Lokaiahn Pohnpei
Pohnpeian
Austronesian (Micronesian)
Pohnpeian (lokaiahn Pohnpei) is one of the larger Micronesian languages, spoken in the Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei state and outlying atolls) by ~30K people, plus a substantial Pohnpeian diaspora in Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. mainland. Co-official in Pohnpei state alongside English. Has a vigesimal (base-20) numeral system, complex morphology with extensive suffixation, and an elaborate honorific register (meing) reserved for traditional chiefs (Nahnmwarki, Nahnken). Latin orthography with digraphs mw, ng, oa for special phonemes. Sister languages include Mokilese (mkj) and Pingelapese.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Pohnpeian
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Austronesian (Micronesian)
| Meaning | Pohnpeian | Chuukese | Kosraean | Gilbertese | Tongan | Woleaian | Tokelauan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | pihl /pihl/ | kkónik /kːonik/ | kof /kof/ | ran /ɾan/ | vai /vai/ | shal /ʃalʉ/ | vai /vai/ |
| Fire | ahi /ahi/ | ekkei /ekːei/ | e /e/ | ai /ai/ | afi /afi/ | yaf /jaːfi/ | afi /afi/ |
| Sun | ketipin /ketipin/ | akkar /akːaɾ/ | faht /fæt/ | taai /taːi/ | laʻā /laʔaː/ | yal /jal/ | lā /laː/ |
| Moon | maram /maram/ | maram /maɾam/ | malem /malem/ | namwakaina /namʷakaina/ | māhina /maːhina/ | meram /meɻame/ | māhina /maːhina/ |
| Star | usu /usu/ | fúú /fɨː/ | itu /itu/ | itoi /iˈtoi/ | fetuʻu /fetuʔu/ | fius /fʉːs/ | fetu /fetu/ |
| Night | pwong /pʷoŋ/ | pwiin /pʷiːn/ | fong /foŋ/ | bong /boŋ/ | pō /poː/ | bong /boːŋi/ | pō /poː/ |
| Rain | keteu /ketew/ | wúút /wɨːt/ | af /af/ | karau /kaˈɾau/ | ʻuha /ʔuha/ | ut /uːte/ | ua /ua/ |
| Snow | sinoh /sinoː/ | sno /sno/ | — | tinoo /siˈnoː/ | sinou /sinou/ | — | kiona /kiona/ |
| Wind | kisinieng /kisinieŋ/ | eng /eŋ/ | eng /eŋ/ | ang /aŋ/ | matangi /mataŋi/ | yang /jaːŋi/ | matagi /mataŋi/ |
| Earth | pwehl /pʷeːl/ | pwpwún /pʷːɨn/ | fohk /fok/ | tano /tano/ | kelekele /kelekele/ | bbel /bːəlʉ/ | kelekele /kelekele/ |
| Stone | takai /taˈkaj/ | faaw /faːw/ | eot /eot/ | atibu /aˈsibu/ | maka /maka/ | faiu /faːʉ/ | fatu /fatu/ |
| Mountain | nahna /naːna/ | chuuk /tʃuːk/ | eol /eol/ | maunga /mauŋa/ | moʻunga /moʔuŋa/ | taiit /taiːt/ | mauga /mauŋa/ |
| Sea | sehd /sɛːd/ | sáát /saːt/ | meoa /meoa/ | marawa /maɾawa/ | tahi /tahi/ | metaw /metaw/ | moana /moana/ |
| Mother | nohno /nohno/ | iin /iːn/ | nina /nina/ | tina /ˈsina/ | faʻē /faʔeː/ | sila /sila/ | mātua /maːtua/ |
| Father | pahpa /paːpa/ | saam /saːm/ | papa /papa/ | tama /tama/ | tamai /tamai/ | tema /tema/ | tamana /tamana/ |
| Daughter | nah serepein /nah sɛrɛpein/ | nengin /neŋin/ | acn /ɛn/ | natiu te aine /nasiu te aine/ | ʻofefine /ʔofefine/ | — | afafine /afafine/ |
| I | ngehi /ŋɛhi/ | ngang /ŋaŋ/ | nga /ŋa/ | ngai /ŋai/ | au /au/ | gaang /ɡaːŋ/ | au /au/ |
| You | kowe /kowe/ | en /en/ | kom /kom/ | ngkoe /ŋkoe/ | koe /koe/ | geel /ɡeːle/ | koe /koe/ |
| We | kitail / kiht /kitajl / kiht/ | kich / áám /kitʃ / aːm/ | kut /kut/ | ngaira /ŋaira/ | kitautolu / kimautolu /kitautolu / kimautolu/ | giish / gaamam /ɡiːʃ / ɡaːmam/ | tātou / mātou /taːtou / maːtou/ |
| Name | ede /ɛdɛ/ | iit /iːt/ | ine /ine/ | ara /ˈara/ | hingoa /hiŋoa/ | it /iːt/ | igoa /iŋoa/ |
| Person | aramas /aramas/ | aramas /aramas/ | mwet /mʷet/ | aomata /aomata/ | tangata /taŋata/ | yaremat /jaɻemat/ | tagata /taŋata/ |
| Head | moahng /mɔːŋ/ | mékúr /məkɨɾ/ | insifac /insifɛ/ | atu /ˈatu/ | ʻulu /ʔulu/ | shimw /ʃimʷ/ | ulu /ulu/ |
| Eye | pwoarenmas /pʷɔrɛnmas/ | maas /maːs/ | mutahl /mutæl/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mat /maːte/ | mata /mata/ |
| Ear | salenge /salɛŋ/ | sening /seniŋ/ | srwac /ʂwɛ/ | taninga /taniŋa/ | telinga /teliŋa/ | taling /taliŋa/ | taliga /taliŋa/ |
| Nose | tumwe /tumʷe/ | pwéét /pʷeːt/ | fwac /fwɛ/ | bwairi /bʷairi/ | ihu /ihu/ | boot /boːti/ | ihu /ihu/ |
| Mouth | ahu /ahu/ | aaw /aːw/ | oalu /oalu/ | — | ngutu /ŋutu/ | yaw /jaw/ | gutu /ŋutu/ |
| Tooth | ngih /ŋiː/ | nii /niː/ | wihs /wɨs/ | wi /wi/ | nifo /nifo/ | ngi /ŋiː/ | nifo /nifo/ |
| Tongue | loh /loː/ | chénnaaw /tʃenːaːw/ | loh /loh/ | newe /newe/ | ʻelelo /ʔelelo/ | lew /leːwe/ | alelo /alelo/ |
| Hand | peh /peh/ | paaw /paːw/ | poun /poun/ | bai /bai/ | nima /nima/ | paiu /paːʉ/ | lima /lima/ |
| Foot | patehn neh /pateːn neː/ | peche /petʃe/ | ne /ne/ | wae /wae/ | vaʻe /vaʔe/ | peshe /peʃe/ | vae /vae/ |
| Heart | mohngiong /moːŋioŋ/ | letip /letip/ | insiac /insiɛ/ | nano /nano/ | loto /loto/ | bun /buno/ | fatu /fatu/ |
| Bone | tih /tiː/ | chuu /tʃɨː/ | sri /ʂi/ | ri /ri/ | hui /hui/ | shiu /ʃiu/ | ivi /ivi/ |
| Blood | nta /nta/ | chcha /tʃːa/ | srah /ʂah/ | rara /ɾaɾa/ | toto /toto/ | cha /tʃa/ | toto /toto/ |
| Poop | pwise /pʷise/ | — /—/ | — | butae /butae/ | taʻe /taʔe/ | pag /paɡ/ | tae /tae/ |
| Love | limpoak /limpoːk/ | tóng /təŋ/ | lungse /luŋse/ | tangira /taŋiɾa/ | ʻofa /ʔofa/ | ffageo /fːaɡœː/ | alofa /alofa/ |
| Tree | tuhke /tuhke/ | irá /iɾaː/ | sak /sak/ | kai /kai/ | ʻakau /ʔakau/ | ira /iɻa/ | lākau /laːkau/ |
| Dog | kihdi /kihdi/ | konak /konak/ | kosro /kosro/ | kamea /kamea/ | kulī /kuliː/ | gelaag /ɡelaːɡu/ | kuli /kuli/ |
| Cat | kaht /kaht/ | kkááset /kːaːset/ | katu /katu/ | katama /katama/ | pusi /pusi/ | gaatu /ɡaːtu/ | puhi /puhi/ |
| Fish | mwahmw /mʷaːmʷ/ | iik /iːk/ | ik /ik/ | ika /ˈika/ | ika /ika/ | ig /iːɡe/ | ika /ika/ |
| Bird | menpihr /menˈpiːr/ | machang /matʃaŋ/ | won /won/ | mannikiba /mannikiba/ | manupuna /manupuna/ | mal /malʉ/ | manu /manu/ |
| Butterfly | lipahrourou /lipaːrowrow/ | nipwisipwis /nipʷisipʷis/ | — | bwebwe /bʷebʷe/ | pepe /pepe/ | libegibeg /libeɡibeɡ/ | pepe /pepe/ |
| Egg | kutohr /kutoːr/ | sókkun /səkːun/ | ahtro /ætro/ | bunnimoa /bunːiˈmoa/ | foʻi moa /foʔi moa/ | siugiun /sʉɡʉn/ | fuāmoa /fuaːmoa/ |
| Bear | pehr /pɛːr/ | pear /pear/ | pacr /pɛr/ | bea /bea/ | pea /pea/ | — | pea /pea/ |
| Horse | oahs /ɔːs/ | arus /arus/ | — | aoti /aosi/ | hoosi /hoːsi/ | yoas /jɒs/ | holofanua /holofanua/ |
| House | ihmw /ihmʷ/ | iimw /iːmʷ/ | lohm /lohm/ | auti /ˈausi/ | fale /fale/ | imw /iːmʷe/ | fale /fale/ |
| Milk | milik /milik/ | milik /milik/ | titi /titi/ | miriki /miɾiki/ | huʻakau /huʔakau/ | milik /milik/ | huāhuhu /huaːhuhu/ |
| Honey | sukehn loangalap /sukeːn lɔŋalap/ | chönün chunen /tʃənɨn tʃunen/ | — | meri /meɾi/ | hone /hone/ | — | meli /meli/ |
| Salt | soahl /sɔːl/ | sóón /səːn/ | sohl /sɔl/ | taoro /taoro/ | māsima /maːsima/ | gasiiga /ɡasiːɡa/ | māhima /maːhima/ |
| Wine | wain /wain/ | wain /wain/ | wain /wain/ | wain /wain/ | uaine /uaine/ | waain /waːine/ | uaina /uaina/ |
| Rice | rais /rais/ | rais /ɾais/ | rais /rais/ | raiti /ɾaisi/ | laise /laise/ | peraas /peɻaːs/ | — |
| Chocolate | sokoled /sokoled/ | — | — | — | sokoleti /sokoleti/ | — | — |
| Iron | mete /ˈmete/ | mecha /metʃa/ | osra /oʂa/ | biti /ˈpisi/ | ukamea /ukamea/ | paarang /paːɻaŋ/ | ukamea /ukamea/ |
| Wheel | wihl /wihl/ | wiil /wiːl/ | wil /wil/ | wira /wiɾa/ | veʻeteka /veʔeteka/ | — | uili /uili/ |
| Silk | silik /silik/ | silik /silik/ | silk /silk/ | tirika /siɾika/ | silika /silika/ | — | hilika /hilika/ |
| Book | pwuhk /pʷuːk/ | puk /puk/ | puk /puk/ | boki /ˈboki/ | tohi /tohi/ | baabiyor /baːbijoɻ/ | tuhi /tuhi/ |
| Eat | mwenge /mʷeŋe/ | mwéngé /mʷeŋːe/ | mongo /moŋo/ | amwarake /amʷaɾake/ | kai /kai/ | mwongo /mʷoŋo/ | kai /kai/ |
| Drink | nim /nim/ | wún /wɨn/ | nim /nim/ | nima /nima/ | inu /inu/ | iul /ʉlʉ/ | inu /inu/ |
| Sleep | meir /mejr/ | méwúr /meˈwɨr/ | motul /motul/ | matu /ˈmatu/ | mohe /mohe/ | — | moe /moe/ |
| One | ehu /ehu/ | éét /eːt/ | sefac /sefɛ/ | teuana /teuana/ | taha /taha/ | yeta /jeta/ | tahi /tahi/ |
| Two | riau /riːau/ | rúúw /rɨːw/ | luo /luo/ | uoua /uˈoua/ | ua /ua/ | riuwa /ɻʉwa/ | lua /lua/ |
| Three | siluh /siluː/ | wúnú /wɨnɨ/ | tolu /tolu/ | tenua /teˈnua/ | tolu /tolu/ | yeli /jeli/ | tolu /tolu/ |
| Four | pahieu /paːieu/ | fáán /faːn/ | ahkosr /ækoʂ/ | aua /aua/ | fā /faː/ | fangi /faŋi/ | fā /faː/ |
| Five | limau /limaw/ | niim /niːm/ | limekosr /limekoʂ/ | nimaua /nimaua/ | nima /nima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ |
| Hundred | epwiki /epʷiki/ | ipwúkú /ipʷɨkɨ/ | siofok /siofok/ | tebubua /tebuˈbua/ | teau /teau/ | — | helau /helau/ |
| Hello | kaselehlie /kaselehlie/ | ráán annim /raːn annim/ | lwen wo /lwen wo/ | mauri /mauɾi/ | mālō e lelei /maːloː e lelei/ | faiisho /faiːʃo/ | malo ni /malo ni/ |
| Thank you | kalahngan /kalahŋan/ | kinisou /kinisou/ | kulo /kulo/ | ko rabwa /ko ɾabʷa/ | mālō /maːloː/ | — /—/ | fakafetai /fakafetai/ |
| Good | mwahu /mʷahu/ | mwirinné /mʷirinːe/ | wo /wo/ | raoiroi /ɾaoiɾoi/ | lelei /lelei/ | gach /ɡatʃʉ/ | lelei /lelei/ |
| New | kapw /kapʷ/ | ffé /fːe/ | sasuh /sasʌ/ | bou /bou/ | foʻou /foʔou/ | feo /fœː/ | fou /fou/ |
| Red | weitahta /weiˈtahta/ | par /par/ | srusra /ʂuʂa/ | uraura /uɾaˈuɾa/ | kulokula /kulokula/ | cha /tʃa/ | kukula /kukula/ |
| White | pwetepwet /pʷetepʷet/ | pwechepwech /pʷetʃepʷetʃ/ | fasrfasr /faʂfaʂ/ | mainaina /mainaina/ | hinehina /hinehina/ | besh /beʃe/ | paepae /paepae/ |
| Black | toantoal /toːntoːl/ | chochol /tʃotʃol/ | sroalsroal /ʂoalʂoal/ | roro /ɾoɾo/ | ʻuliʻuli /ʔuliʔuli/ | chochoal /tʃotʃɒl/ | uli /uli/ |
| Green | pohndipw /poːndipʷ/ | araw /araw/ | folfol sra /folfol ʂa/ | mawawa /mawawa/ | lanu mata /lanu mata/ | gaaraweraw /ɡaːɻaweɻaw/ | lanu meamata /lanu meamata/ |
| Blue | mei /mei/ | araw /araw/ | folfol /folfol/ | mawawa /mawawa/ | lanu moana /lanu moana/ | gaaraweraw /ɡaːɻaweɻaw/ | lanumoana /lanumoana/ |
| Computer | komputer /komputer/ | — | — | kaombiuta /kaombiuta/ | komipiuta /komipiuta/ | — | komepiuta /komepiuta/ |
| Coffee | koahpi /kɔːpi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kohfi /kɔfi/ | kobe /kobe/ | kofi /kofi/ | koofi /koːfi/ | — |
| Sugar | suke /suke/ | suke /suke/ | suka /suka/ | tioka /sioka/ | suka /suka/ | — | — |
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