K - k

1) where.
2) rather. ka fii sindo u sösö a bëtë i waka u sösö it is better to walk and do nothing than to sit and do nothing
kaa already.
kaabán charcoal (for rubbing in kaamba).
kaabási calabash.
kaabíta goat.
kaábu 1) crab.
2) to scratch.
3) tap someone (for attention).
kaábútánda pliers.
kaáfu a type of glass jug with lid.
kaági complaint. tja kaagi to complain
Kaájapaati a village between Abenasitonu and Jaujau.
kaakéi bothersome.
kaakíti power; strength.
kaambá decorative marks made by rubbing ashes in cuts.
kaámpi clamp; to clamp.
kaánu a type of tree animal.
kaapá type of tree.
Kaapátu the name of a Saramaccan clan.
kaapátu tick.
kaapúsa hat.
kaási to itch; to scratch. kaasi bandja jesi to think about something
kaásíába to cross over.
kaasihánsi a type of ant.
Kaásíkííki a transmigration village north of Brownsweg.
kaasíní óli kerosene.
kaásítája plant type.
kabá 1) end.
2) to finish. ja sa kaba fëën you don’t know all about it
3) kabá-a-sö́sö to be ruined or destroyed
4) ready. ma bi kaba u du ën eti I wasn’t ready to do it yet
kabë́ti false teeth.
kabiténi village captain; captain. de dëën di kabiteni they gave him the position of captain
kabúgu person with skin color between dark and light.
kabúka to stop crying; to stop making noise.
káda type of snake.
Kadjú 1) a transmigration village at Brownsweg.
2) a rapids on the Gran Rio.
kadjú cashew.
kadó gift.
Kadósu the name of a Saramaccan clan.
kágo large calabash.
kaí 1) to drop; to fall.
2) to be agreeable. a kai da mi I like it fasi u de kai they get along well di fan an ta kai a di wan baaku no concurrence
kái 1) to call out.
2) kai hedi to steer front of boat
3) kai pakisei to reason out
4) kai a pasi to started on one’s way
kaikó printed cloth (calico).
káima crocodile.
káita 1) ticket.
2) card. a ta pëë taku kaita he cheats
Kajána a village on the Gran Rio.
Kajánádéndu Kííki a creek on the Gran Rio.
kaká 1) excrement; to defecate.
2) maggots. wënwën kaka maggots
4) rust. felu kaka rust
kakaakú type of fish.
kakaakú boma type of water snake.
kakakaa brand new.
kákákáá ideophone for very dry or hard.
kakáo cacao.
káki 1) to cock (gun).
2) has curved back.
kákísa 1) skin.
2) peeling (e.g. orange).
kalalú (Dutch klaroen) a type of green leafy vegetable, the small leaf variety of which is used for medicine.
kalán water faucet.
kalë́ti plastic.
kalí bakúba type of banana (sometimes called apple banana).
kalíhati bakúba a kali banana with hard section(s) Variant: taángáháti.
kálu corn; corn stalk. kalu jëkëjëkë corn silk kalu pau ear of corn kalu njanjan the grains of corn
kaluwá lizard.
kám ideophone meaning completely full.
káma stretcher made of planks.
kámba 1) room.
2) giant armadillo.
kambá domboí turn somersault.
Kambalúwa a village upriver from Botopasi.
kambalúwa 1) reed.
2) reed arrow for shooting fish.
kambó affectionate term for addressing grandmother or granddaughter.
kambósa co-wife. de ta libi kuma na kambosa ku kambosa they are living [friendly] as if they aren’t co-wives
kamían 1) place.
2) position.
3) part of body. kamian fëën booko a part of his/her body is broken hii ën fesi kamian his/her entire face tjamanda kamian head womi/ mujëë kamian private parts of man/woman
4) kamian mbeti an arm or leg of an animal sold as meat
5) atmosphere. di kamian tapa bundji it is foggy kamian limbo the atmosphere is clear
6) the mbeti booko di kamian ku sinkii the animal thrashed around
kaminá maka thorn plant type.
kamísa loincloth.
kamísama 1) boy.
2) husband.
kampánjan a type of enamel basin.
kampiísi snobbish.
Kámpu a village on the Gran Rio.
kámpu camp.
kán plastic or tin cup; tin can.
kanápu big and strong.
kandá 1) song; to sing.
2) to crow (i.e. rooster). ganian kanda cockcrow; early in the morning fö juu u ganian kanda four o’clock in the morning
kánda candle.
kandë́ maybe.
kandéa resin found on trees.
kándi 1) to lie down.
2) to lean to one side.
3) to pour into container.
kándúu 1) amulet used to ward off thieves.
2) disease of the genital area.
kánfu 1) preservative.
2) to embalm.
kánján ideophone for falling in laughter.
kankán tuft on head of bird or animal.
kánkán ideophone for very dark.
kankantíi largest tree in the jungle (kapok or silk cotton).
kantii 1) ideophone for consistency of wax.
2) filthy (head or body).
kantóo office.
kantóóli to circle around the water in canoes in celebration.
kanú cannon.
kanúkanú uneven.
Kánwátadan a rapids on the Gran Rio.
kápáái a type of cooking pot.
kapasí armadillo.
Kapasíkëë a transmigration village next to Lömbë.
kapë́ë woods; brush. tuwë a kapëë to throw away
kapë́ë́ páu tree used for firewood, its ashes are used to mix with tobacco for snuffing.
kapiiwá capybara.
kasa rough.
kasába cassava (with poisonous juice).
kasábá súti non- poisonous cassava.
kási 1) cupboard.
2) cheese.
kasikaási wound; sore.
Kasitúu the name of a Saramaccan clan.
kasö́ö small aluminum saucepan for drinking water.
kasuwéni type of rice (causes itching during cutting).
katálu See main entry: katáu.
katangá cramp.
katáu 1) a cold. katau kisi mi I have a cold
2) mucus. mbei katao clear throat of mucus; cough Variant: katálu.
katíbo slavery.
katjakatja to wrestle around; to fidget.
katóisi bullet. Variant: katúsi.
katu parasite tree type (it is taboo to cut it down).
katúsi See main entry: katóisi.
káu cow.
kaupé logoso sea turtle.
kawelí type of fish.
kawína drum and dance type.
expression of joy. Variant: kéée.
kë́ 1) desire; to want. de an kë i a di mujëë they don’t want you to have the woman as your wife
2) a sa kë could it be?
kë́dë́ box; chest. Variant: kë́dë́n.
kë́dë́ë́ ideophone for very carefully.
kë́dë́n See main entry: kë́dë́.
këë́ to cry; to mourn. bai këë to cry aloud këë kisi mi I feel like crying de puu dii daka këë they mourned for three days
keebétente painted parakeet. Variant: kwebétente.
kéée See main entry: .
kë́ë́ë́ ideophone for completely.
kë́ë́këë See main entry: kë́lë́këlë.
këë́kíti funnel.
keéti 1) white clay used for religious purposes.
2) chalk.
kéfa See: kwéfa.
këijö́n pencil. Variant: kënjö́n.
kéíki 1) church.
2) denomination.
kéíkíwósu church building.
këkë́ small tool for spinning thread.
këkë́ u máun wrist.
kelebétente See main entry: kwebétente.
kë́lë́këlë response during former gathering. Variant: kë́ë́këë.
kelénki night pot.
këndë́ 1) heat up.
2) këndë sonu get warm in the sun
3) di ganian ta këndë obo the hen is laying on her eggs
kéndi 1) hot; warm.
2) to warm up.
kéngéési a type of (sharp) grass.
kënjö́n See: këijö́n.
kési coffin.
kesikési squirrel monkey.
kë́të kettle.
këtëkú beads tied by women around hips. See: gogókónda.
kë́ti chain; chains.
kíi to kill. wooko ta kii mi I have too much work to do hangi ta kii mi I’m starved! na kii mi e don’t make me die of laughter!
kiibói the last one.
kiijá 1) to raise; to bring up; to grow. ta kiija bia/ liba buka bia to grow a beard/moustache
2) a ta kiija mujëë he is engaged kiija mujëë fëën his betrothed
kiíki creek.
kiíkíbúka where the creek goes into the river.
kiíkíhédi source of creek.
kíilemba vine whose leaves are used for washing after childbirth.
kijóo youth.
kíki to move out of the way.
kiló kilogram.
kilométi kilometre.
kimbotó tree type (has edible fruit).
Kimbotóbásu a part of Gaandan.
kína See: tjína.
kindoló type of bird. Variant: kindoó.
kindoó See main entry: kindoló.
kiní knee.
kinítampa kneecap.
kinjö́ö́ö́n distress call of chicken.
kínö film; movie.
kísi 1) to catch; to get; to receive. boi kisi mi I have a boil
2) kisi ën futu to menstruate
3) kisi futu be grounded in something
4) a kisi ën seei restored (to good health or to clear thinking)
5) a lontu go kisi ën köndë he circled around until he reached his village
6) de kisi u suti möön hii soni they really welcomed us
kítikai taboo name for tapir.
kitikiti ideophone for of feet running.
kítíkíti to be tied (ball game) or equal in something.
kitjákitjá ideophone for walking/running laboriously.
1) to come.
2) to become. an ta ko soni möönsö he/she/it never becomes what it should be
köbö́ to give a sharp rap with knuckles.
kódjítánda tree used for building houses.
kódjo cudgel for beating something.
kódo the only one.
kódó continually; forever.
kofí coffee.
kófu trunk.
kö́i to walk around.
kojó apron worn by young girls.
kö́ki a cook.
kokóába type of maipa palm.
kökö́ni agouti.
kökönö́tö coconut.
kókóo 1) shell (e.g. of turtle).
2) husk (e.g. of coconut).
2) pod of palm fruit (after it breaks open, it is often used as large dustpan).
3) boto kokoo long plank used to build up side of canoe
kókóómbéti armadillo.
kokotí walking stick; cane.
kökö́tu a type of cooking pot.
kóla snail.
kolákáténga plant used for obeah.
köliköli ideophone for the movement of many things wiggling (e.g. worms).
kö́lö́ briefly.
kölö́ku good luck.
kö́lu guilder.
kö́lúku cork.
komakómma ant queen.
kömakö́m’ma a type of worm (or snake?) usually seen as a bad omen.
maaka sindeki
komatí a type of spirit that possesses people.
komatí sangu a type of plant used for making obeah.
komítji porcelain bowl.
kompási compass.
kómpe 1) friend.
2) flying ant.
komsáka itching between toes; athlete’s foot. Variant: konsaka.
komsáká úwíi type of plant used in healing athlete’s foot.
kondá 1) to count.
2) to tell.
3) de ta kondëën u di lö bëë dë he is of that clan
kónda necklace; beads.
kö́ndë village; country.
köndö crooked.
kö́ndö pole used to roll tree; to roll tree using pole as lever.
konfoólo a type of charcoal stove.
kö́ngö See: kö́nku.
kö́ni 1) to be careful.
2) intelligent.
3) clever; sly.
kö́nima clever person.
kö́njö́ö́n ideophone for lethargic, sickly or depressed.
kö́nku 1) to betray.
2) to degrade someone.
kö́nö́pu button.
konsaka See main entry: komsáka.
konsáka See: komsáka.
kóntu 1) legend or folk tale. kontu köndë soni something that is not true
2) puu kontu solve riddle
kö́nu 1) king.
2) favored person.
kö́núbángi throne.
köödéi large rope.
koofája charcoal.
koogá slippery; to slip.
kóóko 1) yellow.
2) type of bird (oropendolas).
kóókó donu darker yellow.
kóókóbúka type of bird (large-billed seed-finch).
köökö́ö mbei köököö cough
kookóódën a type of plant used for medicine.
Köönö́ö a village next to Kambaluwa.
kóóó u kóóó forever
koosóo 1) type of tangerine.
koosoo alandja
2) Curaçao.
koósu 1) Saramaccan skirt.
2) cloth; clothes.
koósuma girl; wife.
koowá to skim off (e. g. palm oil on top of the water after cooking).
koówa chaff; sawdust.
kopíkopi termites.
kópo See main entry: kö́pö.
kö́pö copper; brass. Variant: kópo.
köpösë́nsi cent; red cent.
kópu roof support.
kósi to scold; to slander.
kösökösö ideophone for the sound of gnawing or rustling.
kóti 1) to cut; to cut off. koti basu to clear out brush under the trees
2) to harvest.
3) ma koti i I don’t mean to interrupt
4) gadu koti faja lightning
5) böö fëën koti he/she died
6) a bai te a koti he/she/it called/yelled/ shouted
7) ja sa koti di sëmbë dë kisi goon you can’t know what he’s thinking.
8) koti nöngö to tell a proverb
9) koti taki to solve the problem; to give premarital counselling
10) koti njanjan to deal out a portion of rice
11) wata ta koti tjö tjö ta kai a goon water is dripping
12) koti a gogo to wiggle one’s rear in a flirtatious manner
kóto skirt.
kö́tö 1) cold.
2) di köndë kötö still; quiet
3) kötö sëmbë dead person
4) kötö köndë country where snow falls
5) a kötö da di sëmbë dë poi he has too mild a manner to work with that person
6) shade. tuwë kötö gives shade
kö́tö́háti 1) peace; contentment; comfort.
2) plant used for medicine and obeah.
kotóígi witness; testimony.
kotóígima witness.
kotokú husk.
köúsu socks.
kpáá ideophone meaning completely full. Variant: kpö́ö́.
kpábu mumps.
kpái a type of hardwood tree. Variant: kwái.
kpáka dried cassava granules (tapioca). Variant: kwáka.
kpákpa loose unhusked rice that cannot be tied in sheaves.
kpálíki See main entry: kwálíki.
kpán to take a small piece of something.
kpaná See main entry: kwaná.
kpasikáánu See main entry: kwasíkáánu.
kpasím’ma type of fish (small).
kpáta See main entry: kwáta.
kpátákpata See main entry: kwátákwata.
kpatii ideophone for a lot of (e.g. sores, grass, maggots).
kpatíi See main entry: kwatíi.
kpátíwójo See main entry: kwátíwójo.
kpéfa baby cap. Variant: kwéfa.
kpéi See: kwéi.
kpë́jë́nkpë́jë́n míi newborn baby.
kpënë́ a type of parrot. See: piikútu.
alisi piikútu
kpë́ngë́lë́ mö́ni coins.
kpéntu plant used for headache and obeah.
kpéntu plant used for headache and obeah.
kpíndji See: kwíndji.
kpíníkpini See main entry: kwíníkwini.
kpinka the noise of two trees scraping together. Variant: kwinka.
kpintí See: kwintí.
kpö́ö́ See: kpáá.
kpö́ö́jö See: akpö́íjö.
ku preposition: with, and, by.
vagina.
kúákúa 1) raw.
2) kuwakuwa koosu unsewn cloth
3) kuakua oto a brand new piece of news Variant: kúwákúwa.
kúáúwíí gúúun spring green color.
kúbi type of fish.
kúja calabash.
kujaké toucan.
kujakúja type of bird (yellow-green grosbeak).
kujë́ë spoon.
kúka a round of cassava bread.
kúku candy; cookie.
kúkúsítë́i primus stove.
kúkútu small biting insect. Variant: kúúkútu.
kúkútúlábu scorpion.
kulá 1) long pole for pushing boat through rapids.
2) to treat a sickness.
kulé 1) to run. kule ku to run after kule da to run from
2) to leak. di wosu ta kule the house is leaking
3) kuléwáta running water
kulí See main entry: akulí.
kulu not well cooked (i.e. rice).
kululú a type of small fish.
kulúpu group.
kuma 1) just as; just like.
2) (in telling a story). kuma amanjan de o kuutu ën the next day they were going to meet to discuss the matter
3) i musu luku te kuma mi sa dou wait until I’ve had time to arrive Variant: kumafá.
kumáa a formal greeting.
kumadéi to command.
kumafá See main entry: kuma.
kumálu type of fish.
Kumálu Dan a small rapids upriver from Heikuun.
kumálu gabian dark, buteo-type hawk.
kumú a type of palm and its fruit, which is like small wooden marbles.
kumútu go out from. kumutu a döö come outside
Kunádan a rapids just upriver from Gujaba.
kunaná a small red wild fruit.
kúndjée a type of tree used for firewood.
kundji See: kwindji.
kúndji See main entry: kwíndji.
kúnjan channel-billed toucan.
kúnsu pillow.
Kuntákaká Kííki a creek near Abenasitonu.
kúnu revengeful spirit of someone who was caused to die.
kúnunu hill. kuun (mindi) hedi top of the hill/mountain Variant: kúun.
kúpa a type of nail.
kupawá a type of tree with medicinal value (fish eat its fruit, which can be used as fish bait).
kupí a tree from which mortars are made.
kusaí a type of deer.
kusií a type of small black monkey.
kusumí sad; unhappy.
kusuwé a type of plant, its pods contain red coloring which is used for obeah.
kutjuu ideophone for stomach tightness.
kúúkútu See: kúkútu.
kúúkútú lábu a type of scorpion.
kuukúu basket with lid, usually used to cover chickens.
kúun See: kununu.
kuútu official meeting; council.
Kuútuten a village on the Gran Rio.
kúwákúwa See: kúákúa.
kwái See: kpái.
kwáíkwai a type of jungle bird which a loud sharp call.
kwáka dried cassava. Variant: kpákpa.
kwálíki 25 cent piece; quarter. Variant: kpálíki.
Kwamá the name of a Saramaccan clan.
kwaná a type of fish. Variant: kpaná.
kwasíkáánu type of monkey. Variant: kpasikáánu.
Kwasíkwasi an island upriver from Heikuun.
kwasím’ma a type of fish.
kwáta spider monkey. Variant: kpáta.
kwátákwata kingfisher. Variant: kpátákpata.
kwatíi a type of tree used for long lasting firewood. Variant: kpatíi.
kwátíwójo opossum. Variant: kpátíwójo.
kwebétente painted parakeet. Variant: kelebétente.
kwéfa baby's cap. Variant: kéfa.
kwéi 1) square off (wood).
2) an kpei di fan he/she didn’t hold back on what he said Variant: kpéi.
kwëmë́ a type of whip with metal pieces used in slavery times.
kwemí a type of whip with metal pieces inlaid.
kwë́nkwën a type of creek fish that grunts.
kwéntu a type of plant used for obeah and headache.
kwétíkwéti response of agreement to negative statement.
kwí ideophone for opening the door just a little.
kwiimáta a type of fish.
kwíndji 1) wring out; squeeze.
2) frown. kwindji fesi frown Variant: kúndji.
kwíníkwini a type of small toucan (aracaris). Variant: kpíníkpini.
kwinka See main entry: kpinka.
kwintí a type of small, sweet banana. See: asukufinga. Variant: kpintí.
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