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Nauruan phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

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    Nauruan (Dorerin Naoero) is the main and official language of Nauru. Due to its significant amount of Australian influence, and even once part of Australia after WWII, most Nauruans can speak English quite well. A number of words in Nauruan is very similar to Micronesian as well, so both those languages may be confusing at times. It's an endangered language, with more younger people of Nauru not being able to speak Nauruan and only English.

    Pronunciation guide

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    Vowels

    [edit]
    • i
    • e
    • a
    • à
    • â
    • o
    • ò
    • ô
    • ö
    • u
    • ù
    • û
    • ü

    Consonants

    [edit]

    Common diphthongs

    [edit]

    Phrase list

    [edit]

    Basics

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    Common signs


    OPEN
    baida
    CLOSED
    jimwa
    ENTRANCE
    eñut metu
    EXIT
    eñut metõ
    PUSH
    jow
    PULL
    urure
    TOILET
    oagun bwiya
    MEN
    eman
    WOMEN
    ien
    FORBIDDEN
    Hello (Greetings)
    Ekamawir Omo (Ekamowir omo)
    Hello (informal)
    Mo mo
    How are you?
    Wõ reit ed? (Wa raited?)
    Fine, thank you.
    Omo, Tūbwa kõr (Omo, Toob-wa kõr.)
    What is your name?
    Yen egõm? (Jen egum?)
    My name is ______ .
    Egõ aña nuñ/ Aña kõr (name) ( ega nga nung/ anga kõr (name))
    Nice to meet you.
    Ibibõgi aga yeduw/arowañauw
    Please.
    Magada
    Thank you.
    Tubwa kõr (Toob-wa kõr)
    You're welcome.
    ( )
    Yes.
    Eh. (Eh.) or Ehm. (Ah-m.)
    No.
    Deõ/ Keo
    Excuse me. (getting attention)
    . ( )
    Excuse me. (begging pardon)
    . ( )
    I'm sorry.
    Ead aeõ dura
    Goodbye
    Tarowõñ kõ/ ar bao kõ (tarowang ka/ ar bao ka)
    Do you speak English?
    Dorerin aiyuk iburbur awe?
    Is there someone here who speaks English?
    Iña eñame ine dorerin burbur?
    Help!
    Ipuõk!
    ipuk!
    Look out!
    ( !)
    Good morning.
    Omo yoran:::: Good afternoon: Omo yekwõ
    Good evening
    Omo yemerõ:
    Good night
    Omo yūbūm
    Good sleep
    Omo mimi

    Where are you from?

    Auwe amen ee/ auwe enamõn ee

    Awe amen e? (A-we me-ni?)

    I'm from (country/district)

    Aña amen (country/district)/ aña enamõn (country/district)

    Problems

    [edit]
    Leave me alone.
    Erowiyõ.
    Don't touch me!
    ! ( Weõ toweyõ!
    I'll call the police.
    . ( .)
    Police!
    ! ( !)
    Stop! Thief!
    ! ! ( ! !)
    I need your help.
    . ( .)
    It's an emergency.
    . ( .)
    I'm lost.
    . ( .)
    I lost my bag.
    . ( .)
    I lost my wallet.
    . ( .)
    I'm sick.
    . ( .)
    I've been injured.
    . ( .)
    I need a doctor.
    . ( .)
    Can I use your phone?
    ? ( ?)

    Numbers

    [edit]
    1
    aiquen (ai-quen)
    2
    aro (aa-ro)
    3
    aiju (aai-jew)
    4
    aeoq (a-eo-ck)
    5
    aijimo (ai-ji-mo)
    6
    año (añoh)
    7
    aeiu (aa-ee-eww)
    8
    ajou (aa-oo-ju)
    9
    ado (aa-do)
    10
    ata (aa-ta)
    11
    (ata ma aiquen)
    12
    (ata ma aro)
    13
    (ata ma aiju)
    14
    (ata ma aeoq)
    15
    (ata ma aijimo)
    16
    (ata ma año)
    17
    (ata ma aeiu)
    18
    (ata ma aoju)
    19
    (ata ma ado)
    20
    (anarama)
    21
    (anarama ma aiquen)
    22
    (anarama ma aro)
    23
    (anarama ma aiju)
    30
    (animo)
    40
    (ama)
    50
    (aijima)
    60
    (añama)
    70
    (aemo)
    80
    (aojomo)
    90
    (aduma)
    100
    (aibu)
    200
    (arobu)
    300
    (aijubu)
    1,000
    (araña)
    10,000
    (ata erañan)
    100,000
    (aibu erañan)
    1,000,000
    (araña erañan)
    number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
    ( )
    half
    ( )
    less
    ( )
    more
    ( )

    Time

    [edit]
    now
    ñage (ngage)
    later
    Ñaga (ngaga)
    before
    ian obun (yan oben)
    morning
    ijoran (ijoran)
    afternoon
    iekwo (jekwo)
    evening
    iemerò (jemera)
    night
    iubum (jubum )

    Clock time

    [edit]
    one o'clock AM
    eiquon kurak
    two o'clock AM
    Aro kurak
    noon
    Yekwo
    one o'clock PM
    Eiquon kurak
    two o'clock PM
    Aro kurak
    midnight
    Tugagan (toogagan)

    Duration

    [edit]
    _____ minute(s)
    ( )
    _____ hour(s)
    ( )
    _____ day(s)
    _____ ibum ( )
    _____ week(s)
    ( )
    month(s)
    Maramen
    _____ year(s)
    eobeni (yobeni )

    Days

    [edit]
    today
    ñabumine (ng-aa-boo-meene)
    yesterday
    nene::
    tomorrow
    jaran
    this week
    ( )
    last week
    ( )
    next week
    ( )
    Sunday
    tondak
    Monday
    mondak
    Tuesday
    rindak
    Wednesday
    mituwok
    Thursday
    donertak
    Friday
    preidak
    Saturday
    tarere

    Months

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    January
    ( )
    February
    ( )
    March
    ( )
    April
    ( )
    May
    ( )
    June
    ( )
    July
    ( )
    August
    ( )
    September
    ( )
    October
    ( )
    November
    ( )
    December
    ( )

    Writing time and date

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    12 hr time is used locally: HH:MM AM/PM, DD/MM/YY (similar to Australia), but 24 hr time is used at the Australian detention site

    Colours

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    black
    tañañ (tangang)
    white
    burbur
    grey
    badeitsi
    red
    Mirara
    blue
    Ajitabwa
    yellow
    bababo
    green
    aditur
    orange
    Kaura
    purple
    Narabo
    brown
    ( ): Pink: Miraro

    Transportation

    [edit]

    Bus and train

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    How much is a ticket to _____?
    ( )
    One ticket to _____, please.
    ( )
    Where does this train/bus go?
    ( )
    Where is the train/bus to _____?
    ( )
    Does this train/bus stop in _____?
    ( )
    When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
    ( )
    When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
    ( )

    Directions

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    How do I get to _____ ?
    ( )
    ...the train station?
    ( )
    ...the bus station?
    ( )
    ...the airport?
    ( )
    ...downtown?
    ( )
    ...the youth hostel?
    ( )
    ...the _____ hotel?
    ( )
    ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
    ( )
    Where are there a lot of...
    ( )
    ...hotels?
    ( )
    ...restaurants?
    ( )
    ...bars?
    ( )
    ...sites to see?
    ( )
    Can you show me on the map?
    ( )
    street
    ( )
    Turn left.
    ( )
    Turn right.
    ( )
    left
    ( )
    right
    ( )
    straight ahead
    ( )
    towards the _____
    ( )
    past the _____
    ( )
    before the _____
    ( )
    Watch for the _____.
    ( )
    intersection
    ( )
    north
    ( )
    south
    ( )
    east
    ( )
    west
    ( )
    uphill
    ( )
    downhill
    ( )

    Taxi

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    Taxi!
    ( )
    Take me to _____, please.
    ( )
    How much does it cost to get to _____?
    ( )
    Take me there, please.
    ( )

    Lodging

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    Do you have any rooms available?
    ( )
    How much is a room for one person/two people?
    ( )
    Does the room come with...
    ( )
    ...bedsheets?
    ( )
    ...a bathroom?
    ( )
    ...a telephone?
    ( )
    ...a TV?
    ( )
    May I see the room first?
    ( )
    Do you have anything quieter?
    ( )
    ...bigger?
    ( )
    ...cleaner?
    ( )
    ...cheaper?
    ( )
    OK, I'll take it.
    ( )
    I will stay for _____ night(s).
    ( )
    Can you suggest another hotel?
    ( )
    Do you have a safe?
    ( )
    ...lockers?
    ( )
    Is breakfast/supper included?
    ( )
    What time is breakfast/supper?
    ( )
    Please clean my room.
    ( )
    Can you wake me at _____?
    ( )
    I want to check out.
    ( )

    Money

    [edit]
    Do you accept American/Canadian dollars?
    ( )
    Do you accept British pounds?
    ( )
    Do you accept euros?
    ( )
    Do you accept credit cards?
    ( )
    Can you change money for me?
    ( )
    Where can I get money changed?
    ( )
    Can you change a traveler's check for me?
    ( )
    Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
    ( )
    What is the exchange rate?
    ( )
    Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
    ( )

    Where is the money?

    Inga Mark? ( )

    Eating

    [edit]
    A table for one person/two people, please.
    Bookeiy eiquon/aro tebur, magada
    Can I look at the menu, please?
    Gona ña aya menu, magada?
    Can I look in the kitchen?
    Gona ña aya yat kitchen?
    Is there a house specialty?
    ( )
    Is there a local specialty?
    ( )
    I'm a vegetarian.
    Ña vegetarian ña/ta yeiyi ña ebudabud
    I don't eat pork.
    Eõ yeiyi ña kumo
    I don't eat beef.
    Eõ yeiyi ña duwan.
    I only eat kosher food.
    ( )
    Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
    ( )
    fixed-price meal
    ( )
    a la carte
    ( )
    breakfast
    Yeiyi bwain joran
    lunch
    ( )
    tea (meal)
    ( )
    supper
    ( )
    I want _____.
    Ña tengeiy____.
    I want a dish containing _____.
    ( )
    chicken
    domo
    beef
    duwan
    fish
    ham
    yam
    sausage
    toded
    cheese
    ( )
    eggs
    petamo
    salad
    ebudabud
    (fresh) vegetables
    ebudabud
    (fresh) fruit
    bread
    brot
    toast
    brot mana toasteiy
    noodles
    noodur
    rice
    ereid
    beans
    ( )
    May I have a glass of _____?
    ( )
    May I have a cup of _____?
    ( )
    May I have a bottle of _____?
    ( )
    coffee
    kabe
    tea (drink)
    iti
    juice
    ( )
    (bubbly) water
    ( )
    (still) water
    ( )
    beer
    piya
    red/white wine
    ( )
    May I have some _____?
    ( )
    salt
    brited
    black pepper
    peba
    butter
    pada
    Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
    ( )
    I'm finished.
    Gwain ña
    It was delicious.
    Ita kõr
    Please clear the plates.
    Magada aderder ka mana pred.
    The check, please.
    ( )

    Bars

    [edit]
    Do you serve alcohol?
    ( )
    Is there table service?
    ( )
    A beer/two beers, please.
    ( )
    A glass of red/white wine, please.
    ( )
    A pint, please.
    ( )
    A bottle, please.
    ( )
    _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
    ( )
    whiskey
    ( )
    vodka
    ( )
    rum
    ( )
    water
    ( )
    club soda
    ( )
    tonic water
    ( )
    orange juice
    ( )
    Coke (soda)
    ( )
    Do you have any bar snacks?
    ( )
    One more, please.
    ( )
    Another round, please.
    ( )
    When is closing time?
    ( )
    Cheers!
    Tubwa Kor! (Toob-waa Core)

    Shopping

    [edit]
    Do you have this in my size?
    Tsimine aiyuk waña size ñarane?
    How much is this?
    Egen pumwen une?
    That's too expensive
    Ouwak kōr pumwen
    Would you take _____?
    Naw abu aiyuk _____?
    expensive
    Ouwak pumwen
    cheap
    Onuñ pumwen
    I can't afford it.
    Ña yogona affordeiyen une
    I don't want it.
    Ña eõ yeñ(yeng)
    You're cheating me.
    Kwaweiyan auwe
    I'm not interested.
    Eõ interested
    OK, I'll take it.
    Ougan, nan ña abu
    Can I have a bag?
    Gona oiyame eber
    Do you ship (overseas)?
    Send aiyuk mogo?
    I need...
    Ña needeiy
    ...toothpaste.
    ...a toothbrush.
    ( )
    ...tampons.
    toda
    ...soap.
    Toap
    ...shampoo.
    ( )
    ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
    Kagamwe
    ...cold medicine.
    Kagamwe bwait garmwamwe
    ...stomach medicine.
    ... ( )
    ...a razor.
    ( )
    ...an umbrella.
    ( )
    ...sunblock lotion.
    ( )
    ...a postcard.
    ( )
    ...postage stamps.
    ( )
    ...batteries.
    Badari
    ...writing paper.
    ( )
    ...a pen.
    ( )
    ...English-language books.
    ( )
    ...English-language magazines.
    ( )
    ...an English-language newspaper.
    ( )
    ...an English-English dictionary.
    ( )

    Driving

    [edit]
    I want to rent a car.
    ( )
    Can I get insurance?
    ( )
    stop (on a street sign)
    ( )
    one way
    ( )
    yield
    ( )
    no parking
    ( )
    speed limit
    ( )
    service (gas) station
    ( )
    petrol
    ( )
    diesel
    ( )

    Authority

    [edit]
    I haven't done anything wrong.
    ( )
    It was a misunderstanding.
    ( )
    Where are you taking me?
    ( )
    Am I under arrest?
    ( )
    I am an Australian/New Zealand/Norfolk Island citizen.
    Anga Dei Otereiriya/Niu Djiran/Eb Nobõk (An-ga De-i Au-té-rey-riya)
    I want to talk to the Australian embassy
    ( )
    I want to talk to a lawyer.
    ( )
    Can I just pay a fine now?
    ( )


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