Pintupi-Luritja
Pama-Nyungan
Pintupi-Luritja is a Western Desert Pama-Nyungan language, spoken by around 1,000 people in the central Australian desert communities of Papunya, Mt Liebig, and Kintore Walungurru in the Northern Territory. The Pintupi are best known internationally as the homeland of the Papunya Tula Artists movement, which began in 1971 when senior Pintupi artists at Papunya pioneered the modern Western Desert dot-painting style that has become globally recognized as Aboriginal contemporary art. The language is the easternmost variety of the Western Desert cluster, mutually intelligible with Pitjantjatjara (pjt) but with distinctive Luritja-language features that reflect long contact with Arrernte. The Pintupi Nine, the last "uncontacted" Pintupi family, emerged from the Gibson Desert at Kiwirrkurra in 1984 — the last documented case of Aboriginal Australians making first European contact in modern times.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Pintupi-Luritja
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Pama-Nyungan
| Meaning | Pintupi-Luritja | Pitjantjatjara | Martu Wangka | Warnman | Warlpiri | Nhanda | Walmajarri |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | kalyu /kaʎu/ | ngapa /ŋapa/ | kapi /kapi/ | ngapa /ˈŋapa/ |
| Fire | waru /waɻu/ | waru /waɻu/ | waru /waɻu/ | nguja /ŋuɟa/ | warlu /waɭu/ | warla /waɻla/ | warlu /ˈwaɭu/ |
| Sun | tjintu /cintu/ | tjintu /cintu/ | jirntu /ciɳʈu/ | karrpu /karpu/ | wanta /wanta/ | wurʼa /wuɾʔa/ | purangu /puɻaŋu/ |
| Moon | pira /piɻa/ | pira /piɻa/ | panyalpa /paɲalpa/ | panyalpa /paɲalpa/ | kirntangi /kiɳʈaŋi/ | kanyala /kaɲala/ | yakarn /jakaɳ/ |
| Star | kililpi /kiˈlilpi/ | kililpil /kiˈlilpil/ | kurtalya /kuʈaʎa/ | kurtalya /kuʈaʎa/ | yanjilypiri /jaɲɟiʎpiɻi/ | indiya /indija/ | wirl /wiɭ/ |
| Night | munga /muŋa/ | munga /muŋa/ | munga /muŋa/ | payin /pajin/ | munga /muŋa/ | maru /maru/ | pukanya /pukaɲa/ |
| Wind | walpa /walpa/ | walpa /walpa/ | walypa /ˈwaljpa/ | karlalarra /kaɭalara/ | warlpa /waɭpa/ | uudinu /uudinu/ | walypa /ˈwaʎpa/ |
| Earth | manta /manta/ | manta /manta/ | manta /manta/ | rlanga /ɭaŋa/ | walya /walja/ | — | nguwa /ˈŋuwa/ |
| Stone | puḻi /puɭi/ | apu /apu/ | yapu /japu/ | purli /puɭi/ | pirli /piɭi/ | — | pamarr /ˈpamar/ |
| Mountain | puḻi katu /puɭi katu/ | puḻi /ˈpuɭi/ | — | — | pamarrpa /pamaɾpa/ | — | — |
| Sea | yuru /juɻu/ | uṟu puḻka /uru puɭka/ | kujungurru /kucuŋuru/ | — | mangkuru /maŋkuɻu/ | — | jawurlata /ˈɟawuɭata/ |
| Mother | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | yipi /jipi/ | pipirnpa /pipiɳpa/ | ngati /ŋati/ | ngamaji /ŋamadʒi/ | ngamaji /ŋaˈmaɟi/ |
| Father | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mamarnpa /mamaɳpa/ | kirda /kiɖa/ | kuthurra /kutʰuɻa/ | ngarpu /ŋaɻpu/ |
| Daughter | yuṉṯalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | uṉṯal /uɳʈal/ | yurntalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | yurntalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | yurntalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | yurdu /juɖu/ | kurntal /ˈkuɳʈal/ |
| I | ngayulu /ŋajulu/ | ngayulu /ŋajulu/ | ngayu /ŋaju/ | parra /para/ | ngaju /ŋaɟu/ | ngayi /ŋaji/ | ngaju /ŋaɟu/ |
| You | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | parrangku /paraŋku/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyini /ɲini/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ |
| We | nganana /ŋanaɳa/ | nganana /ŋanaɳa/ | — /—/ | parrawarta /parawaʈa/ | ngalipa / nganimpa /ŋalipa / ŋanimpa/ | ngayinu /ŋajinu/ | ngalimpa / nganimpa /ŋalimpa / ŋanimpa/ |
| Name | yini /jini/ | ini /ini/ | yini /jini/ | lirrka /lirka/ | yirdi /jiɖi/ | yini /jini/ | yini /jini/ |
| Person | yanangu /janaŋu/ | aṉangu /aɳaŋu/ | martu /maʈu/ | kirta /kiʈa/ | yapa /japa/ | arnmanu /aɳmanu/ | piyirn /ˈpijiɳ/ |
| Head | kata /kata/ | kata /kata/ | kata /kata/ | kata /kata/ | jurru /ɟuru/ | — | jurlu /ˈɟuɭu/ |
| Eye | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | panaya /panaja/ | milpa /milpa/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | mil /mil/ |
| Ear | pina /pina/ | pina /pɪnɐ/ | pina /pina/ | kurlka /kuɭka/ | langa /laŋa/ | wurtka /wuʈka/ | pina /ˈpina/ |
| Nose | mulya /muʎa/ | mulya /ˈmulja/ | mulya /muʎa/ | mulya /muʎa/ | mulyu /muʎu/ | muttha /mut̪a/ | punul /ˈpunul/ |
| Mouth | tjaa /caː/ | tjaa /caː/ | jaa /caː/ | jawa /ɟawa/ | lirra /liɾa/ | ngarnmanu /ŋaɳmanu/ | — |
| Tooth | katiti /katiti/ | katiti /katiti/ | yirra /jira/ | yirra /jira/ | kartirdi /kaʈiɖi/ | idaji /idadʒi/ | lirra /lira/ |
| Tongue | tjalinypa /caliɲpa/ | tjalinypa /caliɲpa/ | jarlinypa /caɭiɲpa/ | nyanyjarla /ɲaɲɟaɭa/ | jalanypa /ɟalaɲpa/ | thalanyu /t̪alaɲu/ | jalany /ɟalaɲ/ |
| Hand | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | rdaka /ɖaka/ | mara /maɻa/ | kurrapa /kurapa/ |
| Foot | tjina /cina/ | tjina /cɪnɐ/ | jina /cina/ | jina /ɟina/ | wirliya /wiɭija/ | yina /jina/ | jina /ˈɟina/ |
| Heart | kututu /kututu/ | kurunpa /kuɻunpa/ | kurturtu /kuʈuʈu/ | kurturtu /kuʈuʈu/ | rduku-rduku /ɖukuɖuku/ | pulpara /pulpaɻa/ | kurturlu /kuɭˈtuɭu/ |
| Bone | tarrka /taɾka/ | tarka /taɻka/ | tarrka /tarka/ | yika /jika/ | larrpa /laɾpa/ | mambu /mambu/ | kiji /kiɟi/ |
| Blood | milkali /milkali/ | milkali /milkali/ | miji /miɟi/ | miji /miɟi/ | yalyu /jaʎu/ | nguba /ŋuba/ | nungu /nuŋu/ |
| Poop | kuna /kuna/ | kuna /kuna/ | — | murla /muɭa/ | kuna /kuna/ | wuna /wuna/ | kura /ˈkuɻa/ |
| Love | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | mukulyu /mukuʎu/ | — /—/ | yulkami /julkami/ | kanyji /kaɲdʒi/ | — /—/ |
| Tree | punu /punu/ | punu /punu/ | warta /waʈa/ | watiya /watija/ | watiya /watija/ | parntany /paɳʈaɲ/ | mana /mana/ |
| Dog | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | jarntu /ɟaɳʈu/ | jarntu /ɟaɳʈu/ | kuwiyarl /kuwijaɻl/ | kunyarr /kuˈɲar/ |
| Cat | pusi /pusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | — /—/ | ngarda /ŋaɖa/ | mungalpa /muŋalpa/ | paka /paka/ | — /—/ |
| Fish | piitji /piːʈi/ | antipina /antipina/ | yurta /juʈa/ | tanpakaringu /tanpakariŋu/ | yawu /jawu/ | wiitya /wiːca/ | kapi /kapi/ |
| Bird | tjuḻpu /cuɭpu/ | tjulpu /ˈcuɭpu/ | pilurnpa /piluɳpa/ | limpi /limpi/ | jurlpu /ˈɟuɭpu/ | — | jiriki /ˈɟiɻiki/ |
| Butterfly | pintapinta /pintapinta/ | pinta-pinta /pintapinta/ | — | wirripintapinta /wiripintapinta/ | pinta-pinta /pintapinta/ | ngaabeera /ŋaːbeːra/ | pirrpirntipirnti /pirpiɳʈipiɳʈi/ |
| Egg | ngampu /ŋampu/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | ngipiri /ŋipiɻi/ | — | kampiny /kampiɲ/ |
| Bear | piiya /piːja/ | — | — | — | piira /piːɻa/ | — | — |
| Horse | naanytja /naːɲca/ | nyanytju /ɲaɲcu/ | yawarta /jawaʈa/ | — | nantuwu /nantuwu/ | — | dimana /ˈdimana/ |
| House | ngurra /ŋuɾa/ | ngura /ŋuɻa/ | ngurra /ŋura/ | ngurra /ŋuɻa/ | yuwarli /juwaɭi/ | nhurra /ɳuɻa/ | mayaru /majaɻu/ |
| Milk | mimi /mimi/ | ipi /ipi/ | ngama /ŋama/ | — | lampurnu /lampuɳu/ | — | — |
| Honey | ngalypuru /ŋaʎpuɻu/ | tjuratja /ˈcuɾaca/ | jurtipirri /cuʈipiri/ | — | ngarlu /ŋaɭu/ | — | karlaka /ˈkaɭaka/ |
| Salt | paṉṯu /paɳʈu/ | tjaltu /caltu/ | juulu /cuːlu/ | — | jarlti /ɟaɭti/ | — | — |
| Wine | wayina /wajina/ | waina /waina/ | wama /wama/ | — | pama /pama/ | — | wayin /ˈwajin/ |
| Iron | yayina /jajina/ | ayana /ajana/ | yayinpa /jajinpa/ | — | yayini /jajini/ | — | — |
| Wheel | taaya /taːja/ | wiila /wiːla/ | taaya /taːja/ | wiilpa /wiːlpa/ | wirli /wiɭi/ | — | — |
| Book | piipa /piːpa/ | nyiri /ɲiɻi/ | mirlimirli /miɭimiɭi/ | — | pipa /pipa/ | — | — |
| Eat | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | ngalku- /ŋalku/ | ngarra /ŋaɻa/ | ngarni /ŋaɳi/ | ngarna /ŋaɻna/ | nga- /ŋa/ |
| Drink | tjikini /cikini/ | tjikini /cikini/ | jikirnu /cikiɳu/ | jikila /ɟikila/ | purrami /puɾami/ | nyuna /ɲuna/ | nga- /ŋa/ |
| Sleep | kunkunpa /kunkunpa/ | kunkunarinyi /kuŋkunaɻiɲi/ | kunyalarri- /kuɲalari/ | kunyalajuwa /kuɲalaɟuwa/ | jarda ngunami /ɟaɖa ŋunami/ | wuupata /wuːpata/ | manyan /ˈmaɲan/ |
| One | kutju /kucu/ | kutju /kucu/ | kuju /kucu/ | kumpinyu /kumpiɲu/ | jinta /ɟinta/ | kuyu /kuju/ | layi /laji/ |
| Two | kutjarra /kucaɾa/ | kutjara /kucaɻa/ | kujarra /kucara/ | kujarra /kuɟara/ | jirrama /ɟiɾama/ | wuthada /wut̪ada/ | kurriny /kuriɲ/ |
| Three | tjirripala /ciripala/ | maṉkurpa /maɳkuɻpa/ | yurri /juri/ | kujarra kumpinya /kuɟara kumpiɲa/ | jirrama-kari-jinta /ɟiɾamakaɾiɟinta/ | marnngurdu /maɳŋuɖu/ | mungkartu /muŋkaʈu/ |
| Four | puupala /puːpala/ | kutjara kutjara /kucaɻa kucaɻa/ | puu /puː/ | kujarra kujarra /kuɟara kuɟara/ | jirrama-kari-jirrama-kari /ɟiɾamakaɾiɟiɾamakaɾi/ | — | — |
| Five | payipala /pajipala/ | kutjara maṉkurpa /kucaɻa maɳkuɻpa/ | payip /pajip/ | — | rdaka-pala /ɖakapala/ | — | — |
| Hundred | yantaṯa /jantaʈa/ | — | yantarta /jantaʈa/ | — | — | — | — |
| Hello | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | walytjarra /waʎcaɻa/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Good | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | ngurrju /ŋuɾɟu/ | walykumarra /waʎkumaɻa/ | wulyu /wuʎu/ |
| New | kuwarritja /kuwaɾica/ | nyuwana /ɲuwana/ | nyuwanpa /ɲuwanpa/ | — | jalangu-warnu /ɟalaŋuwaɳu/ | — | jalangjalang /ˈɟalaŋɟalaŋ/ |
| Red | yulpa /julpa/ | tjitintjitinpa /tʃitintʃitinpa/ | miji-miji /miɟimiɟi/ | martarr /maʈaɻ/ | yalyu-yalyu /jaʎujaʎu/ | marniwidi /maɳiwidi/ | ngirljarti /ŋiɭɟaʈi/ |
| White | piranpa /piɾanpa/ | piranpa /piɾanpa/ | piirlpiirl /piːɭpiːɭ/ | mirtamirta /miʈamiʈa/ | kardirri /kaɖiɾi/ | wilidi /wilidi/ | parpjarti /ˈpaɻpɟaɻti/ |
| Black | maru /maɻu/ | maṟu /maɻu/ | — | warrukurla /warukuɭa/ | kirdily /kiɖiʎ/ | — | kurnkurn /kuɳkuɳ/ |
| Green | kuriinwana /kuɻiːnwana/ | ukiṟi-ukiṟi /ukiɻiukiɻi/ | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | — | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | — | — |
| Blue | puluuwana /puluːwana/ | puluwana /puluwana/ | maru-maru /maɻumaɻu/ | — | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | — | — |
| Tea | tiiyi /tiːji/ | kapati /kapati/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sugar | tjuuka /cuːka/ | — | — | — | juka /ɟuka/ | — | walyarra /ˈwaʎara/ |
| Orange | yaarinytji /jaːɻiɲci/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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