tau

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqu, from Proto-Austronesian *Caqu (“to know how, be able to, be skilled at”).

inh

friendly, amicably, being familiar with someone.


tuna

Probably borrowed from Old Javanese tuna (“deficient, failing, lacking”), from Sanskrit तुन्न (tunna, “struck, hurt”).

bor

Na ia butta matinggia ri kasaʼrakkanga, na matuna ri pammumbàng, iami antu masarro laʼbiriʼ niempòi.

Now the ground that rises high toward the west and is low toward the east is excellent for building a dwelling.

Tunami ballinna.

low in value, insignificant, minor, inferior

Tuna memang tau toaku.

Tuna ri kana-kananna.


lippu

Lippumi agànga

Lippuaʼ ribembeku

I'm at a loss with my goat; I don't know what to do with my goat

Lippuaʼ rijarangku kere arei mae

at a loss, perplexed, confused; not knowing what to do with something; being at a loss about something.


laki

From Proto-South Sulawesi *laki, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *laki.

Jangang lakia


bale

Balei kasiaʼna jukukku

Balei batena aʼbicara

(of sound or voice) pleasant, satisfactory; nice


bella

inh+

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *bela (“far”)


lino

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *lino, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *linaw (“calm, still, as the surface of water”).

inh

Linoi

Linoi tamparanga


dara

Darai anjo panngassenganga tanupake

It's a pity that you don't use that knowledge

Darai anaʼ tau-lolona daeng Anu nagappai nameài kongkong

It's a shame for Daeng Anu daughter that she had the misfortune of being urinated on by a dog (i.e., dishonored by a slave)

regrettable, pitiful; it's a pity, it's a shame


gana

Jangang ganaya


rasa

Borrowed from Pali rasa (“taste, flavour; juice; mercury”), from Sanskrit रस (rasa, “sap, juice; taste”)


beru

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baqəʀu, from Proto-Austronesian *baqəʀuh.


janna

Dadika jannai

Pammatei jannana tinroku katena kuʼgiling kunnyaʼring

This shows how soundly I slept, that I woke up without even turning over


pepe

Tau pepe


kuttu

Kuttuaʼ aʼlampa punna bosi

I have no desire to go out when it's raining

Kuttui nyawaku lanjamai jamànga kasikeʼdeʼdudui gunanna

I have no desire to do that work, because the pay is too little

lazy, having no desire for something, reluctant, not interested in anything


gassing

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *kɨssiŋ (“good”)

inh+

strong, healthy, powerful, mighty, highly capable


tolo

Probably borrowed from Portuguese tolo (“foolish; silly”)


gampang

Borrowed from Javanese ꦒꦩ꧀ꦥꦁ (gampang), from Old Javanese gampaṅ (“easy, easy-going, careless, unconcerned”)

der

Parakara anu gampang.

Antu nukaerokia anu gampangja.

What you want there is very easy to achieve (it's just a small thing).


kairi

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(ka-)wiʀi, from Proto-Austronesian *(ka-)wiʀi.

left (the west side of the body when one is facing north)


lingu

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *liŋáw (“become distracted or confused, as by noise”).

inh+

Linguaʼ naungku riJumpandang

Linguaʼ riagànga

confused, disoriented (e.g., due to fever); lost

Jai tau lingu eroʼ anciniki bulekanna karaenga riGoa

Many people were enthusiastic to see the palanquin of the ruler of Goa

crazy with enthusiasm for something, extremely eager


tarang

Proto-South Sulawesi *ta(dr)ɨ(m), Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tazəm, from Proto-Austronesian *Cazəm.

Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.

(flavour) Having a strong acrid or acidic taste (e.g., vinegar, lime).

keen or clear, as in vision, sight or understanding.

sharp
bright or glaring, as in sunlight.


aʼmasaʼ

Aʼmasaki bajungku ri songoʼ.


battalaʼ

Battalaʼngasengi kale-kalengku

Battalaki matangku

Battalaki ripanggaukang-mabajika

Battalaki kusaʼring lanjari anne gauka

I think that will be difficult to accomplish.

Battalaki rinakke

Battalakaʼ ampassareangi

(figurative) reluctant, unwilling to do something


kalotoroʼ

Jukuʼ kalotoroʼ

Kalotoroki napakamma palukkaʼ

(figurative) completely depleted or lost; nothing left (e.g. after a robbery).


bassoro'

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bəsuʀ, from Proto-Austronesian *bəsuʀ.


ᨅᨅ

Lontara spelling of bambang (“hot, warm”)


ᨅᨔᨚᨑᨚ

Lontara spelling of bassoro' (“full, satiated”)


pongoroʼ

[ˈpʰɔ.ŋɔ.rɔʔ]

Pongoroki ribiola

mad; (with about) having a great liking or desire for; obsessive; (madly) in love with


katala'

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *gatəl, from Proto-Austronesian *gaCəl.


ᨄᨑᨗᨔᨗ

Lontara spelling of pa'risi' (“painful”)


ᨄᨙᨄᨙ

Lontara spelling of pepe (“mute, dumb; speechless”)


Mangkasaraʼ

Affixed maN- + kasaraʼ (“rough; appear, manifest”). Cognate with Buginese Mangkasa', Toraja-Sa'dan Makkasa', Manggasa', Mandar Ma'asar, Malay Mengkasar (obsolete).

af

TuMangkasaraʼ

Aʼbicara Mangkasaraʼ

relating to the Makasar ethnic group or their language.

(modern) of or relating to the city of Makassar or Makasar land.

Mangkasaraʼ tojengko


singaraʼ

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *siŋaʀ (“ray of light; to shine”)


ᨔᨗᨂᨑ

Lontara spelling of singara' (“clear, bright”)


lantang

Lantammi banngia.

late (idiomatically used with night as subject)


pa're

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hapəjiq, from Proto-Austronesian *Sapəjiq (“smarting, stinging pain”).


ᨆᨀᨔᨑ

Lontara spelling of Mangkasara' (“Makassarese”)


Bugisiʼ

Cognate with Mandar Bugis, Toraja-Sa'dan Bugi', Buginese Ugi'.

tuBugisiʼ

basa Bugisiʼ

aʼbicara Bugisiʼ

relating to the Buginese ethnic group or their language.


ᨅᨘᨁᨗᨔᨗ

Lontara spelling of Bugisi' (“Buginese”)


Silayara'

relating to the Selayarese ethnic group or their language.


Paranggi

From Malay Peranggi, ultimately from Persian فرنگی (farangi, “Westerner”).


ᨄᨑᨁᨗ

Lontara spelling of Paranggi (“Portuguese”)


Sambawa

relating to the Sumbawa ethnic group or their language.


ᨆᨚᨌᨚ ᨅᨘᨒᨚ

Lontara spelling of moncong bulo (“green”)


rangko

Cognate with Coastal Konjo rangko, Buginese rakko.


leʼbaʼ

Compare Mandar leqbaq (“exacty, clear, precise”).

cog

Inai leʼbaʼ?

Kamma rileʼbaka

Na ia leʼbaʼnamo ballaʼna, ...

Leʼbaʼ ballakku

Leʼbaʼ bainengku

Leʼbaʼ otoku

former, previous (e.g., a past state or role).

Kana leʼbaʼ


kaʼjalaʼ

Tena najari kuballi sapedana ka kaʼjalaʼdudui.

I didn't end up buying the bike because it was so expensive.

Kaʼjalaki rapanna.


okalaʼ

difficult, laborious (of work, calculation), to be carried out with great difficulty.


sukkaraʼ

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sukər (“trouble, toil, difficulty”) or Borrowed from Malay sukar.


lammoroʼ

Lammoroʼ sikali ballinna.

Lammoroʼ paʼmaiʼ


ᨒᨆᨚᨑᨚ

Lontara spelling of lammoroʼ (“cheap, easy, mild”)


lomo-lomo

Anne jamànga lomo-lomoji.

This work is certain simple (not so difficult).

Antu gauʼ lanugaukanga, teài anu lomo-lomo.


kapalaʼ

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kapal (“thick, as a plank”).

inh+

Kapalaki limanna

(figurative) having many relatives or money


lommoroʼ

(Turatea dialect) nonstandard spelling of lammoroʼ


Mandaraʼ

tuMandaraʼ

basa Mandaraʼ

a'bicara Mandaraʼ

relating to the Mandar ethnic group or their language.


taʼmisiʼ

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taq(ə)mis (“sweet”).

Parrangi ri taʼmisiʼ.


rantasaʼ

Jama-jamanna i Ali taʼlalo rantasaʼna.

Rantasaʼna anne ballaka.

messy, untidy, sloppy, or neglected in appearance.

Rantasakaʼ anjoreng anjama

Ruambanngiminne tuli rantasaʼ ka bambangi

It has been weepy and listless for two nights because it has a fever.

whiny, or clingy, especially referring to a sick child; weepy and listless.

Rantasaki


Turijeʼneʼ

relating to the sea gypsy, especailly Bajau ethnic group.


aʼmara

Tenapa naʼmara dawaʼna

Pallu sanggenna aʼmara

Aʼmarakiʼ napakamma palukkaka

We have lost all our possessions through theft.

(figurative) completely depleted or bankrupt, having lost all possessions.


saʼra

From Sanskrit शब्द (śabda, “sound, voice”). Compare Buginese sadda.

no longer able to perform what was previously possible (e.g. people, hunting horses, old vessels)


laʼbiriʼ

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *ləbbiɣ (“to revere, to honor”). Compared Toraja-Sa'dan laʼbiʼ, Buginese lebbiʼ.

inh+

Ammake laʼbiriʼ

splendid, exalted, sublime, magnificent, lofty.

Tau laʼbiriʼ

Laʼbiriʼna i Basseʼ nibattùi

How reserved (or unapproachable) Basseʼ seems when receiving guests.


panraʼ

Panraki sapedaku

Jai panraʼ anjo bayao kuballia rikau

Many of the eggs I bought from you were spoiled.

Baine panraʼ


roasaʼ

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *ruas (“lively, noisy”). Cognate with Buginese maroa', Toraja-Sa'dan marua'.

inh+

busy, crowded (due to many visitors or participants).

festive, lively, noisy (e.g., a bustling night market).

widely observed or adhered to (e.g., religious practices).


suaraʼ

From Proto-South Sulawesi *ruas (“lively, noisy”) via metathesis. Cognate with Buginese maroa', Toraja-Sa'dan marua'.


sannang

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *sənnəŋ (“happy”). Cognate Malay senang (“easy”), Javanese ꦱꦼꦤꦼꦁ (seneng, “happy”).

Sannangi paʼrasanganga

safe, peaceful (e.g., of a place or land)

sweet-natured, not mischievous (e.g., a person or child)

Jeʼneʼ sannang

Paʼballe sannang

soothing, calming, relaxing (e.g., a medicine).


jannang

Cognate Malay jenang (“guardian, supervises of something; a kind of district chief rank”)

cog

Anne bulanga tena na jannang i Ali riballaʼna.

Ribaine-lolonai jannang.

continuously residing or staying somewhere (for a long time).

Jannangi appilajaraʼ.

persistent and steady in action or focused calmly

Jannangi tinrona.


tongoloʼ

[ˈt̪ʰɔ.ŋɔ̃.lɔʔ]


bongoloʼ

[ˈɓɔ.ŋɔ̃.lɔʔ]

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buŋul (“deaf”). Compare Cebuano bungol (“deaf”), Betawi bongol (“deaf”), Balinese ᬩᭀᬗᭀᬮ᭄ (bongol, “deaf”), Hiligaynon bungul (“deaf”), Mansaka bungul (“deaf”), Banjarese bungul (“dumb; stupid”).

inh+

(Bantaeng, Konjo) dialectal form of tongoloʼ (“deaf”)


kontàng

From Dutch contant (“in cash”). Compare Indonesian kontan.

Aʼbayaraʼ kontang

Nabayaraʼ kontangi

Ammalli kontang


sikeʼdeʼ

Niaʼ sikeʼdeʼ paralluku rikatte, karaeng

I have a little something to ask you, lord


tassikeʼdeʼ

Nasare tassikeʼdeʼ-keʼdekkiʼ

Anngapai naniaʼ tau-kammadudu, tassikeʼdeʼ-keʼdeʼ larromi sedeng

What kind of person is this, at the slightest thing he gets angry again

little by little
little by little#English


ᨔᨗᨀᨙᨉᨙ

Lontara spelling of sikeʼdeʼ (“a little bit”).


ᨅᨒᨙ

Lontara spelling of bale (“savory; delicious; pleasant”).


ringang

Ia riballinna anjo tanaya, ringanji nibayaraʼ

As for the price of that rice field, it’s light to pay.

light (in weight), not heavy, not burdensome

(figurative) relieved, lightened (of mood or feelings)


ᨑᨗᨂ

Lontara spelling of ringang (“light, not heavy”)


rannu

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *rənnu

Rannu duduaʼ

Rannui nipuji


malasaʼ

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *maləs (“become soft or weak (of things or people)”)

inh+

Malasaki ʼjappa

Malasaki njama


lambusuʼ

Inherited from Proto-South Sulawesi *ləmbus (“straight; honest”). Cognate with Toraja-Sa'dan lambuq (“honest”), Buginese lempu'.

inh+

Lambusuki agànga

Bajiki lambusuʼna

Iaminne karaeng nipuji ... mabajiʼ gauʼna, malambusuki

And this king was praised ... (because) his behaviour was good, he was honest


cenggereʼ

healthy, energetic, lively, vigorous (especially of children, recovering patients)


salewangang

Salewangammi rigauʼ nikanaya gauʼ-jina

She remained spared from what is called immoral conduct

free from, spared from, without encountering misfortune