L - l

laadiyo n. radio. See main entry: laadiyow.
laadiyow n. radio. Wi sidon e aliki nyunsu a laadiyow. We sat listening to the news on the radio. syn: konkuu dosu. Variant: aladiyon; laadiyo. From: GE. Etym: radio .
ladaa n. ladder. A wan ladaa yu e poti, fu subi go a tapu go teke wan sani. You set up a ladder to climb up and get something. syn: taapu. From: EN. Etym: ladder .
lafu 1) vi. laugh. Na fu di a abi piisii, meke ai pii tifi e lafu. Because he was happy, he laughed. syn: pii tifi; ant: mandii; tyali. See: piisii.
2) vt. laugh at. Den e lafu a man fu di a weli wan booko susu. They laughed at the man because he was wearing a broken shoe.
3) n. laughter. From: EN. Etym: laugh .
lafu toli n. funny story; jokes. See main entry: toli.
lagadisa n. lizard; common teiid, Ameiva ameiva. Lagadisa na wan meti di meke enke gwana. ma a di na a moo nyoni, da ai tan a doti. The lagadisa is an animal which resembles the iguana, except that it is smaller and stays on the ground. syn: buka. See: gwana; sapakaa. From: DU. Etym: hagedis .
lagi 1) vi. be low (positionally). A wataa lagi te, a liba dee. The water is so low, the river is dried up. ant: hei1. See: saka1.
2) vi. be low (quantitatively). A moni di a man wani pai mi de lagi. The money the man wants to pay me is low.
3) adv. low (morally). Efi i gi wan sama wan sani, ne i go taigi wan taa sama baka, da na wan lagi sani i du. If you give something to someone and then go tell another person in addition (lit. again) about it, you have done a low thing (morally).
(abi) lagi manii have bad manners (lit. low manner). Efi i du wan sama bun, ne ai du yu ogii, da na lagi manii a abi. If you do something nice to someone and then he does evil to you (in return), he has bad manners.
4) vt. humble (lit. lower). Te i lagi iseefi, da Masaa Gadu sa opo yu. When you humble yourself, the Lord God will exalt (lit. raise) you. ant: opo. From: DU. Etym: laag .
lagi buulu See main entry: buulu. idiom. low blood pressure (lit. low blood).
lai1 1) vt. load. Mi lai a boto anga baana fu go a Soolan go seli. I loaded the boat with plantain to go sell in St. Laurent.
lai lai adj. loaded (down); fully loaded (down). Anga wan lai lai boto u go a Ndyuka. We went to the Tapanahony River with a fully loaded down boat.
2) n. baggage; freight; cargo; load. Mi poti ala mi lai a boto, ne mi gwe. I put all my baggage in the boat and left.
3) vi. be full of. A busi lai anga ala sowtu meti. The jungle is filled with all sorts of animals. From: EN. Etym: laden .
lai2 n. advice; counsel. Wan sama gi mi wan lai san mi mu du, te how koti mi a busi. Someone gave me advice on what I should do if a machete cuts me in the jungle. From: DU. Etym: raad .
lai3 n. bullet; ammunition. Ala goni mu abi lai fosi a sa kii sani. Every gun must have bullets before it can kill something. See: agaa2; katusu; kuguu.
lai4 n. garlic, Allium sativum. A ná ala sama lobi boli nyanyan anga lai. Not everyone likes to cook food with garlic. syn: konofoluku.
lai a duku See main entry: duku1. idiom. rich.
lai lai adj. loaded (down); fully loaded (down). See main entry: lai1.
lala 1) adj. raw. Sa Leni gi Sa Sokooyo wan pisi lala meti fu a boli. Sr. Leni gave Sr. Sokooyo a piece of raw meat to go and cook.
2) adj. unfinished cooking. A alisi di Kaalow boli lala, bika a á boli safu. The rice Carlo cooked has not finished cooking, because it is not soft.
lala lala adj. uncooked. A man nyanmi a lala lala alisi sondee fu boli en. The man ate the uncooked rice without cooking it. ant: boli boli.
3) adj. green, as of wood; not aged, as of wood. Wan udu di á dee, na wan lala udu. A tree which is not dry (aged) is a green wood. ant: dee.
4) vi. reek (of raw meat smell). Efi i kiin fisi, ne i á wasi yu ana bun anga sopu, da yu ana o lala. If you clean fish and don't wash your hands well with soap, your hands will reek (of fish). syn: sumee law. From: GE. Etym: raw .
lala lala adj. uncooked. See main entry: lala.
lampe n. landing place for boats; boat dock. See main entry: lampeesi.
lampeesi Variant: lanpe. n. landing place for boats; boat dock. Wan lampeesi, na a peesi pe yu e poti boto fu go a soo. A landing place is a place where you put boats to go ashore. Variant: lanpeesi; lampe.
lampu n. lamp. Wi e leti wan lampu fu wi osu á sa dunguu. We light a lamp so that our house is not dark. syn: abeni2; faya; koko lampu; peli.
koko lampu n. oil lamp. Wan abeni na wan koko lampu, di wi e leti te neti, fu wi osu á dunguu. An abeni is an oil lamp which we light at night so that our house is not dark. syn: abeni2; faya; lampu. From: GE. Etym: lamp .
lan 1) vi. be lame. Te wan sama lan wani taki, a á poi waka anga en futu. When a person is lame, it means he can't use his legs to walk. Usage: disabled in one or both feet or legs. See: malengii.
lan man n. cripple; paralytic; physically handicapped person.
2) vi. be a sexually impotent male. Papa Alamboi lan, bika a á poi go a uman moo. Papa Alamboi is impotent, in that he is not able to have sex (lit. go to a woman) anymore. syn: go a baka mongo. From: GE. Etym: lame .
lan man n. cripple; paralytic; physically handicapped person. See main entry: lan.
langa1 1) [lángá] n. length. A langa fu wan osu e bigi moo a baala fi en. The length of a house is greater than the width of it.
2) vi. be far away; be distant. A goon pasi langa, bika a de tin kilomeiti. The road to the planting ground is far away, because it is ten kilometers away. syn: faawe; ant: koosube.
I langa tifi enke foluku! Insult: You long-tooth you, like a pitchfork!
so langa adv. as long as. A man á poi fika a uman moo, bika a uman meke deesi koloi en, fu a tan anga en so langa ai libi. The man can't leave the woman anymore, because the woman made a potion and bewitched him, so that he will stay with her as long as he lives. From: GE. Etym: long .
langa2 [làngá] n. village hut. Wan langa na wan pikin totii osu. A hut is a very small house. See: masanga.
langa ana impi n. long-sleeved shirt. See main entry: impi.
langa bee See main entry: bee. idiom. slow-moving (lit. long belly).
langa futu buuku n. long pants. See main entry: buuku.
lanki n. door frame; doorpost. Na a biibi ya be tyai enseefi, fu leli Dyusama bakaten, fu kii sikapu tyatya a buulu a den lanki fu den osu doo. (Heb. 11:28a) This faith was evident in teaching Jews later to kill a sheep and sprinkle the blood on the door frames of their houses.
lanpe n. landing place for boats; boat dock. See main entry: lampeesi.
lanpeesi n. landing place for boats; boat dock. See main entry: lampeesi.
lansi n. spear; lance. Wan fu den suudati sutu en anga wan lansi ne en sikin bee. (Jn. 19:34a) One of the soldiers pierced him with a spear into his side. Variant: lansii. From: GE. Etym: lance .
lansii n. spear; lance. See main entry: lansi.
lantei n. lantern. Namo di den kon, da den kon anga lantei anga fambo anga feti sani. (Jn. 18:3b) When they came, they came with lanterns, torches and weapons. From: GE. Etym: lantern .
lanti 1) n. government; village council. A lanti fu Faansi kondee e kii den sama anga solugu. The government in France really takes care of (lit. kills with care) the people. See: lantimoni.
lantiman n. civil servant. Ala sama di e wooko gi lanti na lantiman. Everyone who works for the government is a civil servant.
2) n. general public; people. Da ala lanti e si fa Sa Lomina e bali Baa Kodyo. All the people see how Sr. Lomina warns Br. Kodyo. Usage: those who can in a judicial sense serve as a potential witness. See: kondee; kotoigi. From: GE. Etym: land .
lanti weiti n. government rules. See main entry: weiti.
lantiman n. civil servant. See main entry: lanti.
lantimoni n. tax. Di a waka te wan pisi, ne a si Mateyesi sidon ne en kantoo e piki lantimoni. (Mt. 9:9b) After walking a bit farther, he saw Matthew sitting in his office collecting taxes. See: lanti. From: GE. Etym: land money .
Lape n. one of the twelve clans of the Aukan people. See table under: lo1.
lapu 1) vt. patch. Mi o lapu a olo fu a impi fu mi anga wan pisi koosi. I will patch the hole in my shirt with a piece of cloth. See: tapu2.
2) n. rag; piece of cloth. Anga wan lapu mi sibi a tafaa tapu. I wiped the top of the table with a rag.
3) n. embroidery cloth.
nai lapu embroider (lit. sew cloth). Sa Dyoisi e nai wan lapu anga moi moi sani, fu e tapu nyanyan gi Baa Dyemi. Sr. Joyce embroidered a beautiful pattern (lit. thing) to cover food for Br. Jim. From: GE. Etym: lap .
lasaa 1) vi. be homeless; be destitute. A man de e lasaa, bika a ná abi koosi fu wei anga osu fu tan, da ai waka e begi nyanyan. The man is homeless, in that he doesn't have clothes to wear or a house to live in and he walks around begging for food. Usage: As in every culture there are a multitude of reasons for the physical and metaphysical contexts behind homelessness. A hex or curse on the individual is one of the main reasons given as seen through the Aukan worldview. See: pina1; pooti; yayo.
2) vi. be neglected.
lasaa uman n. promiscuous woman (lit. homeless woman). See main entry: uman.
lasi1 1) vi. be lost. Mi á poi bai sani, bika mi moni kai lasi. I cannot buy anything, because my money (fell out and) was lost.
lasi wan sama die (lit. lose someone). Usage: euphemism for death.
2) vi. disappear; get lost. A pikin fu a mma á kon a osu, bika a lasi a Foto. The woman's child has not come home because he disappeared in the capital city. ant: fende.
3) vt. lose (in competition). Talansifali lasi a futubali pei anga Lobinutu. Transvaal lost the soccer game with Robinhood. ant: wini. From: EN. Etym: loss .
lasi2 n. weld. A sikopu fu mi booko, da mi o lasi en miti baka. My shovel is broken, I will weld it and connect it again. See: miti1; palaki. From: DU. Etym: lassen .
lasi3 n. end; bottom. Usage: suffix-like morpheme which does not exist alone with this sense, but forms the second part of a compound word.
boto lasi n. stern of a boat. syn: boto gogo; ant: boto lasi. Variant: lasi boto.
kakalasi n. buttocks; rear end. syn: bakase. See: gogo.
kapalasi n. bottom of copper kettle. See: kapa.
udu lasi n. part of a tree just above ground level. syn: udu gogo; ant: udu ede.
lasi a ana See main entry: ana. idiom. unused to something which someone was once experienced in doing (lit. lost from hand).
lasi ati See main entry: ati1. idiom. be discouraged (lit. lose heart).
lasi bee See main entry: bee. idiom. miscarriage (lit. lose belly).
lasi boto n. stern of a boat. See main entry: lasi3.
lasi ede See main entry: ede1. idiom. have a bad memory; easily forget things.
lasi pasi See main entry: pasi1. idiom. get lost (lit. lose path).
lasi wan sama See main entry: lasi1. idiom. die (lit. lose someone).
lasitan adv. much less; even less; still less. En uman Sala seefi yali be gaandi pasa, fu oli bee, lasitan fu meke pikin. (Lom. 4:19b) His wife Sarah was too old (lit. years were old past) to become pregnant, much less to give birth to a child.
lasiti adj. last. A lasiti dei fosi tide na eside. The last day before today is yesterday. syn: kiiboi; ant: fosi.
lata n. common rice rat, Oryzomys capito. See main entry: alata.
lati1 1) adv. late. Fu di mi weki lati, meke den taawan gwe fika mi. Because I woke up late, the other ones left me behind. ant: biten; fuuku1; oputeiti.
2) adj. what time. On lati a de na a oloisi de? What time is it on that watch? See: yuu1. From: GE. Etym: laat .
lati2 1) n. slat. Anga den lati fu mi de, mi o meke wan foo koi. With those slats of mine I will make a birdcage. See: paanga; udu.
2) n. ruler (measuring). From: DU. Etym: lat .
law1 1) [láù] adj. insane; crazy. Te yu ede nái wooko bun, da na law yu e law. When your head is not working well, you are insane. syn: opo ede; siki a ede.
lawman n. crazy person.
2) adv. foolish. Da ai gei den law anga buuya fusutan, pe sani dunguu gi den, fu si san fiti ofu fowtu. (Lom. 1:21b) It seems they are foolish and their understanding futile, where things are darkened for them to see what is right and wrong. See: don; wisiwasi. From: AF. Etym: lau .
law2 adj. easy. I denki taki na wan law sani, fu toon Pelesidenti fu wan hii kondee? Do you think it is an easy thing to become President of an entire country? syn: makiliki; soso1.
law3 [láú] vi. be wilted. Ala den uwii di mi booko law. All the leaves I broke off are wilted. From: DU. Etym: lauw .
law4 [láú] adv. raw (smell). Te yu e kiin fisi ai sumee law. When you gut fish, it makes (your hands) smell like raw (fish). Ayun na wan sani di te i boli nyanyan anga en ai puu a law fu a nyanyan. Onions are something which when used in cooking fish and meat (lit. food) removes the strong odor from fish and meat (lit. food). Usage: only used in conjunction with the smell of something raw.
sumee law vi. reek (lit. smell raw). Efi i kiin fisi, ne i á wasi yu ana bun anga sopu, da yu ana o sumee law. If you clean fish and don't wash your hands well with soap, your hands will reek. syn: lala. From: GE. Etym: ra(u)w .
lawlaw1 1) adv. foolishly; crazily; purposelessly. A boi e libi lawlaw e waka e fufuu. The boy is living foolishly, going around stealing. See: don; wisiwasi.
2) adj. low down. Efi i leli toon dataa, da yu á mu go du den lawlaw wooko enke sibi sitaati. If you have studied and become a doctor you shouldn't go do those lowdown kinds of work like sweeping streets. ant: bun bun. See: wisiwasi.
lawlaw2 adj. very easy. Te wan wagi booko, da na wan lawlaw sani gi wan man di e meke wagi, fu meke. When a car breaks down it is an easy thing for a man who repairs cars to fix it. syn: makiliki.
lawlaw3 adv. often. Mi nái nyan bai nyanyan lawlaw, a moo betee mi boli a osu. I don't eat prepared food (at eating places) often; it's better I cook at home.
lawman n. crazy person. See main entry: law1.
Leba n. ghost sp.; evil spirit sp. See main entry: Legwa.
lebi1 1) adj. red. Te wan sani á kaba lebi, da wi e taki a tan lebi lebi. When something is not completely red, we say it is reddish.
lebi lebi adj. reddish; orange.
Lebiman n. Amerindian of Suriname (lit. red man). Na den Ingii den e kai Lebiman tu. They call Amerindians “Red men” also. syn: Ingii.
(Akisi) Lebiman de a tapu. (Piki) Awaa. (Question) What is the red man up high? (Answer) Awaa (orange-colored fruit, Astrocarym segregatum of the palm tree).
2) vi. be reddish-brown; copper. Kopoo meke enke solufu, ma a di na a ibi, da a lebi. Copper is like silver, but it is heavier and is reddish (-brown).
3) vt. redden. Tomati na wan lebi safu sii, di den sama e boli nyanyan anga en, da ai lebi a nyanyan. Tomatoes are a red, soft fruit which people cook food with, and it reddens the food. From: GE. Etym: red .
lebi2 n. liver. See main entry: lebii.
lebi bubu n. puma; medium-sized cat, Puma concolor. See main entry: bubu.
lebi lebi adj. reddish; orange. See main entry: lebi1.
lebi mila n. red ant sp. See main entry: mila.
Lebi Musu n. name of one of the twelve Aukan matriclans (lit. red beret). See table under: lo1. See main entry: musu2.
lebi sensi n. copper penny or cent. See main entry: sensi1.
lebi tigii n. puma; medium-sized cat, Puma concolor. See main entry: tigii.
lebi wataa See main entry: wataa. idiom. blood (lit. red water).
lebii n. liver. Variant: lebi2.
I wani mi nyan i lebii? serious warning (lit. do you want me to eat your liver). Usage: to stop undesirable action, or there will be very serious consequences. See: I wani mi diingi i buulu?; I wani mi doo i ede?.
Lebiman n. Amerindian of Suriname (lit. red man). See main entry: lebi1.
Legwa n. ghost sp.; evil spirit sp. Legwa na wan sowtu sani enke Bakuu, ma a di na den nái bai Legwa. Legwa is something like Bakuu, except that you can't buy the Legwa. Usage: A tormenting spirit, Legwa is considered more rapacious than Bakuu. syn: Akwenda1; Bakuu1. Variant: Leba. From: AF. Etym: Leba .
lei1 1) vi. lie. Na Baa Kodyo booko a banku fufuu a moni, ne ai lei taki na mi. It was Br. Kodyo who robbed the bank of money, then he lied saying it was I (who did it). See: koli.
2) n. lie. A sani di ai taki de, a ná tuu, na lei. The thing which he's saying there is not true, it is a lie. ant: tuu.
lei lei herbal medicine (lit. lie lie). A bonuman meke wan lei lei gi a dda, fu a sa siibi a neti. The shaman made a herbal medicine for the man so that he could sleep at night. See: deesi; obiya.
leiman n. liar. syn: lei mofu. See: mofu kolanti. From: EN. Etym: lie .
lei2 vi. drive; steer. A man lei anga a wagi, go kai a ini a liba. The man drove the car into the river. See: tii. From: DU. Etym: rij .
lei gi wan sama See main entry: gi2. idiom. lie to someone about someone else (lit. lie to someone).
lei lei See main entry: lei1. idiom. herbal medicine (lit. lie lie).
lei mofu n. liar; someone who habitually lies (lit. lie mouth). See main entry: mofu.
leigi vi. be empty; be vacant. A osu leigi, a ná abi ná wan sani a ini moo. The house is empty, it doesn't have anything in it anymore. ant: fuu. From: DU. Etym: leeg .
leiman n. liar. See main entry: lei1.
leisi1 vt. read. Mi e leisi a biifi di Sa Lomina sende gi mi. I am reading the letter which Sr. Lomina sent me. See: booko pampila; buku1; sikiifi. From: DU. Etym: lezen .
leisi2 1) n. times; instances. Onmen leisi i go a Foto kaba? How many times have you gone to the capital city already? syn: boo3; pasi2; toon2.
soso leisi only occasionally (lit. only times). Ná ala yuu yu towe nyanyan, soso leisi. You don't make food offerings (just) anytime, only occasionally.
2) prep. times; multiplied by. Tin leisi aitin, na aitintenti. Ten times eight equals eighty. syn: toon2.
leisi sitaafu gi wan sama See main entry: sitaafu. idiom. sentence someone (lit. read punishment to someone).
leka n. sap-like substance that comes from a plant and is eaten uncooked. See main entry: lika.
leki1 vi. leak. Te wan boketi doo, da ai leki wataa towe. When a bucket is worn out from use, it leaks water. Fu di a bidon be doo a wan pikin peesi, meke ala a kasolini fu mi leki gwe. Because the barrel had a small puncture (lit. through in a little place) all of my gasoline leaked out. See: doo4. From: GE. Etym: leak .
leki2 vt. lick. Di Papa Alamboi kaba nyan, ne ai leki a beenki anga en tongo. When Papa Alamboi was finished eating he licked the plate with his tongue. From: GE. Etym: lick .
lekiti 1) vi. be light in weight. Foowii lekiti, wansi a wan hii bakisi, toku i sa tyai en. Feathers are (so) light, though you have a whole basketful, still you can carry it. syn: feke; ant: ibi.
2) vt. lift slightly. Lekiti a tafaa pikinso go a tapu gi mi! Lift the table up a little bit for me! See: diki1. From: GE. Etym: licht .
leli1 1) vt. teach. Den yefolow e leli den pikin a sikoo. The lady teachers teach the children at school. See: koni; leisi1; sikiifi; sikoo2.
leliman n. teacher. See: yefolow.
2) vi. learn; study. I mu leli bun a sikoo, fi i toon wan sani tamaa a ini a masikapei. You must learn well at school to become somebody tomorrow in the community.
3) n. learning.
4) n. teaching. Da meke pikinwan di e goo kon teke leli a san be pasa anga tu fu den ogii boi ya. So then have the young ones who are growing up take a lesson from what happened here to two of these bad boys. From: GE. Etym: leren .
leli2 n. leather. Anga leli somen fu den susu di wi e wei e meke. Many shoes which we wear are made of leather. From: DU. Etym: leer .
leli buba n. belt. See main entry: buba.
leliman n. teacher. See main entry: leli1.
lemiki n. lime; the fruit of the spiny, evergreen tree, Citrus aurantifolia. Lemiki na wan sii di meke enke apeesina, ma a moo nyoni, da a suwa. A lemiki is a fruit which resembles the orange, but it is smaller and sour. Usage: Limes are believed to neutralize the magical powers of folk medicine. See: alanya; apeesina; ponpon; situun. From: GE. Etym: lime .
lenge lenge vi. hang; suspend; dangle. En futu nái kisi doti, a dati meke a lenge lenge a tapu. His feet do not reach the floor, causing him to hang in the air. Usage: possibly ideophonic for hanging or swinging. See: angaa.
leni 1) vt. borrow. Mi leni wan boto a wan man. I borrowed a boat from a man.
2) vt. loan. Mi leni wan man mi boto. I loaned my boat to a man. From: GE. Etym: lenen .
lenti 1) vt. seal. U libi na san Kelestesi lenti fu soi enke maiki taki, a bosikopu di wi ya tyai kengi u. (2 Kol. 3:3a) Your lives are what Christ sealed to show as a mark that the message which we brought changed you. See: sitampu.
2) n. ribbon; seal. Mi si wan buku lolo lolo a ini a leti ana fu Awan di sidon na a kownu sutuu. A buku ya sikiifi a inise anga doose. A buku ya be tei anga seibin lenti. (Kon A Kiin 5:1) I saw a scroll (lit. book rolled rolled) in the right hand of the One who sat on a throne. This book was written inside and outside. This book was tied with seven ribbons.
naki lenti levy; approve (lit. knock seal). Da yu ná o komoto, de fu te enke i pai a lasiti kopoo sensi di den naki lenti gi yu, fu pai. You won't be released until you pay the last copper cent which they levied against you to pay. syn: naki sitampu. From: GE. Etym: lint .
lepi vi. be ripe. Den manyan lepi te, alafiya losi kai. The mangoes are so ripe that they all fell. ant: guun.
I lepi ye! You're lucky! (lit. you're ripe!).
wan lepi sama one experienced in witchcraft (lit. a ripe person). From: GE. Etym: ripe .
lesi vi. be lazy. Te wan sama lesi wani taki a nái wani wooko. When a person is lazy, it means he doesn't want to work. ant: wooko. From: EN. Etym: lazy .
lesipeki n. respect. Te wan pikin nái kosi gaansama, ma ai yee te den bali en, da na lesipeki a abi. When a child does not verbally abuse adults but listens when the adult rebukes him, the child has respect. syn: manii; ant: gaanengee; gawman; goofu; saanti1. From: GE. Etym: respect .
letel n. letter of the alphabet; written symbol representing a speech sound. Den letel fu a Okanisi Tongo na: A, E, I, O, U, B, D, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, P, S, T, W, Y anga Z. The letters (of the alphabet) for the Aukan language are: A, E, I, O, U, B, D, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, P, S, T, W, Y, and Z. See: wowtu. From: GE. Etym: letter .
leti1 vt. turn on (as of switch); put on. Leti a faya gi mi, bika a peesi dunguu. Turn on the light for me because the place is dark. ant: kii. From: GE. Etym: lit .
leti2 1) adj. right; correct. A á leti fi i du wan pootiman ogii, Masaa Gadu o sitaafu yu. It is not right if you do evil to a poor man, God will punish you. syn: bun; ant: ogii.
abi leti be right (lit. have right).
2) n. justice. From: GE. Etym: right .
leti3 adv. right (here); directly; just. A wagi kii a sama leti a mi fesi. The car killed the man right in front of me (lit. before my face). From: EN. Etym: right .
leti ana se n. right side. See main entry: letise.
letiopu adj. righteous; straight. Nono! I mu dopu mi. Bika wi ya seefi mu du ala letiopu sani di fiti du. (Mt. 3:15b) No! You must baptize me. We must do all the righteous things which are proper to do. ant: ogii. From: GE. Etym: right + up .
letise n. right side. Waka na a letise fu a sitaati. Walk on the right side of the street. ant: kukutuse. Variant: leti ana se. From: EN. Etym: right side .
letiso adv. in this way. Na letiso den takuu ati sama o pina fu tego a ini a gaan ati faya. (Mt. 3:12b) In this way the evil people will suffer for eternity in the great hot fire. From: EN. Etym: right so .
liba 1) n. river. Wi waka a liba anga boto fu Ndyuka, kon na Alimina. We travel on the Ndyuka river with a canoe to get to Albina. See: duwataa; ze.
2) n. part of the interior. Sowtu liba na fi yu? What part of the interior (lit. which river of the interior) are you from? syn: kondee. From: EN. Etym: river .
libi 1) vi. live. Mi e libi anga a howpu fu mi sa go a Gadu Kondee te Masaa Jesesi kon baka. I am living with the confidence that I will go to heaven when the Lord Jesus returns. ant: dede1.
libilibi adv. alive. Di a dede weki baka, da na den ai soi enseefi libilibi somen leisi. (Ap. 1:3a) After rising from the dead, he showed himself (as) alive so many times.
2) n. life; lifestyle; behavior. A libi fi yu á bun. Your lifestyle is not good.
daai libi change one's life; be converted (lit. turn life). Ibii libisama mu daai en libi fosi a sa go a Gadu Kondee. Every human being must change his life before he can go to heaven.
goontapu libi n. worldly life. Te yu e dini Jesesi, da i fika goontapu libi. When you serve Jesus you leave behind the worldly life. Usage: church term.
losutu libi n. relaxing life. Te mi gaandi, mi wani abi wan losutu libi. When I'm old, I want to have a relaxing life. From: GE. Etym: living .
libi anga uman See main entry: uman. idiom. marry (lit. live with a woman).
libi enke meti See main entry: meti1. idiom. live like animals; dog-eat-dog.
libilibi adv. alive. See main entry: libi.
libisama n. human being; people; person. Na Masaa Gadu meke ala libisama fu goontapu. The Lord God made all humans in the world. Usage: For the Aukan, there are two major subdivisions of humans -- male and female. Almost a variant of libisama. syn: sama. From: EN. Etym: living someone .
ligei 1) vt. rule. Na Gaanlanti e ligei Saanan kondee. The national government rules the country of Suriname. syn: tii. See: basi2. Variant: ligeli.
2) vt. attack; revile; insult. Te Sa Lomina á boli switi nyanyan, da Baa Kodyo e ligei e meke toobi anga en. When Sr. Lomina does not cook well, Br. Kodyo attacks her causing trouble with her. See: pompu. From: DU. Etym: regeren .
ligeli vt. rule. See main entry: ligei.
lika n. sap-like substance that comes from a plant and is eaten uncooked. Lika na wan switi sani enke oniki. Lika is something sweet like honey. ant: bita. See: oniki; switi. Variant: leka.
switi enke lika as sweet as honey (lit. sweet as sap).
lin 1) n. fishing line. Lin na aseefi enke uku, ma a di na wan lin ná abi tiki. A fishing line is the same as uku, except that the line does not have a pole. See: uku1.
2) vi. go fishing. Di u go lin, ne u kisi tu gaan pilen. When we went fishing we caught two big piranhas. syn: uku1.
3) n. survey lines. Den sama e koti lin a busi, fu kiin den udu. They cut lines in the jungle to keep down the underbrush.
linga n. finger ring; earring. Yu abi linga di yu e weli a yu yesi anga linga di yu e weli a finga. You have rings you wear in your ears and rings you wear on your fingers.
finga linga n. ring for the finger.
yesi linga n. earring. From: GE. Etym: ring .
liti n. liter; metric unit of volume. Ala den gaan bataa bii na wan liti den de. All of the big beer bottles are one liter. From: GE. Etym: liter .
lo1 n. matriclan. Ndyuka abi twalufu sowtu lo sama di be lowe a fositen. The Ndyukas consist of twelve different matriclans who (formerly) ran away. syn: kulu. See: bee. From: EN. Etym: row .

TABLE: The Twelve Clans of The Aukaners

1 Dyu Akuba Lo The Dyu Akuba Clan
2 Beei Lo The Beei Clan
3 Dikan Lo The Dikan Clan
4 Kumpai Lo The Kumpai Clan
5 Misidyan Lo The Misidyan Clan
6 Pata Lo The Pata Clan
7 Pedii Lo The Pedii Clan
8 Piika Lo The Piika Clan
9 Pinasi Lo The Pinasi Clan
10 Lebi Musu Lo The Lebi Musu Clan
11 Otoo Lo The Otoo Clan
12 Lape Lo The Lape Clan

lo2 n. line. Den wagi de anga lo na a sitaati mindii. The cars are in a line in the middle of the street.
taampu a lo stand in line (lit. stand in row). Den sama taampu a lo fu go bai beele. The people stood in line to buy bread. From: EN. Etym: row .
lobi1 1) vt. love. Di Baa Kodyo anga Sa Lomina si denseefi, ne den lobi denseefi te, den meke mofu fu libi. When Br. Kodyo and Sr. Lomina met each other, they loved each other so, they agreed to marry each other. See: meli; oli1.
2) n. love. Efi yu e kosi wan sama ala dei, da yu ná abi lobi gi so wan sama. If you insult someone every day, you don't have love for such a person.
amaka lobi n. erotic love (lit. hammock love). Na amaka lobi Baa Amiloki abi gi Fandeina, bika a á lobi en tuutuu. Br. Amiloki has (only) an erotic love for Fandeina, in that he doesn't truly love her. Usage: divorced from any other expressions and actions of commitment and responsibility towards each other.
3) n. love (as a person); sweetheart. Sa Lomina na Baa Kodyo lobi, bika alaten en anga en e taki switi toli e bosi e baasa. Sr. Lomina is Br. Kodyo's love, they are always speaking nicely to each other, hugging and kissing.
4) vt. like. Mi lobi alisi anga pesi te, mi sa nyanmi en ala dei. I like rice and beans so much that I could eat it every day. From: EN. Etym: love .
lobi2 vt. rub; smear. Mi lobi a felifi na a osu sikin enke mi e felifi en. I rubbed the paint on the side of the house as if I was painting it. From: EN. Etym: rub .
loili n. sloth of the families Bradypodidae or Megalonychidae. Loili na wan taa nen fu a meti di den e kai soo, di e waka saafi. Loili is another name for an animal called a sloth which moves (lit. walk) slowly. syn: soo1. See: faya a baka. From: DU. Etym: luiaard .
lolo1 1) [lólò] vt. roll (over to). Mi e lolo a bali kasolini a doti go a wataa. I am rolling the gasoline barrel on the ground to the river.
uman baka e lolo woman's backside shakes from weight (lit. woman back is rolling). syn: uman gogo e lolo.
2) vt. wrap; bundle. syn: dombii; duku1.
3) vi. be formed in loops or ringlets. From: GE. Etym: roll .
lolo2 [lòlò] vi. beat around the bush. Fa yu e lolo so no? Taki san yu mu taki! Why are you beating around the bush so? Say what you need to say!
lolo toli See main entry: toli. idiom. never-ending story (lit. rolling story).
lolo wan bosikopu go moo faawe See main entry: bosikopu. idiom. pass on message or information in a relational chain (lit. roll a message go more distantly).
Lomusu n. Roman Catholic Church. Ala den paati, di e waka a den peesi peesi e oli keliki, na fu Lomusu. The priests who go around holding church services in different places are from the Roman Catholic Church. See: Anitii; Dominei; Koti Bason; Paati1. From: DU. Etym: rooms .
lon vi. run. Di mi si a dagu e kon, mi lon gwe fu a á mu biti mi. When I saw the dog coming, I ran away so that he wouldn't bite me. ant: waka. From: GE. Etym: run .
lon bee See main entry: bee. idiom. diarrhea (lit. run belly).
lon kai See main entry: kai1. idiom. run over; overflow (lit. run fall).
lontu 1) vi. be round. Goontapu lontu enke wan igi. The earth is as round as an egg.
I lontu ain enke yowka! Insult: You round eye you, like a marble!
2) vt. circle; surround; encircle. A fufuuman lontu a osu, luku efu sama de a osu, fosi a bigin fufuu. The thief circled the house to see if someone was home, before he started stealing. Wan sikotu na wan sani di yu e meke fu lontu i dyali. A fence is something which you make to surround your yard. From: GE. Etym: round .
losi1 1) vt. untie; loosen. Losi a boto de meke u gwe! Loosen (untie) the boot and let's go. ant: tei.
2) vi. leave; cast off (for boats). Na seibin yuu a boto o losi fu gwe a Ndyuka. At seven o'clock the boat will leave to go to the interior.
3) vt. free (from imprisonment). Den sikowtu losi a fufuuman puu a sitaafu osu. The police freed the thief from jail. ant: kisi1. From: EN. Etym: loose .
losi2 1) vt. roast. Mi losi den dee fisi a faya. I roasted the dry fish on the fire.
2) adj. roasted. Di mi fuuyali, ne mi bai wan losi foo fu fii a fesa. On my birthday I bought a roasted chicken to celebrate the occasion. From: EN. Etym: roast .
losu n. parasitic insect, louse of the family Pediculidae. Losu na wan sani enke kupali, ma a di na a moo nyoni, da a lebi. A losu is something like a tick, except that is smaller and red. See: kupali; sika.
ede losu n. head louse, Pediculus humanus.
udulosu n. termite. See: akantaasi; mila. From: GE. Etym: louse .
losutu1 1) vi. rest. Mi didon e losutu mi sikin, fu di mi be wooko taanga tide. I lay down to rest my body, because I had worked hard today. syn: boo2.
2) n. rest. Mi dda, i wooko taanga kaba, yu abi losutu fanowdu. My father, you have worked hard already, you need rest. From: DU. Etym: rusten .
losutu2 1) vt. crave; strongly desire. Hmmm... Fa mi losutu foo tide so, no? Hmmm... Why do I crave chicken so much today? See: wani.
2) n. lust. Meke takuu losutu di fuu sama ati á poi tyai yu libi. (Lom. 6:12b) Don't let evil lust which fills people's heart be able to control your life. From: GE. Etym: lusten .
losutu libi n. relaxing life. See main entry: libi.
loti n. flat tortilla-like bread made by the Suriname Hindustanis. Loti na wan sani di den Kuli sama lobi meke anga bolon. Loti is something the Hindustanis like to make with flour. From: HI. Etym: roti .
loto1 vi. rot; spoil. A fisi loto, a dati meke a hii peesi e tingi. The fish rotted and that's why the whole place stinks. See: poli. From: EN. Etym: rot(ten) .
loto2 n. lead. Loto na wan sani enke kopoo, ma a di na a moo ibi. Lead is something like copper, but this one is heavier. See: gowtu; kopoo; solufu. From: GE. Etym: lood or lead or load or lode .
loto3 n. five cents; five guilders. A moni fu mi á doo fu pai wagi, mi mankei wan loto. I don't have enough money to pay for the ride, I am short five cents. syn: feifi kolu; feifi sensi. See table under: moni.
low 1) vt. mourn. Te wan man uman dede, da a man low gi en. When a man's wife dies, the man mourns for her. syn: tyai baaka.
2) n. mourning. Baaka na a low di wan man efu uman abi fu low, te en man efu en uman dede. Baaka is the mourning which a husband or wife undergoes, when his or her spouse dies. syn: baaka. See: Bookode. From: DU. Etym: rouw .
lowe vi. escape; run away. A fufuuman di den sooto, lowe komoto a ini sitaafu osu. The thief, whom they locked up, escaped from the prison (lit. punish house). See: gwe; kibii. From: EN. Etym: run away .
Lowe Nengee n. runaway slave; Maroon. See main entry: Nengee.
lowe saafu n. runaway slave. See main entry: saafu.
lowte n. lot; dice. Den teke den koosi di a be wei, ne den iti lowte luku sama anga sama o wini den koosi fi en. (Mt. 27:35b) They took the clothes he had worn, and they cast lots to find out who (among them) will win his clothes. From: GE. Etym: lot .
lowti n. Ruddy-breasted seedeater, Sporophila minuta. Lowti na wan pikin singi foo enke pikolet. The lowti is a small songbird resembling the finch. See: pikolet; twa twa.
luku 1) vt. look. Anga mi tu ain namo mi sa luku sani. I can look at things with my two eyes. See: si.
2) vi. wait. Baa Kodyo langa bee, alaten ai meke u tan luku en so langa. Br. Kodyo moves slowly, he always makes us wait so long for him. Mi luku te, di mi si a nái kon, ne mi gwe. I waited so (long), when I saw that he was not coming, I left. syn: wakiti; ant: gwe.
3) vt. take care of; keep an eye on. Ala dda mu luku den pikin bun, fu den á tan tyobo tyobo a ganda. All fathers should take care of their children well, so that they are not unkempt in public. Mi mma, luku a kuku kuku wataa de fi i pii a bofoo. My mother, keep an eye on (lit. look) that boiling water (which you'll use) to skin the tapir. syn: solugu. See: kweki.
4) vt. guard; keep watch. Da Amoomi e luku a osu fu a Bakaa a Maseilanti gi en fu den á go fufuu ne en. Mr. Amoomi is guarding the Outsider's house at Stoelman's Island for him so that they don't steal from him. syn: waki.
5) vt. investigate by means of sorcery. A bonuman e luku san e pasa anga a man, meke ai siki so. The shaman investigated what happened to cause the man to be so sick. See: lukuman.
go a luku divination (lit. go to the viewing).
lukuman n. seer; diviner. Wan lukuman na wan sama di e luku gi wan sama di abi wan nowtu san e pasa anga en. A seer is someone who investigates for someone who has a need, what is happening to him. See: bonuman. From: EN. Etym: look .
(luku anga) sikeli ain idiom. angry jealousy (lit. look with square eye). See main entry: sikeli ain.
luku bee gi uman See main entry: bee. idiom. take care of a pregnant woman (lit. watch the belly for a woman).
luku fesi sipikii n. mirror. See main entry: sipikii2.
luku ogii ain idiom. dirty looks as a disciplinary warning (lit. look evil eye). See main entry: ogii ain.
lukuman n. seer; diviner. See main entry: luku.
lulu1 [lúlú] vt. spy (on). Mi kibii na a udu baka e lulu a meti fu sutu, bika efu a si mi, a gwe. I hid behind the tree, spying on the animal to shoot him, because if he sees me he will leave. See: waki. From: DU. Etym: luren .
lulu2 [lùlú] vi. crumble (possibly ideophonic). Ala a kuku di a Bakaa gi mi lulu, fu di den taa sani masi en. All the cookies the Outsider gave me crumbled because the other things mashed them. See: masi1; saka saka1.
lun n. room. From: GE. Etym: room .
lutu 1) n. root. A den lutu e oli wan bon taampu. Roots hold a tree upright.
a lutu fu wan toli kernel of a matter (lit. root of a story). syn: a mama fu wan toli.
2) n. family roots; genealogy. A bun fu ibii sama sabi en lutu. It is good that everyone knows his (family) roots.
3) vt. uproot. A masini lutu a gaan udu bon towe. The machine uprooted the huge tree. See: booko. From: EN. Etym: root .
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