犬

Canis familiaris
Canis familiaris#Translingual


馬

First attested in the Liúqiú guăn yìyŭ (琉球館譯語), 1469–1470, as 烏馬 (uma).
In turn, from Proto-Ryukyuan *Mma, from Proto-Japonic *Cma.
Cognate with Japanese 馬 (uma).

馬(っんま)ー草(くさ)食(か)むん。


車

From Proto-Ryukyuan *kuruma, from Proto-Japonic *kuruma.


月

月 ^ (canonical)
chichi (romanization)
twiti (romanization)
つぃち (hiragana historical)
ちち (hiragana)

From Proto-Ryukyuan *tuki, from Proto-Japonic *tukuy.
Cognate with Japanese 月 (tsuki).


赤

Inherited from Proto-Ryukyuan *aka, from Proto-Japonic *aka.


秋

Cognate with Japanese 秋 (aki, “autumn”).


明日

ryu-head

明日(あちゃー) (achā)

Cognate with mainland Japanese 明日 (ashita).


人

From Proto-Ryukyuan *pito (“person; human”), from Proto-Japonic *pitə (“person; human”).


人

官人

public servant, civil servant, government official


水

水 ^ (canonical)
miji (romanization)
mizi (romanization)
みずぃ (hiragana historical)
みじ (hiragana)

From earlier 水 (midu → midzu → mizu), attested in 1711 in the 混効験集 (Konkōkenshū), itself from Proto-Ryukyuan *medu.
The word underwent a pronunciation change due to the shifting of /u/ to /i/ after alveolar consonants.
Cognate with Japanese 水 (mizu), Old Japanese 水 (mi₁du).


城

1531-1623: Omoro Sōshi
一 聞得大君ぎや 降れて 遊びよわれば 天が下 平らげて ちよわれ 又 鳴響む精高子が 又 首里杜ぐすく 真玉杜ぐすく

中(なか)城(ぐしく)からやいびーん。


空

Borrowed from Japanese 空 (sora). Doublet of すーら (sūra, “treetop”), which was inherited.
As remarked by Igarashi (2022), the inherited meaning of this term in Ryukyuan languages is not "sky", but "treetop".


戦

Cognate with Japanese 戦 (ikusa).
Shift in meaning from 軍 (ikusa, “soldier, army”), by extension of “archery”, and then to “an exchange of arrows → a battle”.

戦後

postwar, after the war; especially, after World War II


し

Cognate with Kikai す (-su, “person”, Onotsu dialect), Yoron し (shi), Yaeyama す (su).
Ultimately from Proto-Ryukyuan *su, from the same root as *si (“to do”), or less likely, cognate with *-su, a bird-related element found in nouns such as がらし (garashi, “crow”), Japanese 烏 (karasu).

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi
うぶだまはいのる　すど　よかける
ubudama ya inoru su do yogakeru
The present-giving globe is something that prays; it rules the world.

Ryūka Zenshū
づりも呼びゆ　す　がど　親の　孝も　しゆゆる　酒も　飲みゆ　す　がど　元祖　継ぎゆる
dzurimo YObyu su gado OYA no KO mo shuyuru SAKE mo NOmyu su gado GWANSO TSUgyuru dzirin yubyu si gadu uya nu ko n shuyuru saki n numyu si gadu gwansu tujuru
Even if some prostitute invites me over, even for my parents, even if I drank some kind of sake, I would succeed my ancestry...


神

a spirit or an essence present in all things


心

From Proto-Ryukyuan *kokoro.
Cognate with mainland Japanese 心(こころ) (kokoro).


心

fukumāmi (romanization)
ふくまーみ (hiragana)

From 肺 (fuku, “lung”) + 豆 (māmi, “bean”).


白

Cognate with Japanese 白 (shiro, “white”).

くれー、白(しるー)やいびーん。


南

fē (romanization)
ふぇー (hiragana)
南風 (alternative)

Cognate to Yonaguni 南 (hai, “south, southerly”) and western Japanese 南風 (hae, “southerly winds”).

a southerly (wind blowing from the south)


東

From 上り (agari, “ascent, rise”) in reference to the direction where the sun rises or ascends.


北

Cognate with mainland Japanese 西 (nishi, “west”).


酒

From Proto-Ryukyuan *sake, from Proto-Japonic *sakai. Cognate with mainland Japanese 酒 (sake).

any alcoholic beverage (wine, whisky, sake, etc.)


下

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as しちや.
Cognate with mainland Japanese 下 (shita).


世

アメリカ世

American era or rule over the Okinawan Islands

大和世

Japanese era or rule over the Okinawan Islands


仏

Cognate with standard Japanese 仏 (hotoke).


体

体(からた)洗(あら)いん


元

元 (canonical)
mutu (romanization)
mūtu (romanization)
むとぅむーとぅ (hiragana)
本 (alternative)
原 (alternative)
基 (alternative)
素 (alternative)

From Proto-Ryukyuan *moto, from Proto-Japonic *mətə. Cognate with mainland Japanese 元 (moto).


光

Inherited from Proto-Ryukyuan *pikari, from Proto-Japonic *pikari. Cognate with Japanese 光(ひかり) (hikari).
The stem form of verb 光(ふぃちゃ)ゆん (fichayun, “to shine, gleam”).


光

Borrowed from Japanese 光(ひかり) (hikari).
Doublet of 光 (fichai) above.

(rare, obsolete) authority, power, influence, honor


命

From Proto-Ryukyuan *inoti, from Proto-Japonic *inəti.


唇

唇 ^ (canonical)
shiba (romanization)
siba (romanization)
すぃば (hiragana historical)
しば (hiragana)


喉

ryu-head

喉(ぬーでぃー) (nūdī)

From Proto-Ryukyuan *nodoe, a blend of *nodo and *noboe. Cognate with Japanese 喉 (nodo).


声

声(くぃー)聞(ち)ちゅん

to hear (about somebody), to hear word (of someone), to catch wind (of someone)

a news, word, or something said (of someone)


夜

From Proto-Ryukyuan *yoru, from Proto-Japonic *yoru.
Cognate with mainland Japanese 夜 (yoru, “night”).


夜

From Proto-Ryukyuan *yo, from Proto-Japonic *yo.
Cognate with mainland Japanese 夜 (yo).


寸

寸 ^ (canonical)
shin (romanization)
すぃん (hiragana historical)
しん (hiragana)

a measurement of length equivalent to 10 分 (bu) or approximately 3.03 cm


山

a forest; a woody hill; a knoll; a height


島

From Proto-Ryukyuan *sima, from Proto-Japonic *sima. Cognate with Japanese 島 (shima).


左

From Proto-Ryukyuan *pidari, from Proto-Japonic *pintari. Cognate with Japanese 左 (hidari).


帯

First attested in the Liúqiú guăn yìyŭ (琉球館譯語), 1469-1470, as 乞角必 (kikyopi).
Also attested in the Shĭ liúqiú lù (使琉球錄), 1534, as 文必 (umpi).
In turn, from Proto-Ryukyuan *obi, from Proto-Japonic *ənpi.
Cognate with Japanese 帯 (obi).

帯(うーび)着(ち)ゆん


息

一息

a single breath, puff; a pause; a small effort


手

a skill, ability, means; especially in martial arts


春

/ɸaru/ → /haru/
Shift from faru below.
Cognate with mainland Japanese 春 (haru).


昼

Cognate with mainland Japanese 昼 (hiru).


暁

akachichi (romanization)
あかちち (hiragana)


暦

Cognate to Japanese 暦 (koyomi, “calendar”)


木

/ki/ → /kiː/
From Proto-Ryukyuan *ke, from Proto-Japonic *kəy.


本

mutu (romanization)
個 (counter)
むとぅ (hiragana)


枝

枝 (canonical)
yida (romanization)
yuda (romanization)
いぃだゆだ (hiragana)

Inherited from Proto-Ryukyuan *yoda, from Proto-Japonic *yonta.


桃

From Proto-Ryukyuan *momo, from Proto-Japonic *momo. Cognate with Japanese 桃 (momo).


櫻

Kyūjitai form of 桜 (sakura, “cherry tree”)


歌

From Proto-Ryukyuan *Uta, from Proto-Japonic *Uta.


歯

From Proto-Ryukyuan *pa, from Proto-Japonic *pa. Cognate with mainland Japanese 歯 (ha) and Kunigami 歯 (pā).


毛

From Proto-Ryukyuan *ke, from Proto-Japonic *kay. Cognate with Japanese 毛 (ke).


池

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as いち.
From Proto-Japonic *ikay, cognate with Japanese 池(いけ) (ike).


油

油 (canonical)
anda (romanization)
andā (romanization)
あんだあんだー (hiragana)

油人

green grass lizard (Takydromus smaragdinus)


煤

soot (fine particles of amorphous carbon and tar)


熊

Cognate with Japanese 熊 (kuma, “bear”) and Korean 곰 (gom).


牛

From Proto-Ryukyuan *usi, from Proto-Japonic *usi.


物

物 (canonical)
munu (romanization)
mun (romanization)
むぬむん (hiragana)


狐

狐 ^ (canonical)
chichini (romanization)
titwini (romanization)
ちつィに (hiragana historical)
ちちに (hiragana)

/*kitune/ → /t͡ɕit͡sini/ → /t͡ɕit͡ɕini/
Cognate with Japanese 狐 (kitsune).
Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as ちつィに. The phonemes /t͡si/ and /t͡ɕi/ converged in Okinawan during the 20th century.


狸

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as たぬき.


瓜

Cognate with Japanese 瓜(うり) (uri, “gourd, squash, melon”), possibly cognate with Korean 오이 (oi).


男

男 (canonical)
wikiga (romanization)
yukiga (romanization)
ゐきがゆきが (hiragana)

From Proto-Ryukyuan *weke + *-ga (“diminutive suffix”).


男

Possibly from Japanese 男 (otoko, “man”).


目

Cognate with mainland Japanese 目(め) (me, “eye”).


碇

碇 (canonical)
ikai (romanization)
ichai (romanization)
いかいいちゃい (hiragana)


箒

箒 ^ (canonical)
hōchi (romanization)
fauti (romanization)
はうち (hiragana historical)
ほーち (hiragana)
帚 (alternative)

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as はうち. Cognate with Japanese 箒(ほうき) (hōki).


箱

Attested in the Liúqiú guăn yìyŭ (琉球館譯語), 1469-1470, as 法个 (fako).
In turn, from Proto-Ryukyuan *pako, from Proto-Japonic *pako.
Cognate with Japanese 箱 (hako).


節

暁(あかちち)節(ぶし)

Dawn song (a traditional Okinawan musical piece)

a term used in titles to denote a poetic or musical piece


糸

ryu-head

糸(いーちゅー) (īchū)


紫

murasachi (romanization)
むらさち (hiragana)

Related to Japanese 紫 (murasaki, “purple”)


綱

From Proto-Ryukyuan *tuna, from Proto-Japonic *tuna. Cognate with Japanese 綱 (つな, tsuna).


耳

From Proto-Ryukyuan *mimi, from Proto-Japonic *mimi. Cognate with mainland Japanese 耳 (mimi).


肝

From Proto-Ryukyuan, from Proto-Japonic *kimo.

まくとぅ しんじちぬ わじむどぅん くぃらば むらばるが くとぅん いやな うちゅみ

If I really showed passion, she would still not bother me about talking about Murabaru.

makutu shinjichinu wajimudun kwiraba murabaruga kutun iyana uchumi


船

Inherited from Proto-Ryukyuan *pune, from Proto-Japonic *punay.


苺

苺 (canonical)
ichubi (romanization)
ichubī (romanization)
いちゅびいちゅびー (hiragana)
莓 (alternative)


莓

莓 (canonical)
ichubi (romanization)
ichubī (romanization)
いちゅびいちゅびー (hiragana)

Alternative spelling of 苺 (“strawberry”)


葉

From Proto-Ryukyuan *pa, from Proto-Japonic *pa. Cognate with mainland Japanese 葉 (ha).

クロトンぬ葉(ふぁー)や色(いる)清(じゅ)らさぬ、いくちん集(あち)みてぃ植(っゐー)らっとーん。
Kuroton-nu fā-ya iru jurasanu, ikuchin achimiti 'wīrattōn.


葛

Short for 葛粉 (kujikū): starch made from pounded kudzu root


蒜

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as ひる.

ryu-OG

んかしぇー ふぃるぬ かー んーち さきぢきっし ふぃるじゃき ちゅくたん。どぅー あんまさる ばすねー、ふぃるじゃき ぬだいっし うぬ みーん かなーち かみーねー たでーま はしっとぅ なたん どー。

In the past, we made garlic sake by peeling off the skin of the garlic. When we don't feel happy, we'd drink the garlic sake and ate the contents [lit. fruit] of it, and we would feel good right away.

Nkashē firunu kā nnchi sakijikisshi firujaki chukutan. Dū anmasaru basunē, firujaki nudaisshi unu mīn kanāchi kamīnē tadēma hashittu natan dō.


蟹

Cognate with Japanese 蟹(かに) (kani). Possibly cognate with Korean 게 (ge, “crab”); compare Jeju 깅이 (ging'i, “crab”).


血

From Proto-Ryukyuan *ti, from Proto-Japonic *ti. Cognate with Japanese 血 (chi).


衣

Cognate with mainland Japanese 衣 (kinu). Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as ちん.


豚

/ʔuwaː/ → /ʔwaː/
From Proto-Ryukyuan *uwa. Cognate with Yoron っわー ('wā, “pig”), Tokunoshima っわー ('wā, “pig”), Miyako わー (wā, vā, “pig”), Yaeyama おー (ō, “pig”), Yonaguni わー (wā, “pig”).
Likely not related to Japanese 豚 (buta, “pig, swine, hog”).


足

足 ^ (canonical)
fisa (romanization)
ひさ (hiragana historical)
ふぃさ (hiragana)

Cognate with mainland Japanese 膝 (hiza). Attested in 沖縄語典 as ひさ.


足

足 ^ (canonical)
ashi (romanization)
wasi (romanization)
わし (hiragana historical)
あし (hiragana)

Cognate with mainland Japanese 足 (ashi). Attested in 沖縄語典 as わし.


里

From Proto-Ryukyuan *sato, from Proto-Japonic *sato (“hamlet”). The original "hamlet" sense is now only found in place names.

月も眺めたいでかやう立ち戻ら、里やわが宿に待ちゆらだいもの

tsichi-n nagamitai dikayo tachimudura, satu-ya waga yadu ni muchura demunu

I also want to look at the moon, so come on, let's go. My darling shall be waiting at the house.


針

a needle used in sewing or other forms of embroidery


銭

Cognate to Kumamoto Japanese ぜん (zen, “money, coins”) and standard Japanese 銭 (zeni, “coin (worth a hundredth of a yen)”).


錨

錨 (canonical)
ikai (romanization)
ichai (romanization)
いかいいちゃい (hiragana)
碇 (alternative)


鍼

Extension of and cognate with 針 (hāi, “needle used in embroidery”).


鏡

Cognate with mainland Japanese 鏡 (kagami) and Kagoshima dialect 鏡 (kagan).


隣

Cognate with Japanese 隣 (tonari, “neighbor”).


雲

a cloud (visible mass of water droplets or other related material suspended in the air)


露

露 ^ (canonical)
chiyu (romanization)
twiyu (romanization)
つぃゆ (hiragana historical)
ちゆ (hiragana)


靴

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as ふや. Cognate with Yaeyama 靴 (fuya); see there for more.


音

From Proto-Ryukyuan *oto, from Proto-Japonic *ətə.


頭

Cognate with mainland Japanese 頭 (tsuburi), dialectal 頭 (tsuburo), itself probably a compound of 粒 (tsubu, “round thing, such as a grain”) + ろ (ro, suffix indicating a state or condition).


餅

ryu-noun

餅(むーちー) (mūchī)


骨

From Proto-Ryukyuan *pone, from earlier Proto-Japonic *pənay. Cognate with Japanese 骨 (hone, “bone”).


骨

骨 (canonical)
kuchi (romanization)
kushi (romanization)
くちくし (hiragana)

Ultimately from Middle Chinese 骨 (MC kwot, “bone”).


魚

/ʔiu/ → /ʔiːu/ → /ʔiju/
Shift from iu below.

魚(いゆ)取(とぅ)いが行(い)ちゅん。


魚

From Proto-Ryukyuan *io, from Proto-Japonic *iwo, apophonic form of *uwo. Cognate with Old Japanese 魚 (uwo).
Compare modern dialectal mainland Japanese 魚 (io), first appearing in print and becoming common from the Heian period, but likely extant earlier.


鯱

Cognate with mainland Japanese 鯱 (shachi).


鰻

/ʔunaɡi/ → /ʔɴ̩nad͡ʑi/
Cognate with Japanese 鰻.


鱗

Cognate with mainland Japanese 鱗 (uroko).


鳥

From Proto-Ryukyuan *tori, from Proto-Japonic *təri. Cognate with Japanese 鳥 (tori).


鶴

Ultimately from Proto-Japonic *turum.
Cognate with Japanese 鶴 (tsuru).

a crane (large, long-legged and long-necked bird of the family Gruidae)


黒

Cognate with Japanese 黒(くろ) (kuro) and Northern Amami Ōshima 黒 (kuru).


鼠

鼠(っゑんちゅ) or 鼠(ゑんちゅ) or 鼠(えんちゅ) ('wenchu or wenchu or enchu)

鼠 (canonical)
'wenchu (romanization)
wenchu (romanization)
enchu (romanization)
っゑんちゅゑんちゅえんちゅ (hiragana)

Compound of 親 (っゑー, 'wee, “parent”) + ん (“n”, reduced genitive particle) + 人 (ちゅ, -chu, “person”)


漢字

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as かんじ. Borrowed from Japanese 漢字 (kanji).

ryu-OG

(hapax legomenon, ghost word, obsolete) kanji; Chinese character


英語

Borrowed from Japanese 英(えい)語(ご) (eigo), itself from Chinese 英語 /英语 (Yīngyǔ).


あ

From Proto-Ryukyuan *a, from Proto-Japonic *a.

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi
あらかきの　うきおほちか　もりに　あか　なさ す　ふため　まさりよわれ
arakaki no, uki ofoji ga, mori ni, a ga, nasa su, futame, masariyoware
The ancestors of Arakaki, exceed the good fortune of my father.

わん 又あか 我れなり


名前

Cognate with Japanese 名前 (namae, “name”).
Can be analyzable as derived from 名 (nā, “name”) + 前 (-mē, suffix describing a person to emphasize a quality or feature).

com

a name (word or phrase indicating a particular person, place, class, or thing)

(more specifically) a given name (excluding the surname)


今日

ryu-head

今日(ちゅー) (chū)

Cognate with Japanese 今日(きょう) (kyō), and showing evidence of the affrication process common in Okinawan caused by "regressive palatalization", in which the earlier /k-/ consonant to shift when followed by /i/ or /j-/.

ja-r

今日(きょう) (kyō)


音楽

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as うんがく. Borrowed from Japanese 音楽 (ongaku).
Not used in actual Okinawan.

ryu-OG

(hapax legomenon, ghost word, obsolete) music


蜘蛛

ryu-head

蜘蛛(くーばー) (kūbā)


眼鏡

Cognate with mainland Japanese 眼鏡 (gankyō), ultimately deriving from written Chinese 眼鏡 /眼镜 (yǎnjìng). Eyeglasses are first mentioned in Chinese in the 1400s as 靉靆 /叆叇 (aidai?), a transcription of an Arabic term. By the late Ming dynasty, eyeglasses appear in writing as 靉靆即眼鏡 /叆叇即眼镜 (“aidai, i.e. eye-lenses”), using the compound term 眼鏡 /眼镜 (yǎnjìng, literally “eye + lens”). Compare modern Min Nan reading gán-kiàⁿ.


眼鏡

Compound of 眼 (mī, “eye”, also spelled 目 when used in isolation) + 鏡 (kagan, “mirror, lens”).

com

also spelled <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ryu">目</i> when used in isolation


蝙蝠

ryu-head

蝙蝠(かーぶやー) (kābuyā)

a bat (small flying mammal of order Chiroptera)


一月

ryu-noun

一(いち)月(ぐゎち) (ichigwachi) ^(←いちぐゎつぃ (itigwatwi)?)

一月 ^ (canonical)
ichigwachi (romanization)
itigwatwi (romanization)
いちぐゎつぃ (hiragana historical)
ぐゎち (hiragana)

Cognate with mainland Japanese 一月 (ichigatsu).


一月

一(ちゅ)月(ちち) (chuchichi) ^(←ちゅつぃち (tyutwiti)?)

一月 ^ (canonical)
chuchichi (romanization)
tyutwiti (romanization)
ちゅつぃち (hiragana historical)
ちち (hiragana)

Cognate with mainland Japanese 一月 (hitotsuki).


海豚

ryu-head

海豚(ふぃーとぅ) (fītu)


西瓜

西瓜 (canonical)
shīkwa (romanization)
くゎ (hiragana)
シークヮ (katakana)


世界

From Middle Chinese 世界 (syejᴴ keajᴴ). Cognate with Japanese 世(せ)界(かい) (sekai).


言葉

From Proto-Ryukyuan *kotoba, from Proto-Japonic *kətənpa. Cognate with Japanese 言葉 (kotoba).

language; speech; lingo; dialect; way of speaking


自由

自由 (canonical)
jiyū (romanization)
jiyu (romanization)
ゆーじゆ (hiragana)


黄色

ryu-noun

黄色(ちーるー) (chīrū)

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as ちーる. Cognate with Japanese 黄色 (kiiro).


太陽

ryu-noun

太陽(てぃーだ) (tīda)


菩薩

菩薩(ぶーさー) (būsā)


生日

Cognate with Japanese 生まれ日 (umarebi, literally “birth-day”).


日記

くぬ頃(ぐる)んしまた日記(にっち)ちきー始(はじ)まとーん。

Recently I've started to keep a diary again.

Kunu guru-nshi mata nitchi chikīhajimatōn.

record of daily events or thoughts; a diary or journal


大人

From Proto-Ryukyuan *opopito.
From 大 (ufu-, “big”) + 人 (tchu, “person”).

大(うふ)人(っちゅ)ぬ配(くば)い


大人

一(いち)のかいぢ二(に)かいぢ読(よ)でど遊(あす)びゆたる何時(いつ)の間(ま)に里(さと)や大人(おとな)なたが

You used to play around by [counting stones and] counting one to two times, but when is the time that you have become an adult?

ichi nu keji ni ni keji yudidu ashibyutaru ichi nu ma ni satu ya utuna nataga


医者

Cognate with mainland Japanese 医(い)者(しゃ) (isha).


下着

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as しちやぢ.


砂糖

ryu-head

砂(さー)糖(たー) (sātā)

From Proto-Ryukyuan *sata, from Middle Chinese 砂糖 (MC srae dang). Related to Japanese 砂糖 (satō).


学校

gakkō (romanization)
校 (counter)
こー (hiragana)

school (institution dedicated to teaching and learning)


兄弟

兄(ちょー)弟(でー) (chōdē)


菓子

菓(くゎー)子(し) or 菓(くゎ)子(し) (kwāshi or kwashi)

菓子 (canonical)
kwāshi (romanization)
kwashi (romanization)
しし (hiragana)


灰色

From 灰(ふぇー) (fē, “ash”) + 色(いる) (iru, “color”). Cognate with Japanese 灰色 (haiiro).


先生

From Middle Chinese 先生 (MC sen|senH sraeng|sraengH). Cognate with Japanese 先生 (sensei), Korean 선생 (seonsaeng), Jeju 선싕 (seonsuing).


名字

名字 (canonical)
myōji (romanization)
nōji (romanization)
じじ (hiragana)


警察

警(きー)察(さち) or 警(ちー)察(さち) (kīsachi or chīsachi)

警察 (canonical)
kīsachi (romanization)
chīsachi (romanization)
さちさち (hiragana)

First used around the beginning of the Meiji period, borrowed from Japanese 警察 (keisatsu).


写真

sashin (romanization)
枚 (counter)
しん (hiragana)

写(さ)真(しん)撮(とぅ)ゆん


八月

hachigwachi (romanization)
ぐゎち (hiragana)

From 八 (hachi, “eight”) + 月 (gwachi, “month”).


霜月

shimuchichi (romanization)
しむちち (hiragana)

Cognate with standard Japanese 霜月 (shimotsuki).
From 霜 (shimu, “frost”) + 月 (chichi, “month”).


共和國

kyōwakuku (romanization)
きょーわくく (hiragana)


足首

From 足(ふぃさ) (fisa, “foot”) + 首(くび) (kubi, “neck”)


足首

From 足(ふぃしゃ) (fisha, “foot”) + 首(くび) (kubi, “neck”). See above.


政治

沖(うち)縄(なー)ぬ政(しー)治(じ)
Uchinā nu shīji
Okinawan politics, Okinawan government


女子

Cognate with Yoron 女子 (ふなぐ, funagu) and dialectal Japanese 女(おな)子(ご) (onago).

一人(ちゅい)女(ゐな)子(ぐ)ん子(ぐゎー)


醤油

ryu-head

醤(そー)油(ゆー) (sōyū)

Cognate with standard Japanese 醤油 (shōyu, “soy sauce”).


石榴

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as ざぐら. Appears to be cognate with Japanese 石榴 (zakuro); see that entry for further details.


幽霊

ryu-head

幽霊(ゆーりー) (yūrī)


唐手

唐(とー)手(でぃー) (tōdī)

desctree

→ Japanese: 空手 (karate), 唐手
→ Afrikaans: karate
→ Arabic: كَارَاتِيه m (karātē), كَارَاطِي (kārāṭī)
⇒ Literary Chinese: 空手道
→ Cantonese: 空手道 (hung¹ sau² dou⁶)
→ Hokkien: 空手道 (khong-chhiú-tō)
→ Korean: 공수도 (gongsudo)
→ Mandarin: 空手道 (kōngshǒudào)
→ Vietnamese: không thủ đạo
→ Czech: karate n
→ Danish: karate c
→ Dutch: karate n or m
→ English: karate
→ Finnish: karate
→ French: karaté m
→ German: Karate n
→ Icelandic: karate n
→ Indonesian: karate
→ Italian: karatè m
→ Latvian: karatē m
→ Norwegian Bokmål: karate m
→ Norwegian Nynorsk: karate m
→ Polish: karate n
→ Portuguese: karaté m, caraté
→ Romanian: karate n
→ Serbo-Croatian: karate m
→ Spanish: karate m, kárate
→ Swahili: karate
→ Swedish: karate c
→ Tagalog: karate
→ Vietnamese: không thủ

Compound of 唐 (Tō, “Tang Dynasty; China”) + 手 (tī, “hand”), as the art was originally transmitted from Fujian, Ming China to Kumemura, Okinawa, Ryūkyū Kingdom, via the Yukatchu Samurē class.


醬油

ryu-head

醬(そー)油(ゆー) (sōyū)


肝心

chimugukuru (romanization)
ぐくる (hiragana)

From 肝 (chimu, “liver”) + 心 (kukuru, “heart”).


三線

→ English: sanshin

→ Japanese: 三線 (sanshin)

a fretless plucked lute with three strings and skin-covered body, a precursor to the shamisen


苗字

苗字 (canonical)
nōji (romanization)
myōji (romanization)
じじ (hiragana)

Alternative form of 名字: surname, family name, last name


趣味

Cognate with mainland Japanese 趣味 (shumi).


薄荷

薄荷 (canonical)
fakka (romanization)
hakka (romanization)
ふぁっかはっか (hiragana)

From Middle Chinese 薄荷. Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as はくか.


神仏

kamifutuki (romanization)
ふとぅき (hiragana)

From 神 (kami, “deity, god”) + 仏 (futuki, “buddha”).


念仏

From Middle Chinese-derived elements 念 (nin, “mental chanting”) + 仏 (buchi, “Buddha”).
Cognate with mainland Japanese 念仏 (nenbutsu).

(Buddhism) a prayer or chant to the Buddha


新車

Compound of 新 (mī, “new, neo-”) + 車 (kuruma, “car”).


珊瑚

Cognate with Japanese 珊(さん)瑚(ご) (sango).


苦瓜

ryu-head

苦瓜(ごーやー) (gōyā)

ごーやー: bitter melon; bitter gourd; crippled feet


剃刀

Cognate with mainland Japanese 剃刀 (kamisori). Attested in 沖縄語典 as かんすい.


官話

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 官話 (MC kwan hwaejH). Cognate to Japanese 官話 (kanwa).

Mandarin; Guanhua (group of Northern Chinese dialects including Putonghua (Standard Chinese))


監獄

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as かんぐく. Borrowed from Japanese 監獄 (kangoku, “prison”).
Not used in actual Okinawan; see synonyms for the actual used words.

ryu-OG

(hapax legomenon, ghost word, obsolete) prison


水牛

Compound of 水 (miji, “water”) + 牛 (ushi, “cow”).


書物

ryu-head

書(し)物(むち) or 書物(すむち) (shimuchi or sumuchi) ^(←しゆむつぃ (syumutwi)?)

書物 (canonical)
書物 ^ (canonical)
shimuchi (romanization)
sumuchi (romanization)
syumutwi (romanization)
しゆむつぃ (hiragana historical)
むちすむち (hiragana)

Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as しゆむつぃ.

ryu-OG

太郎(たるー)や毎日(めーなち)書物(しむち)読(ゆ)むん。
Tarū-ya mēnachi shimuchi yumun.
Tarū reads a book every day.


天道

天道 (canonical)
tīda (romanization)
tīra (romanization)
てぃーだてぃーら (hiragana)

From Proto-Ryukyuan *teda. See there for more.


あんまー

Cognate to Miyako あんな (anna), Yaeyama あっぱ (appa), Yonaguni あぶだ (abuda).

(familiar) A term used to refer to one's own mother: "Mom; mum; mama; momma; mother"


牛ぬ乳

Compound of 牛 (ushi, “cow”) + ぬ (nu, possessive particle) + 乳 (chī, “milk”). Cognate with Japanese 牛の乳 (ushi no chichi, rare alternate reading ushi no chī, literally “cow's milk”), more commonly expressed in modern Japanese using the Chinese-derived term 牛乳 (gyūnyū).


くぃー

声: voice; news (of someone), word (of someone)


くとぅば

言葉, 辞, 詞, 辭: language, speech, dialect, word(s), idiom


なさき

Possibly related to Japanese 情け (nasake).


ゆー

世: age, era, period, time; rule; world, society


肝清らさん

ryu-head

肝清(ちむちゅ)らさん or 肝(ちむ)清(ぢゅ)らさん (chimuchurasan or chimujurasan)

肝清らさん (canonical)
chimuchurasan (romanization)
chimujurasan (romanization)

(to have a) beautiful heart, beautiful soul


さき

酒: alcohol beverage (e.g., wine, whisky, or sake)


黒砂糖

黒砂糖(くるじゃーたー) or 黒(くる)砂(ざー)糖(たー) (kurujātā or kuruzātā)

黒砂糖 (canonical)
kurujātā (romanization)
kuruzātā (romanization)
くるじゃーたーたー (hiragana)


手甲

手甲(てぃっこー) (tikkō)


黒猫

Compound of 黒 (kuru, “black”) + 猫 (mayā, “cat”).


沖縄口

uchināguchi (romanization)
ぐち (hiragana)

→ Japanese: うちなーぐち (uchināguchi)

Compound of 沖縄 (Uchinā, “Okinawa”) + 口 (-kuchi, “speech; language; dialect; accent”).

suf

我(わ)んねー沖縄口(うちなーぐち)話(はな)さりゆん！


沖縄ん人

沖縄 (Uchinā, “Okinawa”) + ん (-n, “reduced genitive particle”) + 人 (-chu, “person, people”)


大和人

yamatunchu (romanization)
やまとぅんちゅ (hiragana)


一雨

Compound of 一 (chu-, “one”) + 雨 (ami, “rain”).


いりち

鱗: scale (of a fish, reptile, etc); dandruff


波布

Cognate with mainland Japanese 蛇(へび) (hebi, “snake”).


蘆薈

ryu-head

蘆薈(るぐゎい) or 蘆薈(どぅぐゎい) (rugwai or dugwai)

蘆薈 (canonical)
rugwai (romanization)
dugwai (romanization)
るぐゎいどぅぐゎい (hiragana)

Probably borrowed from Japanese 蘆薈 (rokai). See that entry for more details.


大水

Compound of 大 (ū-, “great”) + 水 (miji, “water”). Cognate to Japanese 大(おお)水(みず) (ōmizu).


水鶏

Rallus aquaticus
Rallus aquaticus#Translingual


山原水鶏

Yanbaru kumirā (romanization)
やんばるくみらー (hiragana)

From 山原 (Yanbaru, forested mountainous area in northern part of Okinawa Island) + 水鶏 (kumirā, “water rail”).

com

Gallirallus okinawae
Gallirallus okinawae#Translingual


やんばるくみらー

Compound of 山原 (yanbaru, “Yanbaru”) + 水鶏 (-kumirā, “water bird”) + あー (-ā, person suffix).

suffix

山原水鶏: an Okinawa rail, Gallirallus okinawae, endemic to Okinawa Island in Japan.


頭病ん

Compound of 頭 (chiburu, “head”) + 病ん (yan, “illness, ache”)


にーびち

にーびちさびたん。


どーしー

ryu-head

どーしー (dōshī)


箒星

箒(ほーち)星(ぶし) (hōchibushi) ^(←はうちぶし (fautibusi)?)

箒星 ^ (canonical)
hōchibushi (romanization)
fautibusi (romanization)
はうちぶし (hiragana historical)
ぶし (hiragana)

Compound of 箒 (hōchi, “broom”) + 星 (fushi, “star”). Attested in the 沖縄語典 (Okinawa Goten, “Okinawan Dictionary”) as はうちぶし.


ふぃーとぅ

ryu-head

ふぃーとぅ (fītu)

Nantō Kayō
うまんちゅに／うがまりて／ひーと／ぐんざん　ゆらち／なみん　しじかに
umanchu ni / ugamarite / fīto / gunza n yurachi / nami n shijika ni
The people pray; the dolphin whales also approach; as the waves are still quiet

奇物の御初 へと 江豚（イルカ）のこと しゆこ 知念玉城より上りたるとなり

A first time of a strange animal. Feto. Dolphin. Shuko. Had gone up from Chinen Tamagusuku.


田魚

Carassius carassius
Carassius carassius#Translingual


くぶ

⇒ Okinawan: くーばー (kūbā) (< kubu-a)

From Proto-Ryukyuan *kobu, from Proto-Japonic *konpo.

み山(やま)こぶだいんす かせかけておちやい わ身女(みゐなぐ)なとて油断(ゆだん)しやべめ

Even the spiders in the deep mountains are reeling thread. Since I am a woman, should I give up?

miyamakubudensi / kasi kakiti uchai, / wan winagu natuti / yudan shabimi

Ryūka Zenshū
夜の　ませ垣に　／　かけて　あるくぶの　／　糸だいんす　澄みゆる　／　けふの　空や
YURU-nu maseKACHI-ni / kakete aru-kubu-no / ITU-dainsu SImyuru / kiyu-no SURA-ya
Caught in the night fence, / was a spider, / I had sure cleaned it / in the skies of today.

くぶ 蜘蛛之事


梯梧

でぃぐぬ花(はな)が咲(さ)き 風(かじ)を呼(ゆ)び嵐(あらし)が来(き)た
digu nu hana ga saki kaji o yobi arashi ga kita
The coral flowers bloom, the winds call, [and] the storm has come.
でぃぐが咲(さ)き乱(みだ)れ 風(かじ)を呼(ゆ)び嵐(あらし)が来(き)た
digu ga sakimidare kaji o yobi arashi ga kita
The coral [flowers] bloom abundantly, the winds call, [and] the storm has come.
でぃぐぬ花(はな)も散(ち)り さざ波(なみ)がゆりるだき

2006, Kazufumi Miyazawa, “Shima Uta (Uchināguchi Version) [Island Song (Okinawan version)]”, performed by Rimi Natsukawa

The coral flowers scatter, [and] only the ripples [of the sea] sway.

digu nu hana mo chiri sazanami ga yuriru daki

the Indian coral tree, Erythrina variegata


かーぶやー

かーぶやー (kābuyā)


目眼鏡

目眼鏡(みーがんちょー) (mīganchō)

mīganchō (romanization)
みーがんちょー (hiragana)

Compound of 目 (mī, “eye”) + 眼鏡 (ganchō, “glasses”).


みーがんちょー

みーがんちょー (mīganchō)


刀自

Cognate with mainland Japanese 刀自 (toji, “matron”).


同士

Cognate with Japanese 同(どう)士(し) (dōshi).

首切り同士

close friend, best friend, sworn friend, blood brother


足甲

(anatomy) top of the foot; dorsum of the foot


てぃっこー

てぃっこー (tikkō)


ぬーでぃー

ぬーでぃー (nūdī)


喉弦

喉弦(ぬーでぃーじる) (nūdījiru)

nūdījiru (romanization)
ぬーでぃーじる (hiragana)


ぬーでぃーじる

ぬーでぃーじる (nūdījiru)


石蓴

石蓴(あーさ) (āsa)


尻ぬ目

尻 (chibi, “butt”) + ぬ (nu, possessive particle) + 目 (mī, “eye”).


陰目

ryu-head

陰目(ほーみー) (hōmī)

陰 (ほー, hō, “female genitalia”) + 目 (みー, mī, “eye”)


ちーるー

ryu-head

ちーるー (chīrū)


新家

新(みー)家(やー) (mīyā)


入り髪星

iriganbushi (romanization)
ぶし (hiragana)

入り髪 (irigan, “hairpiece”) + 星 (fushi, “star”)


宮古口

宮古 (Nāku, “Miyako”) + 口 (-guchi, “language”)

suf

我(わ)んねー宮古(なーく)口(ぐち)分(わ)かやびらん。


ふぃる

From Proto-Ryukyuan *peru, from Proto-Japonic *peru.

おむきやうと 蒜の事 俗にはへるといふ

Omukyauto. Garlic. Common language calls it feru.


公議

Cognate with Japanese 公議 (kōgi), Chinese 公議 /公议 (gōngyì).


ぶし

暁(あかちち)節(ぶし)

a term used in titles to denote a poetic or musical piece


まぶい

From Proto-Ryukyuan *mabori (“tutelary spirit”), from Proto-Japonic *mampori. Cognate with Kunigami まぶい (mabui), Kikai まぶい (mabui), Northern Amami Ōshima まぶり (maburi), Okinoerabu まーぶん (mābun), Southern Amami Ōshima まぶり (maburi), Tokunoshima まぶり (maburi), Yoron まーぶい (mābui), Miyako まゔ (mav), Tarama まゔりぃ (mavul), Yaeyama まむりぃ (mamurï), Japanese 守り (mamori).


朧月

uburuzichi (romanization)
うぶるずぃち (hiragana)

From 朧 (uburu, “haziness”) + 月 (chichi, “moon”).


御主

ryu-head

御主(うしゅー) or 御主(うしゅん) or 御主(うすー) (ushū or ushun or usū)

御主 (canonical)
ushū (romanization)
ushun (romanization)
usū (romanization)
うしゅーうしゅんうすー (hiragana)

From 御 (u, honorific prefix) + 主 (-shu, “master”)

suf

琉球國中山王 琉球國中山王#Okinawan

honorific of 琉球國中山王 (Ryūkyū koku Chūzan ō) King of Ryukyu


内地人

ryu-head

内地人(ないちゃー) (naichā)

naichā (romanization)
ないちゃー (hiragana)
ないちゃあ (alternative)
ないちゃー (alternative)

Compound of 内地 (naichi, “mainland”) + あー (-ā, person suffix).

suffix

a mainlander: someone living or coming from mainland Japan (Honshū, Shikoku, Kyūshū, etc.)


サフン

Borrowed from Portuguese sabão or Early Modern Spanish jabón. Cognate with Japanese シャボン (shabon). Compare Hokkien 雪文 (sap-bûn).


真塩

Cognate with Japanese 真(ま)塩(しお) (mashio, “refined salt”).


八重山口

From 八重山 (Yēma, “Yaeyama”) + 口 (-kuchi, “language, speech; dialect; accent”).


与那国口

yunaguniguchi (romanization)
ぐち (hiragana)


大和口

yamatuguchi (romanization)
ぐち (hiragana)

From 大和 (Yamatu, “Japan”) + 口 (-kuchi, “language, speech; dialect; accent”).

母前(はーめー)や大和口(やまとぅぐち)話(はな)さりらん。


ゴーブレーキ

ryu-head

ゴーブレーキ (gōburēki)


くす

くすくぇー

くすまいん


なー

From Proto-Ryukyuan *na, from Proto-Japonic *na.


しーじゃ

From Proto-Ryukyuan *soza, *seza, from Proto-Japonic *sosa. Cognate with Kunigami しじゃー (shijā) and Yaeyama しじゃ (shija).

うみしーじゃ

term used by nobles to address their older brother or senior

しーじゃかた

senior(s); people in their primes; people in thirties and forties


あー

From Proto-Ryukyuan *awa, from Proto-Japonic *awa.


四ち

Cognate with standard Japanese 四つ (yotsu).

four things (small or without a counter category)


朧月夜

[úꜜbùrùjìchùù]

Compound of 朧月 (uburujichi, “hazy moon”) + 夜 (yū, “night”).
Alternatively, compound of 朧 (uburu, “haziness”) + 月夜 (chichū, “moonlit night”).


大和酒

yamatujaki (romanization)
じゃき (hiragana)

From 大和 (Yamatu, “Japan”) + 酒 (saki, “liquor”).


かなさん

From Proto-Ryukyuan *kanasi, from Proto-Japonic *kanasi (“emotionally overwhelming”).

inh

わー かなしんぐぁ

わったー たいや かなしーぐぁー やさ。

Ryūka Zenshū
しばし　片時も　忘る　間や ないらぬ　かなし 面影と　一期　つれて
shibashi KATADOKI-mo / WASUru MA-ya neranu / kanashi OMOKAGE-to ICHIGO tsurete shibashi kataduki-n / wasiru ma-ya neranu / kanashi umukagi-tu / ichigu tsiriti
For even a half a second, / there won't be a forgotten time; / with such an adorable face, / lead me for a lifetime.

おかなしや 愛敬する心なり俗にむさうさともいふ

Okanasha. Having a dear heart. The commoners also call it muzausa.

愛さん: (Old Okinawan, Middle Okinawan) beautiful

Ryūka Zenshū
よしぢ　よしまらぬ　旅の　空　やれば　かなし　振別れも　すらな　なゆめ
yoshidji yoshimara-nu / TABI-no SORA yareba / kanashi FUYAKAremo / sura-na nayume yushiji yushimara-nu / tabi-nu sura yariba / kanashi fuyakari-n / sura-na nayumi
To quit doing it, I cannot; / if it's the sky of the journey, / even to diverse from sadness, / I'm unable to do.


一ち

one thing (small or without a counter category)


一ち

(literary) one thing (small or without a counter category)


三ち

Cognate with standard Japanese 三つ (mittsu).

three things (small or without a counter category)


広東瓜

ryu-head

広(くゎん)東(とぅ)瓜(うい) or 広東瓜(クヮントゥウイ) (kwantuui)

広東瓜 (canonical)
kwantuui (romanization)
うい (hiragana)
クヮントゥウイ (katakana)

From 広東 (Kwantun, “Guangdong”) + 瓜 (ui, “gourd, melon”).


さんしん

三線: fretless picked lute of Okinawan origin with three strings and skin-covered body, precursor to the shamisen


火ぬ神加那志

ryu-head

火(ひ)ぬ神加那志(かんがなしー) or 火(ふぃ)ぬ神加那志(かんがなしー) (hinukanganashī or finukanganashī)

火ぬ神加那志 (canonical)
hinukanganashī (romanization)
finukanganashī (romanization)
かんがなしーかんがなしー (hiragana)

From 火ぬ神 (hinukan, finukan, “god of the hearth”) + 加那志 (-ganashī, honorific suffix).

suf

honorific of 火ぬ神 (hinukan, finukan): god of the hearth


火ぬ神

ryu-head

火(ひ)ぬ神(かん) or 火(ふぃ)ぬ神(かん) (hinukan or finukan)

火ぬ神 (canonical)
hinukan (romanization)
finukan (romanization)
かんかん (hiragana)

火 (ふぃー, fī, “fire”) + ぬ (possessive particle) + 神 (かん, kan, “god”)


う菓子

From 御 (u-, polite prefix) + 菓子 (kwāshi, “sweet, pastry”).


ちゃんぷるー

Japanese: チャンプルー (chanpurū)

chanpuru: an Okinawan stir-fried dish consisting of tofu, vegetables, and cooking oil


沖縄語

uchināguchi (romanization)
ぐち (hiragana)

Alternative form of 沖縄口 (“Okinawan language”)


月ぬ光

chichi nu fichai (romanization)
ふぃちゃい (hiragana)

Cognate with Japanese 月の光 (tsuki no hikari).
From 月 (chichi, “moon”) + ぬ (nu, genitive-possessive particle) + 光 (fichai, “light”).

af

the moonlight (light or gleam of the moon)


沖繩口

Kyūjitai form of 沖縄口 (“Okinawan language”)


暑さかまらさー

Compound of 暑さかまらさ (achisakamarasa, “heat sensitive”) + あー (-ā, person suffix).

suffix

A person who is sensitive to heat, who is intolerant to heat


アミリカー

amirikā (romanization)
アメリカー (alternative)

Compound of アミリカ (Amirika, “America”) + あー (-ā, person suffix).

Americans, American people, a person from the United States


アメリカー

アミリカー アミリカー#Okinawan

Alternative form of アミリカー (Amirikā, “American”)


眠やー

ryu-head

眠(にーぶ)やー (nībuyā)

Compound of 眠い (nībui, “sleepiness”) + あー (-ā, person suffix).


清らー

Compound of 清らさん (churasan, “beautiful”) + あー (-ā, person suffix).

a popular term used to describe someone who is beautiful, lovely, pretty, elegant or chaste


蝿瘡ー

ryu-head

蝿(ふぇー)瘡(がさ)ー or 蝿瘡(へーがさ)ー (fēgasā or hēgasā)

蝿瘡ー (canonical)
fēgasā (romanization)
hēgasā (romanization)

Compound of 蝿瘡 (fēgasa, “eczema, scabies; acne; blisters”) + あー (-ā, person suffix).

suffix

a person with an inflammation of the skin characterized by red bumps caused by a skin condition or disease such as eczema or scabies


蝿瘡

ryu-head

蝿(ふぇー)瘡(がさ) or 蝿瘡(へーがさ) or 蝿瘡(へーがさー) or 蝿瘡(へーがしー) (fēgasa or hēgasa or hēgasā or hēgashī)

蝿瘡 (canonical)
fēgasa (romanization)
hēgasa (romanization)
hēgasā (romanization)
hēgashī (romanization)
がさへーがさへーがさーへーがしー (hiragana)

Compound of 蝿 (fē, “fly”) + 瘡 (kasa, “pox; pustule”)

affix

inflammation of the skin (especially of the face) characterized by red spots (such as pimples, acne, blisters, scabs or a rash), often as the result of eczema or scabies


沖縄人

uchinānchu (romanization)
うちなーんちゅ (hiragana)


沖繩ん人

Kyūjitai form of 沖縄ん人 (“Okinawan people”)


うちなーんちゅ

沖縄ん人: native or inhabitant of the city, island or Okinawa Prefecture, Japan


蠅瘡

ryu-head

蠅(ふぇー)瘡(がさ) or 蠅瘡(へーがさ) or 蠅瘡(へーがさー) or 蠅瘡(へーがしー) (fēgasa or hēgasa or hēgasā or hēgashī)

蠅瘡 (canonical)
fēgasa (romanization)
hēgasa (romanization)
hēgasā (romanization)
hēgashī (romanization)
がさへーがさへーがさーへーがしー (hiragana)


蠅瘡ー

蠅(ふぇー)瘡(がさ)ー or 蠅瘡(へーがさ)ー (fēgasā or hēgasā)

蠅瘡ー (canonical)
fēgasā (romanization)
hēgasā (romanization)


大和ん人

From 大和 (Yamatu, “Japan”) + ん (n, reduced genitive particle) + 人 (tchu, “person, people”).

af

Japanese person, non-Ryukyuan Japanese people, a mainlander


やまとぅんちゅ

大和ん人: a Yamato person, a mainlander: non-Ryukyuan Japanese people

Someone living or coming from the Satuma (Satsuma Domain or Satsuma Province)


うふやまとぅんちゅ

大大和ん人 大大和ん人#Okinawan

大大和ん人: a Yamato person, a mainlander: non-Ryukyuan Japanese people


大大和ん人

ufuyamatunchu (romanization)
ちゅ (hiragana)

大大和 (Ufuyamatu, “Japan”) + ん (-n, “reduced genitive particle”) + 人 (-chu, “person, people”)


さんさなー

a cicada of the species Cryptotympana facialis


ちーちゃー

ryu-head

ちーちゃー (chīchā)


あんぐゎー

あんぐゎー (angwā)

Cognate with Hirara Miyako あんが (anga, “older sister”).


さばち

A word peculiar to the Northern Ryukyuan family. Cognate with Northern Amami Ōshima さばき (sabaki), Kikai さばち (sabachi), Yoron さばき (sabaki), and Kunigami さばーちー (sabāchī). All other Japonic branches use a descendant of Proto-Japonic *kusi instead.
Perhaps derived from 捌ちゅん (sabachun, “to comb”); cognate with Japanese 捌く (sabaku, “to handle”).


かんだ

Cognate to Japanese 葛 (kazura, “creeping plant”), and Miyako かっつぁ (kattsa).


くゎんふぁー

くゎんふぁー (kwanfā)

官話: Mandarin; Guanhua (group of Northern Chinese dialects including Putonghua (Standard Chinese))


各島々

kakushimajima (romanization)
かくしまじま (hiragana)


ゐきー

From Proto-Ryukyuan *wekeri, from *we (“man”), from Proto-Japonic *we.


すー

我(わー)すーやいびーん。


大和暦

yamatuguyumi (romanization)
ぐゆみ (hiragana)


てぃんさぐ

Compare Kyūshū dialect とびしゃこー (tobishakō), etc.

Impatiens balsamina
Impatiens balsamina#Translingual


蘇鉄

Cycas revoluta
Cycas revoluta#Translingual

sago palm (Cycas revoluta), a palm-like cycad


とぅら

From Proto-Ryukyuan *tora (“tiger”).
Historically attested in the Haedong Jegukki as 도라 (Yale: two la), and in the Liquiu-guan Yiyu as 它喇 (Early Mandarin: *tʰɔ la).

Ryūka Zenshū
虎に　羽　つけて　飛ぶよりも　早く　雲に　馳せ入ゆる　按司の　お舟
TORA-ni FANE tsukete / TObuyorimo FAYAku / KUMO-ni FAseIyuru / aji-no oBUNE tura-ni fani tsikiti / tubuyurin hayaku / kumu-ni hashiiyuru / aji-nu ubuni
I stick the wings on the tiger; faster than flying; riding into the clouds; the chieftain's noble boat.


とぅら

Extension of とぅら (tura, “tiger”). Compare Japanese 寅 (tora).

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi, volume 11, poem 596
とらうの　時　かみか　時／けおの　時よさは
tora-u-no TOKI kami-ga TOKI / keo-no TOKIyosaya
The time of Tiger and Rabbit, the time of the gods; today's good times...

Ryūka Zenshū
とらの方の　風に　とらの　日に　出ぢやち　とらの　走り　しめて　とらの　門口
tora-no FA-no KAJI-ni / tora-no FI-ni Ijachi / tora-no FAri shimete / tora-no JOGUCHI tura-nu-ha-nu kaji-ni / tura-nu fi-ni ijachi / tura-nu hari shimiti / tura-nu joguchi
The wind of the Tiger hour; the day of the Tiger comes; the tiger finishes running; the gateway of the tiger.

寅: Tiger (third sign of the Chinese zodiac)


うーじ

Cognate with mainland Japanese 荻 (ogi, “Amur silvergrass”).
Originally refers to reed-like plants in general.


なーくー

Vowel lengthening of the second syllable of なーく (Nāku, “Miyako”).

(derogatory) a Miyako islander, person from Miyako Islands


ながに

From Proto-Ryukyuan *naganeᴮ, equivalent of Japanese 長根 (nagane), a dialectal word rather can be described as 長(なが) (naga, “long”) + 峰(ね) (ne, “ridge”).


んちゃ

From Proto-Ryukyuan *mita (“clay, earth”), from Proto-Japonic *mita (“clay, earth”). Cognates within Japonic include Miyako みぃた (mta), Yaeyama んた (nta).


山彦

Borrowed from Japanese 山(やま)彦(びこ) (yamabiko).

echo reverberating through the mountains


グム

A recent coinage in Okinawan; presumably a borrowing from Japanese ゴム (gomu, “gum”), from Dutch gom (“gum”).

グムかなーし欲(ぶ)さん。


ふぇーふぇー

ふぇーふぇー (fēfē)


上がい天道

Compound of 上がい (agai, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of 上がゆん (agayun, “to rise”)) + 天道, 太陽 (tīda, “sun”).


上がい太陽

上がい天道 上がい天道#Okinawan


あがいてぃーだ

上がい天道 上がい天道#Okinawan


ぶたさん

ぶたくなゆん。


やまびく

Ryūka Zenshū
恋の　奥山に　深く　踏み迷て　谷の　山びこの　音声ばかり
KOI-no OKUYAMA-ni FUKAku FUmiMAYOte TANI-no YAMAbiko-no OTOGWEbakari kui nu ukuyama ni fukaku fumimayuti tani nu yamabiku nu utugwi bakari
I wonder deep into the mountain of love; just the sounds of the echoes from the valley.

山彦: echo reverberating through the mountains


大和世

やまとぅゆー やまとぅゆー#Okinawan

やまとぅゆー: an era following Japan control of the Ryukyu Islands and the abolition of feudal domains until the United States Armed Forces occupation of the islands in World War II


くにごしやん

Can be analyzed as くに (kuni, “land”) + ごしやん (goshan, “staff”).

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi
おもろ、ねや　かりや、ひやくさ、きやめ、ちよわれは、きやめ、ちよわれは、しま、たつな、くにごしやん、みおやせ又　せるむ、ねや　かり　や
omoro, neya, kariya, hiyakusa, kiyame, chiyowareba, kiyame, chiyowareba, shima, taduna, kunigoshan, mioyase MATA: serumu neya kari ya
The narrator Sound-Raiser, Staying as long as a hundred years The rope of land and the stick of country Give to / The relator Sound-Raiser,

(Old Okinawan) the great staff of the land


ごーやー

→ Japanese: ゴーヤー (gōyā)

Appears to be derived from ごーいー (gōī, “crippled foot”), with the suffix あー (-ā, “nominalizer”) attached. The word itself, is likely an irregular change of Proto-Ryukyuan elements *niga (“bitter”) + *ori (“melon”).
Cognate with Kunigami ごーやー (gōyā, “bitter melon”, Nakijin-Yonamine dialect), Miyako ごーら (gōra, “bitter melon”, Irabu-Nakachi dialect), Yonaguni ぐや (guya, “bitter melon”).

cog

ごーやーちゃんぷるー

Momordica charantia
Momordica charantia#Translingual

bitter gourd, bitter melon, Momordica charantia


唐船

Chinese vessel or ship (any ship that comes from China to the Ryukyu Kingdom)


浜千鳥

hamachiduri (romanization)
どぅり (hiragana)


魚町

From 魚(いゆ) (iyu, “fish”) + 町(まち) (machi, “market”).


むぎあら

A compound of むぎ (mugi > muji, “wheat”) + あら (ara, “something fresh, new”). The written form quoted preserves the mid-vowel of Proto-Ryukyuan *mogi.

com

Nantō Kayō
あらもぎや　をより　とてもきやら　なふさ　とて　よよれたる
aramugya wuyui tutimogiara nōsa tuti yuyuritaru


むーく

From Proto-Ryukyuan *moko, from Proto-Japonic *moko. The Omoro Sōshi quotation cited preserves the archaic form.
Attested in the 中山伝信録 (Records of Zhongshan, 1719) as "女婿　母姑" (son-in-law: mǔgū).

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi
ちやむかね　しやむこ　ゑけりやの　しやむこ　／…／　たに　もこ　ともて　けに　もこ　ともて
chamukane shamuko wekerya-no shamuko … tani moko tomote keni moko tomote
Mister Pleasure-Roof-Weapon, the grand man, The outshining man, the grand groom Runner-away, runner-away … Maybe a good groom indeed, Perhaps a nice groom really


かーら

From Proto-Ryukyuan *kawara, from Proto-Japonic *kapara.

Nantō Kayō
いちちぬ　まぶい　／　しちぬ　まぶい　／　ぬーそが　かーら　んかい　／　まぶやー　ぬぎてい　ねーらんぐと
ichichi-nu mabui / shichi-nu mabui / nūsoga kāra nkai / mabuyā nugitē nēranguto
Five spirits; / seven spirits; / (Who's) not (dispelling) spirits / from the river?
Parentheses indicate an uncertain transcription/translation.


かーら

From Proto-Ryukyuan *kawara.
Historically attested in Chinese sources with the spelling 嗑哇喇 (kaɁ.ua.la).

Ryūka Zenshū
石小　なげらい　出ゆる　釣束　瓦　なげても　出ゆかや
ISHI nagerai (I)Juru YAKUSUKU KĀRA nagetemo (I)Jukaya
If the small rocks are thrown, the promise is out. Even if the roof tiles are thrown, … is out...
Parentheses indicate an uncertain transcription/translation. The meter of this poem is irregular, at least according to what Hokama (1995) cites.


きゆ

Okinawan: ちゅー (chū)

今日(けふ)のほこらしやや / なをにぎやなたてる / つぼでをる花(はな)の / 露(つゆ)きやたごと
kiyu nu fukurashaya / naunigyanatateru / tsibudiwuruhananu / tsiyukyatagutu
What should I compare for today's happiness? Flower buds that meet with dew? (Ryūka by Gujinfū)

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi
きこゑ大きみきや　けよ　ふらす　あめや　きやのうちみやに　こかね　ふりみちへて
kikowe-OFOkimi-gya keyo furasu ame-ya kya-no-uchimiya-ni kogane furimichifete
Well-known Holy Lady, Making the rain fall today

Nantō Kayō
きふの　夜や　おどまり／なまの　夜や　おどまり／ねく筵　おわいすら
kifu-no YUya odomari / nama-no YUya odomari / neku-MUSHIRU owaisura
Tonight's stop / this night's stop; / I give the thick straw mat.

Ryūka Zenshū
けふの　よかる　日に　昔どし　いきやて　嬉しさや　互に　語て遊ば
kefu-no yokaru FI-ni MUKASHI-doshi ikyate URIshisa-ya TAGĒ-ni KATAteASIba
On a good today; I went to my past friends; and we were happy together; let's talk and play.

Kumiodori
やあ　なし子　けふからの　先や　敵　かたき　と思な
yā nashiKKWA kefu-kara-no SACHIya KATACHI kataki to UMŪna
Hey, my dear child; from this point on today; don't think about your enemies.

けふ 今日


いちゃ

Nantō Kayō
いちゃやもーい／くらやもーい／いちゃが　かみ／いちゃが　くに／うったみる
ichayamōi/kurayamōi/ichaga kami/ichaga kuni/uttamiru
The shrine for Icha, / The shrine for Kura, / The god of Icha, / The land of Icha, / ??? and look.
Note: The translation is extremely tentative. Many of the words' meaning were unknown in the dictionary. もーい similarly appears in しゅいもーい (shuimōi), a variant of Middle Okinawan しょりもり (Shorimori, a shrine in Shuri Gusuku).

(Middle Okinawan, hapax legomenon) The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include:


くんだむるし

From くんだ (kunda, “calf”) + むるし (murushi, “lump”).

Ryūka Zenshū
片ひしやや　裏座　／　片ひしやや　仲前　／　きつと　こんばれやう　／　きつと　こんだもろし
KATAfishaya URAZA / KATAfishaya NAKAME / kitto konbaryau / kitto kondamoroshi
One foot's in the back room, / one foot's in the living room. / Put it right there / Right where your calf is.


やまとぅゆー

Literally "world (era) [under] Yamato (Japan) [control]".
Attested in the Nantō Kayō under the spellings やまとぅゆー　and やまとよ.

Coordinate term: 沖縄世 (uchināyū, “an era before Japan control”)

Nantō Kayō
なまがゆーや　やまとぅゆー　／　やまとぅゆー　かみがゆー　むすでぃ　／　しまさかい　くにさかい
namagayūya yamatuyū / yamatuyū kamigayū musudi / shimazakai kunizakai
Our current era is a Yamato era; / unite the Yamato era and the era of gods together; / the island prospers; the land prospers

大和世: an era following Japan control of the Ryukyu Islands and the abolition of feudal domains until the United States Armed Forces occupation of the islands in World War II


なかめー

Nantō Kayō
うなかめ　ぬ　／　まなかめ　ぬ　／　みちぎたぬ
unakame nu / manakame nu / michigitanu
The living room, / the true living room, / the filled rafter...

Ryūka Zenshū
つり呼びやが　哀れ　／　呼ばぬすが　知ゆめ　／　仲前 行き戻り　／　さら夜明かち
tsuriYUbyaga AFAre / YUbanusuga SHIyume / NAKAME IkiMUDUri / saraYUFUKAchi
A surprise of a prostitute, / though she can't call out, you have to know / I'm going through the entrances / through one night

中前, 仲前: entrance area in a red light district


くふぁふぃじ

A compound of くふぁ (kufa-, “hard”) + ふぃじ (fiji, “reply”).

Kumiodori
あゝ　いきやへは　兄弟 何　うち隔の　あが是や 余り　こは返事　やつさあ
aa ikyafeba KYODE NAU uchiFEDATE-no aga KOREya AMAri kofaFEJI yatsusaa


あよ

あよ (canonical)
*あゆ (canonical)
ayo (romanization)

Possibly borrowed from an earlier form of Middle Korean 애〯 (ǎy, “courage”). Rising pitches in Middle Korean imply an earlier disyllabic form, so the Old Okinawan word could have preserved such form.
Attseted in forms ai (あい), ayu (あゆ), ayo (あよ), and oyo (およ).

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi
あんしおそい　／　あよが　うちや　まちよく　あれ　きも　ちよく　まだに　あれ
anshiosoi / ayoga uchiya machiyoku are kimo chiyoku madani are

あよ 肝の事なり


たばく

Ultimately from Spanish tabaco, likely via Japanese (borrowed from Portuguese).

たばく ふちゅん

たばくんでー うしゃがみしょーれー

なままでー たばこー まんじん まーんじん ふちゅるくとぅ ないたしが、 なまー っちゅぬ あちまいどぅくるをぅてー はっとぅ なとーん。

Until now, you could smoke tobacco anywhere you want, but now you cannot do this in front of the general people.

Namamadē tabakō manjin mānjin fuchurukutu naitashiga, namā tchunu achimaidukuruwutē hattu natōn.

Ryūka Zenshū
久高　前の浜に　けむり小の　立ちやす　久高西銘主が　たばこ　けむり
KUDAKA MAE-no FAMA-ni / kemuriGWA-no TAchasu / KUDAKANISHIMISHU-ga / tabako kemuri kudaka me-nu hama-ni / chimurigwa-nu tachayasi / kudakanishimishu-ga / tabaku chimuri
In the front beach of Kudaka, / the little smoke is rising up; / The great lord of Kudaka Nishime's / tobacco covered smoke.


っんぶさん

Ryūka Gikyoku
二月お穂立て　穂祭や　何の日取りや　よい日取り。米や重さり　石や軽つさり。
NIGWATSI-o-FODAte FO-MATSIRI-ya NAO-no FIDOri-ya yoi FI-MATSIRI. MAI-ya UBUsari, ISHI-ya GAssari nigwatsi u-fudati, fumatsiri ya, nū mi fidui ya, yui fidui? mē ya mbusai, ishi ya gassai.
The second month's building grain, the first grain's festival, what is the day to go with, is a good day to go with. Rice are heavy, stones are light.


天彦

ryu-head

天彦(*あまびこ) or 天彦(*あまびく) (*amabiko or *amabiku)

山彦 和詞にも同し 天彦共云也

Yamabiko: [Used] the same as in Japanese songs. Also called "amabiko".

YAMABIKO: WASHI nimo ONAji AMABIKO TOMO II NARI

(Old Okinawan, archaic) echo; reverberation


すーりー

From Proto-Ryukyuan *soroe; cognate with Yonaguni すり (suri, “plate”).
Historically recorded in the Haydong Jegukki as 쉬릐 (Yale: suy luy).

おそれい　菜皿之事　それい共云

Osorei, a dish plate; also called sorei.

おそろい　御菜皿の事　それい共云

Osoroi: a (noble) dish plate; also called sorei.


うしろかろかろと

うしろかろかろと or *うしるかるがるとぅ (ushirokarokaroto)

うしろかろかろと (canonical)
*うしるかるがるとぅ (canonical)
ushirokarokaroto (romanization)

In Modern Okinawan, it would be a compound of うしる (ushiru, “behind”) + かるがるーとぅ (karugarūtu, “lightly”).

com

うしろかろかろと 同集に うしろやすきとは心やすきなり 哥に萬世の霜にも枯ぬ白菊をうしろやすくもかさしつるかな

Ushirokarogaroto: In the same environment as above (呉竹 (kuritaki, “a bamboo with many small leaves”)), it is about the back being easy and the heart being easy. In songs, I believe white chrysanthemum could survive through the everlasting frost by using hairpins.

後ろ軽々と 後ろ軽々と#Okinawan

後ろ軽々と: (Old Okinawan, possibly) a calm or easy heart, even in unfavorable conditions


にがよ

Literally "bitter generation".
The expected modern Shuri reflex would have been *んじゃゆ (*njayu).

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi
はなくすく　おわる　みかなしの　てだの　にかよう　あまよ　なす　てだ
fanagusuku owaru mikanashi no teda no nigayo(o) amayo nasu teda
I visit Fanagusuku; the bitter age sun makes the sweet age sun.

にかよう 凶歳の事也


ウチナーグチ

Alternative form of 沖縄口 (“Okinawan language”)


ぐしく

ぐしく ^ (canonical)
gushiku (romanization)
gusiku (romanization)
ぐすぃく (hiragana historical)


あったみ

Attested in the Konkōkenshū in compounds, as あつため; of unknown origin. The Proto-Ryukyuan words for "meat" is *sisi and *mi, the former being attested with the meaning "meat" in Okinawan. Both words are also well attested throughout Ryukyuan.

つのあつため 牛肉の事 ／ つかないのあつため 豕の事 ／ かうのあつため 鹿肉 ／ やまあつため 山猪 ／ ひゝしやあつため 羊肉

Tsuno attame, beef / tsukanai no attame, pork / kau no attame, venison / yama attame, wild pork / fifija attame, mutton


ないちゃー

naichā (romanization)
ないちゃあ (alternative)
内地人 (alternative)

Compound of ないち (naichi, “mainland”) + あー (-ā, person suffix).

suffix

a mainlander: non-Ryukyuan Japanese people

someone living or coming from mainland Japan (Honshū, Shikoku, Kyūshū, etc.)


ないちゃあ

naichā (romanization)
ないちゃー (alternative)
内地人 (alternative)


ごーやーちゃんぷるー

ryu-head

ごーやーちゃんぷるー (gōyāchanpurū)

→ Japanese: ゴーヤーチャンプルー (gōyā chanpurū)

Compound of ごーやー (gōyā, “bitter melon”) + ちゃんぷるー (-chanpurū, “chanpuru (Okinawan stir-fry)”).

suffix

a type of Okinawan home style stir-fried dish consisting of thinly sliced bitter melon, crumbled tofu, vegetables, pork and cooking oil, etc.

stir-fried together and seasoned with salt, pepper, bonito flakes.


御主加那志前

ryu-head

うしゅん がなしぇー まい

うすん がなしぇー まい

御主加那志前(うしゅがなしーめー) or 御主加那志前(うすーがなしーめー) or 御主加那志前(うしゅんがなしぇーまい) or 御主加那志前(うすんがなしぇーまい) (ushu ganashī mē or usū ganashī mē or ushun ganashē mai or usun ganashē mai)

御主加那志前 (canonical)
ushu ganashī mē (romanization)
usū ganashī mē (romanization)
ushun ganashē mai (romanization)
usun ganashē mai (romanization)
うしゅがなしーめーうすーがなしーめーうしゅんがなしぇーまいうすんがなしぇーまい (hiragana)

From 御主 (ushu, “master”) + 加那志 (-ganashī, honorific suffix) + 前 (honorific suffix).


油揚ぎー

ryu-head

油揚(あんだ)ぎー or 油揚(あんだー)ぎー (andagī or andāgī)

油揚ぎー (canonical)
andagī (romanization)
andāgī (romanization)

From 油 (anda, “oil”) + 揚ぎー (-agī, “fried”). Cognate with Japanese 油揚げ (aburaage, “aburaage; fried tofu”).

cog

砂糖油揚ぎー

砂糖油揚 さーたーあんだ


砂糖油揚ぎー

ryu-head

砂糖油揚(さーたーあんだ)ぎー or 砂糖油揚(さーたーあんだー)ぎー (sātā andagī or sātā andāgī)

砂糖油揚ぎー (canonical)
sātā andagī (romanization)
sātā andāgī (romanization)

From 砂糖 (sātā, “sugar”) + 油 (-anda, “oil”) + 揚ぎー (-agī, “fried”)

suf

Alternative form of さーたーあんだぎー (sātā andagī)


さーたーあんだぎー

ryu-head

さーたーあんだぎー (sātāandagī)

sātāandagī (romanization)
さーたーあんだーぎー (alternative)

desc

→ Japanese: サーターアンダーギー

→ Japanese: サーターアンダーギー

→ English: sata andagi, andagi

Compound of さーたー (sātā, “sugar”) + あんだ (-anda, “oil”) + あぎー (-agī, “fried”).

suffix

砂糖油揚ぎー 砂糖油揚ぎー#Okinawan

砂糖油揚ぎー: an Sata andagi: an Okinawan doughnut.


さーたーあんだーぎー

ryu-head

さーたーあんだーぎー (sātā andāgī)

desc

→ Japanese: サーターアンダーギー

→ Japanese: サーターアンダーギー

→ English: sata andagi, andagi

砂糖油揚ぎー 砂糖油揚ぎー#Okinawan

さーたーあんだぎー さーたーあんだぎー#Okinawan

砂糖油揚ぎー: Alternative form of さーたーあんだぎー (sātā andagī)


さーたー

From Proto-Ryukyuan *sata, from Middle Chinese 砂糖 (MC srae dang). Related to Japanese 砂糖 (satō).


やままやー

やま (yama, “mountain, wild”) + まやー (mayaa, “cat”)

af

山猫:
(especially) a stray cat, an alley cat


あたびちゃー

atabichā (romanization)
あたびち (alternative)


島言葉

shima kutuba (romanization)
ば (hiragana)

Compound of 島 (shima, “island”) + 言葉 (-kutuba, “speech, dialect, language”)

suffix

A term or expression frequently used to denote the local language or dialect (or speech, word(s), idiom) of an island, especially that of Okinawa or Amami.


しまくとぅば

Compound of しま (shima, “island”) + くとぅば (-kutuba, “speech, dialect, language”)

島言葉: A term or expression frequently used to denote the local language or dialect (or speech, word(s), idiom) of an island, especially that of Okinawa or Amami.


おぼつ

The expected modern Shuri reflex would have been *うぶち (*ubuchi). Likely of compound origin.

1531-1623, Omoro Sōshi
おぼつより　かゑて　けよのうちに　もどて　てるかはわ　てりより　てるしのは　おしより
obotsu yori kaete keyo no uchi ni modote terukafa wa teryori terushino wa oshori
Returning to the heavenly sky, returning during the day. The bright sun shines, the bright sun shines through.

おほつかくら 天上の事を云 いつれも首里王府神哥御双紙に見よ

Obotsukagura: used as meaning the heavens. See Sōshi (Omoro Sōshi from the Divine Government of Shuri).

(Old Okinawan) heaven (place where a god sits)