O - o

o aux. v. future tense marker. Te mi o gwe, da a taa man o kon. When I leave, another man will come. See: sa2.
obiya n. sorcery; magical medicine. Na den bonuman e meke obiya fu deesi sama. Shamans prepare sorcery to heal people. Usage: “...those parts of the supernatural forces that have become available to mankind. At times Ndyukas have in mind objects charged with supernatural power; on other occasions the concept is used for invading spirits.” [Thoden van Velzen and Wetering 1988:17]. syn: deesi. See: afokodeei; bonu; wenti; wisi.
feti (kofu) obiya magical power for fighting (lit. fight medicine).
obiyaman n. shaman; medicine man. From: AF. Etym: ubio .
obiyaman n. shaman; medicine man. See main entry: obiya.
obo vt. open. See main entry: opo.
oboobo n. opener. See main entry: opoopo.
odi n. greeting. Te Ndyuka sama taki: “U miti oo!” Da na odi den e gi yu. When Ndyukas say, “We meet!”, they are giving a greeting.
bali odi call out a greeting (lit. bawl greeting). syn: gi odi.
gi odi greet (lit. give greet). Te i si wan sama, da a fosi sani di yu e du, da na gi yu e gi en odi. When you meet someone the first thing you do is greet him. syn: bali odi. From: EN ? Etym: howdy .
odoo n. proverb; saying. A man koti wan odoo gi a taawan taki: “Mongo anga mongo nái miti, ma sama anga sama e miti”. The man gave a proverb to the other saying, “Mountain may not meet (another) mountain, but a person meets (another) person.” [One will inevitably meet with his adversary, though one tries to hide.] syn: nongo.
koti odoo tell a proverb (lit. cut a proverb). syn: koti nongo.
odu n. timber; uncut wood; tree. See main entry: udu.
ofisii n. officer. Ne den go a Masaa Jesesi, go begi en tangi tangi fu a kon go yeepi a ofisii fu den Loma suudati, fu deesi a futuboi fi en gi den. (Lk. 7:4) Then they went to the Lord Jesus to beg him strongly to come and help the officer of the Roman soldiers, to heal his servant. From: GE. Etym: officer .
ofu conj. or. Pingo ofu pakila, sowtu wan i kii? The white-lipped or the collared peccary, which one did you kill? Te wan sama sidon gudyuu wani taki a mandii, ofu a nái fii bun. When a person sits down (ideophone), it means he is annoyed, or he doesn't feel well. Variant: efu2; efi2.
ofuso conj. or else. I mu wooko, ofuso yu o pina. You should work, or else you will be (in) poverty. Variant: efuso. From: DU. Etym: of .
ogii 1) n. evil; danger; viciousness. Didibii e koli sama fu du ogii a goontapu. The devil deceives people to do evil on earth. Kumalu na wan switi fisi fu Ndyuka liba di meke enke pilen, ma a di na a ná ogii enke pilen. The kamalu is a delicious fish of eastern Suriname, and resembles the piranha, except that it is not as vicious as the piranha. Usage: The variant is noticeable when the speaker is seeking to be emphatic. often combined in the phrase takuudu anga ogii ‘evildoing and evil’. syn: takuu; ant: bun. See: takuudu. Variant: hogii.
du ogii commit adultery (lit. do evil). A uman du ogii, bika a go anga wan taa man a bedi. The woman committed adultery, in that she went to bed with another man (other than her husband). See: didon anga man; teke man.
du ogii a man osu adultery committed by a wife against her husband (lit. did evil against a man's house[hold]). Efu wan uman go anga wan taa man a bedi, da den sama e taki: “A du ogii ne en man osu”. If a woman goes to bed with another man, they say she has committed adultery.
du wan uman ogii take away a woman's virginity; deflower (lit. do evil to a woman).
ogii ogii emphasizer (lit. evil evil). A man de na wan man di mi lobi ogii ogii. That man is a man whom I really love. Lownati fon Kaalow ogii ogii anga kofu. Ronald beat up Carlo terribly with his fists. syn: fu toko. See: booko kondee.
taki ogii fu wan sama slander (lit. talk evil about someone). syn: poli sama nen.
2) vi. be strict. A mesiti fu Kaalow ogii, efu a á wooko bun a e wipi en. Carlo's teacher is strict, if he does not do his work well, he whips him.
3) n. evil spirit. A ogii di de na a mma de tapu e kii sama, efu yu á dini en. The evil spirit that possesses that woman kills people, if you don't serve it. syn: didibii; saatan.
4) vi. be naughty. Ala pikinengee ogii, te yu e bali den a sani, den nái yee. All children are naughty, when you warn them about things, they don't obey. From: EN. Etym: ogre .
ogii ain n. evil or strict look. See main entry: ain1.
ogii ati See main entry: ati1. idiom. evil (lit. evil heart).
ogii ede See main entry: ede1. idiom. be the scapegoat; be the black sheep; be unfortunate; be the jinx (lit. evil head).
ogii mofu See main entry: mofu. idiom. evil spell; curse; hex.
ogii nen 1) n. nickname (negative sense). See main entry: nen.
2) See main entry: nen. idiom. bad reputation.
ogii ogii See main entry: ogii. idiom. emphasizer (lit. evil evil).
oho interj. exclamation meaning “Oh!”. Ne Masaa Jesesi bali gi den bakaman fi en anga den taa sama taki: “Oho! Libisama! Saide meke den libisama fu a ten ya n'ai biibi ete?” (Mk. 9:19a) Then the Lord Jesus admonished his disciples and the others saying, “Oh! People! Why don't these people believe in me yet?”
Okanisi n. the Aukan people; Aukaner. Okanisi na a wan kulu Busi Kondee sama di e tan a Kotika anga Tapamawoni liba. Aukan is a group of Interior people that live on the Cottica and Tapanahony Rivers. Usage: This name is derived from the name of the Auka plantation on the Suriname River where a peace treaty was signed in 1760 between the Maroons of eastern Suriname and the Dutch colonial government. It is also the all-inclusive term for the Aukan people. syn: Ndyuka. See: dyuka. From: GE. Etym: Auka .
Okanisi Nengee n. the Aukan people; the Ndyuka people. See main entry: Nengee.
okasi n. ride; opportunity; lift. Mi fende okasi a wan sama komoto a Diitabiki kon a Maseilanti. I found a ride (lit. opportunity) from someone leaving Diitabiki to Maseilanti (Stoelman's Eiland). See: bolo2. From: EN. Etym: occasion .
okoo n. okra, the edible, green pods of the plant, Hibiscus esculentus. See: baafun.
alisi anga okoo n. rice in okra soup. Alisi anga okoo taa liyow. Rice with okra soup goes down easily. From: AF. Etym: nkruma .
oku vi. go fishing. See main entry: uku1.
Olandi n. people from the European country of The Netherlands. Na den Weti Bakaa di komoto a Bakaa Kondee wi e kai: “Olandi”. The white foreigners who come from the foreigner's country (The Netherlands) we call “Olandi.” syn: weti bakaa. See: Bakaa. From: GE. Etym: Holland .
oli1 1) vt. touch. Te yu oli taa, da ai baaka i ana. If you touch the tar, it will blacken your hand. Usage: The variant is noticeable when the speaker is seeking to be emphatic. See: lobi2; meli. Variant: holi.
2) vt. hold on (to) in one's grasp; support. Oli a boketi ya a yu ana gi mi, mi o teke en baka dyonson. Hold on to this bucket in your hand for me, I will take it back soon.
oli kaw tee gi wan sama encourage (lit. hold cow's tail for someone). See: gi (deki) ati.
3) vt. keep. Oli a moni ya gi mi, te taa yali, mi sa teke en baka. Keep this money for me until next year, then I will take it back. syn: kibii; sipali1.
4) vt. grab; take into custody. Oli a boi di e lon de gi mi, bika a fufuu mi moni. Grab the boy running there for me, because he stole my money. syn: kisi1; ant: losi1. See: banda. From: EN. Etym: hold .
oli2 1) n. cooking oil. Anga oli wi e baka fisi efu bolon. We fry fish or flour in oil. syn: fatu; nyanyan oli; siti oli.
nyanyan oli n. cooking oil. Usage: variant of main entry. syn: fatu; oli2; siti oli.
siti oli n. cooking oil. Usage: variant of main entry. syn: fatu; nyanyan oli; oli2.
2) n. petroleum; non-cooking oil. See: kasolini.
deki oli n. lubricating, large engine oil. See: kasolini.
kaasina oli n. kerosene. Kaasina oli na wan oli di yu e bai a wenkii fu leti yu abeni. Kerosene is an oil you buy at the store to light your lantern. See: abeni2; kasolini.
masini oli n. small-machine lubricating oil. See: kasolini.
oli a ede See main entry: ede1. idiom. remember; ponder (lit. hold in the head).
oli bangi gi wan sama See main entry: bangi. idiom. assume temporarily the position or authority of another (lit. hold the bench for someone).
oli bee See main entry: bee. idiom. be pregnant (lit. hold belly).
oli bobi n. bra; brassiere (lit. hold breast). See main entry: bobi.
oli kalaki See main entry: kalaki1. idiom. support in a competition or a fight (lit. hold cheer).
oli kaw tee gi wan sama See main entry: kaw2. idiom. encourage (lit. hold cow's tail for someone).
oli na ati See main entry: ati1. idiom. hold a grudge (lit. hold in the heart).
oli pasensi See main entry: pasensi. idiom. be patient (lit. hold patience).
oli saadin n. sardine in oil. See main entry: saadin.
olifanti n. elephant. syn: nsaw. From: GE. Etym: elephant .
olifanti tifi n. ivory (lit. elephant teeth). See main entry: tifi.
olo 1) n. hole. A wataa e leki na a olo fu a boketi kai a doti. The water is leaking through the hole in the bucket onto the ground.
faya olo n. fire pit.
geebi olo n. grave hole; tomb.
nosu olo n. nostril (lit. nose hole). Anga den tu nosu olo fu mi, mi e ali boo. I breathe with my two nostrils.
2) n. hole in the ground. Den sama diki olo fu beli a dede. They dug a hole in the ground to bury the dead.
kaabu olo n. crab hole between rocks. Wan kaabu olo na wan olo a ini siton pe kaabu e tan a ini. A crab hole is a hole in the rock where crabs live inside.
meti olo n. hole in the ground used by animals; burrow; tunnel.
oloman n. gravedigger.
3) n. have a place or seat made where originally there was none; arrive on standby. Na wan olo mi fende kon ya, bika a opalani be fuu. I came here on standby, in that the plane had been full. See: okasi. From: GE ? Etym: hollow or hole .
olo futu See main entry: futu1. idiom. crotch of a human body (lit. hole of leg).
oloisi n. watch; clock. On lati a de na a oloisi de? What time is it on that watch. See: ten; yuu1. From: DU. Etym: horloge .
oloku n. war. Te tu kondee fu goontapu e feti anga denseefi, da na oluku den de. When two countries of the world are fighting with each other, they are at war. See: feti; toko. From: DU. Etym: oorlog .
oloman n. gravedigger. See main entry: olo.
omen interr. how many; how much. See main entry: onmen.
Omu1 n. Sir, polite form for Mr. (Mister). Mi akisi a Kuliman taki: “Omu, i sa taigi mi on lati a de?” I asked the Hindustani, “Sir, would you tell me what time it is?”
omu2 1) n. uncle; brother of either parent of ego. A baala fu mi mma efu mi dda na mi omu. The brother of my mother or father is my uncle. syn: tiyu; Female: tiya; tanto.
2) n. great-uncle.
3) n. nephew of either parent of ego.
Omu (Sineisi) n. term used to address Chinese men especially in the context of doing business with them. See main entry: Sineisi.
on interr. interrogative marker which precedes many question words. On ten yu o gwe baka na Ameekan Kondee? When will you return to America? On fa a libi e go, baala? How is life going, brother?
on di interr. which. On di fu den sama yu taki e kai mi? Which of those people did you say is calling me? syn: sowtu wan. Variant: on du.
on du interr. which. See main entry: on di.
on fa interr. how. See main entry: fa.
on pe adv. where. See main entry: pe.
on saide adv. why. See main entry: saide.
on se interr. where. On se fu Saanan kondee yu e tan? Where in Suriname do you live?
on ten 1) interr. when. On ten yu o gwe baka na Ameekan Kondee? When will you return to America? syn: on yuu.
2) adv. when; at what time. Mi á sabi on ten mi o gwe. I don't know when I will leave. syn: on yuu.
on yuu 1) interr. when (lit. what time). On yuu yu o gwe baka na Ameekan Kondee? When will you return to America? syn: on ten.
2) adv. when; at what time. Mi á sabi on yuu mi o gwe. I don't know when I will leave. syn: on ten.
ondoo1 1) prep. under; underneath. Mi sidon a bon ondoo e boo. I sat under the tree and rested. ant: tapu1.
waka a wan sama ondoo submit to someone (lit. walk under someone under). Da biibiwan di e lesipeki Masaa Gadu mu waka a ondoo bigiman ne en tapu, anga a moo gaan kownu di abi a taki fu kondee. (2 Peit.2:13) Believers who respect the Lord God must submit to authorities over him, including the highest king who rules the land.
ondoose n. bottom. ant: tapuse.
2) vt. clear away small underbrush. Fosi den sama faa den goon, da den e ondoo en fosi anga how. Before people open a planting ground, they first clean up small underbrush with the machete. Di Baa Kodyo e ondoo a goon fu Sa Lomina, ne wasi wasi nyanmi en. When Br. Kodyo was cleaning Sa Lomina's planting ground, wasps stung him. See: faa1. From: GE. Etym: onder .
ondoo2 num. hundred. Tu leisi feifitenti, na wan ondoo. Two times fifty equals one hundred.
ondoo ain n. under the eye. See main entry: ain1.
ondoo ana n. armpit (lit. under arm). See main entry: ana.
ondoo bosooko n. undershirt. See main entry: bosooko.
ondoo buuku n. underwear. See main entry: buuku.
ondoo goontapu n. on earth. See main entry: goontapu.
ondoo kolu n. one hundred guilders. See main entry: kolu.
ondoo mofu n. lower jaw. See main entry: mofu.
ondoo wataa n. underwater. See main entry: wataa.
ondoose n. bottom. See main entry: ondoo1.
ondoosuku vt. examine; check; research; look into. Dataa ondoosuku luku sowtu siki a mma abi. The doctor examined the woman to find out what kind of disease she had. See: keli; luku. From: DU. Etym: onderzoeken .
onen n. two people with same name. See main entry: nen.
onfuu n. furnace; oven. Ne, di a opo en, ne somoko e komoto ini enke a somoko fu wan gaan onfuu. (Kon A Kiin 9:2a) Then when he opened it, smoke came out from inside as smoke from a gigantic furnace. From: GE. Etym: oven .
ongoloku n. accident. See main entry: ongooku.
ongooku n. accident. Te wan sama lei anga wagi naki wan bon kisi mankeli, da na ongooku miti en. When a person driving a car hits a tree and gets hurt, he has had an accident. Variant: ongoloku; ongowku. From: DU. Etym: ongeluk .
ongowku n. accident. See main entry: ongooku.
oni n. honey. See main entry: oniki.
oniki n. honey. Na tyandaaman e meke a switi diingi di den e kai oniki. The bee makes the sweet drink which they call honey. See: lika; switi; tyandaaman. Variant: oni.
switi enke oniki sweet as honey. Te wan sani switi gi yu tuutuu, da yu e taki: “A switi enke oniki”. When something is truly delicious to you, you say, “It's sweet as honey.” From: AF. Etym: -nuki .
onmen interr. how many; how much. Onmen sama sungu a Mambali a yali mofu ya? How many people drowned at Mambali (rapids) during the end of this year (week before the New Year)? Onmen lobi wan pikin mu abi gi en mma anga en dda? How much love should a child have for his mother and father? Variant: omen. From: EN. Etym: how many .
onpuu n. hoop.
onti vi. hunt. Baa Dosu e waka a busi e onti fu a sa fende sitimofu kii. Br. Dosu is going to the jungle so that he can find game to kill.
ontiman n. hunter (lit. hunt man). Wan ontiman na wan sama di e go a busi, efu liba go suku sitimofu fu kii. A hunter is someone who goes into the jungle or along the river and looks for game to kill.
ontiman n. husband (lit. hunt man). Fu di na a man fu wan uman e go a onti go kii sitimofu tyai kon gi a uman, meke den e kai en “ontiman”. Because the woman's husband goes hunting for meat to bring to the woman, that caused them to call him “ontiman.” syn: goniman; kiiman1; man1; tiyu sama; Female: boliman; muyee; tiya sama; folow; uman.
ontiman n. spider-hunting wasp of the family Pompolidae (lit. hunt man). See: mutika; wasi wasi. From: EN. Etym: hunt .
ontiman 1) n. hunter (lit. hunt man). See main entry: onti.
2) n. husband (lit. hunt man). See main entry: onti.
3) n. spider-hunting wasp of the family Pompolidae (lit. hunt man). See main entry: onti.
opalani n. airplane. Anga opalani den sama e fee a tapu go a Bakaa Kondee. People fly in the sky to The Netherlands with an airplane. From: EN. Etym: airplane .
opasi n. male nurse. Den man sama di e deesi soo na ati osu na “opasi” wi e kai den. The men that dress wounds at the hospital, we call, “opasi.” Female: sesite. See: dataa. From: DU. Etym: oppasser .
opo 1) vt. open. Opo a bataa tapun meke u diingi a seli. Open the bottle cap and let's drink the soft drink. Usage: The variant hopo is used when the speaker is seeking to be emphatic. ant: tapu2. Variant: obo; hopo.
opoopo adv. open; unlocked. Di Baa Luwi gwe a osu, ne a fika a doo opoopo. When Br. Louis left the house, he left the door open.
fika opoopo mofu be in speechless surprise (lit. left with a wide open mouth).
opoopo n. opener. Anga wan opoopo wi e opo bataa. We open bottles with an opener. Variant: oboobo.
2) vi. get up; rise. Opo kon teke i moni. Get up and come take your money. ant: sidon.
san opo n. sunrise (completed). syn: san komoto; ant: san saka.
3) vi. arise; originate. A bali den fu den de na ain, da den poti den seefi moo anga moo gi Masaa Gadu fu den sa si, te falisi leli e opo a den mindii. He warned them to be watchful, and to give themselves more and more to the Lord God, so that they will recognize when false teaching arises in their midst. From: GE. Etym: open .
opo baka wagi n. open-backed vehicle (e.g. pickup truck). See main entry: wagi.
opo bee pikin See main entry: pikin. idiom. firstborn child (lit. open belly child).
opo ede See main entry: ede1. idiom. insane; crazy (lit. open head).
opo na amaka See main entry: amaka. idiom. wake up in the morning (lit. rise from hammock).
opoopo 1) adv. open; unlocked. See main entry: opo.
2) n. opener. See main entry: opo.
opu n. area upriver. Te wan sama teke wan boto, ne ai puu subi go a tapuse fu a liba, da wi e taki: “Ai go a opu”. When a person takes a boat and he paddles upriver, we say, “He's going to the upriver area.” ant: bilo.
opusama n. upriver people. Den opusama na den Okanisi sama di e tan a opu fu Tapamawoni liba, fu Sangamasusa go miti Gaanboli. The upriver people of the Aukaners are those who live in the upriver area of the Tapanahony River, from the villages between Sangamasusa and Gaanboli. ant: bilosama.
opuse n. upriver; south. Usage: This is the local way of distinguishing the direction, south. syn: tapuse; ant: bilose. From: GE. Etym: up .
opululu n. uproar; noise. See main entry: opuulu.
opusama n. upriver people. See main entry: opu.
opuse n. upriver; south. See main entry: opu.
oputeiti adv. on time. Mi kon oputeiti fu mi á lasi a wagi. I came on time so I wouldn't miss the bus. ant: lati1. See: biten; fuuku1. From: DU. Etym: op tijd .
opuulu n. uproar; noise. Den tu man feti meke opuulu a ini a osu te, ala sama kon taampu e luku. The two men fought and made so much noise in the house that everyone stood looking. See: bali bali. Variant: opululu. From: GE. Etym: uproar .
osi interj. loosely translated to mean, “Let's see!”. Efu na yu de ape tuu, da kai mi, meke mi waka na a wataa tapu kon a yu, osi? If it is truly you there, call me and cause me to walk on the water and come to you, let's see? Usage: used in a challenge to present evidence to the one being challenged, i.e. “show us”. From: EN. Etym: oh see .
osu n. house; hut; dwelling; building in general; structure. Mi anga mi mma anga mi dda e tan na awan osu ini. My mother, father and I live in the same house. Te wan sama meke wan sodoo osu, da a wan taampu den e subi go a sodoo. When someone builds a two-story structure, he climbs to the upstairs on a stair. syn: tanpeesi. See: langa2; masanga. Variant: usu.
wei osu decorate a house (lit. wear house).
ati osu n. hospital (lit. pain house). Te wan sama siki, da a mu go na ati osu. When someone is sick, he should go to the hospital.
baka osu n. area behind a house or building (lit. back house). A dda sidon a baka osu a busi mofu. The man sat behind the house on the edge of the clearing (lit. bush). ant: doo mofu.
baka osu patu n. chamber pot (lit. back of house pot). Usage: euphemism for doodo. syn: doodo; futu patu; neti patu; pow.
boli osu n. kitchen (lit. cook house).
dede osu n. wake; funeral vigil (lit. dead house). Te wan sama dede, da den e oli dede osu gi en. When a person dies, they hold a wake for him. See: kee osu.
dunguu osu n. prison; jail (lit. dark house); imprisonment. Te wan sama fufuu, ne sikowtu kisi en, da den e poti en a dunguu osu. When someone steals and the police arrest him, they put him in prison. syn: sitaafu osu.
fuuyali osu n. birthday party (lit. birthday house).
gadu osu n. shrine of an idol.
kaka osu n. outhouse; outside toilet. Wan kaka osu na wan peesi pe den sama e go a peesi. An outhouse is a place where people relieve themselves (lit. go to the place). syn: wensei.
kee osu n. mortuary (lit. cry house). Te wan sama dede a Ndyuka, da na kee osu den e poti en. When someone dies in the Aukan Interior, they place him in the mortuary. Usage: see Thoden van Velzen and van Wetering 1988:20, 40-42. See: dede osu.
meke osu n. period of three months after giving birth (lit. birth house).
mun osu n. menstruation hut. Mun osu na a pikin osu di wan uman e tan te a kisi en futu. Mun osu is a little house where a woman stays during menstruation.
nyanyan osu n. restaurant (lit. food house).
sitaafu osu n. prison (lit. punishment house); imprisonment. syn: dunguu osu.
sodoo osu n. multistory house or building. Na a taapu den sama e subi go a wan sodoo osu a tapu. People climb to the upstairs part of a (multistory) house on a staircase.
toow osu n. wedding feast. From: GE. Etym: house .
osu foo n. domesticated chicken, Gallus domesticus. See main entry: foo.
oto n. bus; car. Den sama teke oto na Alimina lei na a pasi go a Foto. The people take a bus in Albina and ride on the road to the city. syn: besi; wagi. See: baisigii; teekitolu. From: GE. Etym: auto .
Otoo n. one of the twelve clans of the Aukan people. See table under: lo1.
owii n. leaf. See main entry: uwii1.
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