The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales

by R. H. Mathews

Any tree ngulla.
Ti-tree mudda.
Wattle nummerak.
Pine buggumbul.
Oak dulwa.
Cherry-tree mummadya.
Gum-tree yerradhang.
Yellow-box bargang.
Honeysuckle dhulwa.
Ironbark thirriwirri.
Stringybark buriñ.
Yam dharâbañ.
Bulrushes gummiuk.

WEAPONS, UTENSILS, ETC.

Tomahawk mundubang.
Koolamin gûngun.
Yamstick gaualang.
Spear dyuiñ.
Spear lever womur.
Spear shield bimbiang.
Waddy shield murga.
Fighting club kûdyeru.
Hunting club bundi.
Boomerang berra.
Net bag goañ.
Canoe mundang.
Headband gambañ.
Kilt burrañ.

ADJECTIVES.

Alive mulanggari.
Dead burrakbang.
Large buggarabaug.
Small nyerrigurang.
Tall or long bâmir.
Low or short gŭngur.
Good yeddung.
Bad gŭdba.
Red dhirrum dhirrum.
White duggurugurak.
Black buru-burâ.
Mad gauang.
Crazy yugi-yugang.
Stubborn wambarung.
Valiant gurumbul.
Quick burrai.
Slow gûnyan.
Strong yurwang.
Afraid dyaui-dyauty.
Tired yurrity.
Sharp midyir-midyir.
Fat bewanbang.
Lean ngauatyba.
Hot winyudha.
Cold gurrit.
Angry yugo.
Sleepy gung-gung.
Glad waddhir.
Sorry ngaralda.
Greedy merradhiñ.
Sick gêr.
Stinking bugung.
Much gurung.
Little muinggang.
Pregnant malingilimang.
True gûndyaina.

VERBS.

Die berak.
Eat dhaimbaliri.
Drink wimbaliri.
Sleep ngambori.
Stand dharri-iri.
Sit ngulla-iri.
Talk dhuniai.
Tell dhuniung.
Walk yerrabi.
Run munni.
Bring munnagali.
Take mali.
Make bungi.
Break mudyat.
Chastise millai.
Beat ngubi.
Arise badyi.
Fall down buggâli.
See nangi.
Look naii.
Hear ngurrambai.
Listen wanggirrali.
Give yûnggi.
Cook dyandai.
Steal gurrangi.
Request dyunggadyai.
Sing yŭnggaballi.
Weep nyimali.
Blow, with breath bumbi.
Blow, as wind bunima.
Climb bui-i.
Conceal buddai.
Jump dyŭtbi.
Laugh birrigai.
Scratch birrâdilli.
Tear bunggur.
Forget walagi.
Do bŭngi.
Send iddyi.
Suck bindi.
Swim yerra.
Fly yerra.
Bathe ngaugi.
Search for gadi.
Spit dyugai.
Smell billai.
Bite burri.
Play woggabaliri.
Touch or catch mungga-iri.
Throw yerrambi.
Pitch wadhi.
Whistle windi.
Pretend kwigai.
Vomit garrugi.
Dance wagi.
Dive burugi.
Sting dyandi.
Hunt gadali.
To scent, as a dog gundali.
Drive dhurali.
Go yerrabi.
Come munnagai.
Burn gunnami.
Chop gudbaiiri.
Feel burrangiri.

[1] “Initiation Ceremonies of Australian Tribes,” Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc., vol. xxxvi, pp. 54–73, map.

[2] “The Group Divisions and Initiation Ceremonies of the Bar-Kunjee Tribes,” Journ. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, vol. xxxii, pp. 240–250, map. That map includes with the Wiradyuri, the territory of the Burreba-burreba tribe, because their initiation ceremonies and marriage laws are the same.

[3] “The Victorian Aborigines: their Initiation Ceremonies and Division Systems,” American Anthropologist, vol. xi, pp. 325–343, map.