Babatana language


Babatana, also spelled Mbambatana, is the principal indigenous language of Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands. Although native to the South Choiseul coastline area between Sepa and the Manggo Bay area, the use of this language has spread across much of Choiseul Island and it is generally understood, much like Solomon Islands Pijin, across the province as a second or third language.

Simple expressions

Good morning = Marisasa noe
Good afternoon = Kinaka noe
Good evening = Vilu noe
Good night = Kuse noe
Let's go fishing = Me mada la pepeko
How much = Ava via
Many = Taba
No worries = Manöe zirapeta
I'm hungry = Ra ko sanqo
I'm full = Ra ko kuma
Don't eat it = Kasi goki tini
I'd like to swim = Ra ko soko ma senge
I'd like to dive = Ra ko soko ma kujulu
I'm going to sleep = Ra ma la pam
Come here = Zo me gati
Go away = Zo
Bring... here = vame gati...
Take... away = Qisu la...
Leave it = To'ro
I like... = Ra ko so'ko...
I see... = Kori...
I don't see... = Kamarinqu...
It's too hot = Sa vila varuka
The sun is too hot = Kiku sa vila varuka
Where are you going? = Bemolae?
Bad boy = So roka

Commands/Verbs

Go = Zola
Come = Zome
Quick = Dada
Slow = Kurki
Easy = Samao
Run = Jekele
Wait = Piri
Jump = Soqa
Out = Jolo
Shout = Vukulu
Tell him = Pijoni

Numbers

1. Koke
2. Kere
3. Tulu
4. Vati
5. Lima
6. Vonomo
7. Vitu
8. Viu
9. Zia
10. Mano
20. Karabete
30. Tolo Ngonu
40. Kereduki
50. Neqo
60. Neqo mano
70. Neqo karabete
80. Neqo tulungunu
90. Neqo kereduki
100. Koke vubi
1000. Koke Mau

Other vocabulary

Food = Gaki
Garden = Baroe
Cassava = Tovioko
Pineapple = Kanapo
Sweet potato = Sisu
Taro = To'ka
Yam = Noba
Pumpkin = Duru
Corn = Lezu
Banana = Siku
Ripe = Musu
Betelnut = Kasu
Sour/Bitter = Paza
It smells = Sanabu
Bad smell = Nabusakata
Fish = Koete
Shark = Bursa
Bonito = Reka
Crocodile = Poku
Kingfish = Tangere
Barracuda = Ghalu
Marlin = Viruviru
Fishing line = Tali
Hook = Jopa pipiko
Bait = Mamutu
Reef = Pedaka
Dive = Kojulu
Coral = Laji
Sea Cucumber = Bu
Clam shell = Meka
Shell = Banga
River = Vuru
Rain = Murga
Wind = Vovosele
Cyclone = Sokoro
Sea = Masi
Fresh water = Bi
Island = Nunu
Mountain = Supu
Sand beach = Korokone
Sky = Mamalurkana
Cloud = Toki
Sun = Ngada
Star = Siriputu
Moon = Ukene
Canoe = Mola
Paddle = Kapo
House = Toke / Pande
Ladder = Tokatoka
Kitchen = Pande kuki
Cooking pot = Sireke
Door = Patagamana
Window = Vuida
Sleep = Pam
Mosquito = Zizima

Customary terms

Gara - Creep

Colourful words

Sovisovi = Masturbation
Te : Excrement
Kede = vagina
Veje = penis
Kodolo = anus
Momo = mucus