A - a

a 1) pn. 3rd pers. sing. subjective pronoun: he, she, it.
2) prep. to, in, at, by. a ta paka de a wiki he pays them by the week mi manda biifi da i a Kato I sent a letter to you via Kato
a’ contraction for abi ‘to have’. a a’ di fou ta dë a goon there are certain birds that live on the ground mi ku ën a’ soni he/she and I have something against each other
a’a contraction for ala.
aái yes.
áán pn. contraction: 3rd pers. with neg. abi. aan wosu he/she doesn’t have a house de waka te de aan sinkii möön they traveled until they were worn out
ába 1) to other side.
2) to cross. aba ën wata take him/her across the river
abaán type of plaintain (red inside). Variant: abaún bakuba.
Abáisa the name of a Saramaccan clan.
abalë́ti slingshot.
abaún bakuba See main entry: abaán.
abédjee a type of fish.
abëdjugá type of rice (reddish).
Abénásítónu a village upriver from Pokigron.
ábi to have. mi abi u go I am obligated/should go See: a’.
abíí response when name is called.
abíti little.
abítímö́ön soon.
abönë́ abönë fii kandi you’re not thinking straight
abosíkee insect that kills rice.
abotjítjí 1) mbei abotjitji to tickle
2) a a’ abotjitji he is funny
adáái type of cooking pot.
adaáun sandwasp.
adabasíi cockroach.
adamkala See main entry: adamkilo.
adamkilo measuring worm. Variant: adamkala.
adangila flying insect.
adantámataka a special dish made of rice and pounded peanuts, often as an oblation after death.
adantífi toothpaste.
adatú obeah spirit.
Adáwái a village between Jaujau and Laduani.
adikpókpo mushroom. Variant: dikpókpo.
adingö shrimp.
adingö u téla scorpion.
adjaansi spider.
adjáansi spider. Variant: adjáinsi.
adjáansipái expression for death.
adjaansipíkimi echo. Variant: anasipíkimi.
adjáansipíkimi echo.
adjába the red macaw.
adjabëë koti adjabëë da sëmbë to declare someone wrong unjustly paati ën adjabëë made an unjust decision
adjádja rice crust.
adjáinsi See: adjáansi.
adjáinsipái See: adjáansipái.
adjámtóo rice type (hard to pound; small grain, sharp leaves).
adjangá a type of plantain.
adjasú agouti.
adjéna bushmaster. See: takutatai.
adjí game brought from Africa (uses seeds).
adjiké type of deer.
adjina rice bought in Paramaribo.
adjinatapu See main entry: anakitapú.
adjinatapú burlap sack.
adjindjá porcupine.
adjíndja ginger.
Adjinifódan a rapids close to Gaanseei.
adjíwáta dew.
adjo post-mortem religious ceremony.
adjohán a type of edible rodent. See: waaná.
adjóisi farewell. da adjoisi to bid farewell
adjö́kömë to carry on shoulders.
adója plant used for making obeah.
adömítö butterfly. See: azöbítötö.
adonísídö́ö See: asúmaípa.
adonké drum and dance to express honor or pleasure.
adumáwe dog tick.
aduuu expression accompanying embrace.
afeemátutú type of trumpet or bugle.
afiikán African.
afiíngi small cassava dumplings in sauce. See: apití.
afokáti lawyer. Variant: afukáti.
afölö́pu envelope.
afukáti See main entry: afokáti.
aga See main entry: hága.
ága See: hága.
agadáwede swallow (i.e.bird).
agadjë́ mákáku type of monkey.
agáin a type of catfish. See: pëndë́físi.
agama chameleon.
agamatö́ngö type of small wasp.
agása / agásámëku crab.
agba chin.
agbadó kálu corn type with some black and red grains.
agbagala old-time French gun.
agbágba carry on head without hands or cloth.
agbagómaka type of thornbush.
agbán earthen pot.
agbaségóón batáta type of sweet potato.
agbigbi owl.
agbonë́ngë́ tátái sweet-smelling plant used for medicine.
agbópáu plant type with bitter leaf, often used to cure headache and stomach ache.
agbosótjaka rice type (large grain, very white).
agida a long drum used for contact with the spirits.
agó knot.
ago-é "pardon me!".
agófútu heel.
agófútúwójo ankle.
agolé okra flower.
agómáun elbow.
aguba drum played at death of older or important person.
Agudjápaati a rapids and an island downriver from Pokigron.
agúja needle.
agújáfísi a type of fish.
ahala forked stick.
ahalakpákpa cockroach.
ahalala centipede.
ahö́ hoe.
ahoín See: ahwaín.
ahö́máun shoulder. Variant: ahwámáun.
ahumë fontanel.
ahún grass.
ahunjön type of rice (spotted husks; white grain).
ahwaín ta puu ahwain to try to clean around gums, like a cow chewing cud Variant: ahoín.
ahwámáun shoulder. Variant: ahö́máun.
áíti eight. tide aiti dei a week ago
ajón onion.
akáa soul.
Akáakaapúsa the rapids at Bëndëköndë.
akabá the piece of plank at the back of a canoe that supports the outboard motor.
akala type of pancake.
akalé alligator.
akaléobo type of sweet potato.
akálúbúka agouti.
akamawái heron.
akamí trumpet bird.
akántí gúúun type of blue.
akata rolled padding for carrying things on head.
akáta crossed (e.g. legs).
akatapalulú bird of paradise plant and flower.
akebenú bead necklace, also worn at waist.
akëtë ganían type of chicken with short legs.
akí here.
akiikö́ u máun wrist.
Akinö́kö́ndë a village on the Gran Rio.
ákisi See: hákísi.
Akísíamáun a village across from Asindo Opo.
akökí 1) call of potokii bird.
2) type of tree and its fruit.
3) rice.
akomú type of eel (or perhaps water snake).
akötiá large monkey type.
akpádji large piranha type.
akpasa watjí tree type with fruit (pods); the leaves are used to wash a baby after birth.
Akpáúkö́ndë a village between Gaanseei and Bofokule.
akpó arrow used for shooting birds.
akpö́íjö nighthawk (whippoorwill type). Variant: kpö́ö́jö.
akpósokpa wooden trowel for smoothing dirt floors.
akúbagoon leaves for cleansing wounds and relieving stomach ache.
akulí Hindustani. Variant: kulí.
akumbú rotting meat or fish.
akúsuwe type of animal.
alá there.
Alabáisakasían a rapids between Pada and Malobi.
alagisa caterpillar type.
alála macaw.
aláláhíntóóbi type of rice (red like parrot; black ends).
alampía type of fish.
alándja sour orange.
alánkupi type of tree.
alantavála the maipa palm tree.
Alasá 1) a part of the river close to Gujaba which becomes a small rapids in the dry season.
2) a creek and a rapids just upriver from Asindo Opo.
alasá a type of small tree that grows in rocky places.
alátu type of edible rodent.
alátúlábu type of plant.
alëkisóóla type of rice.
aléndjákíti rain cape.
alibí 1) kidney.
2) bean.
alibíalibi plant used for making obeah.
alígbe water that funnels.
alijá animal type.
alikpö́ earthworm. Variant: alikpötö.
alikpötö See main entry: alikpö́.
alísi rice. alisi pau rice stalk di alisi booko wojo the rice has sprouted di alisi dë ku bëë the rice has formed grains within the husk
alísí fóu insect type.
alö row. na alö in a row
alogohédi fish type. Variant: alogoídi.
alogoídi See main entry: alogohédi.
alombotó decorated cord worn by men around waist.
alónaago tadpole.
alonká type of caterpillar.
alukutú zuurzak.
alulú rice that falls apart so cannot be tied in sheaves.
Alumán German.
aluwási in spite of the fact that...
aluwáu type of tree (leaves are used for washing private parts).
áma See: háma.
amáka hammock.
Amakákö́ndë a village just downriver from Abenasitonu.
amakapúnjan red-fan parrot.
amakudjá passion fruit. Variant: makudjá.
amalipénti a type of small fish. Variant: pénti.
amaná 1) type of palm tree.
2) the Cayenne section of French Guiana.
amanagaidé See main entry: amandagaidé.
amanáma someone who has returned from Cayenne or from elsewhere outside the Saramaccan area.
amánda almond tree.
amandagaidé leaf-cutter ants. Variant: amanagaidé.
amanján tomorrow. oto amanjan the day after tomorrow oto amanjan a baka two days after tomorrow amanjan te sonte tomorrow about this time
amasikílili (high tone upriver is on the last syllable) evil being in woods (feet are turned around backwards). Variant: masikílili.
amasíni See: masíni.
ambë́ who.
ambë́ë expression of surprise.
amboló lizard type.
ambulú small frog.
ambulúpái jaguar.
amëëkán America.
amëëkán óli kerosene.
amöatawé a type of vine.
amömö type of jaguar.
amusói amsoi (a type of green leafy vegetable). Variant: musói.
án 1) negative. de an sa go they cannot go.
2) contraction: 3rd pers. sing. with neg. an sa go he/she can’t go.
anagó dance type.
anákitá biting ant.
anakitapú burlap sack. Variant: adjinatapu.
anamú bush hen or great tinamou. See: mamafou.
anangáitö́ type of bird (wood rail).
Anasi 1) mythical character ("Father Spider").
2) anasi kisi ën a futu he has a cramp in his leg
anasipíkimi echo. Variant: adjaansipíkimi.
ánbunu not good.
andélu ring.
andélúfínga ring finger.
andí what.
andí mbéi why? Variant: faándí mbéi.
andíwë expression of amazement.
andolé bittern; bittern-like heron.
ángi See: hángi.
angísa See main entry: hángísa.
ángísa scarf. Variant: hángísa.
angu pau See main entry: hangú páu.
angula cloth tied around waist as back support or during unusual activity.
aniítiputu wool; yarn.
ánsi See: hánsi.
ántoobi 1) o.k.; alright.
2) response to show you’ve heard what has been said.
ápa star apple.
apáiti distinct; apart.
apakí calabash with lid.
apaní said when playing tag, usually as "goodnight".
apankáni black-and-white hawk-eagle.
apantá hardwood tree, grows along rivers and creeks.
apantakëë́ plaintain with thick skin. Variant: asubusúba.
apeéli large beads for necklace.
Apeesína a rapids downriver from Pokigron.
apeesína orange; citrus fruit.
Apíápaatí an large island just upriver from Adjinifoudan that divides the Suriname River.
apíndjíbóbi type of earthen vessel.
apíntii drum for sending messages.
apisí type of wood (used for building houses).
apití dumplings made with flour or cassava flour. Variant: apitipíti.
apitipíti See main entry: apití.
apöö́ntö banana sort (can be cooked or eaten raw).
apoopía type of fish.
apukú type of spirit that possesses people.
asákpáa thigh.
asánsuköndë a type of white rice.
asapaapí type of rice.
asapakáa large lizard type.
asaú 1) pot scraper.
2) a type of tree.
Asédúgóni a rapids downriver from Pokigron.
asengékö́ndë batáta type of sweet potato (striped white and pink inside).
asigíma túlili type of bird (flycatcher sort).
asiíka small creek crab.
asikéndi large armadillo.
asila okra.
asimikándje ruddy ground dove. Variant: asumukándje.
asín vinegar.
Asindó Opo the village on the Pikin Rio where the Saramaccan chief (or Granman) resides. See: Gaamákö́ndë.
asoíntábáku tobacco plant type.
asokeé type of lizard.
asoóboní See main entry: asoóbonú.
asoóbonú taboo name for cow. Variant: asoóboní.
asubusúba plaintain with thick skin. Variant: apantakëë́.
asukufínga banana type (small). Variant: sukufínga.
asúmaípa a type of tree with fine, whitish wood, used in house construction. See: adonísídö́ö.
asumukándje See: asimikándje.
asumukúu type of edible rodent.
ataín cassava cake.
atamakái type of lizard.
atëë a type of wild green leafy vegetable. See: gbökeléle.
atekúteku hiccup. mbei atekuteku to hiccup
atengútengú mbei atengutengu hop around; limp
atikónko stilts. Variant: tikónko.
atíngímëkú See: tíngímësú.
atíti grasshopper.
atjawá agouti. Variant: atjawáitja.
atjawáitja See main entry: atjawá.
Atjö́ni the juncture where the Suriname River and the road to Paramaribo meet.
Atjö́ní pási the road from Brownsweg to Atjöni.
atjuá tabu name for dog.
aviatë́ pilot.
aviö́n airplane.
aviti 1) trap.
2) cargo platform on boat.
avó grandparent.
avóavo ancestors.
Avobáka (i.e. Afobaka) formerly a rapids; now the juncture of the road from Paramaribo and the lake formed by the dam.
Avobákápási the road from Paranam to Afobaka.
awá expression of assent.
awaá palm tree type and fruit (known in Paramaribo as “awara”).
awáa 1) now.
2) awaa i ta hanse you’re more beautiful than ever
Awaádan a rapids and a tourist camp on the Gran Rio.
awáámújë́ë́kónda tree used for firewood.
awaapúja otter.
Awaapújakaká an island downriver from Pokigron.
awalí opossum.
Awaná the name of a Saramaccan clan.
awandai wide cooking pot with handles.
awanséi forktailed flycatcher.
awasá dance type.
awáwe board along a thatched roof to protect house from bats.
awenú water boa. See: watawenu; gaan tatai.
awoo old; former.
azan palm fronds at entrance of village as protection against evil.
azanganá shin of leg.
azéma vampire person.
azö stinging nettle.
azöbítötö 1) butterfly.
2) blackened area from fire inside of house.
azödikë́ concave in center.
azogidi sugared corn.
Azogidigólu Dan a rapids on the Gran Rio.
azogó tuft on head of birds.
azogodó exit of an animal burrow.
azönjë́njën tender shoots of plants.
azönkíjënjën firefly.
azowáwa sparks and burnt bits from fire.
azuúun small bird type.
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