Warlpiri
Pama-Nyungan (Ngumpin-Yapa)
Warlpiri is one of Australia's largest Indigenous languages with ~3K speakers in the Tanami Desert (Northern Territory). Crucial in linguistic theory: Ken Hale's Warlpiri research established the universal-grammar account of free word order, ergative-absolutive case, and second-position auxiliary clitic placement. The Warlpiri Triangle bilingual education program (Yuendumu/Lajamanu/Willowra/Nyirrpi) has run since 1974. Latin orthography developed by SIL; intergenerational transmission still active despite English pressure.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Warlpiri
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Pama-Nyungan (Ngumpin-Yapa)
| Meaning | Warlpiri | Pintupi-Luritja | Walmajarri | Martu Wangka | Pitjantjatjara | Adnyamathanha | Nhanda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ngapa /ŋapa/ | kapi /kapi/ | ngapa /ˈŋapa/ | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | awi /awi/ | kapi /kapi/ |
| Fire | warlu /waɭu/ | waru /waɻu/ | warlu /ˈwaɭu/ | waru /waɻu/ | waru /waɻu/ | ardrla /aʈɭa/ | warla /waɻla/ |
| Sun | wanta /wanta/ | tjintu /cintu/ | purangu /puɻaŋu/ | jirntu /ciɳʈu/ | tjintu /cintu/ | yurnrdu /juɳʈu/ | wurʼa /wuɾʔa/ |
| Moon | kirntangi /kiɳʈaŋi/ | pira /piɻa/ | yakarn /jakaɳ/ | panyalpa /paɲalpa/ | pira /piɻa/ | viRa /viɹa/ | kanyala /kaɲala/ |
| Star | yanjilypiri /jaɲɟiʎpiɻi/ | kililpi /kiˈlilpi/ | wirl /wiɭ/ | kurtalya /kuʈaʎa/ | kililpil /kiˈlilpil/ | vurdli /vuʈli/ | indiya /indija/ |
| Night | munga /muŋa/ | munga /muŋa/ | pukanya /pukaɲa/ | munga /muŋa/ | munga /muŋa/ | wilydya /wiʎca/ | maru /maru/ |
| Wind | warlpa /waɭpa/ | walpa /walpa/ | walypa /ˈwaʎpa/ | walypa /ˈwaljpa/ | walpa /walpa/ | milyaRu /miʎaɹu/ | uudinu /uudinu/ |
| Earth | walya /walja/ | manta /manta/ | nguwa /ˈŋuwa/ | manta /manta/ | manta /manta/ | yarta /jaʈa/ | — |
| Stone | pirli /piɭi/ | puḻi /puɭi/ | pamarr /ˈpamar/ | yapu /japu/ | apu /apu/ | adynya /acɲa/ | — |
| Mountain | pamarrpa /pamaɾpa/ | puḻi katu /puɭi katu/ | — | — | puḻi /ˈpuɭi/ | — | — |
| Sea | mangkuru /maŋkuɻu/ | yuru /juɻu/ | jawurlata /ˈɟawuɭata/ | kujungurru /kucuŋuru/ | uṟu puḻka /uru puɭka/ | — | — |
| Mother | ngati /ŋati/ | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | ngamaji /ŋaˈmaɟi/ | yipi /jipi/ | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | ngami /ŋami/ | ngamaji /ŋamadʒi/ |
| Father | kirda /kiɖa/ | mama /mama/ | ngarpu /ŋaɻpu/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | vapi /vapi/ | kuthurra /kutʰuɻa/ |
| Daughter | yurntalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | yuṉṯalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | kurntal /ˈkuɳʈal/ | yurntalpa /juɳʈalpa/ | uṉṯal /uɳʈal/ | — | yurdu /juɖu/ |
| I | ngaju /ŋaɟu/ | ngayulu /ŋajulu/ | ngaju /ŋaɟu/ | ngayu /ŋaju/ | ngayulu /ŋajulu/ | ngayi /ŋaji/ | ngayi /ŋaji/ |
| You | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nyuntu /ɲuntu/ | nhina /n̪ina/ | nyini /ɲini/ |
| We | ngalipa / nganimpa /ŋalipa / ŋanimpa/ | nganana /ŋanaɳa/ | ngalimpa / nganimpa /ŋalimpa / ŋanimpa/ | — /—/ | nganana /ŋanaɳa/ | ngarlpurla /ŋaɭpuɭa/ | ngayinu /ŋajinu/ |
| Name | yirdi /jiɖi/ | yini /jini/ | yini /jini/ | yini /jini/ | ini /ini/ | mityi /mici/ | yini /jini/ |
| Person | yapa /japa/ | yanangu /janaŋu/ | piyirn /ˈpijiɳ/ | martu /maʈu/ | aṉangu /aɳaŋu/ | yuRa /juɹa/ | arnmanu /aɳmanu/ |
| Head | jurru /ɟuru/ | kata /kata/ | jurlu /ˈɟuɭu/ | kata /kata/ | kata /kata/ | vapardrla /vapaʈɭa/ | — |
| Eye | milpa /milpa/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | mil /mil/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | mina /mina/ | kuru /kuɻu/ |
| Ear | langa /laŋa/ | pina /pina/ | pina /ˈpina/ | pina /pina/ | pina /pɪnɐ/ | yuri /juɾi/ | wurtka /wuʈka/ |
| Nose | mulyu /muʎu/ | mulya /muʎa/ | punul /ˈpunul/ | mulya /muʎa/ | mulya /ˈmulja/ | — | muttha /mut̪a/ |
| Mouth | lirra /liɾa/ | tjaa /caː/ | — | jaa /caː/ | tjaa /caː/ | — | ngarnmanu /ŋaɳmanu/ |
| Tooth | kartirdi /kaʈiɖi/ | katiti /katiti/ | lirra /lira/ | yirra /jira/ | katiti /katiti/ | ira /iɾa/ | idaji /idadʒi/ |
| Tongue | jalanypa /ɟalaɲpa/ | tjalinypa /caliɲpa/ | jalany /ɟalaɲ/ | jarlinypa /caɭiɲpa/ | tjalinypa /caliɲpa/ | yarli /jaɭi/ | thalanyu /t̪alaɲu/ |
| Hand | rdaka /ɖaka/ | mara /maɻa/ | kurrapa /kurapa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɾa/ | mara /maɻa/ |
| Foot | wirliya /wiɭija/ | tjina /cina/ | jina /ˈɟina/ | jina /cina/ | tjina /cɪnɐ/ | idna /idna/ | yina /jina/ |
| Heart | rduku-rduku /ɖukuɖuku/ | kututu /kututu/ | kurturlu /kuɭˈtuɭu/ | kurturtu /kuʈuʈu/ | kurunpa /kuɻunpa/ | yurlk-aka /juɭkaka/ | pulpara /pulpaɻa/ |
| Bone | larrpa /laɾpa/ | tarrka /taɾka/ | kiji /kiɟi/ | tarrka /tarka/ | tarka /taɻka/ | warlpu /waɭpu/ | mambu /mambu/ |
| Blood | yalyu /jaʎu/ | milkali /milkali/ | nungu /nuŋu/ | miji /miɟi/ | milkali /milkali/ | arti /aʈi/ | nguba /ŋuba/ |
| Poop | kuna /kuna/ | kuna /kuna/ | kura /ˈkuɻa/ | — | kuna /kuna/ | udna /utna/ | wuna /wuna/ |
| Love | yulkami /julkami/ | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | — /—/ | mukulyu /mukuʎu/ | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | ngadha-pa- /ŋat̪apa/ | kanyji /kaɲdʒi/ |
| Tree | watiya /watija/ | punu /punu/ | mana /mana/ | warta /waʈa/ | punu /punu/ | wirti /wiʈi/ | parntany /paɳʈaɲ/ |
| Dog | jarntu /ɟaɳʈu/ | papa /papa/ | kunyarr /kuˈɲar/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | wirlka /wiɭka/ | kuwiyarl /kuwijaɻl/ |
| Cat | mungalpa /muŋalpa/ | pusi /pusi/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | pusi /pusi/ | — /—/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | yawu /jawu/ | piitji /piːʈi/ | kapi /kapi/ | yurta /juʈa/ | antipina /antipina/ | varru /varu/ | wiitya /wiːca/ |
| Bird | jurlpu /ˈɟuɭpu/ | tjuḻpu /cuɭpu/ | jiriki /ˈɟiɻiki/ | pilurnpa /piluɳpa/ | tjulpu /ˈcuɭpu/ | — | — |
| Butterfly | pinta-pinta /pintapinta/ | pintapinta /pintapinta/ | pirrpirntipirnti /pirpiɳʈipiɳʈi/ | — | pinta-pinta /pintapinta/ | arli vilhi-vilhi /aɭi vil̪i-vil̪i/ | ngaabeera /ŋaːbeːra/ |
| Egg | ngipiri /ŋipiɻi/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | kampiny /kampiɲ/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | ngampu /ŋampu/ | vipi /vipi/ | — |
| Bear | piira /piːɻa/ | piiya /piːja/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Horse | nantuwu /nantuwu/ | naanytja /naːɲca/ | dimana /ˈdimana/ | yawarta /jawaʈa/ | nyanytju /ɲaɲcu/ | — | — |
| House | yuwarli /juwaɭi/ | ngurra /ŋuɾa/ | mayaru /majaɻu/ | ngurra /ŋura/ | ngura /ŋuɻa/ | wardrli /waʈɭi/ | nhurra /ɳuɻa/ |
| Milk | lampurnu /lampuɳu/ | mimi /mimi/ | — | ngama /ŋama/ | ipi /ipi/ | ngama /ŋama/ | — |
| Honey | ngarlu /ŋaɭu/ | ngalypuru /ŋaʎpuɻu/ | karlaka /ˈkaɭaka/ | jurtipirri /cuʈipiri/ | tjuratja /ˈcuɾaca/ | — | — |
| Salt | jarlti /ɟaɭti/ | paṉṯu /paɳʈu/ | — | juulu /cuːlu/ | tjaltu /caltu/ | — | — |
| Wine | pama /pama/ | wayina /wajina/ | wayin /ˈwajin/ | wama /wama/ | waina /waina/ | — | — |
| Iron | yayini /jajini/ | yayina /jajina/ | — | yayinpa /jajinpa/ | ayana /ajana/ | — | — |
| Wheel | wirli /wiɭi/ | taaya /taːja/ | — | taaya /taːja/ | wiila /wiːla/ | — | — |
| Book | pipa /pipa/ | piipa /piːpa/ | — | mirlimirli /miɭimiɭi/ | nyiri /ɲiɻi/ | — | — |
| Eat | ngarni /ŋaɳi/ | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | nga- /ŋa/ | ngalku- /ŋalku/ | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | ngarlku- /ŋaɭku/ | ngarna /ŋaɻna/ |
| Drink | purrami /puɾami/ | tjikini /cikini/ | nga- /ŋa/ | jikirnu /cikiɳu/ | tjikini /cikini/ | yapa- /japa/ | nyuna /ɲuna/ |
| Sleep | jarda ngunami /ɟaɖa ŋunami/ | kunkunpa /kunkunpa/ | manyan /ˈmaɲan/ | kunyalarri- /kuɲalari/ | kunkunarinyi /kuŋkunaɻiɲi/ | miya /mija/ | wuupata /wuːpata/ |
| One | jinta /ɟinta/ | kutju /kucu/ | layi /laji/ | kuju /kucu/ | kutju /kucu/ | ubmanaka /upmanaka/ | kuyu /kuju/ |
| Two | jirrama /ɟiɾama/ | kutjarra /kucaɾa/ | kurriny /kuriɲ/ | kujarra /kucara/ | kutjara /kucaɻa/ | alypilhanha /aʎpil̪an̪a/ | wuthada /wut̪ada/ |
| Three | jirrama-kari-jinta /ɟiɾamakaɾiɟinta/ | tjirripala /ciripala/ | mungkartu /muŋkaʈu/ | yurri /juri/ | maṉkurpa /maɳkuɻpa/ | urlpa-rrina /uɭparina/ | marnngurdu /maɳŋuɖu/ |
| Four | jirrama-kari-jirrama-kari /ɟiɾamakaɾiɟiɾamakaɾi/ | puupala /puːpala/ | — | puu /puː/ | kutjara kutjara /kucaɻa kucaɻa/ | — | — |
| Five | rdaka-pala /ɖakapala/ | payipala /pajipala/ | — | payip /pajip/ | kutjara maṉkurpa /kucaɻa maɳkuɻpa/ | — | — |
| Hello | — /—/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | — /—/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Good | ngurrju /ŋuɾɟu/ | palya /paʎa/ | wulyu /wuʎu/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | warnrdu /waɳʈu/ | walykumarra /waʎkumaɻa/ |
| New | jalangu-warnu /ɟalaŋuwaɳu/ | kuwarritja /kuwaɾica/ | jalangjalang /ˈɟalaŋɟalaŋ/ | nyuwanpa /ɲuwanpa/ | nyuwana /ɲuwana/ | marra /mara/ | — |
| Red | yalyu-yalyu /jaʎujaʎu/ | yulpa /julpa/ | ngirljarti /ŋiɭɟaʈi/ | miji-miji /miɟimiɟi/ | tjitintjitinpa /tʃitintʃitinpa/ | yalhdhatyi /jal̪t̪aci/ | marniwidi /maɳiwidi/ |
| White | kardirri /kaɖiɾi/ | piranpa /piɾanpa/ | parpjarti /ˈpaɻpɟaɻti/ | piirlpiirl /piːɭpiːɭ/ | piranpa /piɾanpa/ | upa /upa/ | wilidi /wilidi/ |
| Black | kirdily /kiɖiʎ/ | maru /maɻu/ | kurnkurn /kuɳkuɳ/ | — | maṟu /maɻu/ | — | — |
| Green | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | kuriinwana /kuɻiːnwana/ | — | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | ukiṟi-ukiṟi /ukiɻiukiɻi/ | — | — |
| Blue | yukuri-yukuri /jukuɻijukuɻi/ | puluuwana /puluːwana/ | — | maru-maru /maɻumaɻu/ | puluwana /puluwana/ | unarru /unaru/ | — |
| Sugar | juka /ɟuka/ | tjuuka /cuːka/ | walyarra /ˈwaʎara/ | — | — | — | — |
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