The Miskito Phrasebook Project
| Around Town | ||
| Apis | oficina | office |
| Banco | banco | bank |
| Koreiyo | correo | post office |
| Direksion | direccion | address |
| Market | Mercado | market |
| Polis | policia | police |
| Skool | escuela | school |
| Suwatla (su) | cine | cinema |
| Telecor | telefono | telephone |
| Turista apis | oficina turistica | tourist office |
| Dia teim cuacansa? | A que hora esta abierta/o? | When does it open? |
| Dia teim prakansa? | A que hora esta cerrado/a? | When does it close? |
| Dia sipsna dowkaya timia Hay algo para hacer en la noche? Is there anything to do tonight? |
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| Na timia dia barsa? Algo pasara hoy noche? Is anything on tonight? |
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| Dia dow keisma na timia. Que hace usted esta noche? What are you doing tonight? |
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| Hay bapaya dimia dukiara? Se necesita pagar para entrar? Is there a cover charge? |
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| Iglesia/Church | ||
| Bibil | Biblia | Bible |
| Daiwan | Dios | God |
| Evangelika | Evangelica | Protestant |
| Kiatelik | Catolica | Catholic |
| Pasil | Sacerdote | Preacher |
| Preisa watla | iglesia | church |
| Nara preisa watla kum lamara apua? Hey una iglesia cerca? Is there a church near? |
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| Banco/Bank | ||
| Cuacansa | abiert/a | open |
| Prakansa | cerrado/a | closed |
| Dalas | dolares | dollars |
| Lala | dinero/plata | Money |
| Lala Miriki/Dolah | dolares | US dollars |
| Sismonaya | cambiar (plata) | change (money) |
| Anyminit | cajero automatico | ATM |
| Sipsna sismonaya (lala)? | Puedo cambiar (dinero)? | Can I change (money)? |
| Ansara dalas sismonaya sipsna? Donde se puede cambiar dolares? Where can I change dollars? |
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| Shopping | ||
| Naki Pries? | ¿Cuanto vale? | How much does that cost? |
| Bir | cerveza | beer |
| Bootch | botas | boots |
| Chaket | abrigo, camisa | jacket, shirt |
| Cigarette | cigarro | cigarette |
| Cuala | tela | cloth |
| Glas | vidrio | glass |
| Ion | metal | metal |
| Owshtia | papel | paper |
| Prak | vestido | dress |
| Pries | precio | Price |
| Pencil | lapicero | pen |
| Royo | rollo | film |
| Saks | medias | socks |
| Sap | tienda | Shop |
| Sapka | pulperias | convenience stores |
| Slilmika | hamaca | hammock |
| Sombrero | condom | condom |
| Sumora | sombrero, gorra | hat |
| Tat | madera | wood |
| Tow | toalla | towel |
| Trous | pantalon | pants (trousers) |
| Tuwaco | tobacco | tobacco |
| Tweeva | marijuana | marijuana |
| Wan | necesitar/querer | want/need |
| Watch | reloj | watch |
| Problemas/Problems | ||
| Amisa | fuego! | Fire! |
| Aimplikida | ladrón | thief |
| Belsa | bolsa | purse, pocket |
| Liar | abogado | lawyer |
| Mochila | mochila | backpack |
| Pors | billetero | wallet |
| Polis | policia | police |
| Pulismita aitakaskansa | Estoy en carcel | I’ve been arrested |
| Yan diara no apo | No lo hize | I didn’t do it. |
| Yan porski tikri | perdi mi billete! | I lost my wallet |
| Yan tiburisa | estoy perdido | I’m lost |
| Was! | Vengase! | Go away |
| Uplika (People/Gente) | ||
| Almo | adulta | adult/old female |
| Bahamerca | esta mujer | that woman (her) |
| Bahamerca pain | buena mujer | good woman |
| Bahatuktika | esta cosa | that thing (it) |
| Bahawetnika | este hombre | that man (him) |
| Bahawetnika uya pain apia | hombre horrible | really bad guy |
| Bas | jefe | chief, leader, boss |
| Dalenki | novio/a | boyfriend or girlfriend |
| Dama | adulto | adult/old male |
| Delen | amor | darling |
| Escritor | escritora | writer |
| Miriki | gringo/turista | American/tourist |
| Pana | amigo | friend |
| Painiki | amigo | friend |
| Skuluplika | estudiantes mas viejos | older students |
| Skultuktika | estudiantes mas jovenes | younger students |
| Uplika | gente | person |
| Uplikanani | gente, pueblo | the people, el pueblo |
| Waroplika | soldado | soldier |
| Wehili, yanwehili | enemigo, mi enemigo | enemy, my enemy |
| Yan | Yo | I |
| Familia, Family | ||
| Yanmamiki | madre | mother |
| Yanpapiki | padre | father |
| Lekra | hermano | brother |
| Muiski | hermana | sister |
| Tuktansirpei | bebe | baby |
| Suaplupia | bebe pequeñito | really little baby |
| Tuktan | nino | child |
| Nahabelbika | esta bebe | this baby |
| Lukpa | hijos | kids |
| Lupiam | mi hijo | my son |
| Lupi | mi hija | my daughter |
| Lanka | hermana | sister |
| Manuka | hermano | brother |
| Muliya | suegra | mother-in-law |
| Dapnei | suegro | brother-in-law |
| Lanka brisma? | Tiene usted hermana? | Do you have sisters? |
| Manuka brisma? | Tiene usted hermano | Do you have brothers? |
| Man marid? | Esta usted casada | Are you married? |
| Yan meidin/hwekna apo | No estoy casada | I’m not married (literally, I don’t have a woman/man) |
| Lupka an brisma? Cuantos hijos tiene? How many children do you have? |
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| El Cuerpo, The Body | ||
| Bili | boca | mouth |
| Dukiemtara | organos femininos | female genetalia |
| Kiyaima | oreja | ear |
| Kleska | hombros | shoulders |
| Kluki | estomago | stomach |
| Kuhumi | rodilla | knee |
| Kupia | corazón | heart |
| Laimadusa | pechos | breasts |
| Leila | cabeza | head |
| Leila malbra | cerebro | brain |
| Leima | cuello | neck |
| Naigra | ojo | eye |
| Naipa | dientes | teeth |
| Maiwan | cara | face |
| Maibra | organos masculinos | male genetalia |
| Milte | mano | hand |
| Milteki | las manos | both hands |
| Mini | pie | foot |
| Descripciones, Descriptions | ||
| Baiwan | flaco | thin |
| Batana | gordo | fat |
| Bindowkisa | ruidosa | noisy |
| Mantara samba | emocional | emotional, upset |
| Paisa | tuanis | sweet |
| Pini | claro | light complexion |
| Siksa | negro | dark complexion |
| Sirpi | bajo | short |
| Srinwaskira | perezoso | lazy |
| Suso | disnudo | naked |
| Tada | hermosa | beautiful |
| Ubalowisma | celoso | jealous |
| Yadi | alto | tall |
| Actividades, Activities | ||
| Pulisma | jugar | play |
| Practis | practicando | practice |
| Wopayo | caminando | hiking |
| Beisbal | beisball | baseball |
| Futbal | futbal | soccer |
| Surfing | surfing | surfing |
| Aisikeikisma | leyendo | reading |
| Kesobaya | viajar | travel (literally, “to pass”) |
| Yan manegual pulaya wansma? Quiere usted jugar conmigo? Would you like to play with me? |
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| Politics | ||
| Democracia | democracia | democracy |
| Drogas | drogas | drugs |
| Economia | economia | economy |
| Educacion | educacion | education |
| Imsa | egalidad | equality |
| Libaska (bas) | surco del agua | water source |
| Naturaleza | naturaleza | nature |
| Politic | politicas | politics |
| Sindicato | sindicato | union |
| Ulbesma | vota | you vote |
| Warakapo | disempleo | unemployment |
| Warailal | empleo | employment (“lots of work”) |
| Man dia lookisma naho gobierno? Que piense del gobierno? What do you think of the government? |
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| Man ya dukiara ulbesma? Por quien va a votar? Who are you going to vote for? |
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| Naha Bluefieldsra contaminacion dukia apuki nara? Hay mucho contaminacion en Bluefields? Is Bluefields very polluted? |
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| Nature/Naturaleza This section features my favorite phrase in the entire Miskito language: |
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| Naha casabriakana slilma ailal El cielo esta lleno de estrellas The sky is full of stars |
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| Geography | ||
| Ahuya | arena | sand |
| Ankisa | derromoto | landslide |
| Bocana | catarata | waterfall |
| Cabumutara | bahia | bay |
| Ila-ila | lugar de ceros | place of hills |
| Iltara | volcán | volcano |
| Isla | isla | island |
| Kabu | mar | ocean |
| Lago | lago | lake |
| Li | agua | water |
| Lilapta | agues termales | hot springs |
| Naha cos | la costa | the coast |
| Playa | playa | beach |
| Tabuka tara | la marea | tide |
| Prizcamku | teritoria | territory |
| Tabowkiya | sendero | trail |
| Tasaba | Tierra | (planet) Earth |
| Tatara | montaña | mountain (non-volcanic) |
| Tingni | rio | river |
| Tingni sirpei | arroyo | creek |
| Untatara | bosque | forest |
| Uwalpa | piedra | rock |
| Wapiwaya | caminar, sendero | to walk, also trail |
| Weather | ||
| Casablika, tihimo | nuboso | cloudy |
| Kauhula | hace frio | it’s cold |
| Laonza | seco | dry |
| Laowan | seco | dry |
| Lapsada | hay sol | sunny |
| Lagun | lago, agua dulce | lake, fresh water |
| Muswan | mojado | wet |
| Payaska | viento | the wind |
| Riawisa | lueve | rainy |
| Teimkana lapsada/laonza | temporal seca | dry season |
| Teimkana liayusa | temporal lluvia | rainy season |
| Timo | sombra | shade |
| Ubababitnei | hace calor | it’s hot |
| Ubalapta | claro | sunny |
| Ubapayaska | ventoso | windy |
| Other | ||
| Cielo | cielo | sky |
| Drei papa | lodo | mud |
| Dus | plantas | plants |
| Ilili | tiburon | shark |
| Kahabrika | cielo | heaven |
| Kasabrika | cielo | sky |
| Kati | luna | moon |
| Kati natara | luna llena | full moon |
| Kati pain | luna Buena | good moon |
| Lapta | sol, caliente | sun, heat |
| Manikum | sombra | shade |
| Marked | señalado | marked |
| Naja duskina sika | plantas medicinales | medicinal plants |
| Natnawira nani | aves | Birds |
| Powta | leña | firewood |
| Reep | ola, recasa | current, riptide, wave (note that the root may be riptide) |
| Rwa | perico | parrot |
| Sililma | estrella | star |
| Tairi | zancudo | mosquito |
| Uros | monos | monkeys |
| Marked par la pinzakee kilbi tabowkiya? Esta el sendero bien señalado? Is the trail well-marked? |
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| Danomite barsakei? Hay minas? Are there landmines? |
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| Man lookisma naha pleeskana diaria Saura barsakei?
Esta esta zona peligrosa? Is this area dangerous? |
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| Bocana bar sapa? Nu apu amsara bocana barsapa? Donde esta la catarata? Where is the waterfall? (You don’t know where the waterfall sits?) |
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| Man nu apu ansara pleeskum barsapa turista uplika dukiara? No hay gente que puede estar como guia para los turistas? You don’t know where there’s someone who can guide tourists? |
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| Yan sipsna naki naha pleeskana dimeiya? Podria entrar? Can I go there? |
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| Naha li pain? Esta esta agua Buena? Is this water OK to drink? |
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| Wapiwaya painsake problema apu? Esta el sendero seguro? Is the path safe? |
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| Sipsna man prizcamku nueewaiya? Podria pasar su propiedad? May I cross your property? |
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| Naha priskana sipsna yan yawaiya. Esta seguro a nadar aqui? Is it safe to swim here? |
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| Nan kabu canara ouya reep apu? Hay corriente recasa aqui? Are there riptides here? |
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| Teim kana paisaki nara? Como es el clima? How’s the weather? |
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