Motu
Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western, Papuan Tip)
Motu is the indigenous Austronesian language of the Motu people of the Central Province of Papua New Guinea, centred on the Hanuabada villages near Port Moresby. The pure form has only ~14K active speakers, but Motu is the lexical source for Hiri Motu (hmo), the simplified pidgin that became one of PNG's three official languages. Motu has full Austronesian morphology including subject/object person markers, alienable/inalienable possession, and the characteristic Oceanic pronoun system, all of which Hiri Motu drastically simplified in the colonial trade context. Lister-Turner & Clark's 1931 grammar remains authoritative.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Motu
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Western, Papuan Tip)
| Meaning | Motu | Hiri Motu | Fijian | Tuvaluan | Tongan | Tokelauan | Samoan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ranu /ɾanu/ | ranu /ɾanu/ | wai /wai/ | vai /vai/ | vai /vai/ | vai /vai/ | vai /vai/ |
| Fire | lahi /lahi/ | lahi /lahi/ | buka /mbuka/ | afi /afi/ | afi /afi/ | afi /afi/ | afi /afi/ |
| Sun | dina /dina/ | dina /dina/ | matanisiga /matanisiŋa/ | laa /laː/ | laʻā /laʔaː/ | lā /laː/ | lā /laː/ |
| Moon | hua /hua/ | hua /hua/ | vula /βula/ | masina /masina/ | māhina /maːhina/ | māhina /maːhina/ | māsina /maːsina/ |
| Star | hisiu /hisiu/ | hisiu /hisiu/ | kalokalo /kalokalo/ | fetū /fetuː/ | fetuʻu /fetuʔu/ | fetu /fetu/ | fetū /fetuː/ |
| Night | hanuaboi /hanuaboi/ | hanuaboi /hanuaboi/ | bogi /mboŋi/ | pō /poː/ | pō /poː/ | pō /poː/ | pō /poː/ |
| Rain | medu /medu/ | medu /medu/ | uca /uða/ | ua /ua/ | ʻuha /ʔuha/ | ua /ua/ | ua /ua/ |
| Wind | lai /lai/ | lai /lai/ | cagi /ðaŋi/ | matagi /mataŋi/ | matangi /mataŋi/ | matagi /mataŋi/ | matagi /mataŋi/ |
| Earth | tano /tano/ | tano /tano/ | qele /ᵑɡele/ | kelekele /kelekele/ | kelekele /kelekele/ | kelekele /kelekele/ | ʻeleʻele /ʔeleʔele/ |
| Stone | nadi /nadi/ | nadi /ˈnadi/ | vatu /vatu/ | fatu /fatu/ | maka /maka/ | fatu /fatu/ | maʻa /maʔa/ |
| Mountain | ororo /oɾoɾo/ | ororo /ororo/ | ulunivanua /uluniβanua/ | mauga /mauŋa/ | moʻunga /moʔuŋa/ | mauga /mauŋa/ | mauga /mauŋa/ |
| Sea | davara /davara/ | davara /davara/ | wasawasa /wasawasa/ | tai /tai/ | tahi /tahi/ | moana /moana/ | sami /sami/ |
| Mother | sinana /sinana/ | sina /sina/ | tina /tina/ | maatua /maːtua/ | faʻē /faʔeː/ | mātua /maːtua/ | tinā /tinaː/ |
| Father | tamana /tamana/ | tama /tama/ | tama /tama/ | tamana /tamana/ | tamai /tamai/ | tamana /tamana/ | tamā /tamaː/ |
| Daughter | natuna kekenina /natuna kekenina/ | natuna kekeni /natuna kekeni/ | luve yalewa /luβe jalewa/ | tama fafine /tama fafine/ | ʻofefine /ʔofefine/ | afafine /afafine/ | afafine /afafine/ |
| I | lau /lau/ | lau /lau/ | au /au/ | au /au/ | au /au/ | au /au/ | aʻu /aʔu/ |
| You | oi /oi/ | oi /oi/ | iko /iko/ | koe /koe/ | koe /koe/ | koe /koe/ | ʻoe /ʔoe/ |
| We | ita / ai /ita / ai/ | ita / ai /ita / ai/ | keda / keimami /kenda / kejmami/ | tātou / mātou /taːtou / maːtou/ | kitautolu / kimautolu /kitautolu / kimautolu/ | tātou / mātou /taːtou / maːtou/ | tātou / mātou /taːtou / maːtou/ |
| Name | ladana /ladana/ | ladana /laˈdana/ | yaca /jaða/ | igoa /iŋoa/ | hingoa /hiŋoa/ | igoa /iŋoa/ | igoa /iŋoa/ |
| Person | taunimanima /taunimanima/ | taunimanima /taunimanima/ | tamata /tamata/ | tino /tino/ | tangata /taŋata/ | tagata /taŋata/ | tagata /taŋata/ |
| Head | kwara /kʷaɾa/ | kwarana /kʷarana/ | ulu /ulu/ | ulu /ulu/ | ʻulu /ʔulu/ | ulu /ulu/ | ulu /ulu/ |
| Eye | matana /matana/ | matana /matana/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ |
| Ear | taiana /taiana/ | taiana /taiana/ | daliga /ndaliŋa/ | taliga /taliŋa/ | telinga /teliŋa/ | taliga /taliŋa/ | taliga /taliŋa/ |
| Nose | udu-baubau /udubaubau/ | udubaubauna /udubaubauna/ | ucu /uðu/ | isu /isu/ | ihu /ihu/ | ihu /ihu/ | isu /isu/ |
| Mouth | udu /udu/ | uduna /uduna/ | gusu /ŋusu/ | gutu /ŋutu/ | ngutu /ŋutu/ | gutu /ŋutu/ | gutu /ŋutu/ |
| Tooth | ise /ise/ | isena /isena/ | bati /mbati/ | nifo /nifo/ | nifo /nifo/ | nifo /nifo/ | nifo /nifo/ |
| Tongue | mala /mala/ | mala /mala/ | yame /jame/ | alelo /alelo/ | ʻelelo /ʔelelo/ | alelo /alelo/ | laulaufaiva /laulaufaiva/ |
| Hand | ima /ima/ | ima /ima/ | liga /liŋa/ | lima /lima/ | nima /nima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ |
| Foot | ae /ae/ | ae /ae/ | yava /java/ | vae /vae/ | vaʻe /vaʔe/ | vae /vae/ | vae /vae/ |
| Heart | kudouna /kudouna/ | kudouna /kudouna/ | uto /uto/ | fatu /fatu/ | loto /loto/ | fatu /fatu/ | loto /loto/ |
| Bone | turia /turia/ | turia /turia/ | sui /sui/ | ivi /ivi/ | hui /hui/ | ivi /ivi/ | ivi /ivi/ |
| Blood | rara /rara/ | rara /rara/ | dra /ndra/ | toto /toto/ | toto /toto/ | toto /toto/ | toto /toto/ |
| Poop | taḡe /taɣe/ | kukuri /kukuri/ | de /nde/ | tae /tae/ | taʻe /taʔe/ | tae /tae/ | tae /tae/ |
| Love | lalokau /lalokau/ | lalokau /lalokau/ | loloma /loloma/ | alofa /alofa/ | ʻofa /ʔofa/ | alofa /alofa/ | alofa /alofa/ |
| Tree | au /au/ | au /au/ | kau /kau/ | laakau /laːkau/ | ʻakau /ʔakau/ | lākau /laːkau/ | laʻau /laʔau/ |
| Dog | sisia /sisia/ | sisia /sisia/ | koli /koli/ | kuli /kuli/ | kulī /kuliː/ | kuli /kuli/ | maile /maile/ |
| Cat | gosi /ɡosi/ | pusi /pusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | puhi /puhi/ | pusi /pusi/ |
| Fish | gwarume /ɡʷaɾume/ | gwarume /ɡʷaɾume/ | ika /ika/ | ika /ika/ | ika /ika/ | ika /ika/ | iʻa /iʔa/ |
| Bird | manu /ˈmanu/ | manu /manu/ | manumanu /manumanu/ | manu /manu/ | manupuna /manupuna/ | manu /manu/ | manu /manu/ |
| Butterfly | kaubebe /kaubebe/ | kaubebe /kaubebe/ | bēbē /ᵐbeːᵐbeː/ | pepe /pepe/ | pepe /pepe/ | pepe /pepe/ | pepe /pepe/ |
| Egg | gatoi /ɡatoi/ | gatoi /ɡatoi/ | yaloka /jaloka/ | fuamoa /fuamoa/ | foʻi moa /foʔi moa/ | fuāmoa /fuaːmoa/ | fuamoa /fuamoa/ |
| Bear | bea /bea/ | bea /bea/ | bea /mbea/ | pea /pea/ | pea /pea/ | pea /pea/ | pea /pea/ |
| Horse | hosi /hosi/ | hosi /hosi/ | ose /ose/ | solofanua /solofanua/ | hoosi /hoːsi/ | holofanua /holofanua/ | solofanua /solofanua/ |
| House | ruma /ɾuma/ | ruma /ɾuma/ | vale /βale/ | fale /fale/ | fale /fale/ | fale /fale/ | fale /fale/ |
| Milk | rata /rata/ | rata /rata/ | sucu /suðu/ | susu /susu/ | huʻakau /huʔakau/ | huāhuhu /huaːhuhu/ | susu /susu/ |
| Honey | bada ranuna /bada ɾanuna/ | — | oni /oni/ | hani /hani/ | hone /hone/ | meli /meli/ | meli /meli/ |
| Salt | damena /damena/ | damena /damena/ | masima /masima/ | masima /masima/ | māsima /maːsima/ | māhima /maːhima/ | masima /masima/ |
| Wine | vine ranuna /vine ɾanuna/ | uaina /uaina/ | waini /waini/ | uaina /uaina/ | uaine /uaine/ | uaina /uaina/ | uaina /uaina/ |
| Rice | raisi /raisi/ | raisi /raisi/ | raisi /raisi/ | laisi /laisi/ | laise /laise/ | — | alaisa /alaisa/ |
| Iron | auri /ˈauɾi/ | auri /ˈauɾi/ | kaukamea /kaukamea/ | fiti /fiti/ | ukamea /ukamea/ | ukamea /ukamea/ | uʻamea /uʔamea/ |
| Wheel | ava-keikei /avakeikei/ | uili /uili/ | yava /java/ | teka /teka/ | veʻeteka /veʔeteka/ | uili /uili/ | uili /uili/ |
| Book | buka /buka/ | buka /ˈbuka/ | ivola /ivola/ | tusi /tusi/ | tohi /tohi/ | tuhi /tuhi/ | tusi /tusi/ |
| Eat | aniani /aniani/ | ania /ania/ | kana /kana/ | kai /kai/ | kai /kai/ | kai /kai/ | ʻai /ʔai/ |
| Drink | inuinu /inuinu/ | inua /inua/ | gunu /ŋunu/ | inu /inu/ | inu /inu/ | inu /inu/ | inu /inu/ |
| Sleep | mahuta /maˈhuta/ | mahuta /maˈhuta/ | moce /moðe/ | moe /moe/ | mohe /mohe/ | moe /moe/ | moe /moe/ |
| One | ta /ta/ | ta /ta/ | dua /ndua/ | tasi /tasi/ | taha /taha/ | tahi /tahi/ | tasi /tasi/ |
| Two | rua /rua/ | rua /rua/ | rua /rua/ | lua /lua/ | ua /ua/ | lua /lua/ | lua /lua/ |
| Three | toi /toi/ | toi /toi/ | tolu /tolu/ | tolu /tolu/ | tolu /tolu/ | tolu /tolu/ | tolu /tolu/ |
| Four | hani /hani/ | hani /hani/ | vā /vaː/ | fā /faː/ | fā /faː/ | fā /faː/ | fā /faː/ |
| Five | ima /ima/ | ima /ima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | nima /nima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ |
| Hundred | sinahu /sinahu/ | handred /handred/ | drau /ndrau/ | selau /selau/ | teau /teau/ | helau /helau/ | selau /selau/ |
| Hello | namo gida /namo ɡida/ | namona /namona/ | bula /mbula/ | taalofa /taːlofa/ | mālō e lelei /maːloː e lelei/ | malo ni /malo ni/ | talofa /talofa/ |
| Thank you | oi namo /oi namo/ | tanikiu /tanikiu/ | vinaka /βinaka/ | fakafetai /fakafetai/ | mālō /maːloː/ | fakafetai /fakafetai/ | faʻafetai /faʔafetai/ |
| Good | namo /namo/ | namo /namo/ | vinaka /βinaka/ | lei /lei/ | lelei /lelei/ | lelei /lelei/ | lelei /lelei/ |
| New | matamata /matamata/ | matamata /matamata/ | vou /βou/ | fou /fou/ | foʻou /foʔou/ | fou /fou/ | fou /fou/ |
| Red | kakakaka /kakakaka/ | kakakaka /kakakaka/ | damudamu /ndamundamu/ | kula /kula/ | kulokula /kulokula/ | kukula /kukula/ | mūmū /muːmuː/ |
| White | kurokuro /kurokuro/ | kurokuro /kurokuro/ | vulavula /βulaβula/ | kena /kena/ | hinehina /hinehina/ | paepae /paepae/ | paʻepaʻe /paʔepaʔe/ |
| Black | koremakorema /koɾemakoɾema/ | korema /korema/ | loaloa /loaloa/ | uli /uli/ | ʻuliʻuli /ʔuliʔuli/ | uli /uli/ | uliuli /uliuli/ |
| Green | gadokagadoka /ɡadokaɡadoka/ | gadoka gadoka /ɡadoka ɡadoka/ | drokadroka /ndrokandroka/ | lanu lau niu /lanu lau niu/ | lanu mata /lanu mata/ | lanu meamata /lanu meamata/ | lanumeamata /lanumeamata/ |
| Blue | gadokagadoka /ɡadokaɡadoka/ | gadoka gadoka /ɡadoka ɡadoka/ | karakarawa /karakarawa/ | lanu moana /lanu moana/ | lanu moana /lanu moana/ | lanumoana /lanumoana/ | lanumoana /lanumoana/ |
| Computer | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | komupiuta /komupiuta/ | komipiuta /komipiuta/ | komepiuta /komepiuta/ | komipiuta /komipiuta/ |
| Tea | ti /ti/ | ti /ti/ | tī /tiː/ | tī /tiː/ | tī /tiː/ | — | tī /tiː/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofe /kofe/ | kofi /kofi/ | — | kofe /kofe/ |
| Sugar | suga /suɡa/ | suga /suɡa/ | suka /suka/ | suka /suka/ | suka /suka/ | — | suka /suka/ |
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