Pitjantjatjara
Pama-Nyungan (Wati, Western Desert)
Pitjantjatjara is one of the largest Western Desert languages of central Australia, with ~3,000 speakers in the area around Uluru in the cross-border tristate region of South Australia, Northern Territory, and Western Australia. It is a Pama-Nyungan language of the Wati subgroup, mutually intelligible with Yankunytjatjara. The orthography uses sub-dotted letters (ṟ ḻ ṉ ṯ) to mark retroflex consonants, an essential phonemic distinction. Pitjantjatjara has a sophisticated kinship-based grammatical system and remains in active daily use in remote APY Lands communities.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Pitjantjatjara
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Pama-Nyungan (Wati, Western Desert)
| Meaning | Pitjantjatjara | Pintupi-Luritja | Martu Wangka | Warnman | Nhanda | Warlpiri | Walmajarri |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | kalyu /kaʎu/ | kapi /kapi/ | ngapa /ŋapa/ | ngapa /ˈŋapa/ |
| Fire | waru /waɻu/ | waru /waɻu/ | waru /waɻu/ | nguja /ŋuɟa/ | warla /waɻla/ | warlu /waɭu/ | warlu /ˈwaɭu/ |
| Sun | tjintu /cintu/ | tjintu /cintu/ | jirntu /ciɳʈu/ | karrpu /karpu/ | wurʼa /wuɾʔa/ | wanta /wanta/ | purangu /puɻaŋu/ |
| Moon | pira /piɻa/ | pira /piɻa/ | panyalpa /paɲalpa/ | panyalpa /paɲalpa/ | kanyala /kaɲala/ | kirntangi /kiɳʈaŋi/ | yakarn /jakaɳ/ |
| Star | kililpil /kiˈlilpil/ | kililpi /kiˈlilpi/ | kurtalya /kuʈaʎa/ | kurtalya /kuʈaʎa/ | indiya /indija/ | yanjilypiri /jaɲɟiʎpiɻi/ | wirl /wiɭ/ |
| Night | munga /muŋa/ | munga /muŋa/ | munga /muŋa/ | payin /pajin/ | maru /maru/ | munga /muŋa/ | pukanya /pukaɲa/ |
| Rain | mina /ˈmina/ | — | — | kalyu /kaʎu/ | pundu /pundu/ | — | yurrikarra /jurikara/ |
| Wind | walpa /walpa/ | walpa /walpa/ | walypa /ˈwaljpa/ | karlalarra /kaɭalara/ | uudinu /uudinu/ | warlpa /waɭpa/ | walypa /ˈwaʎpa/ |
| Earth | manta /manta/ | manta /manta/ | manta /manta/ | rlanga /ɭaŋa/ | — | walya /walja/ | nguwa /ˈŋuwa/ |
| Stone | apu /apu/ | puḻi /puɭi/ | yapu /japu/ | purli /puɭi/ | — | pirli /piɭi/ | pamarr /ˈpamar/ |
| Mountain | puḻi /ˈpuɭi/ | puḻi katu /puɭi katu/ | — | — | — | pamarrpa /pamaɾpa/ | — |
| Sea | uṟu puḻka /uru puɭka/ | yuru /juɻu/ | kujungurru /kucuŋuru/ | — | — | mangkuru /maŋkuɻu/ | jawurlata /ˈɟawuɭata/ |
| Mother | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | yipi /jipi/ | pipirnpa /pipiɳpa/ | ngamaji /ŋamadʒi/ | ngati /ŋati/ | ngamaji /ŋaˈmaɟi/ |
| Father | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mamarnpa /mamaɳpa/ | kuthurra /kutʰuɻa/ | kirda /kiɖa/ | ngarpu /ŋaɻpu/ |
| Daughter | uṉṯal /uɳʈal/ | yuṉṯalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | yurntalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | yurntalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | yurdu /juɖu/ | yurntalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | kurntal /ˈkuɳʈal/ |
| I | ngayulu /ŋajulu/ | ngayulu /ŋajulu/ | ngayu /ŋaju/ | parra /para/ | ngayi /ŋaji/ | ngaju /ŋaɟu/ | ngaju /ŋaɟu/ |
| You | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | parrangku /paraŋku/ | nyini /ɲini/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ |
| We | nganana /ŋanaɳa/ | nganana /ŋanaɳa/ | — /—/ | parrawarta /parawaʈa/ | ngayinu /ŋajinu/ | ngalipa / nganimpa /ŋalipa / ŋanimpa/ | ngalimpa / nganimpa /ŋalimpa / ŋanimpa/ |
| Name | ini /ini/ | yini /jini/ | yini /jini/ | lirrka /lirka/ | yini /jini/ | yirdi /jiɖi/ | yini /jini/ |
| Person | aṉangu /aɳaŋu/ | yanangu /janaŋu/ | martu /maʈu/ | kirta /kiʈa/ | arnmanu /aɳmanu/ | yapa /japa/ | piyirn /ˈpijiɳ/ |
| Head | kata /kata/ | kata /kata/ | kata /kata/ | kata /kata/ | — | jurru /ɟuru/ | jurlu /ˈɟuɭu/ |
| Eye | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | panaya /panaja/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | milpa /milpa/ | mil /mil/ |
| Ear | pina /pɪnɐ/ | pina /pina/ | pina /pina/ | kurlka /kuɭka/ | wurtka /wuʈka/ | langa /laŋa/ | pina /ˈpina/ |
| Nose | mulya /ˈmulja/ | mulya /muʎa/ | mulya /muʎa/ | mulya /muʎa/ | muttha /mut̪a/ | mulyu /muʎu/ | punul /ˈpunul/ |
| Mouth | tjaa /caː/ | tjaa /caː/ | jaa /caː/ | jawa /ɟawa/ | ngarnmanu /ŋaɳmanu/ | lirra /liɾa/ | — |
| Tooth | katiti /katiti/ | katiti /katiti/ | yirra /jira/ | yirra /jira/ | idaji /idadʒi/ | kartirdi /kaʈiɖi/ | lirra /lira/ |
| Tongue | tjalinypa /caliɲpa/ | tjalinypa /caliɲpa/ | jarlinypa /caɭiɲpa/ | nyanyjarla /ɲaɲɟaɭa/ | thalanyu /t̪alaɲu/ | jalanypa /ɟalaɲpa/ | jalany /ɟalaɲ/ |
| Hand | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | rdaka /ɖaka/ | kurrapa /kurapa/ |
| Foot | tjina /cɪnɐ/ | tjina /cina/ | jina /cina/ | jina /ɟina/ | yina /jina/ | wirliya /wiɭija/ | jina /ˈɟina/ |
| Heart | kurunpa /kuɻunpa/ | kututu /kututu/ | kurturtu /kuʈuʈu/ | kurturtu /kuʈuʈu/ | pulpara /pulpaɻa/ | rduku-rduku /ɖukuɖuku/ | kurturlu /kuɭˈtuɭu/ |
| Bone | tarka /taɻka/ | tarrka /taɾka/ | tarrka /tarka/ | yika /jika/ | mambu /mambu/ | larrpa /laɾpa/ | kiji /kiɟi/ |
| Blood | milkali /milkali/ | milkali /milkali/ | miji /miɟi/ | miji /miɟi/ | nguba /ŋuba/ | yalyu /jaʎu/ | nungu /nuŋu/ |
| Poop | kuna /kuna/ | kuna /kuna/ | — | murla /muɭa/ | wuna /wuna/ | kuna /kuna/ | kura /ˈkuɻa/ |
| Love | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | mukulyu /mukuʎu/ | — /—/ | kanyji /kaɲdʒi/ | yulkami /julkami/ | — /—/ |
| Tree | punu /punu/ | punu /punu/ | warta /waʈa/ | watiya /watija/ | parntany /paɳʈaɲ/ | watiya /watija/ | mana /mana/ |
| Dog | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | jarntu /ɟaɳʈu/ | kuwiyarl /kuwijaɻl/ | jarntu /ɟaɳʈu/ | kunyarr /kuˈɲar/ |
| Cat | pusi /pusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | — /—/ | ngarda /ŋaɖa/ | paka /paka/ | mungalpa /muŋalpa/ | — /—/ |
| Fish | antipina /antipina/ | piitji /piːʈi/ | yurta /juʈa/ | tanpakaringu /tanpakariŋu/ | wiitya /wiːca/ | yawu /jawu/ | kapi /kapi/ |
| Bird | tjulpu /ˈcuɭpu/ | tjuḻpu /cuɭpu/ | pilurnpa /piluɳpa/ | limpi /limpi/ | — | jurlpu /ˈɟuɭpu/ | jiriki /ˈɟiɻiki/ |
| Butterfly | pinta-pinta /pintapinta/ | pintapinta /pintapinta/ | — | wirripintapinta /wiripintapinta/ | ngaabeera /ŋaːbeːra/ | pinta-pinta /pintapinta/ | pirrpirntipirnti /pirpiɳʈipiɳʈi/ |
| Egg | ngampu /ŋampu/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | — | ngipiri /ŋipiɻi/ | kampiny /kampiɲ/ |
| Horse | nyanytju /ɲaɲcu/ | naanytja /naːɲca/ | yawarta /jawaʈa/ | — | — | nantuwu /nantuwu/ | dimana /ˈdimana/ |
| House | ngura /ŋuɻa/ | ngurra /ŋuɾa/ | ngurra /ŋura/ | ngurra /ŋuɻa/ | nhurra /ɳuɻa/ | yuwarli /juwaɭi/ | mayaru /majaɻu/ |
| Milk | ipi /ipi/ | mimi /mimi/ | ngama /ŋama/ | — | — | lampurnu /lampuɳu/ | — |
| Honey | tjuratja /ˈcuɾaca/ | ngalypuru /ŋaʎpuɻu/ | jurtipirri /cuʈipiri/ | — | — | ngarlu /ŋaɭu/ | karlaka /ˈkaɭaka/ |
| Salt | tjaltu /caltu/ | paṉṯu /paɳʈu/ | juulu /cuːlu/ | — | — | jarlti /ɟaɭti/ | — |
| Wine | waina /waina/ | wayina /wajina/ | wama /wama/ | — | — | pama /pama/ | wayin /ˈwajin/ |
| Iron | ayana /ajana/ | yayina /jajina/ | yayinpa /jajinpa/ | — | — | yayini /jajini/ | — |
| Wheel | wiila /wiːla/ | taaya /taːja/ | taaya /taːja/ | wiilpa /wiːlpa/ | — | wirli /wiɭi/ | — |
| Book | nyiri /ɲiɻi/ | piipa /piːpa/ | mirlimirli /miɭimiɭi/ | — | — | pipa /pipa/ | — |
| Eat | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | ngalku- /ŋalku/ | ngarra /ŋaɻa/ | ngarna /ŋaɻna/ | ngarni /ŋaɳi/ | nga- /ŋa/ |
| Drink | tjikini /cikini/ | tjikini /cikini/ | jikirnu /cikiɳu/ | jikila /ɟikila/ | nyuna /ɲuna/ | purrami /puɾami/ | nga- /ŋa/ |
| Sleep | kunkunarinyi /kuŋkunaɻiɲi/ | kunkunpa /kunkunpa/ | kunyalarri- /kuɲalari/ | kunyalajuwa /kuɲalaɟuwa/ | wuupata /wuːpata/ | jarda ngunami /ɟaɖa ŋunami/ | manyan /ˈmaɲan/ |
| One | kutju /kucu/ | kutju /kucu/ | kuju /kucu/ | kumpinyu /kumpiɲu/ | kuyu /kuju/ | jinta /ɟinta/ | layi /laji/ |
| Two | kutjara /kucaɻa/ | kutjarra /kucaɾa/ | kujarra /kucara/ | kujarra /kuɟara/ | wuthada /wut̪ada/ | jirrama /ɟiɾama/ | kurriny /kuriɲ/ |
| Three | maṉkurpa /maɳkuɻpa/ | tjirripala /ciripala/ | yurri /juri/ | kujarra kumpinya /kuɟara kumpiɲa/ | marnngurdu /maɳŋuɖu/ | jirrama-kari-jinta /ɟiɾamakaɾiɟinta/ | mungkartu /muŋkaʈu/ |
| Four | kutjara kutjara /kucaɻa kucaɻa/ | puupala /puːpala/ | puu /puː/ | kujarra kujarra /kuɟara kuɟara/ | — | jirrama-kari-jirrama-kari /ɟiɾamakaɾiɟiɾamakaɾi/ | — |
| Five | kutjara maṉkurpa /kucaɻa maɳkuɻpa/ | payipala /pajipala/ | payip /pajip/ | — | — | rdaka-pala /ɖakapala/ | — |
| Hello | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | walytjarra /waʎcaɻa/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Good | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | walykumarra /waʎkumaɻa/ | ngurrju /ŋuɾɟu/ | wulyu /wuʎu/ |
| New | nyuwana /ɲuwana/ | kuwarritja /kuwaɾica/ | nyuwanpa /ɲuwanpa/ | — | — | jalangu-warnu /ɟalaŋuwaɳu/ | jalangjalang /ˈɟalaŋɟalaŋ/ |
| Red | tjitintjitinpa /tʃitintʃitinpa/ | yulpa /julpa/ | miji-miji /miɟimiɟi/ | martarr /maʈaɻ/ | marniwidi /maɳiwidi/ | yalyu-yalyu /jaʎujaʎu/ | ngirljarti /ŋiɭɟaʈi/ |
| White | piranpa /piɾanpa/ | piranpa /piɾanpa/ | piirlpiirl /piːɭpiːɭ/ | mirtamirta /miʈamiʈa/ | wilidi /wilidi/ | kardirri /kaɖiɾi/ | parpjarti /ˈpaɻpɟaɻti/ |
| Black | maṟu /maɻu/ | maru /maɻu/ | — | warrukurla /warukuɭa/ | — | kirdily /kiɖiʎ/ | kurnkurn /kuɳkuɳ/ |
| Green | ukiṟi-ukiṟi /ukiɻiukiɻi/ | kuriinwana /kuɻiːnwana/ | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | — | — | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | — |
| Blue | puluwana /puluwana/ | puluuwana /puluːwana/ | maru-maru /maɻumaɻu/ | — | — | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | — |
| Tea | kapati /kapati/ | tiiyi /tiːji/ | — | — | — | — | — |
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