This page collects word lists of the Seletar language from various sources, including my own.
Word lists from authors who are not phonetically trained use the Malay orthography to spell our Seletar words. Those who use the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) symbols are myself, Yusop, Blissett and Elzinga, Nazarudin Zainun. The wordlists are below.
Word list from my first fieldwork in 2019-2020:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wYRHqA6ruaxzpfZj20T5ayInAeFbai2OpsbsZ2pgEu8/edit
[Yusop 2011]
[Samsur (2015)]
- p. 111 merayap (= tujuan keluar mencari rezeki): leave in search of livelihood
- p. 112 lebung = lubuk (a part of the river that is deep)
- p. 112 wat-wat = cacing paya (a type of earth worm)
- p. 123 ngempang = memasang empang ketika air pasang dan mengutip hasil ketika air surut = setting up the empang (see Fishing and Hunting and other Economic activities)
- p. 128 pekang = menangkap ketam (catching crabs)
- p. 131 belak = biola (violin); tambu (gendang ‘drum’)
- p. 231 bongan = lokan (large clam); kunci = siput pepahat (a type of shellfish)
- From transcripts, left to the equal sign is Seletar, right is Malay
- laot = laut ‘sea’
- ika / ka = ini ‘this’
- kami (informal) , am (formal) = ‘I’
- awak, aih (referring to Orang Seletar), ung (referring to outisders) = kamu ‘you’
- nyak = dia ‘he/she’ kita ‘we (inclusive)’ **
- kami, kon (to refer to Orang Seletar themselves), jampak kon = ‘we (exclusive)’
- kau = sekalian ‘you (plural)’
- nyak= mereka ‘they’
- ncak= tak ‘NEGATION’
- jok = biawak ‘monitor lizard’
- keng = sekarang ‘now’
- da’at = darat ‘shore’
- pauk = perahu ‘boat’
[Collins 1999]
Seletar on the left most column, the middle is Malay, the right most is the more common Malay word use
- bis = bisa = sakit ‘sick’
- canke = cangkir = cawan ‘cup’
- niu = nyiur = kelapa ‘coconut’
[Jumaat 2017]
Italics are the Seletar words
- tombak (spear) (see Artifacts and Objects), lukah (fish trap)
- patil (a small pickaxe used for cutting wood)
- Pauk yau (=perahu riau) (see Artifacts and Objects)
- ibau (salt water muscles
- pumpun (sea centipede), *wat-wat/ruat-ruat (*worm), sepetang (Mussaenda mutabilis), lokan (Medinilla hasseltii)
- tai ui (when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the fetus’s neck) —> in chinese “胎位:
- moyan (tembuni / uri = placenta)
- benten (relapse after childbirth)
- *kain kapan (*cloth to cover deceased, islamic)
- yok sang (ketam bangkang / ketam bakau); kejang kokol = a type of clam; ketam bongai = ketam renjong
- tengkolok (male headgear), selempang (sash)
- sembilang (Plotosus spp); bawal (Stromateus spp)
- siput mata merah/ siput banang (Cerithidea obtusa)
- kepah (mactridae family)
- kijing (pilsbryoconcha)
- siput bonang
- ketam bangkang (Scylla serrate)
- Senduk = kapak = *puting beliung (*pinnidae family)
- siput gonggong (Laevistrombus canarium)
- akek bahar = batu akek (gem stones)
- Some kinship terms (p. 149), left is Seletar, right is Malay
- noyang = moyang ‘ancestors’
- neq = datuk ‘grandfather’
- neq = nenek ‘grandmother’
- paq = bapa ‘father’
- maq = emak ‘mother’
- waq = pak cik/mak cik ‘aunty/uncle’
- pak tiik = bapa tiri ‘stepfather’
- mak tiik = emak tiri ‘stepmother’
- mak mentuak = emak mentua ‘mother in law’
- pak mentuak = bapa metua ‘father in law’
- besan = besan ‘in laws’
- menantuk = menantu ‘ ‘son/daughter in law’
- lakik = suami ‘husband’
- binik = isteri ‘wife’
- ipe = ipar ”siblings in law’
- bias = biras ‘relationship of two individuals who married two siblings’ (a type of in law)
- (panggil nama) lit. call their name = abang ‘elder brother’
- (panggil nama) lit. call their name = kakak ‘elder sister’
- (panggil nama) lit. call their name = adik ‘younger brother/sister’
- anaq = anak ‘child’
- anak seda = anak saudara ‘nephew/niece’
- sepupuq = sepupu ‘cousin’
- cucuq = cucu ‘grandchild(ren)’
- tadiʔ = tadi ‘just now’ (ʔ is a glottal stop sound)
- pegiʔ= pergi ‘go’
- waʔ = wak ‘uncle/aunt’
- bujuʔ = baju ‘clothes’
- man = makan ‘eat’
- beghes = beras ‘rice’
- gaam = garam ‘salt’
- tidu = tidur ‘sleep’
- ula = ular ‘snake’
- bubu = bubur ‘porridge’
- buong = burung ‘bird’
- kaam = karam ‘sink’
- angkok/kok = anjing ‘dog’
- peng = monyet ‘monkey’
- bontung = harimau ‘tiger’
- jok = biawak ‘monitor lizard’
- nyet = nyamuk ‘mosquito’
- dien = durian ‘durian’
- jidin = mawas (borneo orangutan)
- ngetek = cicak ‘house lizard’
- isum = babi ‘pig’
- ceceh = kecil ‘small/little’
- kile = hilir ‘downstream’
- lot = laut ‘sea’
- tik = tarik ‘pull’
- ai = awak ‘you’
- am = saya ‘I’
- ketangin = motosikal ‘motorcycle’
- noka = kereta ‘car’
- kighim = harum ‘fragrant’
[Pelras 1972, 2002]
- kokot = tangan ‘hand’
- téna = perempuan ‘female/woman’
- adi’ = anak ‘kid’
- tena = isteri ‘wife’
- engko’ = anjing ‘dog’
- nye’ = nyamuk ‘mosquito’
- bémé = asap ‘smoke from fire’
- tebal = lebar ‘wide’
- job = jawab ‘answer’
- izhum = babi ‘pig’
- péng = monyet ‘monkey’
- jo’ = biawak ‘monitor lizard’
- pémba’ = paha ‘thigh/ leg’
- pereti’ = kelmarin ‘yesterday/day before yesterday’
- kedaza‘ = gembira ‘cheerful’
- unyit = gerak ‘to move’
- guzu = kasar ‘rough’
- kusal = cuci ‘to wash’
- tana = lumpur ‘mud’
- da’ = darat ‘shore/land’
- tikam = lembing ‘spear’
- moncong = muncung ‘beak’
[Ariffin bin Nopiah 1979]
kakiʔ = kaki ‘feet’
maan = makan *‘*eat’
tidu = tidur ‘sleep’
uma = rumah **‘house’
angkuk = anjing ‘dog’
dien = buah ‘fruit’
insun = babi *‘*pig’
peng = monyet ‘monkey’
[Blissett and Elzinga 2015]: from https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2015/iss1/108/
Seletar on the left is written in IPA, and Malay is written in Malay orthography on the right, and English meanings in single quotes
- dan = dan ‘and’
- ŋak = kerana ‘because’
- kalau = jika/kalau ‘if’
- səmun = semua ‘all’
- katʃaʔ = buruk ‘rotten
- bəsaɣ = besar ‘big’
- itam = hitam ‘black’
- səjoʔ = sejuk ‘cold’
- kotou = kotor ‘dirty’
- kiŋ = kering ‘dry’
- dʒuh = jauh ‘far’
- bɛʔ = baik ‘good’
- ijau = hijau ‘green’
- kiː = kiri ‘left’
- pandʒaŋ = panjang ‘long’
- baɲaʔ = banyak ‘a lot’
- səmpet̚ = sempit ‘narrow’
- dəkət̚ = dekat ‘close’
- bau = baru ‘new’
- tua = tua ‘old’
- lɛn = lain ‘other’
- miəh = merah ‘red’
- bətul = betul ‘correct’
- kanan = kanan ‘right’
- tadʒum = tajam ‘sharp’
- pɛndɛʔ = pendek ‘short’
- kətʃiʔ = kecil ‘small’
- lantʃaɣ = lancar ‘smooth’
- lus = lurus ‘straight’
- dʒiə = itu ‘that’
- təbal = tebal ‘thick’
- ŋkaʔ = ini ‘this’
- aŋat̚ = hangat ‘warm’
- basah = basah ‘wet’
- putɛh = putih ‘white’
- lebaɣ = lebar ‘wide’
- kuniŋ = kuning ‘yellow
- bukən = bukan ‘not’
- bənataŋ = abu ‘ash’
- bəlakaŋ = belakang ‘back’
- kulit̚ kaijuʔ = kulit kayu ‘bark’
- put̚ =perut ‘stomach’
- buŋ = burung ‘bird’
- dah = darah ‘blood’
- tulaŋ = tulang ‘bone’
- anaʔ = anak ‘child’
- asap̚ = awan ‘cloud’
- aiʔ = hari ‘day’
- təliŋã = telinga ‘ear’
- bumi = bumi ‘earth’
- təlo = telur ‘egg’
- mata = mata ‘eye’
- gəmoʔ = gemuk ‘fat’
- paʔ = bapa ‘father’
- buluʔ = bulu ‘fur’
- api = api ‘fire’
- ikan = ikan ‘fish’
- buŋə̃ = bunga ‘flower’
- gabus = kabus ‘fog’
- bʷəh =buah ‘fruit’
- lalaŋ = rumput ‘grass’
- gamut = rambut ‘hair’
- kokot̚ = tangan ‘hand’
- kəpalaʔ = kepala ‘head’
- dʒantoŋ = jantung ‘heart’
- lakiʔ = suami ‘husband’
- aɣ batuʔ = ais ‘ice’
- kotam = tasik ‘lake’
- dan = daun ‘leaf’
- atiʔ = hati ‘heart’
- utuʔ = kutu ‘lice’
- dʒantaŋ = orang lelaki ‘man’
- dɛgiŋ = daging ‘meat’
- maʔ = ibu ‘mother’
- bukɪt = gunung ‘mountain’
- mat = mulut ‘mouth’
- namaʔ = nama ‘name’
- goŋgoŋ = leher ‘neck’
- malam = malam ‘night’
- hidoŋ = hidung ‘nose’
- kon (specifically mean orang seletar) = orang ‘person’
- suŋai = sungai ‘river’
- dʒan = jalan ‘road’
- akaɣ = akar ‘root’
- taliʔ = tali ‘rope’
- gam = garam ‘salt’
- pase = pasir ‘sand’
- lot̚ = laut ‘ocean’
- bənɛh = benih ‘seed’
- laŋit = langit ‘sky’
- asap = asap ‘smoke
- uləɣ = ular ‘snake’
- sadʒi = salji ‘snow;
- bintaŋ = bintang ‘star’
- kajuʔ = kayu ‘wood’
- batuʔ = batu ‘rock’
- mataai = matahari ‘sun’
- ɛko = ekor ‘tail
- lidəh = lidah ‘tongue
- gigiʔ = gigi ‘tooth’
- pokoʔ = pokok ‘tree’
- aɣ = air ‘water’
- biniʔ = isteri ‘wife’
- aŋɪ̃n = angin ‘wind’
- sajəp = sayap ‘wing’
- tina = orang perempuan ‘woman’
- utan = hutan ‘forest’
- ulat = ulat ‘worm’
- taun = tahun ‘year’
- satuʔ = satu ‘one’
- duə = dua ‘two’
- tigəʔ = tiga ‘three’
- əmpat̚ = empat ‘four’
- limaʔ =lima ‘five’
- am = saya ‘1sg (first person singular)’
- ɲaʔ = dia ‘3sg (third person singular)’
- dʒampaʔ ɲaʔ = mereka ‘3pl (third person plural)’
- kitaʔ = kita ‘1pl (inclusive) first person plural inclusive’
- kamiʔ = kami ‘1pl (exclusive) first person plural exclusive’
- aih = kamu ‘2sg (second person singular)’
- matʃam maʔ = macam mana ‘how?’
- ənaʔ = apa ‘what?’
- bilaʔ = bila ‘when?’
- dəmaʔ = di mana ‘where?’
- saʔ = siapa ‘who?’
- gigit̚ = menggigit ‘bite’
- tiup = meniup ‘blow’
- tiʔ napas = bernafas ‘breath’
- bəklˌ = membakar ‘burn’
- kian = datang ‘come’
- kiaʔ = mengira ‘count’
- keæat = potong ‘cut’
- matiʔ = mati ‘die’
- galiʔ = menggali ‘dig’
- inum = minum ‘drink’
- man = makan ‘eat’
- jɛtuh =jatuh ‘fall’
- kəlait̚ = bergaduh ‘fight’
- aleh = mengalir ‘flow’
- təbaŋ = terbang ‘fly’
- biʔ =memberi ‘give’
- deŋə = dengar ‘hear’
- bantai = pukul ‘hit’
- pegaŋ = memegang ‘hold’
- bubuʔ = memburu ‘hunt’
- bunuh = membunuh ‘kill’
- tau = tahu ‘know’
- tɒ = terketawa ‘laugh’
- beŋ = berbaring ‘lay’
- idup̚ = hidup ‘live’
- mãn = bermain ‘play’
- tiʔ = menarik ‘pull’
- tolaʔ = menolak ‘push’
- gusoʔ = menggosok ‘scrub’
- tʃap̚ = bercakap ‘talk’
- tʃalaɣ = calar ‘scratch’
- nampaʔ = nampak ‘see’
- jɛt = menjahit ‘sew’
- ɲɛɲiʔ =bernyani ‘sing’
- dudoʔ = duduk ‘sit’
- tidu = tidur ‘sleep’
- cium bau = menghidu ‘smell’
- ludəh = meludah ‘spit’
- bələh = membelah ‘split’
- tikam = menikam ‘stab’
- diʔ = berdiri ‘stand’
- isap = menghisap ‘suck’
- bəŋkaʔ = membengkak ‘swell’
- benaŋ = berenang ‘swim’
- pike = berfikir ‘think’
- buaŋ = membuang ‘throw’
- ikat̚ = mengikat ‘tie’
- beloʔ = membelok ‘turn’
- muntah = muntah ‘vomit’
- dʒan = berjalan ‘walk’
- cucit̚ = mencuci ‘wash’
- kəsat̚ = mengesat ‘wipe’
[Nazarudin Zainun 2015]
The authors collected terms related to marine products, tools, marine activities and some food stuff. Seletar words on the left are written in IPA. Malay equivalent is written on the right in Malay orthography
- nə = ikan ungar Lutjanus argentimaculatus (a type of fish)
- əntiaʔ = ikan bandang / menangin Chanos chano (a type of fish)
- təmbakol = ikan tembakul / belacak (a type of fish)
- kuɣaw aŋin = ikan senangin (a type of fish)
- gərago = udang geragau / udang bering (a type of prawn)
- ənjoŋ = ketam bunga (a type of crab)
- baŋkaŋ = sejenis ketam (a type of crab)
- okop = ketam batu (a type of crab)
- sənəpaʔ = ketam angin (a type of crab)
- sotoŋ comeʔ = sejenis sotong (cumi) (a type of calamari)
- sotoŋ ketaʔ =sotong kurita (a type of calamari)
- jəŋ = jaring ‘net’
- pauʔ = perahu / sampan ‘boat’
- sampan ɣiyaw = sampan tanpa enjin ‘boat without engine’
- ɣaway = sejenis alat untuk menangkap ikan ‘a tool for catching fish’
- aɣə masin = laut ‘sea’
- gəloguʔ = kabus ‘mist’
- kam = karam ‘sink’
- sut = surut ‘low tide’
- dat = darat ‘land’
- gontuŋ = hulu sungai ‘upstream’
- kualaʔ = kuala ‘estuary’
- ɳalaʔ = ubi kayu ‘cassava’
- mambut / gambut = rambutan
- niu = nyiur / kelapa ‘coconut’
- nas = nenas ‘pineapple’
- diən = durian
- pədaʔ = cempedak
-From Ilya’s interview: ‘eat’ was originally kayoh. The current word ‘/man/’ is influenced by Malay ‘makan’ (contracted to /man/.
- I have yet to looked deeper into this, on the origin of kayoh.
- Kayuh in Malay means to row a boat. Are the two related?
Orang Seletar Digital Resource 