W

469 Kiribati words

• w The Gilbertese w differs from the English w. It more like…
• wa a canoe.
• wa buaka bad comportment, ill behaved in society or family, to be in…
• wa n anano joists, lower beams in a building.
• wa n ei supporting cross piece (as in scoop net).
• wa n o small canoe, moved along by pole.
• wa n ra untowardly behaviour, unlucky.
• wa n tabakea to swim on back, face upwards.
• wa n tabea a canoe in danger, unbalanced kite, person in danger, at…
• wa ni banga a native dance.
• wa ni kangare pleasantry, jocularity, teasing, light banter, humorous…
• wa ni matang foreign manners, behaviour, systems.
• wa ni mate to be dying with..., smitten with..., passionately in love…
• wa ni ngare laugh, joke.
• wa ni ngarea to laugh at, to make fun of, to tease.
• wa ni were to fish for were.
• wa ririki a well-made canoe of average size.
• wa tangaina wa n tangaina: lying <lie> down face upwards <supine>.
• wabobo to engage in nourishing or bringing up.
• waboboa to bring up, to nourish, to raise.
• wabuaka inhospitable to relatives.
• wae a leg, a foot.
• wae bubura (1) fat legs.
• wae kiekie limp, halting, lame, hobbling.
• wae kirere hopping on one leg.
• wae kororo one leg shorter than the other.
• wae maranga long steps.
• wae mwere a slow walker.
• wae n noko spindle shanks, spindle legs.
• wae n rongo a sitting position with one leg bent backwards.
• wae n uea sitting with legs crossed like tailor.
• wae ni baka approaching downfall, loss of position, rank, charge.
• wae ni kaba long legs.
• wae ni kinouta to approach furtively, with furtive steps stealthily…
• wae ni kinouti to walk, or go with light tread.
• wae ni koroa stilts.
• wae ni kun to walk like kun, dance step, small quick steps with sudden…
• wae ni ma (1) arm of fish trap, low stone wall which gathers fish…
• wae ni makauro a mat with design resembling crab's feet.
• wae ni maku to walk backwards, through fear or respect, to beat a…
• wae ni were to walk with poise, with precaution (as when looking for…
• wae ributata
• wae tuairoa having bandy legs, knock kneed <knee>.
• waea to sew, to pierce, to stick.
• waeai new, fresh.
• waeana to extract or draw out oil with a waea.
• waebabaro bandy legged.
• waebaka fallen away, destitute.
• waebatiraku calf of leg of abnormal thickness, enlarged.
• waebeka knock kneed <knee>.
• waebua having a large calf.
• waebuangi having well developed legs.
• waebuatake elegant legs, symmetrical...
• waeirariki thin legged, thinnish, puny (legs).
• waekiekie to walk with a springhalt.
• waekirere to hop on one foot.
• waekoa wawae: haste, hurry.
• waematoa waematoa: regular, punctual.
• waemwere to walk slowly, to be slow in arriving.
• waena (use for legs).
• waenibaka in a defeated position, politically ruined.
• waenikaba long-leggged.
• waenikoroa stilts.
• waenima to swim as fish in long lines.
• waenimakauro a mat with figures resembling the tracks of a crab.
• waenimaku retreating through fear.
• waeniman to walk rapidly.
• waenronga to sit a la mode Kusaie.
• waenuea to sit on the ground with one leg crossed above the knee of…
• waerake to go east.
• waerakea to approach near to.
• waerebutata to be constantly going from place to place.
• waeremwe to go or walk slowly.
• waerena (stretching foot) one who keeps coming back to the same…
• waeribeu deformation of toes, adhering..., etc.
• waeribono to visit repeatedly and frequently, to take short steps.
• waerio to go downwards..., towards the lagoon, towards the west.
• waero a species of crab with black claws (ro).
• waeroa having long thin legs (like fishing rod).
• waetata to go or walk rapidly.
• waetatawe to walk rapidly.
• waetebe afflicted with springhalt as a man.
• waetebetabe frequentative of waetebe.
• waeteke nimble, active, quick in motion.
• waetemeteme
• waetoka to walk briskly.
• waeuai a miniature racing canoe with two sticks holding the…
• waeura a shell-crab, the.
• waewae having large feet, large footed.
• waewaea frequentative of waea.
• wai to blow as the wind.
• wai itua to thread on, to string by piercing <pierce> with needle,…
• wai kakang pointed, sharp, tapering.
• wai karaun waea te karaun: to make mesh net.
• wai keke wai keke rake: going to a point, a cape.
• wai ki prick the back (of loser to make advance).
• wai maranga to pierce, or sew too far apart (thatch, etc.).
• wai marena v.t. waimarena: to put, prick, place, or pass between, at…
• wai n ang
• waia to pierce,... prick,... skewer,... harpoon, to thread on…
• waiananau long, lengthy, lengthening, stretching, prolonged.
• waibakarere v.t. waibakarerea: throwing dart, to throw and pierce.
• waibana to pierce with a sharp-pointed stick.
• waibora to pierce, sew (thatch, etc.) in irregular faulty manner.
• waibua sore throat, having..., which irritates throat.
• waiki the taking of another's place in a game when required.
• waikia to succeed another in taking his place in a game when two…
• waimata a disease of the eyes, the.
• wain wine (ENG).
• wainang very sweet and fresh karewe.
• wainekeneke having a rash like prickly heat.
• wainiman a method of tying the feather float in the game of kab'ane.
• waiora a viol (ENG).
• waira feces, excrement.
• wairaea to subject a person to the effects of a certain incantation.
• wairakau magical practice imported from Fiji to counteract…
• wairau to engage in sewing or fastening pan leaves to a stick for…
• wairena to go in single file, in Indian file.
• wairinan to stand in a row, to march in a procession.
• wairio to go toward the west.
• wairioa to approach a canoe from the east or the shore.
• wairoro to play with on of the same age.
• waitaninga ear ache, any pain in ear.
• waitebu large axe needing two hands to manipulate.
• waiteke a fork.
• waitekea to fork food, to lift food with a fork.
• waiteketeke spotted, marked, mottled, speckled.
• waitoa waitoa:: to double leaves <leaf> when making rau (thatch).
• waitoko to engage in suppressing another's speech.
• waitokoa to suppress another's speech.
• waitotokoa waitotokoa: to hinder,... stop,... counteract, to be…
• waitua waitua: to pierce,... prick obliquely,... superficially.
• waiwai the furrowed edge of the reef.
• waka one who gives support.
• waka n ni coconut roots.
• waka ni ba stalactite.
• waka ni kaina pandanus roots.
• waka uea tap root.
• wakabuaka badly rooted.
• wakana to have,... take for, root, basis, foundation.
• wakanei a small fragment of feces.
• wakaniba a species of dark coloured shark.
• wakanikaina a root of the pan.
• wakanni a root of the coconut tree.
• wakaraoi well embedded, rooted.
• wakariri tough-skinnned.
• wakawaka stringy, fibrous as pandanus fruit.
• waki to go on, to proceed.
• wakina to shove.
• wakiraoi progress, going well, making progress (used for actions,…
• wakiti wax (ENG).
• wakoro to work by one's self.
• wakoroa to do work by one's self.
• wan eight, always followed by a numeral suffix, ai, ua, ung,…
• wana to take possession of a canoe.
• wanai eight, in counting hardware, furniture, chests, barrels,…
• wananti scaffolding.
• wanara to lay bare the rootlets of babai for the purpose of…
• wanawana intelligent, knowing, wise.
• wanawananrang of rare intelligence.
• wanea eight million.
• wanei the part of a scoop-net near the handle.
• waneinei too watery, mixed as food with too much water.
• wang wawang, wangwang: to push, to push in front of one, to push…
• wanga weary, tired.
• wangaroro very much wearied.
• wangawanga frequentative of wanga wearied.
• wangea a weapon or sword set with shark's teeth.
• wangewange an anointing oil.
• wangnga to apply more force to as a tool for boring.
• waniba eight leaves.
• wanibanga a style of ruoia in which the players are few.
• wanibubua eight hundred.
• wanibwi eighty.
• wanikai eight, in counting trees, fishhooks, and sections of land.
• wanikangare to chaff.
• wanikangarea to chaff, to make fun of.
• wanikarau to run about in the rain.
• wanikaroa
• wanikiba aeroplane <airplane>.
• wanikora eight in counting baskets.
• wanikuri eight hundred thousand.
• waniman eight, in counting persons or animals.
• wanimarawa to free a foundered canoe of water.
• wanimatang to eat fish (just caught) in privacy.
• wanimate to be very hungry.
• wanimatea come back to..., continually coming back,... dying with…
• wanin to engage in mending a hole in a mat.
• wanina to mend... darn (mats, baskets, thatch, etc.).
• waninga eight thousand, eight in counting fathoms.
• waningaun eighty.
• waninia to mend a mat having a hole.
• waniua eight.
• wannano the sleepers of a building, a joist.
• wano a small canoe.
• wanrang a canoe not skillfully navigated.
• wanre to practice a certain incantation in order to impart skill…
• wanrea to perform a certain incantation upon.
• wanrebu eighty thousand.
• wanro wanroa, kawain ro: to go by night,... in obscurity.
• wanta wantanta, kiriwantanta: spots, speckles on skin,... fur,…
• wantabakea a certain method of swimming on the back.
• wantabea to swim on the back.
• wantano eighty million.
• wantarawa the name of a long chant in the ruoia.
• wantoki eight hundred million.
• wantonga to conduct,... direct the education of..., to bring up, to…
• wanua eight in counting things in general.
• wanung eight in counting pandanus fruit.
• wao a creeping vine.
• waona n anti a plant.
• waonianti Boerhavia tetrandra.
• waonnansi Boerhavia tetrandra Forster (z).
• wara without trees, treeless.
• waraku warakuraku: slightly wet (between damp and soaked).
• waranran very wet, too watery.
• waraoi kind.
• warati a walrus (ENG).
• warawara having open or net work, here and ther a tree.
• ware to count, to read.
• ware nano warenanoa: to work out mentally.
• warea dull, tarnished, lustreless.
• warebai arithmetic.
• wareboki reading.
• warebong the days are counted, to count the days.
• warebwe wide, roomy, not contracted.
• wareka to count, to read.
• warekeno a volcano (ENG).
• wareriri to engage in indiscriminate accusation of robbing when the…
• wareware to read, to count.
• wari a person, or ship, or house of great size.
• waribuni Lagocephalus sp. (ll).
• wariki narrow.
• warikinono very narrow, as a channel, or the mouth of a bottle.
• warinibuni a fish, the.
• warinonauti a fish, the.
• warionauti Lagocephalus sp. (ll).
• waririki a canoe of medium size.
• waro a species of crab, the.
• warona to tie a loop in a cord that will not slip.
• waru to nibble, as a fish, at a bait.
• waruta wawaruta: to pull, to nibble (bait), to importunate, to…
• waruwaru to nibble, as a rat or a fish at a bait.
• watangaina to swim on the back, to walk with the face turned upwards.
• wati directive toward the person who has just spoken.
• wau cat's-cradle.
• waua to braid a mat with a second color.
• wauna to pray to death.
• wauoa
• wauoua a kind of attic, upper platform in native house.
• wauwau well furnished with conveniences or suitable clothing.
• wauwaua frequentative of waua.
• wauwi curse, malediction, imprecation.
• wawa to trickle, to move along as a crowd.
• wawaea of wa:
• wawaeakina idem. to move, to flow continually towards...
• wawaemere frequentative of waem'ere.
• wawaenrongo frequentative of waenrongo.
• wawaenuea frequentative of waenuea.
• wawaerebutata to be habitually going from place to place.
• wawaeremwe frequentative of waeremwe.
• wawaetata frequentative of waetata.
• wawaetatawe frequentative of waetatawe.
• wawairau frequentative of wairau.
• wawaitai wawaitaia to do intermittently, to interrupt,... stop at…
• wawaitaia intermittent, coming now and then.
• wawaiwai frequentative of waiwai.
• wawaka having many roots.
• wawaki frequentative of waki.
• wawakina frequentative of wakina.
• wawana idem.
• wawangnga frequentative of wangnga.
• wawanikarau frequentative of wanikarau.
• wawanre frequentative of wanre.
• wawareboki frequentative of wareboki.
• wawareware frequentative of wareware.
• wawatangaina frequentative of watangaina.
• wawawi frequentative of wawi.
• wawe to blow steadily and favorably.
• wawea to be blown along, helped by steady breeze.
• waweaki steady and favorable as a wing.
• wawi to pray to death (haw = anana).
• wene to lie down, to lie.
• wene katoto to remain lying <lie> down all the time.
• wenea to braid the second half of a sleeping mat.
• weneakina to stay in bed for reason of sickness.
• wenei (1) fleeting objects, souls, spirits of dead.
• wenenibure acts of impurity in general, fornication <fornicate>,…
• wenei a shooting star or meteor.
• wenekatoto to indulge in prolonged sleep, to sleep overmuch.
• wenenibure to commit adultery or fornication.
• wenewene frequentative of wene.
• wentite Wednesday (ENG).
• were a fish, the.
• were makai Tridacoconuta squamosa (i).
• werewere to fish for the were.
• wereweti velvet (ENG).
• wete a spine or spike on the back of a baiku.
• wetea to call, to summon, to invite.
• wetikoti a waistcoat, a vest (ENG).
• wewe te ikawai ewewe: really old person.
• wewene second half of a double mat which is woven on to first half.
• wewenewene frequentative of wene.
• wewete to call.
• wewetea frequentative of wetea.
• wewewetea frequentative of wetea.
• wi a tooth, the mouth, an edge.
• wi atibu parrot fishh.
• wi karewe honey mouthed.
• wi manga a crab with long claws.
• wi maung (1) evil smelling mouth (insult).
• wi mona a species of fish. parrot fish.
• wi n aine said of husband who takes the part of his wife.
• wi n ang air pipe, pump fixture, valve.
• wi n anti slander, backbiting, tale bearing.
• wi n ongo hearsay, secondhand evidence.
• wi n rang to boast, to brag, to vaunt, to boast shamelessly, to speak…
• wi n ranga to speak foolishly about,... to boast foolishly,... without…
• wi n rawa to show repugnance to accede to a request, to require…
• wi n rika a chisel.
• wi n rine winning canoe.
• wi n ririko necklace made of teeth picked up, collected (of special…
• wi n tamare wi-tamare: to use seductive language, to seek to seduce…
• wi n tau beak, dart of tau, jib sail.
• wi n tuairoa blade of instrument used to scrape pulp of cooked pandanus…
• wi ngare a smiling face, a smile.
• wi ni bakoa in form of shark's teeth <tooth>, pointed, V shaped edging.
• wi ni bati corner of sail tied to spar.
• wi ni kamea canine teeth <tooth>.
• wi ni katai the edge of a sharp slope,... escarpment, cliff.
• wi ni kibu beak of kibu ending in a point.
• wi ni kimoa a sneak,... tale bearer.
• wi ni kua name of a constellation.
• wi ni man beak shaped, pointed.
• wi ni meang flattering but insincere words.
• wi ni wete sharp point of dart, lance, arrow, summit, tip of mast, of…
• wi tati regular, well fitting teeth <tooth>.
• wi teke wiwiteke, witeketeke: frank, direct, speaking, to the…
• wi teretere projecting teeth <tooth>.
• wi uoua to speak in doubtful terms.
• wi warebwe having big mouth.
• wia proper, fit, suitable, all right.
• wia bong approaching night, nearly night.
• wia buaka to turn out badly,... to fail, to be unlucky.
• wia raoi to turn out well, profitable, favourable, well met, just in…
• wiaau Cymathium (gastropod).
• wiabuaka unfortunate, not favored.
• wiamarake a small knife to cut food, tobacco, etc.
• wianau Epibulus insidiator (ll).
• wiatibu a fish, the.
• wiau a shell-fish, the.
• wiba to add to a story untruly.
• wibarubaru without teeth.
• wibeka to brag.
• wibine wibinea, wiwibine, wibinebine: secret, confidential…
• wibino wibinobino: babbling <babble>, prattling <prattle> in…
• wibinoti bad breath.
• wiboa aphthous.
• wiboi the thrush or ulcerous affection of the mouth.
• wibuaka to speak ill.
• wibubura a fish, the.
• wibue a person with unwholesome reddish teeth.
• wibunai an inveterate talker, braggart.
• wibuni having teeth which are unusually short.
• wibunoti a species of fish.
• wikabwea to falsely exaggerate.
• wikai (crane beak).
• wikakang bold and caustic in speech.
• wikamara obscene language.
• wikamarane wikamaranea:
• wikangkang having a voracious appetite.
• wikaru Lutianus bohar (ll).
• wikateke to boldly accuse, to talk much without hesitation.
• wikaukau to speak in yapping, rude, disagreeable voice.
• wiki a week (ENG).
• wikoa (1) wikoa n taetae: to speak rapidly.
• wikotakota great talker, gossiper, chatterer (particularly idle,…
• wikotaua to lie, to deceive.
• wikoti wikotikoti.
• wikotikoti having teeth which are dull, or much worn down.
• wimaka wimakamaka: having decayed teeth <tooth>.
• wimakamaka a person whose teeth are much decayed.
• wimakiki narrow mouthed, who dares not or cannot answer.
• wimam sweet, agreeable, flattering language.
• wimari to make additions to a story, to report falsely.
• wimatoa persistently maintaining.
• wimona a fish, the.
• win te bike the lower edge or limit of slope of beach.
• wina to tempt.
• winaine to prompt ot ill will or hostility to one's parents or near…
• winanti to slander, to backbite.
• wingarongaro toothless.
• winie corner of sail and end of yard arm near lower part of mast,…
• winikamarane to speak improperly to a woman.
• winikanaeng to show by one's language that one is hurt, huffed.
• winikibuia to pierce, to transpierce, to pierce through and come out.
• winikibwi to appear as the point of a spear which has pierced…
• winikua a whale's tooth.
• winimane said of a woman who has taken the part of her husband,...…
• winiona a parrotfish (ll).
• winiwete a tattoo on the thighs.
• winonginong to whisper.
• winonginongia to whisper, to utter in a low voice.
• winrang to boast.
• winrangia to boast about.
• winrika a cold-chisel.
• winrine to outsail.
• winrinea to outsail.
• winririko porpoise teeth.
• wintamare .
• wintau the bowsprit.
• wio to speak openly without fear, to use open, candid, <frank>…
• wioto wioto (S.) toothache, decayed teeth, sore gums;
• wira an aphthous disease.
• wiraoi to speak pleasantly and peacefully and properly.
• wirara the rainbow.
• wiraraoi having handsome, regular and sound teeth.
• wirebwerebwe a chatterbox.
• wirekareka mouth full of stumps,... gaps.
• wiremwe to prompt as a learner, to incite, to suggest to.
• wirereitina to speak without bashfulness.
• wirikiriki to eat with very small mouthfuls, to speak softly.
• wirikirikia to utter with a very low voice, to mutter.
• wirikoi a species of fish.
• wiritai
• wiritu virtue.
• wiro a willow (ENG).
• wita wheat (ENG).
• witabitabita to praise or flatter.
• witae a large eel, the.
• witakanana to be quick to reveal secrets.
• witamare seductive talk.
• witangaina to tell, to give out (thoughts, sentiments) before…
• witata to speak rapidly.
• witati having a regular set of teeth.
• witeke fluent, forcible, and to the point.
• witeketeke frequentative of witeke.
• witere a weasel (ENG).
• witeretere having the front teeth prominently projecting.
• witoka to speak rapidly.
• witokatoka to habitually speak rapidly.
• witoko to obstruct, to make opposition by words.
• witokoie through wilfulness, heedlessness, foolishness.
• witokonaua to prolong, to protract (decision, affair) by prolix, vain…
• wiuai uai:
• wiuoua double-tonguedd, doubtful, uncertain.
• wiwarebwe having the teeth separated a little from one another.
• wiwariki having the teeth set close together.
• wiwi to suggest, to tempt.
• wiwiba frequentative of wiba.
• wiwikateke frequentative of wikateke.
• wiwimari frequentative of wimari.
• wiwimatoa frequentative of wimatoa.
• wiwina to prompt, to suggest to.
• wiwinanti frequentative of winanti.
• wiwinantia frequentative of winantia.
• wiwinikamarane frequentative of winikam'arane.
• wiwinonginong frequentative of winonginong.
• wiwinrang frequentative of winrang.
• wiwiremwe frequentative of wiremwe.
• wiwirikiriki frequentative of wirikiriki.
• wiwitata frequentative of witata.
• wiwiteke frequentative of witeke.
• wiwitokatoka frequentative of witokatoka.
• wiwiuoua to tell two stories about, to prevaricate.
• wiwiwi frequentative of wiwi.
• wiwiwina frequentative of wiwina.
• wokewoke a plant (red leaves and red flowers).
• woreba a wolf (ENG).