GLOSSARY OF WORDS

Here are some Kiribati words that you might hear when you’re working through ‘The Flying Canoe’.

Abatoa
The village on the other side of the channel, opposite Buota.

Atoll

An atoll is a ring-shaped island that encircles a lagoon.

Aue! Aue!
Wow! Wow!

Baa ni kaina
The leaf from the pandanus tree

Bota
Gather

Buota
The village Buota

Butuia
Push it

E nako
Similar to the meaning of Na Ko Ep! (Ready Set Go!) it is literally translated to ‘it goes’

Frigate Bird
The national bird of Kiribati. You can read more about it here. 

Imatang
The man from Matang — a person from a place far away

Kamaiaki
The cluster of stars in the southern sky — also known as the Southern Cross

Kiba!
Jump

Ko na mauri!!
Greetings to you (you will be blessed)

Ko rabwa
Thank you

Kuriiko! Kuriiko!
Hurry! Hurry! — from the atoll of Butaritari and Makin (Kiribati North)

Magic Spinner / Te tia tabunea
Magician — in Kiribati they call magicians te tia tabunea

Marooroo
Discussion

Mauri
The everyday greeting of ‘hello!’ in Kiribati, but the direct translation means ‘blessed’

Mwaneaba
The gathering house

Na Ko Ep!
Ready Set Go!

Nei Nibarara
There is an old Kiribati story of the lady on the moon. Her name is Nei Nibarara.

Nei Tabwakea
Miss Tortoise (female tortoise)

Neiko
Girl

Row Bwenna Row
Row! Paddle! Row!

Tarawa
The capital of Kiribati

Te katabwanin
Going around the island, the ritual to be taken anticlockwise (the lucky way)

Te marawa
The ocean

Te Rau
The roof for the local house — the thatch

Te wa ni kiba
The canoe that flies! It is also what Kiribati people call the airplane.

Ti a bo

Goodbye.

Ti a bo. Te mauri, te raoi, ao te tabomoa.
This phrase is a Kiribati motto, it means

“Goodbye. We wish you health, peace and prosperity.” 

Ti a bo voyagers!
Goodbye voyagers!

Tikiraoi!
It’s beautiful!

Tokonoonoo
Mischievous