show that something or
someone is in/at/on it).
small suf. -yanga (attaches to nouns to
describe a small or cute version of it).
to herself suf. -ndjali.
to himself suf. -ndjali.
to myself suf. -ndjali.
to ourselves suf. -ndjali.
115

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
to themselves suf. -ndjali.
TOOLS, WEAPONS AND TOYS
toward/to suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to say motion toward/to
that place or thing).
bag n. biyay.
two suf. -bara (dual marker, attaches to a boomerang n.
waranganj, badhawal.
noun to indicate there are two of them,
canoe n. madjari (common use), garidja.
used only after a consonant), -wara (after a

club n. bundhi, gudjaru, bangadjan.
vowel or rr), -mbara (after a vowel or ng)
coolamon n. bun.gali, wandaya.
very suf. -gunda.
cup n. bangli.
with suf. -dha (attaches to a noun to say that ﬁghting hook n.
badhawal.
the noun was used to do the verb).
ﬁrestick n. dundhun.
would you please suf. -ri (attaches to a verb ﬁrewood n. ganji.
to make a request).
ﬁsh hook n. dhuula.
ﬁshing line n. waraawara, djabag (a phrase meaning ‘throw the
ﬁshing line’).
ﬁshing spear n. garawad.
hunting spear n. birriiwa.
jagged spear n. gama.
knife n. nadba, garanganganj (made from
shell or stone).
lining of canoe n. yinul.
paddle n. waari, djiraama.

reed spear n. biryuula, gumbiira.
ribs of canoe n. gurbungama.
shield n. marga (generic), milidhu
(boomerang shield), bimbaya (spear
shield).
spear n. djarambaadhi (generic), gumbi ra.
spear thrower n. wumura.
stone tomahawk n. munduba.
string n. waraawara.
string bag n. madbu (net bag).
throwing stick n. djaadjurna.
toy canoe n. dhaaligir.
war spear n. biraya.
yamstick n. gaaga.
116

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
do vt. yidjima-.
VERBS
drink vt. ngundhu-, mundu-.
afraid vi. guruba-.
afraid of vt. gurugundha-.
alive vi. murawan-, maruga-.
answer vi. buraali-.
ask vt. ganaya-.
ask vi. yabu-.
bind vt. naaraa-.
bite vt. badha-, bundha-.
brave vi. gurubangamba-.
break vt. gambuladja-.

drop vt. gungaba-.
drown vi. garaambu-.
eat vi. dhana-.
fall vi. gungaba-.
fetch vt. marindamu-.
ﬁght vt. gambadja-.
ﬂy vi. yaradba-, nhaga-.
frighten vt. gurabungari-.
get up vi. biinda-.
give vt. ngama- (common use, VARIANT:
nguma-), njama-.
bring vt. marandi-.
go vi. waba-, yana-.
bring back vt. marindamu-.
go along vi. balawu-.
build vt. djinjama-.
go around vi. gurumbu-.
burn vt. ganama-.
go down vi. njiru-.
call out vt. garuga-.

go inside vi. yiriba- (enter, also used to mean carry vt. yili-,
garganga-.
set e.g. sunset).
catch vt. nambadja-, dhabaga- (catch an
go into vi. ngudba-.
animal).
go over vt. badba-.
climb vi. galawa-.
go through vt. yiridbu-.
collect vt. djamaru-.
go up vi. dhalibawa-.
come vt. yana-.
grow vi. dhuri-.
come across vt. baridbu- (cross something in hang up vt. djirabu(common use),
the direction of the speaker).
dhangga-.
come down vt. nirini-.
happy (be), rejoice vi. yilaga-, yiringga-.
cook vt. ganama-.
hear vi. ngara-.

cover up vt. barimu-.
hit vt. bayi- (common use), yuri-.
crawl vi. wandhu-.
hold vt. mina-, garganga- (carry in hands).
cry vi. njungga-, nunga-.
hungry vi. yidhalama-.
cut vt. dharaganja-.
impale vt. gula-.
desire (sexually) vt. marlugudhaaga-.
jealous vi. ngunarungura-.
die vi. mubura-, wara-.
117

10 / ENGLISH TO DHURGA WORD FINDER BY CATEGORIES
jump vi. waradaga- (common use), wara-.

scared of vt. gurugundha-.
see vt. dhambamu-, nja-, naga-.
shake vt. burunga-.
sick vi. gundjama-.
silent vi. djanbabu-.
sing vi. yangga-.
sit vi. maya- (common use), mayi-, nangga-.
sleep vi. nangu-.
sorry vi. gurngamba-.
speak vi. yawa-, djama-.
spread vi. warawandjar-.
keep vt. yuna-.
stand vi. dhari-.
kick vt. burdulu-.
steal vt. garanga-.
kill vt. gambadja- (common use), bayi-, yuri-, suck vi. ngundhu-.
bilyaguwin-.
swim vi. bardju-, yangan-.
kiss vt. numbula-.
take vt. djamaru- (collect), wabandi- (take know vt. nanuma-.

away).
laugh vi. ngadjili-.
talk vi. djama- (common use), yawa-.
learn vt. ganandhimila-.
taste vt. ganundhu-.
leave vi. wana- (leave, exit, but also drop a tear vt. gardira-.
topic in conversation), waba-.
think vi. bundjala-.
let go of vt. ngarambilil-.
thirsty vi. gabudbandhaninga-.
like vt. ngumbudhaa- (like or love).
throw vt. binga- (common use), yara- (throw a live vi. mayi-,
maruga-.
weapon), nanuma-.
look at vt. dhumbama-.
tie vt. naaraa-.
look for vt. wardaalimala-.
tired vi. yidbu-.
lose vt. dhunbanga-.
touch vt. dhuduga-.

love vt. ngumbudhaa-.
turn away vi. garaangalirr-.
make vt. djinjama-, djinama-, mudhuga- (with twist vt. guwinjma-.
ganji ‘make a ﬁre’), yabandjaaga-.
walk vi. yana-.
make (a boomerang) vt. yabundja-.
want vt. dawandha-.
paddle vt. banga-.
wash vt. bulumu-.
pick up vt. garidba-.
pinch vt. njinmula-.
play vi. waridba-.
WATER ANIMALS
quiet vi. djarambu-.
remember vi. bundja-.
big frog n. gurdgard.
rest against vt. bulambii-.
platypus n. yaranbul.
return vi. wali-.
porpoise n. dhaawarri.

roast vi. gundja-.
seal n. yiragala.
run vi. maru-, wala-.
stingaree n. gwiyaala.
run around vi. gulaminjiin-.
stingray n. baba (generic), gwiyaala.
say vt. bayandha-.
turtle n. bilima.
scare vt. gurabungari-.
whale n. muriyira.
scared vi. guruba-.
118

