aabak

I. N

1. animal,body,human body hair , [ESP] vello

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngulkang aabak niauki abungi, yaap naasarki.
We singe/burn roast the wari hair in the fire and we scrape the body.
Ikursking aabak baingbing ning nkiikna.
This man has plenty chest hair.

2. bird,body feather , [ESP] pluma

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nguliik aabak ngarngaringma.
The parrot has green feathers.
El loro tiene plumas verdes.

[arriba]

aak

I. N

1. name , [ESP] nombre

[arriba]

aalbut

I. N

1. animal,reptile snake , [ESP] culebra

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Aalbut kaat tahma. Kiibingma.
The snake have no foot. It is straight.
Aalbut almaliki.
The snake curls up/wraps itself

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are many, many beliefs about snakes in general, and different kinds in particular, one of which is that all or some snakes can turn into other animals and back again, tricking people. Snakes are a constant worry everywhere, even on Rama Cay.

[arriba]

aalbut aing dakta

I. N

1. human snake doctor

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
aalbut	aing	dakta
snake	of	doctor
culebra

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See 'aalbut aing nkiikna'

[arriba]

aalbut aing kat

I. N

1. plant snake tree

[arriba]

aalbut aing nkiikna

I. N

1. human snake doctor

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
aalbut	aing	nkiikna
snake	of	man
culebra

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are no longer any traditional Rama snake doctors, as the Moravian missionaries dissuaded the last one on Rama Cay, and no others were known, though everyone has some knowledge about bush cures, and some of the older men who live in the southern areas know more than others people. Miskitu are generally acknowledged to know more about snakebite cures these days, though it is more often self-acclaimed Spanish campesinos who are called on in emergencies. These people often charge exhorbitant rates ahead of time, such as all of the family's good cookware plus food and other things of value since most people don't have much cash. The outcome is not often good unless the victim is lucky and didn't get a good dose of venom. See 'aalbut aing dakta'

[arriba]

aalbut aingwa

I. N

1. animal,reptile fer-de-lance, bushmaster

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Aalbut aingwa baingbi. Naing aalbut arngutuing. Ma yarngutka ma imalngi. Aalbut aing dakta skuutaamaka, ma imalngut.
That is the real tamagou that is. This snake bite. When he bites you, he kills you. When we no have the snake doctor you die.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Most Rama seem to categorize both the fer-de-lance and bushmaster as albut aingwa, barba amarilla and toboba in Spanish, respectively. Very central in the life of the Ramas and in their belief system. Variations on how to dispose of one that is killed; one commn belief that the head should be buried and the body dashed away. For the snake in this photo, the whole animal was buried at the bush edge of an occupied piece of land.

[arriba]

aalbut nuknuknga

I. N

1. animal,reptile beadsie snake

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Aalbut nuknuknga ituuk u yarnguli. suulaik tkii su yaanaiki.
The yellow snake bites whith the tail. In the bush on the ground he creeps.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
aalbut	nuknuknga
snake	yellow
culebra

[arriba]

aalbut sii ki ka

I. N

1. animal,fish eel , [ESP] Anguila

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Aalbut sii ki ka sii ki bii aakari. Kauling aa yarnguli.
The water snake stays always in the water. He no bite people.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
aalbut	sii	ki	ka
snake	water	in	from
culebra

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This probably refers to the freshwater eel, which is sometimes caught by handline, and usually not eaten because it resembles a snake. There is also a "tauli aing albut" which refers to sea eels, probably moray eels from the description.
Probablemente se refiere a la anguila de agua dulce, que a veces se pesca con cuerda de pescar, y generalmente no se come por que parece culebra. También hay una "tauli aing albut" que sólo se refiere a anguilas de mar, por la descripción pueden ser las anguilas llamadas morenas.
Gramatical:
See also 'sii aing aalbut' with the same meaning, and "tukbut." Also "tauli aing albut."
Ver con el mismo significado sii aing aalbut, tukbut: ver tambien con significado relacionado: tauli aing aalbut.
Léxica:
See "tauli aing albut."

[arriba]

aalbut suknguang

I. N

1. animal,reptile baby snake

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
aalbut	suknguang
snake	animal baby
culebra

[arriba]

aaluk

I. N

1. body bone , [ESP] hueso

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kuyak karka yualptangsu, itkua aaluk yaarku.
He dropped down from high and he broke his leg bone.
El se cayó desde arriba y se quebró el hueso de la pierna.

2. animal,body,plant prickle , [ESP] espina

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ulungulung aalukwa.
The pricklepine has sprickles
El puercoespin tiene espinas.

[arriba]

aap

I. N

1. animal,body,human body , [ESP] cuerpo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Naap alkiini aingu, naapalngaakari.
My body itches that's why I am brushing/sweep it.
Naap siika u naasarki.
I rub my body with medicine.

2. body,plant trunk , [ESP] tronco

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Airitrak kat aap pluuma. Yuup parparnga.
The tree trunk of the olive is white. Its seeds are black.

Notas:

Léxica:
Source of very productive relational noun in 'aap su', 'aap ki' (on (the body of)--)

[arriba]

aapair

I. N

4. wave , [ESP] ola

II. V

1. mov open

2. swing , [ESP] mecer

4. shoot , [ESP] disparar

[arriba]

aaping

I. N

1. family,human uncle , [ESP] tío

1. family,human nephew , [ESP] sobrino

2. family,human brother , [ESP] hermano

[arriba]

aapsing

I. N

1. health sickness , [ESP] enfermedad

2. health fever , [ESP] fiebre

[arriba]

aapsing saimawa

I. N

1. health malaria

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
aapsing	saima	-wa
sickness	cold	with
enfermedad

[arriba]

aapu

I. N

1. plant john fish tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Aapu a very strong wood; stronger than suupa, but you can't always get it. Highly desired for peg staffs, bows, etc.

Una madera muy fuerte; más fuerte que suupa, pero siempre la podés conseguir. Muy deseada para elaborar el tipo de lanza que utilizan, arcos, etc.

[arriba]

aaras

I. N

1. animal,mammal horse , [ESP] caballo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kauling bula uungi, araas aing ngiskat u araas ngiskat siik siilak u anaasarki, ibulakama.
They scrape the teeth of the horse jaw with a nail to make noise.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
Both vowels can be lengthened : 'aaras' or 'araas'.
Léxica:
Indirect borrowing from English (horse) through Miskitu 'aras'.

[arriba]

aaras aing kalka

I. N

1. health,plant unidentified medicinal plant

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A straight, tallish bush plant with largish jaggedy leaves. The leaf is boiled and drunk "for your blood." It is bitter-tasting.

arbusto recto, alto, con hojas largas e irregulares. La hoja se hierve y se bebe "para la sangre". tiene un sabor amargo. (Cola de Caballo?)

[arriba]

aaring

I. N

1. body excrement , [ESP] excremento

2. body shit , [ESP] mierda

[arriba]

aat

I. N

1. animal,body egg , [ESP] huevo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Suksuk aap niitniitwa bii.
The body of the racoon is a striped one too.
El cuerpo del mapache es rayado también.

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. body testicles , [ESP] testículos

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Ramas rarely eat chicken eggs; the women usually sell them. However, they do relish boiled turtle eggs, whether sea turtles or freshwater turtles. This includes cooking undeveloped eggs along with the meat in the case of freshwater turtles. Fish eggs, roe, are also a special treat, usually wrapped in a leaf and set into the coconut stew pot along with the fish and breadkind to cook.

Los Ramas en raras ocasiones comen huevos de gallina, las mujeres generalmente los venden. Sin embargo, les encantan los huevos hervidos de tortuga, sean estos de tortuga de mar o de agua fresca; cocinan los huevos poco desarrollados junto con la carne, en este caso de las tortugas de agua fresca. Huevos de pescado, roe, son también un manjar, usualmente envueltos en hojas y colocados en un caldo con coco y cocinados junto a pescado y bastimento.

[arriba]

aatkaima

I. ADJ

1. left

Composicion:

derivation

Morfemas
aatka	ima
leave	participle

[arriba]

aat uuk

I. N

1. animal,body egg shell

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Siksik kaabi yaat uuk yaarikbaakiri, tabiibang.
The baby chick just broke the egg shell to come out.
El pollito acaba de quebrar el cascaron para salir.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
aat	uuk
egg	shell
huevo	concha, cáscara

[arriba]

abang

I. N

1. family,human father , [ESP] padre, papá

Notas:

Etnográfica:
An old word for "father" unknown to some nowadays.

Vieja palabra para referirse a "padre", desconocida por algunos hoy en día.

[arriba]

abiis

I. N

1. food,plant squash, calabaza, ayote

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Abiis kutkubisba. Ikaas nuknuknga. Yuup psutki kat pluuma. Abiis pwatpa u naasiiki.
The pumpkin is round. Its flesh is yellow. The inside seed white. I boil it with sugar.
Abiis seerini.
Pumpkin getting full/big.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not a common food for the Ramas.

No es una comida común para los Rama.

[arriba]

abiis tataara

I. N

1. food,plant watermelon , [ESP] sandía

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Abiis tataara tuktiinka, nsuut sabaa kwsi. pwatpa kwiskama.
When the watermelon is ripe, we eat it raw. It is sweet to eat.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
abiis	tataara
squash, calabaza, ayote	very big

[arriba]

abung

I. N

1. nat. fire , [ESP] fuego

2. dom. firewood , [ESP] leña

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Abung aungaik yukanaatingaakari.
Them sitting around the fire.
Abung kan kiing.
Put out the fire!

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Looking for, finding, "junking," transporting, and "busting" firewood is a never-ending, and hugely time and energy consuming chore. Most people still cook with firewood, which is not as readily available as before. Also, since it rains so much, keeping your firewood dry is also a chore, as is keeping it from being stolen. Men also sell firewood in Bluefields.

Buscar, encontrar, arreglar, transportar y “busting” leña es una tarea de nunca terminar, que consume una enorme cantidad de tiempo y energía. La mayoría de la gente todavía cocina con leña, que no es tan accesible como antes. Además, puesto que llueve mucho, mantener la leña seca es también un trabajo, así como almacenarla para que no se la roben. Los hombres venden leña en Bluefields.

[arriba]

abung kaalup

I. N

1. artef.,cooking,dom. matches , [ESP] fósforos

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kruubu siksiknga ning kruubu tuk suma usru ikuuka imalngi ikwisatkulu yaap parnga pluuma.
This tiger has a long tail. When he catch a chicken, he kill it and eat it up. His body is black and white.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Matches have to be bought and kept dry. New fires are generally started with matches and diesel or kerosene. A few carry disposable lighters. If you have no matches and diesel or kerosene, you might ask someone to borrow a "piece of fire," i.e., a piece of burning wood or coal. Some still cook traditionally with three big logs on the floor whose ends are shoved together and kindling put in the middle, and then a new fire is lit. Once lit, if you have a good type of wood such as siin or kaliiba, you can pull the logs apart after you are done cooking, and they will still be hot enough to "catch fire" the next day. Hardened rubber sap is an instant fire starter......as long as you have a match (but you don't need diesel.)

Los fósforos deben comprarse y mantenerse secos. El fuego se enciende, generalmente, con fósforos y diesel o kerosene. Algunos tienen encendedores. Si no tenés ni fósforos ni diesel o kerosene, podés pedir prestado un “pedazo de fuego”, i.e., un pedazo de leña o carbón encendido. Algunos aún cocinan de manera tradicional, con tres troncos en el suelo cuyas extremidades juntan y colocan delicadamente en medio, así encienden el fuego. Una vez encendido, si tenés un buen tipo de leña como el siin o kaliiba, podés separar los troncos una vez terminás de cocinar y continuarán suficientemente calientes como para “prender fuego” al día siguiente. La savia de hule endurecida es un encendedor de fuego instantáneo…mientras tengás fósforos (no necesitás tener diesel).

[arriba]

abungkat

I. N

1. cooking,dom.,plant firewood

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ikuubli kat ngaraak suulaik aakari. Yaalistingka, abungkat mliima.
There is plenty of milky tree in the bush. When it is dry, it is good firewood.

Notas:

Gramatical:
With the class marker 'kat' for longish shapes.

[arriba]

abungkis

I. N

1. cooking charcoal

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

abungkis yunsungiaakama
for hold coals with it

Notas:

Etnográfica:
If your fire is out and you don't have matches, if another house is close enough, you will probably go, or send a child to go, and ask for a "piece of fire," meaning a small burning piece of wood.

Si el fuego se te apaga y no tenés fósforos, y si la siguiente casa está suficientemente cerca, podés probablemente ir o mandar a un niño y pedir “un pedazo de fuego”, es decir, un pequeño pedazo de leña encendida.

[arriba]

abung krus

I. N

1. dom.,plant,tree charcoal

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Abung krus kunkuni.
The coal is blazing.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A non-traditional money-generating item, and Ramas themselves cook with wood. They make their charcoal from the ibu tree which is a hardwood and therefore better quality than what the Spaniards make and use. As of 2008, though, Spaniards were also burning iibu trees to make coal. The result is too many iibu trees being felled, to the detriment of the environment, to the animals that depend on the seed for food (e.g., macaws, givenots), and to people who harvest the seed to eat to make other food products.

Un producto no tradicional para obtener ingresos, los Ramas cocinan con leña. Ellos hacen el carbón del iibu, un árbol de madera dura y por tanto de mejor calidad que el carbón que hacen y usan los españoles. Pero, para el 2008, los españoles también estaban quemando iibu para hacer carbón. El resultado es muchos árboles de iibu cortados, para el detrimento del medio ambiente, de los animales que dependen de sus semillas como alimento (e.g. papagayo, givenot) y para las personas que cosechan la semilla para comer o para hacer otros productos alimenticios.

[arriba]

abung ngalaa

I. N

1. animal,food fire honey

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Abung puupu yuut nupisba. Ngalaali pwatpa yuungi. Yirii ki kat aap su yuungi.
The abung puupu bee is brown. It makes sweet honey. It makes it in the trees in the swamp.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not as sweet as other honey.

No es tan dulce como otras mieles.

[arriba]

abung plung

I. N

1. cooking ash

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
abung	plung
firewood	ash
leña

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You can wash pots with ashes in the bush when you don't have soap.

Podés lavar las porras con ceniza cuando no tenés jabón.

[arriba]

abung puupu uut

I. N

1. animal,insect grey honey bee

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Abung puupu yuut nupisba. Ngalaali pwatpa yuungi. Yirii ki kat aap su yuungi.
The abung puupu bee is brown. It makes sweet honey. It makes it in the trees in the swamp.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
abung	puupu	uut
fire	puupu	bug
fuego

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Everybody knows this one. Sometimes described as big grey bee and sometimes as big grey and brown.

Todos la conocen. Algunas veces es descrita como una gran abeja gris y algunas veces como ceniza y café.
Léxica:
Can also be 'abung puupu' alone.

[arriba]

abung sabaa

I. N

1. plant green wood

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
abung	sabaa
firewood	raw
leña

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This refers to firewood that has recently been cut and is not dry enough to start fire with. Some trees, such as "paullood," and red mangrove can burn when "green" if you mix them with other kinds of wood which "burn hot" such as iibu, swampwood, sleeping, kraabu or jug. White mangrove can burn by itself even when green.

Se refiere a la leña que ha sido recientemente cortada y no está suficientemente seca como para encender el fuego. Algunos árboles, como el “paullood” y el manglar rojo pueden encenderse cuando están “verde” si los mezclas con otros tipos de madera que “queman caliente”como el iibu, swampwood, sleeping, kraabu o jug. El manglar balnco puede quemar por sí solo aun cuando está verde.

[arriba]

abung sawa

I. N

1. cooking fire smoke

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Abung sawa tarkali.
Fire smoke come out.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
abung	sawa
firewood	smoke
leña

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Since they cook primarily with firewood, and in the house, the smoke has the benefit of helping to keep down mosquitoes in the house somewhat, but on the other hand, over time is detrimental to the eyes and lungs, especially if there is also smoke from diesel-burning bottle or can lamps which are burned for light. This is even worse in houses with zinc on both the roof and one or more sides.

Puesto que los Ramas cocinan fundamentalmente con leña, y en la casa, el humo tiene el beneficio de ahuyentar los mosquitos dentro de casa, pero, por el otro lado, con el paso del tiempo es perjudicial para los ojos y los pulmones, especialmente si también hay humo de botellas de diesel o lámparas que se queman para obtener luz. Esto es aún peor en las casas con zinc tanto en el techo como en uno o más costados.

[arriba]

adam aing ngaang

I. N

1. artef.,palm,plant

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a palm in the bush whose leaves are said to have been used by Adam as a bed.

Esta es una palma en los arbustos, de la cual se dice sus hojas fueron usadas como cama por Adam.

[arriba]

ai

I. N

1. food,plant corn , [ESP] maíz

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ai tarkitka, nipiai.
When the corn sprout, I plant it.
Ai ngaling su naamaiki, ingulung nuungkama.
I rub the corn on the rock to make flour.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They feed it to the chickens and hogs, make tamales ( usually only young corn tamales with coconut milk), porridge (corn pop in Kriol) and posol with it. Not a dietary staple, and not usually eaten roasted, or ground as hard corn for Spanish-style tortillas. Sold in Bluefields.
Noted in 2009 that the few spider monkeys left upriver in Cane Creek were eating corn due to habitat destruction, something unheard of previously.

[arriba]

ai airi

I. N

1. food 1. corn porridge 2. corn soup , [ESP] 1. atol de maíz 2. sopa de maíz

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ai	airi
corn	soup
maíz	sopa

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Can be one of two corn dishes. Corn pop is made by grinding boiled corn (either fresh corn or hard corn) and adding coconut milk. (Usually ground in a hand mill these days). Then, you can either add salt for ai airi supkaaba (sour pop), or sugar for ai airi pulkaaba (sweet pop). Watery ('airi') corn soup is made from either fresh or hard corn boiled and then served with either salt or sugar. More likely to be pop unless no mill at hand, or do not want to take the time to grind the corn.

[arriba]

aik

I. N

2. space edge

3. space side , [ESP] Lado

II. PSP

1. geo,space side

[arriba]

ai kaat

I. N

1. body,plant corn cob , [ESP] Mazorca

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ai	kaat
corn	stick
maíz

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is believed that burning the corn cobs and husks after you have shelled the corn is bad luck for the following harvest. However, some will burn them when they are out of firewood. They are supposed to be thrown away in the bush, but such disposal is getting harder since they are planting so much more corn (2009).
Gramatical:
Not to be confused with 'aikat' (cane).

[arriba]

aikat

I. N

1. food,plant sugar cane , [ESP] Cana de azucar

2. plant cane

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Any kind of edible cane but there are a number of different kinds. Usually mashed by hand in a homemade wooden press and strained through a skomfra cap (part of the skomfra palm that resembles a brown strainer) to extract the juice. Makes a very refreshing drink, especially when lime juice is squeezed into it. Used also to make alcoholic drinks. Also chewed on to suck the sweet juice, especially if you can't, or don't want to press it.
Léxica:
Not to be confounded with 'ai kaat' (corn cob). 'aikat' is also used as generic name for canes.

[arriba]

aikat arii

I. N

1. food,plant cane juice , [ESP] Jugo de cana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Extracted with manual cane press. Drunk with lime juice. Very refreshing, like coconut water.

[arriba]

aikat supkaaba

I. N

1. plant unidentified riverside bush

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a pretty bushy river waterside vine (i.e., not a kind of cane) which is common in Wiring Cay. It has dark green leaves, and bright red, waxy cone-shaped flowers. They drink the juice for medicine.

[arriba]

ai ngulung

I. N

1. food corn flour (corn meal) , [ESP] Harina de maiz

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ai	ngulung
corn	powder
maíz

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not made traditionally, neither flour (corn meal) nor pinolillo.

[arriba]

airbi

I. N

2. body blood

II. V

1. health bleed

[arriba]

airi

I. N

1. food soup , [ESP] sopa

1. food pop

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Watery soups or drinks. For instance, cockle soup.

[arriba]

airung

I. ADJ

1. big

II. N

1. family,human mother

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Can mean the biggest, mother of all, as with huge oyster from which the other oysters come.

[arriba]

airung yuwa

I. N

1. family,human grandmother

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
airung	yuwa
mother	old

[arriba]

aitukpa

I. N

1. animal,fish Weak fish, sea trout, kind of drummer fish (croake , [ESP] Corbina, tipo de tambor, (roncador)

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
Lives in rocky locations where algae grows and around shellfish locations such as oyster banks. You catch it with a hook with small shrimp for bait and with a gill net which you set near the shellfish bank. The best fishing for this
is during dry weather in March and April when the water is salty. There are two ways to enjoy eating it, fried, and in soupy rundown with coconut milk and breadkind such as dasheen, cassava, and green bananas.

Habita en lugares rocosos, donde crecen algas y en los concheros (Oyster Krawl). Se pesca con anzuelo, carnada de chacalines pequeños y trasmallo que s colocan cerca de los concheros. La mejor pesca es en verano, marzo y abril, cuando las aguas están saladas. Hay dos formas de saborearlo: frito y en rondón sopeado con leche de coco y bastimentos como malanga, yuca y guineos verdes.
Gramatical:
Old Rama. The current name for this fish is 'raukrauk'.
Léxica:
Perhaps old Rama. According to Pedro Macrea, “ai tukpa” also means “young corn,” which is soft, and the meat of this fish is soft.

Tal vez Rama antiguo. Para Pedro Macrea “ai tukpa” tambien significa maíz tierno, que es suave y la carne de este pescado es suave.

[arriba]

ai uuk

I. N

1. food,plant corn husk

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ai	uuk
corn	shell
maíz	concha, cáscara

Notas:

Etnográfica:
If they have corn husk they might wrap their eggs for sell in them; usually two to a husk. Itis considered bad luck to burn the corn cobs and husks after shelling he corn as that will bring a bad harvest the following year. However, many burn them now for fuel when there is no firewood, and since they are planting a lot more corn these days, it is harder to just throw all of the cobs and husks in the bush to rot.

[arriba]

albinup

I. N

1. artef.,cooking chocolate stirring stick , [ESP] Molinillo

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Could be like a Mexican type chocolate stick with round end.
Gramatical:
With suffix'-up' for roundish objects.

[arriba]

aliup

I. N

1. food,plant naata seed

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used ground in some coconut stews. Sold in Bluefields. Three classes: "tame" red, "wild" red, and green. Same leaves and same red seed inside for all.
Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish objects.

[arriba]

alkaa

I. ADJ

2. dry

II. N

1. nat. sun , [ESP] Sol

III. V

3. sun

Notas:

Gramatical:
The final 'aa' can be shortened.

[arriba]

alkaa uut

I. N

1. animal,insect sun ant

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
alkaa	uut
sun	bee
Sol	abeja

[arriba]

alkiini

I. N

1. food,plant gourd pepper , [ESP] Pimienta gorda

2. body,health itch

Notas:

Etnográfica:
People grow a number of cooking or medicinal shrubs near their house, especially on Rama Cay. Gourd pepper is used both when still green (slightly less hot) or when yellow and ripe (very hot). You prick one with a fork and set it in the pot; you don't bust it up because that would make the food too hot. You might put it in rice and beans or in a pot of rondon (fish or meat stewed in coconut milk). Gourd pepper has a distinctive scent and flavor. Not eaten raw. Women sometimes sell them in Bluefields.
You very occasionally come across the red variety (and more likely from Creoles in places such Corn Island), which has a slightly different taste.
Léxica:
Generic for peppers, of which there are many varieties. Could by itself be the gourd pepper.

[arriba]

alkiini arii

I. N

1. food,plant pepper sauce , [ESP] salsa picante, chilero

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Alkiini arii niuungi, yunaltungwakama. Nurnga alkiini niuungatkuli.
I make pepper sauce, to eat with. I make my food all peppery.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
alkiini	arii
gourd pepper	juice
Pimienta gorda	Jugo

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Cut up gourd pepper and onions and put them in a bottle with vinegar or lime juice and let it sit in the sun. Add to your plate of food as desired; most people use just some of the seasoned liquid, but others also eat pieces of the peppers and/or onions.

[arriba]

alkiini pargna

I. N

1. food,plant black pepper , [ESP] Pimienta negra

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Alkiini parnga ingiskiingi.
She sprinkles black pepper.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
alkiini	parnga
gourd pepper	black
Pimienta gorda

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Traditionally Ramas used several different varieties of small yellow or red (when ripe) peppers to flavor food. In more recent times, ground black pepper, which mus be bought in town, has become a popular special condiment for rondon, rice and beans, and various coconut-based soups.
Léxica:
Alkiini as a generic now.

[arriba]

alkiini saala

I. N

1. food,plant red pepper , [ESP] Pimienta roja

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Alkiini saala aa astaiki.
The red pepper is not hot.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
alkiini	saala
gourd pepper	red
Pimienta gorda

[arriba]

almuk

I. N

1. human old man , [ESP] Viejito

2. human husband

[arriba]

almuk aing tuaa

I. N

1. animal,fish old man fish, small creek , [ESP] Viejito

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A very small yellowish fish that resembles a masmas. Can be found in Alligator Creek.
Un pez pequeno y amarillento que se parece al Pinto. Se encuentra en Alligator Creek.
Léxica:
Can omit the possessive "aing" in such constructions, "almuk tuaa."
Se puede omitir el posesivo "aing" en este tipo de construcciones, "almuk tuaa".

[arriba]

almuk yuwa

I. N

1. God

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
almuk	yuwa
old man	old
Viejito	viejo

Notas:

Etnográfica:
'almuk yuwa' (lit: old old man) means 'God'. See also 'mwaing dama' for God.

[arriba]

almuumu

I. ADJ

1. joined

II. N

2. family,human twin

[arriba]

amkas

I. N

1. body,plant tree fork

2. artef. blade

3. artef.,food fork

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The meaning of eating fork is probably new. They usually eat with a spoon.
Gramatical:
For the meaning 'fork', see 'kat amkas' (fork in a tree).

[arriba]

apsaut

I. N

1. animal,insect grass lice

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nuunik taim ki, apsaut ngustak ngaara yaakar. sut yuktingka ngustak, maap yaapulki maap su. Itungutka yalkiini sut tiisi.
In the dry season, there are lots of lice outside. When you sit down outside, they climb up on you. When they get on your body itch you feel.
En la época seca, hay muchos piojos. Cuando uno se sienta afuera se le suben. Cuando se te meten en el cuerpo se siente picazón.

[arriba]

arangarang

I. N

1. animal,mammal small monkey, squirrel, opossum; maybe sq. monkey

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Arangarang sulkup puksak bii nsula iipsi.
"The ""scowbidudu"" shows us only two fingers."
El "scowbidudu" solo nos enseña dos dedos.
Arangarang suuli tiiskiba. seem suk isii yaltangi. Kat aap su kuyak kiyaakari.
The scoobidoodo is a small animal. It looks like a rat. It lives high in the tree.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It tells you how many years you have left to live, 1, 2, 3.... with its "fingers." It shows you its paw, so people burn it. It has a pretty face. If you bring it home, it disappears (NR). Another description (Paup) is that it is small, kind of like a squirrel, brown and white, with a short tail.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.

[arriba]

arii

I. N

1. liquid , [ESP] Liquido

2. juice , [ESP] Jugo

3. food drink , [ESP] Bebida

4. geo,water creek

Notas:

Gramatical:
The geography term 'arii' is the long form used after consonant final nouns, the short form for creek is 'rii'.

[arriba]

ariira

I. N

1. artef.,fishing line

2. artef. string

3. artef.,dory rope

4. clothes thread

[arriba]

ariira taik

I. N

1. artef. piece of string

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ariira	taik
string	end

[arriba]

ariis

I. N

2. animal,bird little parrot

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ariis sinup kraa.
A little parrot that is a swampwood seed eater

[arriba]

astar

I. N

1. space side

Notas:

Gramatical:
Only used in the expression 'astar su' (on the other side) and 'astar astar su' (on both sides).

[arriba]

astraabing

I. N

1. body,space side

[arriba]

auma

I. N

1. animal,mammal jaguar

2. human North American

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Salaik warknsutingi ying auma kulnga u Kolet.
Together we work with this(North American) lady Colette.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Very rare to find these days, endangered animal. Many beliefs attached to it, main creature of Rama cosmology.
Used for "gringos"!
Léxica:
Often substitute Miskitu kruubu when talking about the animal, or even in the Adam stories, but not when talking about the Rama people or Cane Creek (Never Kruubu Rii). Not clear what their categorizations of the big cats are as they seem to cover three color variations of jaguar, plus pumas, plus ocelots, margays, and oncillas with the same terms, especially kruubu.

[arriba]

aumaup

I. N

1. food,plant wild chocolate , [ESP] cacao silvestre

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a kind of chocolate. It is the 'tiger chocolate' that Miss Nora's father, a seer, used to drink to go talk to the tigers. Prepared with bird pepper (NR).
Gramatical:
Compound on 'auma' (tiger) and suffix '-up' class marker for roundish shape for the chocolate seed.
Léxica:
One of four kinds of chocolate (see also kuuk, ngerba, ngunisup)

[arriba]

aunga

I. N

2. artef. mirror , [ESP] Espejo

3. artef. photo , [ESP] Foto

II. V

3. percep. shine , [ESP] Brillar

5. look pretty

7. look

Notas:

Gramatical:
Intransitive or with an adjectival complement. This verb is generally used for shining, pretty, positive looking. As a noun it can mean 'mirror' or 'photo', that are shining/pretty objects. See also 'aakwaals aunga' (look pretty) and 'aunga kuu' (take photo).

[arriba]

ausa

I. N

1. body vein , [ESP] Vena

2. strength

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Interesting polysemy between 'vein' (carrying blood) and 'strength'. More often used as 'strength' than as 'vein'.

[arriba]

awa kiing

I. N

1. animal,hunting,reptile loggerhead turtle

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
awa	kiing
turtle	head
Tortuga

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Their least favorite sea turtle to catch because they don't like to eat it (tastes "rank"), and it has no commercial value. Neither do they eat the eggs, which are larger than those of the hawksbill and green turtle.

[arriba]

awas

I. N

2. nat. light , [ESP] Luz

3. plant rubber , [ESP] Caucho, latex

Pictures/Imagenes:

3. artef.,hunting,plant slingshot

4. plant,tree pine tree , [ESP] Pino

5. health rubber sap

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Generally used to mean "light" from any source. Rubber tree sap also called "awas" because you can use it to "catch fire" when you don't have diesel or kerosene, or to burn for light. This is done by cutting the rubber tree and letting the sap harden into solid rubber, which then immediately catches fire from a lit match. There are also a number of other uses. For example, you can "haul" a piece of hardened rubber into a string to wind around the part of your handline above the hook as you would a wire leader in order to make it harder for a fish to cut the line. Can also be used for the light to torch in the night in the bush, though as of 2008, more people were acquiring headlamps for this purpose. Also used to make the rubber part of a slingshot. To do this you carve a mold into the dirt, pour in the sap, and let it harden. Slingshots are made and used principally by young boys for shooting down small birds and lizards. (The small birds are usually not used for anything, though occasionally boys will roast them and eat them, but more just for something to do. Shooting birds is a common activity for young boys among all ethnic groups, especially during the months when songbirds are migrating heavily, such as September.)
The rubber sap can also be used to make a waterproof rubber sack that floats: For a good-sized sack, secure about 2 1/2 yds of thin cotton cloth horizontally on sticks, mix the rubber sap with some sulfur. Paint it over the cloth with a feather and allow to dry. Fold the edges and seal with more rubber sap. If you tie the sack securely, your pots, pans, clothes, etc. will be safe if your dory turns over. You can also use it as a life preserver. One medicinal use is to paint the "blowhole" of a beefworm with the sap. when the worm tries to come out for air, it will get stuck, and won't be able to breathe. (However, either way, someone will still have to dig the worm out.)
Some old Ramas still have tools left which they use that were left from the days of the rubber company. There are a few pine trees in Bluefields, but they are not seen in the bush in the Rama territory.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Mikito "auas." Probably because pine also can be used to make torches (Take a piece of pine about three feet long, split it very fine, and light it.....the sap causes it to burn.)

[arriba]

awas arii

I. N

1. plant rubber tree milk

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
awas	arii
	juice

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Thick white sap of the rubber tree collected in buckets.
Some still tap trees to get the rubber and coat burlap sacks cut into flat cloth or buy manta (cotton cloth), then sew them to make waterproof sacks to carry their goods.

[arriba]

awa taara

I. N

1. animal,reptile leatherback turtle

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Awa taara untas ki tungutka, kaulinglut kui.
When the drum turtle come up on the beach, people catch it.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
awa	taara
turtle	big
Tortuga

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Very rare today. Does not seem that they eat them. Kriols call it trum turtle.

[arriba]

baalas

I. N

1. animal,insect kaksimbear ant

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Baalas tataara parnga. Ma yarngutka, yastaiki suaataiki sutiisi.
The kaksimbear (ant) is very big and black. When it bit you it over pain (it hurt).
La hormiga (kaksimbear) es muy grande y negra. Cuando te muerde, duele todo.

[arriba]

baatle

I. N

1. artef.,food bottle , [ESP] Botella

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (bottle).

[arriba]

baazil

I. N

1. food,plant basil , [ESP] Albahaca

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Commonly planted around a house and used both in cooking, for example in different seafood soups (e.g., and ahi), and to make tea, either just to drink or for medicinal purposes (e.g., back pain). This basil has a spicy cinnamon-like taste.

[arriba]

baglag

I. N

1. artef.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
An improvised "bridge" made to cross over a body of water such as a creek. Often a fallen tree or log.
Léxica:
Possible borrowing.
"Balsa" in Spanish.

[arriba]

bangkukuk

I. N

1. animal,bird large top-knotted hawk

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Bangkukuk pungkit u uruk su taara, barka siksik ikwsi seem.
Chicken hawk is bigger than the hawk, but he eats chicken too.
El gavilán pollero es más grande que el águila, pero también come gallinas.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Very large kind of hawk. Kills givenots and kiaki. Also likes to eat iguana, monkey, and califavor.
In Rama Cay Creole, called 'big chicken hawk'. (For Walter, any top-knotted hawk.)

[arriba]

barakuut

I. N

1. animal,fish,food barracuda , [ESP] barracuda , [KRI] barakuda , [RCK] barakuut

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Only sea fisherman catch this. They fish it around Booby Cay or Frenchman's Cay when the sea is smooth, for example, in September. They use a hook baited with sardines or anchovies, or catch it on a spoon hook. Not commonly seen for consumption in the homes, nor is it seen very often in the market in Bluefields. Some say it makes you sick at certain times of the year. (This is possibly due to ciguatera.)
Solo los hombres que pescan algo lejos en el mar capturan barracuda. Se encuentra alrededor de Booby Cay y Frenchman’s Cay cuando el mar esta liso, como en el mes de septiembre. Se pesca con anzuelo y cebo de sardina o anchoa, o con un anzuelo “cuchara.” No se ve con frecuencia en las casas, ni de venta en el mercado. Algunos dicen que es malo comerlo en ciertos meses. (Posiblemente debido a la ciguatera.)
Léxica:
Borrowed from English "barracuda."
Préstamo del inglés "barracuda".

[arriba]

barwain

I. N

1. food,plant barwine tea

[arriba]

baul

I. N

1. artef.,food,house bowl , [ESP] Tazón, tiesto

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
En la fotografía Alicia McCrea muestra el tazón de madera (baul) que utilizan en Indian River para rayar coco. El tazon se talla a mano, es una sola pieza de madera de cedro macho (carapa guianensis).
Etnográfica:
A large open bowl to use for example for grating coconut to make coconut milk. Originally wooden bowls. Also used to describe the "baul" made from the base of a frond of a type of rawa palm.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (bowl).
Léxica:
See "tuula uuk."

[arriba]

belplan

I. N

1. bread,food,plant 100 finger banana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You eat this one ripe, not cooked. Also called manzana banana and 100 finger banana.

Lo comés crudo, no cocinado. También se le llama banano manzano o banano 100 dedos
Léxica:
No idea of the origin of the word. Belplan is considered both Kriol and Rama word.

Se desconoce el origen de la palabra. Belplan es considerada una palabra tanto Kriol como Rama

[arriba]

biinz

I. N

1. food,plant bean , [ESP] Frijol

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Small red beans, a lot of which they grow themselves, and from which they save some to plant again the next time. Like other crops, a lot of work to keep animals away from, to weed, to harvest, to shell and to dry. Used to keep them in a gourd to keep them dry and to help keep out mice, weevils, etc. Eaten boiled, stewed with coconut milk, stewed in coconut milk with rice (and salt plus onion, black pepper, gourd pepper, if you have it), boiled, sometimes fried. (coconut oil if they have enough coconuts to make it). Newly-harvested red beans accompanied by boiled or stewed breadkind are very tasty.
Gramatical:
Loanword from English 'bean'. The Rama name is 'ungskup' or 'nguskup'.

[arriba]

biip

I. N

1. animal,food,mammal cow , [ESP] Vaca

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Biip kangali arii pluuma.
The cow milk is white.
La leche de vaca es blanca.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Most Rama people don't eat much of it and some won't eat it at all. They like cheese, though rarely eat it because it usually has to be bought. They would like to have milk for coffee, but that would have to be bought and transported without spoiling. Some are lactose-intolerant. However, owning cows has been seen for a number of years as a sign of economic success by a growing number. The Kukra River communities and Aguila as of 2008 have quite a few cows, which are also contributing to land erosion due to cutting and burning the jungle bush to make pastures. Some are also turning to pesticides and herbicides because otherwise it is hard to keep the brush low. The increasing number of free-roaming cows also cause problems by eating food items which people have planted near their houses (e.g., young bananas and household herbs), which then causes arguments. Beef, milk, cheese, coajada bring good money, though. Many still do not like to eat beef.
Gramatical:
Loanword from English 'beef' ( through Miskitu?).

[arriba]

biip aing mumum

I. N

1. animal,insect cattle fly

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Mumum tataara. Nainguku biip aing mumum sut aungi. Aanamaa ma yarnguli.
This fly is big. That's why we call it cattle fly. It bites you hard.
Esta mosca es grande. Por eso es que la llamamos mosca del ganado. Pica duro.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
biip	aing	mumum
cow	of	fly
Vaca

Notas:

Léxica:
Probable neologism. Also called 'mumum tataara'.

[arriba]

biip nkiikna

I. N

1. animal,food,mammal bull , [ESP] Toro

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
biip	nkiikna
cow	male
Vaca

[arriba]

biip uuk

I. N

1. animal,body cowhide

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
biip	uuk
cow	skin
Vaca	piel

[arriba]

bilam

I. N

1. animal,fish,food sardine, minnow , [ESP] Sardina

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Bilam sii su bii aakar. sut kuu, sauk yusukiingakama.
The sardine lives in the river. We catch it to fish with.
La sardina vive en los ríos. Las agarramos para pescar con ellas.

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
If someone who is swimming in the river in the river has any cuts, the little fish will come around and pick at the infected parts.

Si alguien que está nadando en el río tiene heridas, se le acercan los pececitos para morder las partes infectadas.
Etnográfica:
Did not used to be eaten, but rather used for bait. Now that fish is hard to find for people up the river they eat them. There are many kinds of them. Often refers to different kinds of small fish in the creeks and rivers, not sardines. There are sea bilam and river bilam.

No se acostumbraba comer, sino que se usaba como cebo. Ahora se come, sobre todo la gente de río arriba, porque es difícil encontrar peces. Hay muchos tipos. En general se refiere a diferentes tipos de peces pequeños en los criques y ríos. Hay bilam de mar (tauli aing bilam) y de río (siisu aing bilam). Algunas sardinas de río parecen “machaca pequeño” (4” – 6”), estos se fríen, y se comen completos, incluyendo las espinas.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu.
Préstamo del Miskitu.

[arriba]

bilbliup

I. N

1. animal,shellfish a sea shellfish

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Bilbliup tiiskama kangsuk u ngaling aap ki yalparkakar.
This clam is smaller than the congshell. It holds onto the rock.

2. animal,food,shellfish cockle , [ESP] Berberecho

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A smallish, roundish shellfish that sticks to rocks in the sea. No longer eat it, but used to boil it (to make it come out of the shell) and eat it. As of 2008 Rama Cay people are using bilblup as the Rama word for cockles.
Gramatical:
Suffix of class marker '-up' for roundish objects.
Léxica:
Often translated as "wilks."

[arriba]

biliik

I. N

1. animal,reptile unidentified lizard

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A lizard found in the bush.

[arriba]

bilplan

I. N

1. bread,food small variety of banana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a smallish banana, very tasty when ripe.
Léxica:
See belplan.

[arriba]

biru

I. N

1. animal worm , [ESP] Gusano

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Biru psuk. sut yuuzuungi, sauk yusukiingakama. sii su yaakar ki taik su. sut pangi, sut aapulki tabing ki. sut aungi tuaa urnga.
The biru is a worm. We use it to fish with. He stays in the river or the bank side. We dig it, we pick it in the calabash. We say it is tuba food.
El “biru” es un gusano. Lo usamos para pescar. Se mantiene en los ríos o en los bancos de las orillas. Los escarbamos, los recogemos en los ayotes. Decimos que es la comida de la “tuba”.

Notas:

Léxica:
Also "biiru." Borrowing from Miskitu.

[arriba]

biup

I. N

1. food,plant,tree pigeon plum

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A very small black "plum" which grows on a tree by the beach. Eaten by people and animals around May.
Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish object.
Léxica:
Also biiup

[arriba]

blauz

I. N

1. clothes blouse , [ESP] Blusa

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (blouse).

[arriba]

bleera

I. N

1. animal,mammal spider monkey , [ESP] Mono arana

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Bleera sulkup ikuaakar kauling isii.
The monkey has fingers like a man.
El mono tiene dedos como el hombre.
Bleera ituk kat aap ki imalki yalkungi.
The monkey wraps his tail on the tree trunk and hangs down.
El mono enrolla su cola en el tronco del árbol y se cuelga hacia abajo.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used as the generic name for 'monkey', and sometimes specifically for the spider monkey.

[arriba]

bleera aing lada

I. N

1. plant monkey's ladder , [ESP] Escalera de Mico

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Bleera aing lada kat aap su yaapuni. Nsut angtki siika kama.
The monkey's ladder whit grows on trees. We cut it for medicine.

[arriba]

bleera aing urnga

I. N

1. food,plant,whit unidentified whit

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a whit that grows high up. The seed is yellow outside. People eat it, too because it has syrup inside.

[arriba]

bleera saala

I. N

1. animal,mammal spider monkey

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not hunted for food, as it looks like people, though some have tried it. Miskitu eat it. As of 2008 becoming very scarce. Noted in 2009 that up creek there is a small line of trees between a Rama plantation and a Mestizo potrero through which a troop passes, and that they have been observed eating corn, something which they had never previously been seen doing.

[arriba]

bokit

I. N

1. artef.,house bucket

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (bucket).

[arriba]

briaut

I. N

1. food,plant coffee

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Briaut nsut tawan ki karka paayai, nsut kuaakit tahma.
We buy coffee from town, we don't have it.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A term used in Cane Creek. When real coffee is not available, people sometimes make burned corn, rice, or sometimes even burned flour coffee. You put it in an iron pot and cook it until it is dark brown and sticks to the pot, then add water, heat it, and drink it like coffee. The other option is to make bush tea from any of a number of different leaves such as lime, orange, or cowfoot.
Léxica:
Relatively new term in the seventies (NR).The new generation says 'kaapi', borrowed from English (coffee).

[arriba]

brumbrum

I. N

1. animal,frog big spring chicken toad

Notas:

Etnográfica:
In the month of june, you can hear it sing "broom".
Gramatical:
Onomatopeic word. Reduplication.
Léxica:
There is no generic word for frogs or toads.

[arriba]

bubi

I. N

1. animal,bird booby

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A cay out in the ocean S (?) of Cane Creek which is a spot for turtle fishing. It's basically rock and boobies.

[arriba]

bukanshe

I. N

1. animal,fish,food large sea catfish , [ESP] Bagre (de mar, grande)

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some Rama eat catfish, and some don't; not generally a preferred fish.
Algunos Rama lo comen y otros no. No es uno de sus peces favoritos.
Léxica:
Different lexical items used varyingly for catfish, mudfish, freshwater eel.
Al bagre se le conoce de varias formas, pez gato, pez lodo, anguila de agua dulce.
See walaha, walah, uula, bagri.

[arriba]

bula

I. N

2. percep. noise

II. V

1. make noise

Notas:

Gramatical:
Probably borrowing from Spanish bulla (noise).

[arriba]

bulbul

I. N

1. plant,tree brown leaf trumpet tree

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

butku

I. N

1. animal,bird sea pigeon (Kr)

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Butku aakwaala inganaak traatka, tauli aing butku.
The pigeon is pretty when he flies, the sea pigeon.
La paloma es bonita cuando vuela, la paloma marina
Butku tiiski aakitka, tiiskibalut kuii.
When the pigeon is small, the children catch it.
Cuando la paloma esta pichona, los niños la agarran.

[arriba]

butku aing paasungup

I. N

1. food,plant salt water plum

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are black ones and red ones.

[arriba]

buulam

I. N

1. animal,mammal big porpoise

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Buulam tauli taara su bii aakar.
The big porpoise live only in the ocean.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Young boys in Cane Creek used to go out in the sea close to shore and strike porpoises with harpoons to sharpen their skills and just for fun.

En Cane Creek los jóvenes solían ir al mar, cerca de la costa, a arponear delfines para mejorar sus habilidades o simplemente por divertirse.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu: lam/wlam

Prestado del Miskitu

[arriba]

chicha

I. N

1. food chicha

Composicion:

Compounds

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Homemade alcoholic corn drink.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Spanish chicha

[arriba]

chinaroot

I. N

1. health,plant chiniroot

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A medicinal plant, the root of a whit, that is boiled and drunk to strengthen the blood. Sometimes boiled along with other medicinal ingredients. Milk and sugar often added.

[arriba]

CIDCA

I. N

1. CIDCA

Notas:

Gramatical:
Initials for 'Centro de Investigaciones y
Documentacion de la Costa Atlantica'.

[arriba]

daaratuk

I. N

1. nat. lightening

Notas:

Gramatical:
Two variants : 'daaratuk' and 'yaaratuk'. Final 'tuk' means 'tail' but neither 'daara' or 'yaara' mean something.

[arriba]

dagaaska

I. N

1. animal,fish,food mullet , [ESP] Lisa , [KRI] mulit, si mulit , [RCK] mulit

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
In the community of Rama Cay they catch them with cast nets between 6 and 8 in the evening when the school is looking for food. Rama Cay people fish for them
almost year-around near the surrounding islands, which are about thirty minutes from the mainland, and at Hone Sound Bar. Since a market opened for stingrays (2006), they started using them for bait to catch rays.

En la comunidad de Rama Cay los capturan con atarraya siempre lo hacen entre las seis y las ocho de la noche, cuando la colonia anda buscando presa. Casi todo el tiempo lo pescan en las islas cercanas a Rama Cay, treinta 30
minutos en tierra firme, y en la barra de Hone Sound. Desde que se
abrió el mercado para la raya (2006) esta se utiliza como carnada.
Etnográfica:
There are several varieties of mullets, fresh, salt and brackish water fish, caught in nets and eaten or sold. Dagaska refers to the smaller mullet found at the bar mouth or in the lagoon. All mullet generally do not pick hooks. This one is caught in gill nets or cast nets (vs. saaling, which is also struck with a harpoon.) It is cooked "all kinds of ways."
Hay varías especies. Son de agua dulce, salada y salobre, se cogen en redes para comer o vender.Dagaska se refiere a la mullet pequena que se encuentra en la boca de la barrao en la laguna. las mullet por lo general no pican el anzuelo. Esta se captura en los trasmallos y atarrayas. Se cocina de diferetnes maneras.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu. Also takaska.
Préstamo del miskitu. También takaska.

[arriba]

daha

I. N

1. test

1. Atlantic tripletail , [ESP] Mojarra , [KRI] sandfish , [RCK] sanfish

2. animal,fish,food unidentified

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Daha tauli su yaakar. Taimka yalngaangi. Kiiknadut sungka, ankangi waisku u.
The sandfish lives in the sea. Sometimes he float. When the men see it, they strike it with a harpoon.
La mojarra vive en el mar. A veces flota. Cuando los hombres la ven la golpean con arpón.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
They usually catch them at the beginning of the year when the water is very salty. They are very tasty.

Se captura sobre todo al inicio del año o cuando las aguas están bien saladas. La carne es muy buena.
Etnográfica:
A rather large sea fish; not a flat fish like flounder. Often harpooned rather than caught on line. Prized as a food fish.
Pez de mar algo grande; no es un pez plano como los flotadores. También vive en la laguna y aguas salobre. Por tradición arponeado; raras veces pescado con anzuelo y cuerda de pescar. Últimamente (2008) se agarra con trasmallo. Es apreciado como buena comida.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu.
Préstamo del miskitu

[arriba]

diiwas

I. N

1. nat.,wind northwest wind

2. wind breeze from the land

[arriba]

djupis

I. N

1. animal,fish Goliath Grouper, AKA Jewfish , [ESP] Mero Goliat , [KRI] junfish/jufish , [RCK] junfish/jufish.

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Djupis salpka taara. Tauli taara su yaakituing. Taimka lakuun ki itraali. Kiiknalut sungka, ankangi waisku u. Ankaanu ki yuansiikka, anangskwi.
The junefish is a big fish. He live in the ocean. Sometime walk in the lagoon. When the men see it they strike it with a harpoon. They bring it to their place and they clean it.
El mero goliat es un pez grande. Vive en el océano y a veces llega a la lagna. Cuando los hombres lo ven lo cazan con arpón. Lo traen a su lugar y lo limpian.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Huge fish, in shallow ocean and brackish water. Can get up to 800 pounds. There is a creek on the beach going to Cane Creek which you have to cross called Devil Creek bwhere a huge jewfish supposedly lives, and you have to be careful, or he might grab you and eat you. An excellent food fish, it is now prohibited to catch in a number of countries due to steep decline in numbers and slow maturation as it lives 30 - 50 years.
Pez grande de aguas poco profundas. Puede pesar hasta 800 libras. A veces se pesca con anzuelo. Hay un crique en la playa, que se tiene que cruzar yendo hacia Cane Creek, llamado el Crique del Diablo donde supuestamente vivía (por lo menos hasta el fin de los años 70) un mero enorme. Decían que había que tener cuidado porque podía agarrarte y comerte. Dicen que nada acostado, como si estuviera muerto. Los Ramas no lo comen fresco; lo ponen a secar, y luego lo pican y o cocinan lentamente con leche de coco o aceite, y, sí les gusta y los tienen, con cebolla y pimienta negra. En muchos países se considera un pescado de excelente carne, en muchos países es prohibido pescarlo debido a que su número ha disminuido bastante y que tiene una maduración lenta. Vive entre 30 y 50 años.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Creole.
Préstamo del Creole.
Léxica:
See salpka kruk. In 2001 the common name was officially changed to Goliath Grouper.
Ver salpka kruk. en el 2001 el nombre común fue cambiado oficialmente a Goliath Grouper ó Mero Goliat.

[arriba]

druuma

I. N

1. animal,fish,food croaker fish , [ESP] Roncador

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Druuma salpka bii. sii su aakituing. Druuma pluuma. sut sauk kiingaka, sauk ikuii. sauk u sukuuka, suasarki uut ki. Uut ki sukaaka, ikauni `uur' `uur' ikauni.
"The drummer fish is a fish too. He lives in the river. It's white. When we fish it, it takes the hook. When we catch it with a hook, we haul it in the dory. When we put it in the dory he say ""uurr uurr"" he say."
El pez tambor también vive en el río. Cuando pescamos pica el anzuelo. Cuando lo agarramos con anzuelo, lo cargamos en el cayuco. Cuando lo ponemos en el cayuco hace "uurr uurr".

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
In dry weather they mostly live at the mouths of the rivers Tursuani, Dakuno, and Kukra; sometimes you find them at Hone Sound bar. You catch them in March and April with a #3 hook, using small shrimp and crabs for bait. In June and July you catch them with trasmallo, and they can weigh up to 30 or 40 pounds. Drummer is a highly popular market fish, and it is also consumed in the Rama Cay community in rundown made with fresh fish, or it is salted and dried some, and then run down.

En el verano viven sobre todo en la boca de los ríos Tursuani, Dakuno, y en Kukra River; algunas veces se encuentran en la barra de Hone Sound. Se captura en marzo y abril con anzuelo #3, carnada de chacalines pequeños y jaiba. En junio y julio se captura con trasmallo, pesan hasta 30 a 40 libras. El roncador tiene mucho mercado, y en la comunidad de Rama Cay se consume en rondón, o salado en “salt fish rondon”.
Etnográfica:
It depends on the speaker what is identified as "druuma," and what is identified as "raukrauk." Some say raukrauk is the freshwater druuma. Then just "druuma" is a common fish caught in the lagoon and sea to eat and to sell.

Depende del hablante lo que se identifica como "druuma," o lo que se identifica como "raukrauk." Algunos dicen que raukrauk es el druuma de agua dulce. Así resulta que “druuma” es un pez común que se pesca en la laguna y el mar para comer y vender.
Léxica:
Borrowing from English (drummer). See also 'raukrauk', rukruk, and 'aitukpa' for drummer fish.
Préstamo del ingles (tambor).

[arriba]

duaalin

I. N

1. animal,fish,health big stingray , [ESP] Raya (grande)

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Duaalin taara. Ituk sumaa ikwaakar. Taimka salpka aakitka, salpka tangkit su yaalali.
The big sting ray is big. It has a long tail Sometime when there is fish, he likes to play on their back.
El pez raya grande es grande. Tiene una cola larga. Algunas veces, cuando hay peces, les gusta jugar en su espalda.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The Rama are regularly exposed to being struck by stingray barbs as there are both saltwater and freshwater varieties. Some are said to have even three or four bones (barbs, or spines) to strike you with, and some are said to be as large as a house and can haul you out to sea. There are various poultices to put on the wound if struck,for example, bitter cassava. Duaalin is not eaten. however, as of 2009, even stingrays were becoming scarce as an entrepreneur had started buying them for export a few years earlier, and the Ramas (both from Rama Cay and down the coast), along with others started heavily fishing them.
Los Rama están regularmente expuestos a ser pinchados por las diferentes variedades de rayas, de agua dulce y salada. Algunas tienen hasta tres o cuatro aguijones. Otras dicen que son tan grandes como una casa y que te pueden arrastrar al mar. El pueblo Rama elabora varios tipos de cataplasmas para cubrir las heridas que hacen las rayas, por ejemplo, de yuca amarga. El Duaalin no se come. Sin embargo, a partir del 2009, hasta las rayas son escasas. Un empresario empezó a comprarlas para exportación hace unos pocos años, y desde entonces, empezaron a capturarlas en grandes cantidades.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu.
Préstamo del Miskitu.
Léxica:
See "kiswa" (small stingray).
Ver "kiswá" *raya pequena).

[arriba]

duudup

I. N

1. food,fruit,plant,tree unidentified

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A yellow plum on a tree that grows on or near the beach. Ripe in May, June. Sweet, but slightly acidic. People eat them.

[arriba]

dzasimi

I. N

1. plant jasmine

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (jasmine).

[arriba]

gaalu

I. N

1. animal,bird stork or large heron

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A large lagoon or marsh bird said to live in Turtle Bogue (Tortuguero) Costa Rica which comes to the Cane creek area once a year in dry weather.
Léxica:
Borrowing from KR "garling."

[arriba]

galan

I. N

1. measuring gallon

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (gallon).

[arriba]

guna

I. N

1. animal,fish,food a cichlid species , [ESP] Moga

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Guna salpka aa taara. salpka tiiskama barka parnga. February march tukan guna alngaangi. Tuut uup alptangka sii su ki, analtungwai. Kat tris tris analtungwai kuyak karka yalptangi.
The moga is not a big fish. It is small but black. In February and March it float. When the fig seed drop in the river he eat it. They eat piece of stick that drop from high up.
La moga no es un pez grande. Es pequeño y negro. En febrero y marzo flota. Se come las semillas de higo que caen en el río. Los palitos que caen al agua también se los come.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Little fresh water fish (perch size) caught to eat. It lives way up in the creeks and does not take a hook; it must be struck in the head with a very very long fish staff (8 - 12 ft.). Pedro Macrea is very good at it, maybe the only one left to do it, though as of 2008 no guna up in Cane Creek as the Spaniards have poisoned out all of the fish. Most Bluefields people don't know it.
Pequeño pez de agua dulce (del tamaño de una perca) que se pesca para comer. Vive arriba en los criques y no pica anzuelo; debe de golpeársele la cabeza con un palo de pescar bien largo (un “sinnak,” 8- 12 pies). Pedro Macrea es muy bueno haciéndolo, uno de los pocos Rama que sabe como capturarlos. Desde el 2008 no hay guna, arriba en Cane Creek, porque los mestizos han envenenado la mayoría de los peces. La gente de Bluefields no lo conoce. En 2009 se dice que se logra encontrar, y se le puede pescar con anzuelo y cebo. Dicen que es así por que su comida es escasa.

[arriba]

gungu

I. N

1. animal,bird turkey

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Gungu kaas kwisubing seem ngalang. Kiibing tataara kiingkat nuuruk saala ikwaakar.
The turkey meat we eat like the curassaw. Its long straight neck has a red wattle hanging.

[arriba]

ibung

I. N

1. artef.,hunting gun

2. animal,fish,food a river fish, probably a sturgeon , [ESP] Gaspar

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used old 22 and took only a couple of bullets because they were too expensive; so had to be good shots.
Cane Creek men thought nothing of hunting without guns, but most Rama Cay men would say they could not hunt unless they had a gun and dog.
You can find the fish in Corn River. It looks like (favors) a crocodile in the mouth and the skin is thick like an armadillo. Some eat it, but it is rank (has a strong fish smell). The meat is white like shrimp.
Gramatical:
'gun' can also be said 'siikubing' but 'ibung' is more frequent.
Léxica:
"gaspar" in Spanish.

[arriba]

iibu

I. N

1. food,health,plant iibu tree

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Iibu aapintak suulaik aapuni. Kumaadut iibu up kuula ki baantaaksu, anaapulki. Iibu ari anuungi. Kiiknadut iibu krus auki, anpaayakama.
The ibu tree grows far in the bush. The women go in the bush to look for ibu seeds to pick. Ibu posol they make. The men burn iibu for carbon (coal) to sell.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is the preferred wood for charcoal. They eat the bunya drink out of the seeds, which is a lot of work. People also eat the plain boiled iibu as a snack. The seeds are also parched and eaten with the skin (not the shell) like roasted nuts, or parched and then ground to make "coffee." Ibu oil is both medicinal (for asthma and to anoint sore joints) and used by some in the bush for frying food. To make the oil you boil down the "maia" from the boiled iibu. (The maia is the iibu "trash" that sticks to the pot side. When you cook in coconut milk, there is also maia that collects around the pot side, thicker than, but similar to, the foamy residue that collects around the edge of a pot when rice starts to boil.) Iibu is harvested in dry weather Feb.- March.The seeds will last a couple of months after dropping, so they do not have to be processed immediately. Iibu is a major food source for macaw parrots, and the increasing disappearance of the tree has contributed to a great decline in their numbers (2008--and they were not that common even around Monkey Point/Cane Creek in the 1970s.) The increasing human population has lead to more burning of iibu trees for coal, and a lot of the Mestizos also simply cut them down when clearing the forest land to plant or for cows and don't use the trees for anything. As of 2009, the Mestizos have not yet started exploiting the seed. The shells are sometimes burned instead of firewood as they catch up quickly and burn very hot. Some people do not like to cook with iibu, though, because it "blacks up the pots" too much. The shells are also burned at night, sometimes with wood, or if available, with termite nests, as a deterrent to mosquitos and sandflies. The tree has pretty purple flowers that float down the creek when they drop. There are also many beliefs regarding the tree and its "owner."

[arriba]

iibu aing maukala

I. N

1. artef. iibu seed net

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
iibu	aing	maukala
iibu tree	of	net bag

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Any net, natural or otherwise, used to carry the iibu seed home in. These days, plastic woven sacks purchased in Bluefields are often used.

[arriba]

iibu kaas

I. N

1. cooking,food,fruit,tree [ESP] almendro de monte

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
People like to mix iibo bunya with water when the iibo is either fresh or has soured a little, and add sugar (especially if it is fresh bunya) to make a drink. It is a lot of work, as the large tough seeds have to be carried from under the trees in the bush, where they drop Feb.- March (dry weather). Then each seed has to be cracked open by pounding with a rock. After that, the seeds are peeled, boiled for about an hour until they soften, and then have to be mashed. Traditionally this was done with a "rubbing rock," or metate, though many have hand mills now. The paste is then shaped into balls or small loaves, and stored in a waha or banana leaf, or perhaps plastic as of 2008 if to be sold in Bluefields. It is a highly desired product by everyone. However, for the amount of work involved people are not willing to pay more than they ever have, so a palm-sized ball can usually only be sold for 10 cordobas in Bluefields (2009).
Léxica:
bunya is Misk., "pozol" in Spanish

[arriba]

iibu uup

I. N

. iibu seed , [ESP] semilla de almendro

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

iik

I. N

1. food,plant cassava , [ESP] yuca

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Iik iraa. Iik aasikima nsukwsi.
The cassava is breadkind. We eat it boiled.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is a breadkind. The kind they plant is not the poisonous cassava that needs to be processed. They boil it and fry it or stew it. They sell it in Bluefields. There are always worried about hogs and peccaries digging it up and eating it; they worry about people digging it up to steal it.

[arriba]

ikuubli

I. N

1. plant,tree fig tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Iguanas love to eat figs, people don't eat figs.

[arriba]

ikuubli parnga

I. N

1. plant black ojoche

[arriba]

ikuubli pluuma

I. N

1. plant white ojoche

[arriba]

ikuubli saala

I. N

1. plant red ojoche

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

Insaarba

I. N

. toponomy Indian River , [ESP] Río Indio

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojon 001 sur Indian River

[arriba]

ipang

I. N

1. geo,land island

2. geo,land cay

Notas:

Gramatical:
Lexicalised initial 'i-' (third person marker). 'pang' alone means 'piece'.

[arriba]

Ipangika

I. N

1. Rama Cay people

Notas:

Gramatical:
Usely used in the plural : 'Ipangikadut' (Rama Cay people).

[arriba]

Ipangikadut

I. N

1. human Rama Cay people

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
Ipang	i	ka	dut
Rama Cay	in	from	PL

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Literally 'those from the island'.

[arriba]

ipsa uuk

I. N

1. animal,body,reptile calipee

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Calipee is the yellow glutenous flesh next to the green sea turtle lower shell. It is an important ingredient in commercially produced turtle soup. they usually scrape it out, dry it and sell it in Bluefields.

[arriba]

iraa

I. N

1. bread,food,plant breadkind

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Yiraa pranti iraa bredfruut yiraa samuu iraa iik iraa kangkaraup iraa isup iraa bantingi.
I want cooked breadkind: plantain, breadfruit, banana, cassava, costo, coco.
Nsut iraa u alaungi nuunik ui nsut iraa baalpi traali alaungkama salpka u.
We cook with breadkind. Every day we look for breadkind to cook with fish.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The original food of the Ramas. Old time people ate mostly breadkind, and Cane Creek people did not eat as much fish and meat as Rama Cay people. Ruben Wilson ate only roasted kosto bananas.
Breadkind is a starchy vegetable as main dish or to accompany main dish, includes cassava, green banana, plantain, dasheen, coco, breadfruit, yams, sweet potato.
Léxica:
Generic for breadkind, an essential food of the Ramas. See also urnga.

[arriba]

is

I. N

1. wax

2. food,plant peelings , [ESP] cascaras

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Peelings and trash of different plants are used in cooking and preparing drinks: pinapple peelings with cane juice set out in glass jar in the sun to make liquor. Coconut trash can be added to bake goods like buns or leavened flour tortillas.

[arriba]

isalii

I. N

1. animal,reptile kind of iguana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Tonkeli lizard: a green lizard that can run across water on its hind legs. Also called "Jesus Christ lizard" for it. Green baselisk lizard (in Lehmann).

[arriba]

isi

I. N

1. food liquor

[arriba]

isi kruk

I. N

1. food,health,human drunkard

[arriba]

isiup

I. N

2. food,plant coco

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Edible tuber like yucca. There is a red-fleshed variety and a white-fleshed variety, which taste different. Usually eaten boiled or stewed in coconut milk as other breadkind,and/or in coconut-milk stew ( rondon/rundown) with meat or fish. Occasionally made into coco "cake," (from Kriols), with grated raw coco, coconut milk, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and baked. Is a Kriol word; there is no common word in standard English. One of a number of different plants loosely called "elephant ear" in gardening as they are planted ornamentally in many countries with an appropriate climate.
Gramatical:
Has the '-up' class marker for roundish shape.

[arriba]

isiup kiing

I. N

1. food,plant cocohead

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
isiup	kiing
	head

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are different kinds of dasheen, the bigger, whiter one with purple flecks which is harder when cooked, and the smaller one which has more reddish-purple specks and cooks up softer, and is preferred. As with other breadkind, usually eated boiled or stewed in coconut milk, or in coconut milk rondon (rundown) with meat or fish. Occasionally also made into a porridge (pap, in Kr.).
Gramatical:
As 'isiup' (coco), 'isiup kiing' as a variant 'isup kiing'.

[arriba]

iskalaup

I. N

1. human newborn

2. human young baby

Notas:

Gramatical:
Class marker '-up' for round object.

[arriba]

istamiik

I. N

1. animal,bird scaled pigeon

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Istamiik sii su bii yaakituing. Istamiik kaunka yaaksi `istamiik' `istamiik' yaaksi. Istamiik uup saala, yaap aakwaala, itaik saala.
"The river pigeon lives only on the river. When the river pigeon calls, ""istamiik istamiik"" he sings. His eye is red, his body is pretty, his beak is red."
La paloma de rio vive sola en el rio. Cuando las palomas llaman, “istamiik istamiik” ella canta. Su ojo es rojo, el cuerpo es bonito, su pico es rojo.

II. onom.

1.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are a number of different pigeons with differnt "cooing" voices. As of 2008 it seems that people find city pigeons which have made their way to the bush to be preferable, perhaps as something new, and are purposefully feeding and raising them. These birds fly free in many places, as do the semi-tamed parrots in Aguila and Cane Creek.
Léxica:
Also "ixtamii."

[arriba]

k

I. N

1.

II. grapheme

1. k

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
One of the most frequent sound of Rama, particularly for initial sound.

[arriba]

kaa

I. N

1. body,plant leaf

[arriba]

kaakl

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish cockle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Women pick them in the lagoon. Used to make soup or to stew. Women also sell them in Bluefields.
One soup recipe: rice cooked in waterto "burst," cockles steamed and picked from their shells, sweet red peppers ('alkiini'), basil leaves or culantro, and hard coco (quiquisque), onion and/or black pepper if you have them. Consumed mostly on Rama Cay because it is a lagoon shellfish. Also added to rice steamed in coconut milk.
Léxica:
Borrowing from English (cockle)

[arriba]

kaakrus

I. N

1. animal,insect cockroach

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kaakrus nguu psutki aakar. Yaadar sukaaka, psutki yalptangi. Aamliika imaali tahtah tingka.
The cockroach lives in the house. When we put something down, it gets in it. It smells bad when we mash it.
La cucaracha vive en la casa. Cuando bajamos algo, se mete adentro. Huele mal cuando la aplastamos.

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borowing from English (cockcroach).

[arriba]

kaaku

I. N

1. animal,bird pelican

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kaaku nganaak traali. Bilam isungka, sii ki bayalptangsu, bilam ikwii. Itkwu ikuleeruk taara aingu. Nainguku itkwi.
The pelican flies high up. When he sees a sardine he drops down the water and catches it. It swallows it because his throat big. That's why he swallows it.
El pelicano vuelta alto. Cuando ve sardinas se lanza al agua para agarrarla. Se la traga porque tiene una garganta grande. Por eso se la puede tragar.
kaaku aakwals sungi sii ki alngaangkama
The pelican likes to float on the water.

Notas:

Gramatical:
Can be pronounced with final -k.

[arriba]

kaala

I. N

1. geo rapids

[arriba]

kaalaikba

I. N

1. space bottom side

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'feet side'. Used with clothes ; see compounds with 'praak' (dress).

[arriba]

kaali

I. N

1. wave

[arriba]

kaalkit

I. N

1. body,plant root

3. body shin

4. body leg

Notas:

Etnográfica:
These are the big thick 'roots' above the ground above which you build the 'tapesco' or platform to enable you to fell a tree for the piece of trunk that you want, for example, to make a dory.

[arriba]

kaalkit aaluk

I. N

1. body shin bone

[arriba]

kaalkup

I. N

1. animal,body claw

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Siksik ikaalkup u yalplangi. Yurnga bayalpi.
The chicken scratches with his claw. He is looking for food.
La gallina rasca con sus garras. Busca comida.

2. body toe

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nkaat alngaringsu, nkalkup kuptingu.
My foot got hit and so my toe swelled up.
Mi pie se golpeo y se me inflamó.

Notas:

Gramatical:
The long vowel 'aa' can be shortened. Most probably a compound word, with 'kaal' as a variant of 'kaat' (leg/foot).

[arriba]

kaalup

I. N

1. ?

Notas:

Gramatical:
Compounded on 'kaat' (stick) with '-up' class marker for roundish objects. Only used in compound words 'ngaling kaalup' (kidney) and 'abung kaalup' (maches).

[arriba]

kaanu

I. N

1. space place

[arriba]

kaanuaik

I. N

1. house,space home

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kaanu	aik
place	side

[arriba]

kaanu alsukkama

I. N

1. space washing place

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaanu	alsuk	kama
place	wash	for

[arriba]

kaapi

I. N

1. food coffee

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See notes on 'briaut' for different kinds of coffee.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English 'coffee'. Several variations : the original sound 'f' can be maintained and the long vowel 'aa' can be reduced. So we get the variants 'kapi', 'kaafi' and 'kafi'. Old Rama people say 'briaut' for coffee.

[arriba]

kaarang

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish edible sea crab species

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Karang tauli aik karka tauki siita uruk su ipangi inguri uungi naingi yaat ikai.
The raati crab comes out from the sea. On the oyster bank he makes his hole. There he put his eggs.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A kind of sea crab. Preferred for eating to swamp crab. Its Kriol name of 'raati' crab comes from Miskitu (rati or rahti).
Not commercially fished by the Rama, and seen as by-catch if incidentally caught, e.g., in a shrimp net.
Gramatical:
Has variant form 'rati'
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu, rati/rahti

[arriba]

kaaras

I. N

1. animal,reptile caiman

Notas:

Léxica:
A kind of caiman or aligator.

[arriba]

kaas

I. N

1. body,food meat

2. flesh

Notas:

Gramatical:
Used as well for animals and plants.

[arriba]

kaat

I. N

1. body leg

2. body foot

3. body penis

4. artef.,body handle

5. plant stick

6. artef.,house post

7. plant log

8. plant tree

Pictures/Imagenes:

9. artef. staff

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Originally word for tree and leg, and parts of object 'long and rigid'. Boards are valuable. They are sometimes scavenged from the beach, occasionally hand-sawed, but more often bought. Some of the old people, especially down in the bush, like to put up lumber, nails, a sheet, a good shirt and pants or dress, for when they die. These will usually be up in the house rafters, or perhaps in another smaller house in the bush. It's a problem to keep other people from taking them, though, especially the boards and nails.
Gramatical:
Often pronounced with short vowel. See short form 'kat' as class marker for long and rigid objects.

[arriba]

kaat aringaring

I. N

1. body calf

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

kaat kaanu

I. N

1. body footprint

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaat	kaanu
foot	place

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also 'kaat maaruk', 'kaat nguu'.

[arriba]

kaat maaruk

I. N

1. body footprint

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaat	maaruk
foot	mark

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also 'kaat kanuu' and 'kat nguu'.

[arriba]

kaat nguu

I. N

1. body footprint

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaat	nguu
foot	imprint

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also 'kaat kanuu' and 'kaat maruuk'.

[arriba]

kaatplaat

I. N

1. animal,reptile river hikiti turtle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
another kind of river hikiti. Has a flat back.

[arriba]

kaat saa

I. N

1. body,human sole of foot

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kaat	saa
foot	sole

[arriba]

kaat saa uuk ngalma

I. N

1. callous

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'hard skin of palm'.

[arriba]

kaat saliup

I. N

1. body ankle

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaat	saliup
foot	articulation

[arriba]

kaat uuknga

I. N

1. artef.,clothes shoes

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaat	uuknga
foot	container

[arriba]

kabiis

I. N

1. animal,fishing,food,shellfish shrimp

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Either generic for shrimp or for a certain kind of shrimp depending on the speaker. There are different varieties of shrimp in the area at different times. The smaller shrimp, "chacalin," are caught mostly in the lagoon (i.e., not in the sea) in cast nets, during the dry weather months (March - May) when the lagoon is saltier. The larger ones are caught in the sea (but not far out) in August-September, moreso in front of Aguila since it is on the sea. These are usually mixed in with the "seabob," which are small shrimp which are usually dried before being sold in Bluefields, or put up sold and consumed fresh. Chacalin and the big sea shrimps are sold fresh in Bluefields. Seabob are usually dried first. No fancy recipes, no ceviche. Dried ones are often put up in the house for when there is no other meat or fish to eat, or even beans, i.e., bad weather times. They are cooked by adding them to rice cooked in coconut milk, as usual, with black pepper, onion, a gourd pepper if available. Making and casting nets in order to catch shrimps to sell began in the seventies. There are also several species of crayfish of varying sizes which are caught, consumed, and/or used for fishing bait. These are fresh/brackish water dwellers which are washed down into the lagoon during the rainy season.

[arriba]

kabiis aing maukala

I. N

1. artef.,sea,shellfish shrimps net

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kabiis	aing	maukala
	of	net bag

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They just started fishing with nets in the seventies. A relatively new economic activity. Before there were so many shrimps that you just had to lean your dory over to fill it with shrimps and paddle back home. They were so plentiful that you would not sell it.

[arriba]

kabiis parnga

I. N

1. animal,fishing,shellfish large crayfish

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This refers to the "long-hands" river lobster, formerly only used for auto consumption, but as of 2008 also sold in Bluefields, 2009 price about $30/lb. Caught by hand under rocks, and in pots about two feet long made from papta baited with coconut.
Léxica:
See kabiis taara, kabiis tataara.

[arriba]

kabiis taara

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish big sea shrimp, large crayfish

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kabiis taara sii su ka. Kabiis yaap parnga. Sii su kuyanik aakituing.
The big shrimp is from the creek. Its body is black. It lives way up the creek.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Depending on the speaker, this can refer to either the long-clawed river crayfish, or to the big white shrimp which are caught in the sea in August-September in cast nets. The former is washed out into the lagoon during the rainy season. It is usually caught by hand under rocks, or jabbed with a short staff with a metal blade fashioned by hand ("chuusu," in RCC), or previously with a bow and arrow. Also trapped in pots about two feet long made of papta and baited with coconut. 2009 Bluefields price about 30 cordobas/lb. (3 large ones/lb.) The big commercial sea shrimps are not usually eaten, but are sold in Bluefields.

[arriba]

kabiis tataara

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish large shrimp or crayfish

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Maamu lakuun su traali, sii su traali, tauli skaik traali. Kabiis tataara bayalpi traali, ikwiskama.
The river otter (water dog) walks in the lagoon, in the river and on the iceab beach side . It looks for black shrimps to eat.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kabiis	tataara
shrimp	very big

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Depending on the speaker, this can refer to either the long-clawed river crayfish, or to the big white shrimp which are caught in the sea in August-September in cast nets. The former is washed out into the lagoon during the rainy season. It is usually caught by hand under rocks, or jabbed with a short staff with a metal blade fashioned by hand ("chuusu," in RCC), or previously with bow and arrow. The former is washed out into the lagoon during the rainy season. It is usually caught by hand under rocks, or jabbed with a short staff with a metal blade fashioned by hand ("chuusu," in RCC), or previously with a bow and arrow. Also trapped in pots about two feet long made of papta and baited with coconut. 2009 Bluefields price about 30 cordobas/lb. (3 large ones/lb.) The big commercial sea shrimps are not usually eaten, but are sold in Bluefields. For auto-consumption and sold in Bluefields. 2009 price 30 cordobas/lb. (3 large ones/lb.) The big white shrimp are usually not consumed, but are sold in Bluefields.

[arriba]

kabiis tiiskiba

I. N

1. animal,fishing,food,shellfish seabob

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Small hard-head shrimp known as seabob which are caught Aug.- Sept. with the big wite sea shrimps among them. Must be boiled and dried for sale, which can be a problem if it rains and there is no good way to dry them. Also put up to eat cooked with rice and coconut when there is no other meat or fish.

[arriba]

kabiis tuuru

I. N

1. animal,fishing,food,shellfish crayfish

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Saura nanaak traali, yalptangi lakuun skaik, tiisanga ki itraali. Kabiis tuuru bayalpi traali. Ikat suma aingu.
This heron (garling) flies about, drops down the edge of the lagoon, and walks on the shore. It looks for little shrimps. It has a long leg, that's why.
Esta garza vuela alrededor, desciende a la orilla de la laguna y camina en la playa. Busca camarones pequeños, chacalines. Por eso tiene patas largas.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kabiis	tuuru
shrimp	?

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The small crayfish caught in the creeks, and in the rainy season, around the lagoon edge in mangroves. Both eaten (usually in rondon, though children also roast them) and used for fishing bait.

[arriba]

kabunaup

I. N

1. food,plant granadilla

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The fruit is the size of an egg and is extremely sweet. You eat the seeds and the jelly-like substance that are inside. There is a season for it during which people from Cane Creek used to go with the family to go to Snook Creek to find it and eat it. It is hard to carry back because it is soft.
Gramatical:
The final suffix '-up', class marker for roundish shape, is not obligatory : 'kabuna' is also possible.

[arriba]

kahka

I. N

1. plant palm tree

Notas:

Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu

[arriba]

kaingima

I. N

1. human girl

2. human young woman

Notas:

Gramatical:
With past participle derivation '-ima'.

[arriba]

kaingkaing

I. N

1. human young woman

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

kaira

I. N

1. health,plant,tree christmas blossom

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A bush medicine used to cure a skin condition of rough patches of skin, also known as 'kaira' (ringworms).

[arriba]

kais

I. N

1. animal,insect tick

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kais suulaik bii aakar. suulaik mtraatka, kais ma aaplukatkulu. Yalkiini ma tiisi.
The ticks live only in the bush. When you walk in the bush, the ticks bite you all over. You feel it itch.
La garrapata solo vive en el monte. Cuando uno camina en el monte, las garrapatas te muerden por todas partes. Se siente picazón.

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

kakaa

I. N

1. body mouth

2. geo,water bar

[arriba]

kakaa uuknga

I. N

1. artef.,food cup

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kakaa	uuknga
mouth	container

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used to drink and eat from calabashes (gourds); this is most likely a neologism.

[arriba]

kakat

I. N

1. body,plant branch

2. body,plant limb

[arriba]

kalbuk

I. N

2. house wall

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Certain kinds of leaves and palms used to make a wall.

[arriba]

kaliiba

I. N

1. plant,tree fig tree?

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Good for fire wood. Like swampwood, if used to make a cooking fire on the ground the traditional way of shoving the ends of three logs close ad putting kindling and small firewood in the middle, will burn hot and will not go out when you pull the logs apart. You can then put smaller pieces back in the middle the next day to cook again, and the fire will catch.

[arriba]

kalka

I. N

1. body,plant limb

1. house thatch

[arriba]

kalka aing kat

I. N

1. house beam

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaalka	aing	kat
	of	stick

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Beam to tie the thatch roof on.

[arriba]

kalkaup

I. N

1. body,plant leaf

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish shapes.

[arriba]

kalkwiskwis

I. N

1. animal,bird A little bird that walks on top of the lilies

[arriba]

kalma

I. N

1. clothes cloth

2. artef.,clothes clothes

[arriba]

kalma ariira

I. N

1. artef.,clothes clothes line

[arriba]

kalma taik

I. N

1. clothes piece of cloth

Composicion:

expression

Notas:

Gramatical:
'kalma pang' is also possible.

[arriba]

kalma tupki

I. N

1. artef.,clothes under clothes

[arriba]

kalngup

I. N

1. body kidney

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish shape. Old name for 'kidney' was 'ngaling kaalup'.

[arriba]

kalpang

I. N

1. artef.,dom.,house stool

[arriba]

kaltkisuruk

I. N

1. plant july flower

[arriba]

kalua

I. N

1. animal,fish,food small snook species , [ESP] Róbalo (pequeño)

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kalua kaanu taaki aakar. Tauli su yaakar, lakuun su yaakar, sii su yaakar. sauk kiingaka sukwii.
The small snook lives all about. He lives in the ocean, he lives in the lagoon, he lives in the river. When we fish it, we eat it.
Vive en todas partes. El róbalo pequeño vive en la laguana, en el río. Cuando lo pescamos, lo comemos.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Resembles the large snook, but smaller and rounder. Lagoon fish very common for eating fried or stewed; spoils quickly. Is also sold. As of 2009, noted that some fish being caught at creek mouths and identified as "kalua" are actually young specimens of the larger snook species.
Parece un róbalo pero mas pequeño y más redondeado. Algunos dicen que existen varios tipos. Pez lagunero muy común para comer frito o guisado; se daña rápido.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu.
Préstamo del Miskitu.

[arriba]

kamikamii kaa

I. N

1. plant sleep bush

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not medicinal. It is a little plant; if you touch the leaves, they close up.

[arriba]

kamsik

I. N

1. animal,insect blinky worms (Kr)

.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is half worm and half fly. It crawls like a worm and if flies. The belly lights up.

[arriba]

kamuus

I. N

1. plant,tree monkey comb

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This vine has big round seeds with prickles (stickers) which monkeys supposedly use to comb their hair.

[arriba]

kangali

I. N

1. animal,body,human breast , [ESP] pecho

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kwerku tiiskiba sui kangali yairung aap ki.
The baby pig sucks on its mama tit
El cerdito chupa la teta de su mama.

[arriba]

kangali arii

I. N

2. body,food milk , [ESP] leche materna

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Biip kangali arii pluuma.
The cow milk is white.
La leche de vaca es blanca.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kangali	arii
breast	liquid
pecho	Liquido

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A Rama Cay belief is that women who pick oysters in cold water and then nurse their baby will give their baby a cold.

[arriba]

kangali ngalaa uut

I. N

1. animal,insect sour honey bee , [ESP] Miel amarga

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kalngalauut, ngalaali uut supkaaba, kangali ngalaa uut.
sour honey bee

[arriba]

kangima

I. N

1. human young man

2. human boy

3. struck

[arriba]

kangkang

I. N

1. human young man

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplicaton.

[arriba]

kangkangup

I. N

1. artef.,house fire fan

Composicion:

Compounds

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is the feathered wing of a curassow, used as a fire fan.
An older belief was that as part of the snake bite treatment this fire fan was hung over the bed of the victim. If it swang the person would recover, and if it remained still the person was doomed.
Gramatical:
The word ends with the classifying suffix '-up' for roundish objects.

[arriba]

kangkaraup

I. N

1. food,plant kind of banana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A kind of banana, of kind of squarish shape. Should be cooked to be eaten.
Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish shapes.
Also called cosco.
Léxica:
in Rama Cay Creole, called kosko on Rama Cay and kosto further south. In Bluefields you hear both.

[arriba]

kangsuk

I. N

2. animal,shellfish conch

Notas:

Etnográfica:
In olden days, they used to use conch to call people.

[arriba]

kaniik

I. N

1. animal,fish shark , [ESP] Tiburón

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kanik suknguang traali tauli skaik.
The small shark walks at the edge of the ocean.
El tiburón pequeño camina en la orilla del mar.
Uut ki aakustanik kaniik ma kwsuting.
To be in a dory is dangerous. The shark might eat you.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There used to be a lot of sharks around Cane Creek but the Japanese came and caught huge numbers of them, cutting off the fins and throwing the bodies back into the water. Sharks are a concern even up in the creeks such as Tursuani.
They used to use shark teeth as arrow tips (see 'kartuk kaniik siikwa').
As of 2008, additional commercial fishing of sharks and sawfish, especially for the fins for export, had further reduced their numbers (and the size of those caught, as could be determined by the size of the fins seen drying in Bluefields)) so that they were no longer as serious a concern for seagoing dories as before.
Solía haber muchos tiburones cerca de Cane Creek pero llegaron los japoneses y los capturaron en gran cantidad, les cortaban las aletas y tiraban los cuerpos de vuelta al agua. Los tiburones son una preocupación, aun en los criques de arriba como Tursuani. Se acostumbraba utilizar los dientes de tiburón para hacer puntas de flecha ('kartuk kaniik siikwa'). Desde el 2008, la presencia de otros pescadores comerciantes de aleta de tiburón y pez sierra han reducido aún más su número (y el tamaño de lo que capturan, como puede determinarse por el tamaño de las aletas que pueden verse secando en Bluefields), los tiburones ya no son un problema serio, como antes, para los marineros yendo en cayucos al mar.

[arriba]

kaniik saala

I. N

1. animal,fish Hammerhead shark

[arriba]

kaniik siksiknga

I. N

1. animal,fish Tiger Shark

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Tiger sharks were previously seen and feared, and there was oe that hung around Monkey Point Harbor for years, but was most likely caught as part of the ongoing decimation for commercial purposes, mostly for the fins.
Al menos hasta los años ochenta había un tiburón grande cerca de Monkey Point. Los tiburones tigres pueden ser enormes, 16-18 pies de largo, y son siempre una preocupación para la gente remando en cayucos, especialmente en el mar. En 2008 dijeron que ya no existia el peligro que antes. Se dice que el tiburón tigre persigue a los cayucos.
Léxica:
See also "kaniik taara." This literally means big shark, which can refer to any large shark, of which the tiger shark is proabaly the biggest in the area. Some prefer to denote the tiger shark by its "speckles."
Algunos hablantes llaman “kaniik taara” al tiburón tigre. Es el tiburón más grande de la región, pero algunos hablantes prefieren decir “siksiknga” por las manchitas que este tiburón tigre lleva en su cuerpo, y dicen que “kaniik taara” puede referirse a cualquier tiburón grande.

[arriba]

kaniik taara

I. N

1. animal,fish tiger shark

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kaulingdut altawai kanik taara ansungka. Muu yaasaulingi anaungi.
People are afraid when they see the big shark. It fights with you they say.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaniik	taara
shark	big
Tiburón

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There was a big one living around Monkey Point until at least some time in the 80s. Tiger sharks can be enormous, 16-18 feet long, and are always a concern for people paddling in dories, especially in the sea. However, as of 2008, heavy commercial fishing targeting sharks and sawfish for their fins (for export) has decimated their numbers.
Al menos hasta los años ochenta había un tiburón grande cerca de Monkey Point. Los tiburones tigres pueden ser enormes, 16-18 pies de largo, y son siempre una preocupación para la gente remando en cayucos, especialmente en el mar, aunque desde el 2008 se reconoce que este peligro ha disminuido grandemente. Sin embargo, la pesca comercial excesiva enfocada en las aletas de tiburones y pez sierra (para exportación) ha diezmado su número.

[arriba]

kaniinis

I. N

2. animal,reptile white-lipped mud turtle

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kaniinis kauling aa kwsi. Aamliika imaali. Wakling bii kwsi.
People don't eat shankwa turtle. It smells bad. Only the white face monkey eats it.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They don't eat this kind of turtle but the Miskitu do.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu

[arriba]

kapuupu

I. N

1. animal,frog Cane Toad

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

karangkang

I. N

1. animal,insect blanket lice

5381.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Called 'chings' in Kriol

[arriba]

kariiri

I. N

1. plant wild cane

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. artef. large arrow shaft

3. artef.,hunting arrow

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The cane and the arrow have the same name. The arrow is made of cane, this one used to kill large animals generally.
Gramatical:
Used as the generic name for arrows. Has a variant form 'kriiri'.

[arriba]

karkauling

I. N

1. mythical being

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a man in the bush sitting on a big rock. You have to dream him before you can find him. When you hear him groan, go put your arms around him, even his big, long beard, and hold him. Then he will tell you to bathe and comb him. Do it and don't be afraid, or you die. If you do as you should, then you will be a big strong man, and nothing can hurt you; guns can't shoot you. Don't tell anybody, though.

[arriba]

karkuut

I. N

1. animal,bird grass bird

[arriba]

karsiik

I. N

1. artef.,fishing,hunting arrow point

2. artef. iron arrow

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Usually were made of shark teeth.
If it was an iron arrow point it has been filed out of a manufactured piece of metal such as a nail.
Gramatical:
From 'kariiri' (arrow) and 'siik' (tooth).

[arriba]

kartuk

I. N

1. plant wild cane

2. artef.,hunting cane arrow

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The arrow before it is done (with no end point), the finished arrow is 'kriiri'.

[arriba]

kartuk kaniik siikwa

I. N

1. artef.,hunting shark tooth arrow

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kartuk kanik siikwa u kruubu anmalngi.
They kill tiger with the arrow with the shark teeth.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kartuk	kaniik	siik	wa
cane arrow	shark	tooth	with

[arriba]

kasaka

I. N

1. clothes blouse

Notas:

Gramatical:
Old borrowing from English (cassock). Now people use 'blauz'.

[arriba]

kaskas

I. N

1. animal,reptile house lizard

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used as a generic for small harmless house lizard, dark brown or black; most likely a gecko.
Léxica:
To be differentiated from poisonous 'ngaliis kwiiksa, kraana (various classes), and gelliwaz.

[arriba]

kaskas parnga

I. ?

1. animal,reptile

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaskas	parnga
house lizard	black

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Harmless house lizard. As of 2008, noted by many that the dark one is becoming scarce, especially in Bluefields, and has largely been replaced by a white one (probably Hemidactylus frenatus) which is reported to eat the slightly smaller black one.
Léxica:
A kind of house lizard

[arriba]

kaskas pluuma

I. N

1. animal,reptile white lizard

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kaskas	pluuma
house lizard	white

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Most likely the white gecko which as of 2008 was increasingly reported to have mostly replaced the dark brown or black house lizard, especially in Bluefields, but also in most houses in the bush. Harmless to people.
Léxica:
To be distinguished from ngaliis kwipsa, kraana, gelliwaz. See kaskas, kaskas parnga

[arriba]

kasu

I. N

1. food,plant cashew

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They plant trees around their houses. They eat the fruits and some roast the seeds and eat them; not plentiful and not a money-making endeavor as on the Pacific side of the country.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (cashew).
Léxica:
Also kaashu

[arriba]

kat

I. N

1. body leg

2. body foot

3. body penis

4. handle

5. stick

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nah kat alkangu tausung su.
I throw a stick at the dog.
Le lance un palo al perro

6. post

7. log

8. plant tree

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kuula baingbi yaakuru. Kuula nsuaaplangatkulu. Kat nsupaukatkulu, mutmutba taara aingu. Namangku, alpiaakama, mliima.
We cleaned the bush. We fell the trees, that's why it's a big open place. Now it's good for plant.

Pictures/Imagenes:

9. staff

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The general meaning is 'long and rigid', so it can be used for a lot of different objects.
Gramatical:
From 'kaat'. Often pronounced with short vowel. Also used as a class marker in compound nouns : see '-kat'.

[arriba]

kat aap

I. N

1. body,plant trunk

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Bleera ituk kat aap ki imalki yalkungi.
The monkey wraps his tail on the tree trunk and hangs down.
El mono enrolla su cola en el tronco del árbol y se cuelga hacia abajo.

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kat	aap
tree	body

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'tree's body'.

[arriba]

kat aap skwa kuula

I. N

1. body,plant tree canopy

[arriba]

kat amkas

I. N

1. body,plant fork in a tree

[arriba]

katkaringka

I. N

1. plant unidentified plant

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A "sprickle" vine, i.e., a thorny vine. Chachalacas, deer, land crabs, some lizards, eat the young leaves.
Léxica:
"slips" refers to any of a number of different vines in Creole, differentiated from "whits," which have stouter stems.

[arriba]

kat pang pang

I. N

1. house,plant kindling

[arriba]

kat saalukwa

I. N

1. plant prickle tree

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kat	saalukwa
tree	with prickles

[arriba]

kat tris tris

I. N

1. plant kindling

Notas:

Gramatical:
Can also be said 'kat pang pang'.

[arriba]

katuruk

I. N

1. body,plant flower

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Katuruk sasaisba naing nguu tuk su nikuaakari.
I have pink flowers in my yard.
Kutkulu katruk nuknuknga. Yaap pluuma.
The flower of the yamary tree are yellow. Its trunk is white.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kat	uruk
tree	flower

Notas:

Gramatical:
Generic for flowers.

[arriba]

katuruk arii

I. N

1. body,plant nectar

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Titinma katuruk arii ingwii.
The hummingbird drinks the juice from the flowers.
El colibrí bebe chupa el néctar de las flores

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
katuruk	arii
flower	creek

[arriba]

kat uruk skwa

I. N

1. artef.,house,plant main beam

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kat	urukskwa
stick	from above

[arriba]

kat uuk

I. N

1. body,plant bark

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Many different tree barks are used for medicinal purposes.

[arriba]

katuukup

I. N

1. artef.,house,plant log

2. hollowed log

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class mark '-up' for roundish object

[arriba]

katuup

I. N

2. body,plant fruit

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kat	uup
tree	fruit

[arriba]

katuup parnga

I. N

1. food,plant star apple

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
katuup	pargna
fruit	black

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Pronounced "strapple" in Kriol.

[arriba]

katuup saala

I. N

1. food,plant tomato

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
katuup	saala
fruit	red

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Ramas do not eat tomatoes. Probably a neologism.

[arriba]

kauling

I. N

1. human person

2. human people

[arriba]

kauling aing kuung

I. N

1. animal,health,insect people lice , [ESP] Piojo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kauling aing kuung sukwaakitka, taimka angka yalamskwi. Yupsi mliikaba spaayaka yalamskwi, barka ning taim suaataiki kuung aing yupsi, angka supaayai.
People lice when we get it sometimes it can't go away. When we buy sweet grease then it goes away, but now it is too expensive, the grease for lice, we can't buy it.
Cuando la gente tiene piojos a veces no se los puede quitar. Cuando tenemos con que compramos grasa dulce (vaselina?), pero ahora es muy cara, no la podemos comprar.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kauling	aing	kuung
person	of	lice

[arriba]

kauling alpaayauingdut

I. N

1. human people who sell

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kauling	alpaaya	uing	dut
person	buy	HAB	PL

Notas:

Gramatical:
Plural marker (-dut) clitic of whole noun phrase and as nominalization with verb in habitual aspect (-uing).

[arriba]

kauling alsuuingdut

I. N

1. human thieves

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kauling	alsu	uing	dut
people	steal	HAB	PL

[arriba]

kaung

I. N

1. house,plant congkiva

Notas:

Etnográfica:
In Spanish, bejuco de hombre. Whit stronger than 'wari whit' (bejuco de mujer). Good to tie things like stick wall.

[arriba]

kaungkaungba

I. ADJ

1. measuring tough

II. N

1. health hard boil

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.
Has a variant 'kaungkaungma' resulting from nasalisation of the final derivational suffix '-ba' after nasal velar 'ng'.

[arriba]

kauru

I. N

1. house,plant bamboo

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some people use it to make house walls.

[arriba]

kauru

I. N

1. animal,frog toad (Kr)

Notas:

Léxica:
A frog or a toad? (Though in Kriol they're all "toad," and unknown if Rama always distinguish between bumpy vs. smooth skin for classifying them.

[arriba]

kawas

I. N

1. food,plant guava

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kawas pwatpa u plungkiingima, swiin u nikwsi.
The guava cooked with sugar, we eat it with bread.
Kawas nuknuknga tuktinka yalptangka nsut aapluki kuskama. Kawas saala saala yiruk su pwatpa.
When the guava is ripe, when it drops, we pick it up to eat it. The red guava is sweeter.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They usually eat them when they are green because if they wait for them to be ripe they won't be there!
The leaves can be used medicinally.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (guava).

[arriba]

kawi

I. N

1. plant,tree kowi

[arriba]

kerosin

I. N

1. plant,tree kerosin

[arriba]

kiangkiangka

I. N

1. plant type of flower

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is a tall lilly-like fresh waterside flower, with single white petal and a rod like stamen.
Gramatical:
Reduplication, but can also be 'kiangka'.

[arriba]

kiiba

I. N

1. artef.,dom. cover

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nalmliki naing kiiba ki.
I wrap myself in my cover.

2. artef.,dom. sheet

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kiiba ngaang su aakring.
Spread the sheet over the bed!

[arriba]

kiibanga

I. N

1. animal,reptile a type of lizard

Notas:

Léxica:
Same as 'suleeru' lizard.

[arriba]

kiikik

I. ADV

2. time at night

II. N

1. time night

[arriba]

kiikna

I. ADJ

1. male

II. N

1. human man

Notas:

Gramatical:
Modern variant of the original 'nkiikna', with simplification of the initial consonant cluster. All the compound words were writen with the original 'nkiikna'.

[arriba]

kiina

I. N

1. health,plant whit species

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is boiled to drink to strengthen your blood.
Léxica:
"Whit" is Kriol; refers to woody climbing vines.

[arriba]

kiing

I. N

1. body head

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. body,plant bunch

Notas:

Gramatical:
The vowel can be shorten, mostly for some compound words. The sense 'bunch' is only used for bananas.

[arriba]

kiinga

I. N

1. time day

2. space east

[arriba]

kiingaaki

I. N

1. space middle

[arriba]

kiingaikba

I. N

1. geo,space east side

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kiinga	aik	ba
east	side	ADJ

Notas:

Gramatical:
Homonym with 'kiingaikba' (top, literally 'from head side') that is compound on 'kiing' (head).

[arriba]

kiingaikba

I. N

1. space top side

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'from head side'. Used with clothes ; see compounds on 'praak' (dress). Homonym with 'kiingaikba' (east side) that is compound on 'kiinga' (day, east).

[arriba]

kiingima

I. N

1. human chief

[arriba]

kiingkabut

I. N

1. plant sawgrass

Notas:

Etnográfica:
On high ground, such as going up to the graveyard in cane creek, there is a lot of cuttin' grass. It is about waist high, does cut your skin, but also makes it almost impossible to see what's on the ground in the grass, which doesn't feel good.

[arriba]

kiingkat

I. N

1. body neck

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kiing	kat
head	stick

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker 'kat' for longish shapes.

[arriba]

kiingkat ariira

I. N

1. artef. necklace

2. body jugular vein

[arriba]

kiingkat yausa

I. N

1. body jugular vein

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kiingkat	y	ausa
		vein

[arriba]

kiing plung

I. N

1. body,health dandruff

[arriba]

kiing sabang

I. N

1. human,plant calabash head

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Insult between kids.

[arriba]

kiing tkup

I. N

1. body neckbone

[arriba]

kiing tuk

I. N

2. body crown of head

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kiing	tuk
head	end

[arriba]

kiingtupsa

I. N

1. body palate

Notas:

Gramatical:
Probably compounded in 'kiing-tup-saa' (head-down-palm).

[arriba]

kiingup

I. N

1. artef.,dory handle of paddle

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish objects.

[arriba]

kiing uuknga

I. N

1. artef.,clothes cap

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kiing	uuknga
head	container

[arriba]

kiinik

I. N

1. time day

[arriba]

kiinik kitkiibing

I. N

1. time middle of the day

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kiinik	kitkiibing
day	middle

[arriba]

kiit

I. N

1. body,plant buttress

Notas:

Etnográfica:
These are the large outcroppings of a tree trunk above ground on large trees such as the "puulik," or "iibo," in order to anchor them in the soil. If a tree is going to be cut, traditionally the logger has to build a platform above the buttresses in order to cut the trunk from where it starts to go straight up.
Léxica:
Always heard as "ikiit," Lit. "its kiit"

[arriba]

kiit tupkika

I. N

1. plant root

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is the root of a plant or tree under the ground, to be differentiated from just "kiit," or "ikiit," which are root-like structures above the ground, as for example, the buttresses on big trees.
Léxica:
Always heard as "ikiit," Lit. "its root."

[arriba]

kimakas

I. N

1. animal,reptile oyster shell snake

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Lives high up in trees ; the body is speckled pale black. It bites and is poisonous.
Gramatical:
other variants: 'kimkas' in Rama and 'king makas' for Rama Cay variant.

[arriba]

kingkaas

I. N

1. body brain

[arriba]

kingkabut

I. N

1. plant cutting grass

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a sharp-edged grass near creek and riversides which looks innocent, but which can cut your skin. Not tall.

[arriba]

kirki

I. N

1. animal,mammal armadillo

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Also called jacket man in Kriol. Its oil (from cooked fat armadillo) is used to treat asthma.

[arriba]

kisangkisang

I. N

1. animal,reptile small lizard

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a small lizard that changes color from brown to green.

[arriba]

kiskark

I. N

1. animal,bird kingfisher

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are different kinds. They live along creeks and rivers.

[arriba]

kiskis

I. N

1. dom.,palm,plant,tree kiskis tree

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. artef.,cooking tongs

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Krais sulkup kiskis kuaakar.
The crab has pinchers.
El cangrejo tiene tenazas.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
We use the kiskis tree to make tongs. This is a necessity for cooking, used for stirring the pot, lifting up pieces of food, e.g., bananas, cassava, fish, meat, while cooking or serving. You will burn your hand if you don't have a a kiskis to to pick up and turn your banana or fish while roasting it, for example. If you don't have one, you will have to go cut one before you can cook. (For people who live in the bush, there is probably no one convenient to borrow one from.) Most people have several, different lengths and widths for different uses. Said to be two varieties, the "real" one, i.e., the thin one, and the mountain cow one, ngarbing aing kiskis.
Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

kiskurk

I. N

1. type of fish

[arriba]

kiskurung

I. N

1. animal,bird woodpecker

Notas:

Gramatical:
Two local variations for this word : 'kiskurung' and 'kuskurung'.

[arriba]

kiskut

I. N

1. animal,fish,food Cichlid spp

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are several classes of "tuba," generally and traditionally the most preferred food fish of the Rama. This is identified as the “speckled one.”
Hay varias clases de “tuba.” Generalmente y tradicionalmente es el pez preferido por el pueblo Rama para comer. Este tipo de “tuba” se reconoce por sus manchitas.
Léxica:
See "tuaa."
Ver "tuaa".

[arriba]

kismurk

I. N

1. animal,bird small black bird uidentified

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Oriole-sized black bird in the bush near creeks and streams

[arriba]

kiswa

I. N

1. animal,fish,health stingray , [ESP] Raya

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kiswa tiiskama duaalin u, barka kwaala. Taimka aa sut sungi, sii ki suaatkali, sut kalniki su sula ngulsyuungi.
The stingray is smaller than the big stingray but it is bad. Sometimes we no see it, we jump in the water, we stand up on it and he strike/bore we.
Es una raya mas pequeña pero es mala. A veces no la vemos, cuando saltamos al agua nos paramos en ella y nos aguijonea.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The Rama are regularly exposed to being struck by stingray barbs as there are both freshwater and saltwater varieties, and they are most likely to be encountered while loading/unloading a dory, leaving/coming ashore, picking oysters or carckle, or by children looking for the big clawed lagoon shrimps under rocks, or just playing near the shore. This is particularly worrisome for the oyster and carckle pickers during times when the water is deeper and they can't see well and have to "dive" to pick them. Before the hurricane there were lots of stingrays at the mouth of Cane Creek, especially in the evening as they were said to come to sleep there. The hurricane, however, caused the beach and previously large creek mouth to wash away.
It is said that if even a small stingray strikes you in the guts, your guts pop and you die. The Rama make various poultices to put on the wound if struck, for example, bitter cassava. Kiswa is not eaten. As of 2009, however, even stingrays were said to be relatively scarce, as an entrepreneur had started buying stingrays for export a few years earlier, and the Ramas (both from Rama Cay and down the coast) along with others heavily fished it.
Los Ramas están expuestos al aguijoneo de las rayas, hay variedades de agua dulce y salada. Es posible encontrarlas al cargar o descargar el cayuco; al llegar o salir a la playa, recogiendo almejas, o por los niños-as buscando langostinos bajo las rocas, o jugando cerca de la playa. Esto es preocupante para los recolectores de ostiones y berberechos durante los días cuando el agua es profunda y no pueden ver bien y tienen que “bucear” para recogerlas. Hay muchas rayas en la boca de Cane Creek, especialmente en la tarde porque dicen que llegan a dormir allí. Se dice que sí una raya, aunque sea pequeña, te aguijonea en el abdomen, se inflama y te mueres. El pueblo Rama elabora varios tipos de cataplasmas para cubrir las heridas que hacen las rayas, por ejemplo, de yuca amarga. El Kiswa no se come. Sin embargo, a partir del 2009, hasta las rayas son escasas. Un empresario empezó a comprarlas para exportación hace unos pocos años (2006), y desde entonces, empezaron a capturarlas en grandes cantidades.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu.
Préstamo el Miskitu.
Léxica:
See "duaalin" big stingray.
Ver Manta raya.

[arriba]

kitkiibing

I. N

1. space middle

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

kitungka

I. N

1. animal,bird kiskadee

[arriba]

kiup

I. N

1. body heart

Notas:

Etnográfica:
In Rama tradition a hunter will eat the raw heart of a hikiti water turtle, garrobo iguana or tiger. They would tear open the animal just as it fell and eat the heart raw. This gives you faith to do many things: like the iguana, to climb very high; like the the hikiti, to dive very deep, and like the tiger, fearless to kill anything.
Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish objects.

[arriba]

klangsik

I. N

1. body heel

[arriba]

klar

I. N

1. fishing lagoon holding pen

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A holding pen constructed of rocks, built in the lagoon near the shore. to keep cockles, small turtles (but not fish) alive and fresh.
Léxica:
Borrowing with metathesis from English (crawl, from turtle crawls as in the Caimans), through Miskitu.

[arriba]

kliis

I. N

1. food,plant fig

[arriba]

kliisang

I. N

1. plant little wild cane

[arriba]

kokriko

I. N

1. animal,bird,food chachalaca

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Gamebird smaller than kwaam, (crested guan). Eaten in soup or roasted.
Léxica:
Borrowed or onomatopoetic. See waisukwaisuk.

[arriba]

kongkanti

I. N

1. bread,food dried green banana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Dried green banana ground up for pop.
Léxica:
See also 'tuulis' for another pop.

[arriba]

kongkiiva

I. N

1. dom.,plant tough grass

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A kind of tough grass, stronger than 'piungkit' (wari whit), and used to tie things like stick walls of the house. Also used to tie the ends of a bowl made out of tuula palm leaf to use for carrying iibo, water
Gramatical:
Also called 'kaung'.

[arriba]

koot

I. N

1. clothes skirt

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (pettycoat).

[arriba]

kormarik

I. N

1. animal,bird trogon

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Also known as rama tut tut. There are two kinds, saala and nguknguknga, red breast and yellow breast. Until recently (2008) they were common in the creeks and rivers. Tend to sit rather low and for a long time in trees, especially fruit trees, eve when people come up close, which makes them exceptionally vulnerable to being killed for sport, especially by young boys with slingshots.
Léxica:
Also kurmaarik, kurmaraik.

[arriba]

kraabu

I. N

1. food,plant,tree kraabu

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Little round small rape-sized yellow fruit with a seed inside that grows on a tree. Very sweet. Found all over Nicaragua, but the fruits on the Pacific are larger. Ramas eat it as is, make fresco, with it, and make wabul with it. Ripens around August.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from either Miskitu or Kriol.
Léxica:
Nancite in Sp.

[arriba]

kraana

I. N

1. animal,hunting,reptile lizard/baselisk

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some of these lizards you eat and others you don't. (WO) For some of today's speakers(e.g., NM), kraana, isalii, and tongkeli all refer to the same lizard, the green and brown baselisks, which resemble small iguanas, and can run across the water, hence the name "Jesus Christ lizard." Some Ramas eat them. They are hunted and killed with slingshot or bow and arrow (still yet in 2009, at least in Sumuu Kat). They are generally cooked by softening the meat and cutting it up with the bones and putting it in the pot with the rice, or by first picking off the meat before adding it. There isn't a lot of meat, so it's more to flavor the rice than anything else. The head is roasted for the dog.
Gramatical:
This word was said emphatically to be pronounced with a falling tone on the long aa by the old Rama (Nelly McCrea).
Léxica:
For many Rama today, a generic name for a number of bright green iguana-like lizards. They include young iguanas that are green (like young 'saliuk' and young 'spaapa').

[arriba]

kraana ngarngaringba

I. N

1. animal,food,hunting,reptile green baselisk

Composicion:

expression

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Green baselisk, as contrasted with the brown baselisk. Some people hunt them and eat them.

[arriba]

krais

I. N

1. animal,shellfish crab, land crab, sea crab

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Krais tkii ipangi nguri yungi psutki tauki naingi yaakiri.
The crab digs the earth. It makes hole, gets in the hole, that's where it stays.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
For most, a smallish variety of land crab which digs holes in the dirt. Not eaten.
Léxica:
Also "karais." For some, generic for a number of crabs still differentiated by many. See also 'karang', 'takayak' and 'wairu,' soodya, suulup kabungkabung, untas aing krais.

[arriba]

krais aap biibing

I. N

1. animal naked crab

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Krais aap biibing ikwiima uuk arisba yaapika itauki.
The naked crab, when he finds the next partner shell he gets into it.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A crab that has recently shed (molted) its shell. A soft shell crab then.
Léxica:
See also 'krais siktakba' and 'soodya.'

[arriba]

krais ngarngaringba

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish blue crab

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Krais ngringringma, krais pluuma, krais saala, krais pangsak, seem isabii anaakri. Sut kuuka, sut kwsi.
The blue crab, the white crab, the red crab, these three crabs are the same kind. When we catch them we eat them.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
krais	ngarngaringma
crab, land crab, sea crab

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This crab makes holes in the dirt.

[arriba]

krais pluuma

I. N

1. animal,shellfish white crab

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
krais	pluuma
crab, land crab, sea crab	white

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This crab lives in swamps.

[arriba]

krais saala

I. N

1. animal,shellfish red crab

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
krais	saala
crab, land crab, sea crab	red

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This crab lives on sea islands.

[arriba]

krais siktakba

I. N

1. animal,shellfish hermit crab

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
krais	siktakba
crab, land crab, sea crab	naked

Notas:

Léxica:
See also 'krais aap biibing' and 'soodya.'

[arriba]

krais uuk kat

I. N

1. plant crab shell tree

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Krais uuk kat yuup krais isii yaltangi. Nsut aar angtki siirka baing.
the seeds of the crab shell tree look like crabs. We no cut it because it is too soft.

[arriba]

krangkang airi

I. N

1. cooking,food iguana egg soup

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Krangkang is iguana egg soup. An iguana may lay 50 -60 eggs, and it depends on how much krangkan you want to make how many eggs you use. To make it, you put water on to boil, and while it is heating, you bore a hole in each egg and pour the contents into a calabash. When the water is hot, you stir the eggs into it and add onion, gourd pepper, whatever condiments you prefer. This is a thick soup.
Léxica:
Also just krangkang, krangkan airi

[arriba]

kraungi

I. N

1. animal,fish,food jack , [ESP] Jurel

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kraungi tataara aakar paitkriima aakar. Kraungi alngaangka, duaalin aalali tangaik.
The jackfish there are big ones and small ones. When the jackfish float, the stingray play on its back.

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
If you dream of him (the jack), he makes you get up from your bed and walk around as if you have seen someone to talk with. He also makes you fall out of your bed. The Ramas say that when the water is fresh, you shouldn’t catch jack, because if you do, the water will quickly turn salty. Jack is caught and sold both in Bluefields and on Rama Cay. If you catch small ones, you give them to people for free. You can dry jack by putting large pieces of it on sticks over a low fire, and then you can sell it as smoked jack. You eat it with cassava or dasheen.

Si sueñas con él te hace levantarte de la cama y caminar alrededor como si has visto alguien con quien hablar. También te hace caer de la cama. Dicen los Ramas que cuando el agua está dulce no se deben capturar porque el agua pronto se convierte en agua salada. Se pesca y vende en el mercado o entre la misma comunidad; si es pequeño, se regala. Se seca a baja temperatura sobre el fuego, se ahuma apoyado en dos palitos y se vende como carne de kruangi ahumada. Se come con yuca cocida o malanga.
Etnográfica:
Usually an ocean fish; sometimes in the lagoon. there are a number of different species of jack. For the big "true jack," "krauni," many people don't eat the head because they say it makes you crazy (like you will dream anything, such as about the seven-headed man (?).
Pez marino pero algunas veces también se encuentra en la laguna. Hay varias especies de Jurel. Del grande, “el verdadero jurel,” mucha gente no come la cabeza porque dicen que enloquece (como soñar con el hombre de siete cabezas o el hombre sin cabeza).
Léxica:
Also krauni. Miskitu kraui.
También krauni. Miskitu kraui.

[arriba]

kreen

I. N

1. animal,bird crane

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

krikam

I. N

1. animal,bird seagull, tern

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Krikam sinsak pluuma. Isiik taik saala. Kabiis ikwsi. Uut tangaik inganaaki.
The seagull is a white bird. The side of his bill is red. He eats shrimps. He follows the boat.
La gaviota es un ave blanca. Los lados del pico son rojos. Come camarones. Sigue a los barcos.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Any of a number of gulls and terns that can be seen swooping down over the lagoon or sea to snatch shrimps and small fish.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu.

[arriba]

krus

I. N

1. artef.,plant coal

[arriba]

kruubu

I. N

1. animal,mammal jaguar

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kruubu siik tataara kunkunbi kuaakari, yungarngutkama.
The tiger has four big teeth to bite with.
El tigre cuatro colmillos (dientes) grandes para morder con ellos.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Difficult to tell which cat is being referred to at times: jaguar, ocelot, puma, margay, or others. Not known how much they are recognized as different species, how much is due to use of kruubu vs. Rama auma, and how much is influenced by Rama stories. All the big cats central to their collective history and identity. Previously much more of a physical danger than now due to overhunting and habitat destruction. Previously a greater source of income (hides).
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu. See auma.

[arriba]

kruubu aing suulup

I. N

1. plant prickly vine, unidentified

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a prickly, bushy swamp vine especially prevalent around Wiring Cay lagoon and river. The stem is lined with sharp curved thorns that look like cat nails, and whether green and leafy or dead and leafless, they are dangerously sharp, and people in dories, and even moreso in motorboats, must be vigilant as they will not only grab onto you and tangle you up, but they will also leave nasty lacerations. Especially bad during flood times.
Léxica:
Sp. "rang gallo."

[arriba]

kruubu nuknuknga

I. N

1. animal,mammal mountain lion

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kruubu nuknuknga yaap aakuaala. Tausung isungka imalngi.
The mountain lion, his body is pretty . When he sees a dog he kills it.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kruubu	nuknuknga
jaguar	yellow

[arriba]

kruubu parnga

I. N

1. animal,mammal black jaguar

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kruubu parnga kuleeruk pluuma. Pas taim yupyuwa kruubu uuk anaap ki sukai. Suulaik yuitraali kruubu isii yaltanangi. Kruubu aingwa aa angwai niis kauling.
Black tiger with white throat. Old time people put on this tiger skin on their body. They walk in the bush with it. They look like a tiger. The real tiger never know that he is people.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kruubu	parnga
jaguar	black

[arriba]

kruubu saala

I. N

1. animal,mammal redish jaguar

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kruubu	saala
jaguar	red

[arriba]

kruubu siksiknga

I. N

1. animal,mammal speckled jaguar

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kruubu siksiknga imaaruk puksakba, nuknuknga an parnga.
The speckled tiger, he is two colored, yellow and black.
El gato montés es moteado, es de dos colores, amarillo y negro.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kruubu	siksiknga
jaguar	speckled

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They distinguish jaguars bv color of their hide. This is the standard speckled pattern.
Léxica:
"Kruubu" is borrowed from Miskito, and can refer to several different wild cats, adding color or size adjectives to differentiate them, or the word "aingwa" to indicate the big speckled jaguar. ("aingwa" is used to denote the genuine big one, "the real one" of a category. The original Rama word is probably "auma."

[arriba]

Kruubu Taasup

I. N

. toponomy Tiger Hill , [ESP] Colina del Tigre

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojon 008 sur, Tiger Hill

[arriba]

kubiauk

I. N

1. animal,bird common pauraque

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This bird can be seen and heard flying around low in the night, landing on the ground. Like many birds, its name is onomatopoetic. Unlike some birds, especially some of the night fliers, this is not generally seen as a bad omen.
Léxica:
Onomatopoeia

[arriba]

kukaa

I. N

1. body,human ear

Notas:

Gramatical:
'ear' can also be said 'kukwa' or 'kukwaup'.

[arriba]

kukaakika

I. N

1. artef.,clothes earrings

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kukaa	ki	ka
ear		from

[arriba]

kukaali

I. N

1. animal,fish,food califavor , [ESP] Lisa

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kukaali traatka, sii ki karka itabii, suitkri.
When the galleyfever walk/go/jump, he come out of the water, he jump on it.
Cuando el califavor viene, sale del agua y salta en ella.

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
This is a very difficult fish to catch, and you can never catch very many. You have to wait for the right moment to catch them. It is not good for women with small children to eat kukaali because the children will get sick and could die.

Es un pez que es muy difícil de capturar y nunca se logra capturar muchos. Se tiene que esperar el momento para capturarlo. No es bueno que las mujeres con niños pequeños lo coman, se enferman y pueden morir.
Etnográfica:
Commonly eaten fairly large fish (up to 20, 25 pounds). Lives in the sea, lagoon, and part way up the river. It has big roe, a delicacy which is fried, or put in a waha leaf and set in the pot of rondon. Very rank, i.e., strong-smelling, and oily fish. Usually not stewed in coconut milk; you just roast it, or, you might salt it and dry it over the fire, and then run it down (i.e., stew it). You catch it in August in a net or you strike it.
There is a belief that it is not good to eat when you have a fever, because they jump too high and make the fever go higher.
Pez bastante grande de laguna y agua salada que se come comúnmente. Huele muy fuerte a aceite de pescado. Generalmente no se cocina en leche de coco; se pone a secar sobre el fuego y luego se hace rondón (guisado). Tiene bastantes huevas, una delicadeza, fritas, o cocidas envueltas en hoja de waha (bijagua) dentro del rondón. Se captura en octubre con trasmallo o con anzuelo. Antes lo pescaban con arpón (“waisku”). Brinca bastante mientras nada. Existe la creencia de que no hay que comerlo cuando se tiene fiebre, porque como salta muy alto hace subir la temperatura. Tampoco se recomienda que lo coman las mujeres con bebes.
Léxica:
KR and RCC are not the same.
KR y RCC no son lo mismo.

[arriba]

kukat

I. N

1. bird,body,fish wing, the two front ventral fins on fish

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some feathered bird wings, especially those of the crested guan and the great curassow, were used as fire fans before they became scarce after Hurricane Joan in 1988, and then moreso in most areas with the tremendous deforestation via the advancing agricultural frontier. "Kukat" is also used to refer to the two front ventral fins on fish.
Gramatical:
We can recognize the suffix '-kat' (stick,long object) but we don't know what 'ku' alone would mean. Suffix of many body parts of elongated shape.

[arriba]

kukmang

I. N

1. pile

2. patch

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Katuruk kukmang saiming kuula ki naapiu aakwals yaungai.
I found a patch of flowers in the bush. It looked pretty.

[arriba]

kukunup

I. N

1. food,plant coconut

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kukunup alptangi.
Coconut drop down

2. plant coconut tree

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kukunup panik yaapuni.
The coconut grow sideways.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Coconuts are a central part of Atlantic Coast cooking, and are a valuable cash crop which is hard to protect from thieves. Young green coconuts are great thirst quenchers. Mature coconuts are used to produce milk for cooking by pouring water on grated coconut and squeezing out the milk. The "trash" is then sometimes used to add texture and taste to fried baking soda-raised flour "tortillas," and to feed to chickens and pigs. Coconut oil is made to use to fry foods. Coconuts (and some oil) are sold in Bluefields or traded /sold to shrimp boats in Monkey Point. The husks and shells are not really used for anything. The Rama do not make copra to sell, but some have worked for other people who have copra businesses on Corn Island.
Gramatical:
Reduplication. Class marker '-up' for roundish objects.

[arriba]

kukunup arii

I. N

1. food coconut milk

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kukunup naasriksu, namsai, yarii tabikama.
I grater the coconut and I squeeze the milk out.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kukunup	arii
coconut	juice

[arriba]

kukunup upsi

I. N

1. food,health,plant coconut oil

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Naas aapsing kuaakitka, nunguuk ngulsniuungi kukunup upsi u.
when I am with fever, I purge my belly with coconut oil

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kukunup	upsi
coconut	oil

[arriba]

kukunup uuk

I. N

1. body,plant coconut skin

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Uungi kukunup uk u yaapalngi.
She scrub the pot with the coconut skin.

[arriba]

kukupba

I. N

1. animal,bird small unidentified hawk

[arriba]

kukupba

I. N

1. animal,bird unidentified swamp bird

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A night bird smaller than uhki in the swamp. Hollers "kuup, kuup." Probably a small bittern.

[arriba]

kukwa

I. N

1. body,human ear

Notas:

Gramatical:
'ear' can also be said 'kukwaup' or 'kukaa'.

[arriba]

kukwa aaring

I. N

1. body ear wax

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kukwa	aaring
ear	excrement

[arriba]

kukwa ngurii

I. N

1. body ear canal

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kukwa	ngurii
ear	hole

[arriba]

kukwaup

I. N

1. body ear

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kukwa	up
ear	round shape

Notas:

Gramatical:
'ear' can also be said 'kukaa' or 'kukwa'. Note the '-up' class marker for round shape. The meaning 'handle' is only used for 'paddle handle'.

[arriba]

kukwaup taik

I. N

1. body ear lobe

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kukwaup	taik
ear	end

[arriba]

kulaantro

I. N

1. food,health,plant coriander

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Grows wild and also commonly planted around houses. Used in flavoring various foods, such as macharca soup. Also has a number of medicinal uses. It is drunk as a medicinal tea. Another use is as a worm purge when three culantro roots are boiled with seven soursop leaves. The plant, with spiky tough leaves, looks very different from the domesticated variety seen in the U.S., but the scent and taste are similar.

[arriba]

kulak

I. N

1. animal,bird small little yellow-tail (Kr), i.e., tut

[arriba]

kuleera

I. N

1. artef.,body handle

[arriba]

kuleeruk

I. N

1. body throat

[arriba]

kulii

I. N

1. animal,food,mammal paca, KR givenot

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A highly prized meat which is hunted and usually eaten roasted. Often hunted by torching along the creekside at night: to torch you paddle upstream, and then drift down after the moon rises, hoping to spot and kill game that have come down to the waterside. (People originally made torches from long grasses palms, etc., then moved on to tying flashlights to the side of their heads, but now increasingly have headlamps.)

[arriba]

kuling

I. N

1. family,human spouse

[arriba]

kulkulu

I. N

1. animal,insect red ant , [ESP] Hormiga roja

II.

47970.

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kulkulu paapu bii barka saala.
The kulkulu is an ant too but it is red.
La kulkulu también es una hormiga pero es roja.

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication? common in animal names.

[arriba]

kulmang

I. N

1. human wood sprites

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Called pairy people (fairy people); sometimes when things are missing you say some fairy people took them. They live far up the creeks and eat crabs They are very strong. Corn River is one place where you can find them. Peri people can take you in the woodland and cause you to get lost, or even kill you.

[arriba]

kulmaup

I. N

1. plant mamey

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Delicious fruit. Brown skin, sweet orange flesh inside with big brown seed. They eat it fresh.

[arriba]

kulmaup kuula ki ka

I. N

1. plant wild mamey

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'mamey from the bush'.

[arriba]

kulmaup mamaama

I. N

1. plant tame mamee

[arriba]

kulungkulung

I. N

1. body,health fresh cold

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

kumaa

I. ADJ

1. animal,plant female

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngaukngauk parnga ikaat ngaarak ikuaakar. Ikaat aabak kuaakar. Ngaukngauk nuknuknga kumaa.
The black spider has many feet. He has hairy feet. The yellow one is a she - spider.
La araña negra tiene muchas patas. Tiene patas peludas. Las amarillas son arañas hembras.

Pictures/Imagenes:

II. N

2. human woman

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kumaa kalma sukuinglut.
women wash clothes

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. family,human wife

[arriba]

kumaa alaunguing

I. N

1. cooking,human woman cook

[arriba]

kumaa kalma sukuing

I. N

1. clothes,human washer woman

[arriba]

kumaa painba

I. N

1. human single woman

[arriba]

kumaa suksuk

I. N

1. human girl

[arriba]

kungkat

I. N

1. plant,tree potwood

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A very tough hardwood that is sold for lumber for houses.

[arriba]

kungkung

I. N

1. animal,bird,food crested guan

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A chickenish size brown bird, its meat is prized. Used to be hunted with bows and arrows, now hunted with guns. As of 2008 scarce. They make kwam coconut-based soup, eaten with breadkind.
One of two birds (the other being curassow, "ngalaang") whose feathered wings were used as fire fans when more abundant.
Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

kungkungbukit

I. N

1. animal,bird grey-necked wood-rail

II. onom.

1.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A fun bird to hear when you're paddling in the dory; he sings "kungkungbukit bukit!"
Léxica:
Also "ukutingkuting."

[arriba]

kungkung kaalkit

I. N

1. plant kwam foot tree

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kungkung	kaalkit
crested guan	root

[arriba]

Kungkung Ngurii

I. N

1. toponomy Kwam Hole

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A Point on the way down to Bangkukuk Taik, between and

[arriba]

kungkung uut

I. N

1. animal,insect termite

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kungkung uut nguu salkuki kutkabisang.
We hear that the wood lice nest is a round one.
Nosotros oímos que el nido del piojo de la madera (termita) es redondo.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kungkung	uut
crested guan	bug

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Traditionally you burn wood lice nests in your house after a person has died in order to get rid of the scent of death, particularly a death by snake bite. This protects the children from the spirit of the dead person. May also be burned in general to help keep bugs out of the house with the smoke, often burned together with iibo shells for this purpose

[arriba]

kungkung uut pluuma

I. N

1. animal,insect white wood lice , [ESP] Termita, hormiga blanca

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kungkung uut pluuma siksik angka kwsi. Imalngi, ikuleeruk ki yaa yarnguli. Kat psutki bii yaakiri, kat ikwisatkulu.
The white wood lice, the chicks can't eat it. He kill it, he bite it in the throat. It live only in the wood, eat up all the wood.
Al piojo blanco de la madera no se lo comen las gallinas, les muerde la garganta. Solo vive en la madera, se come toda la madera.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kungkung	uut	pluuma
crested guan	bug	white

[arriba]

kungsungup

I. N

1. artef.,body comb

Composicion:

derivation

1. animal,body crest

Composicion:

derivation

Notas:

Gramatical:
Also used for the rooster comb. Note the final class marker '-up' for round things.
Léxica:
Also kungsung uup

[arriba]

kungup

I. N

1. geo small hill

Notas:

Gramatical:
with class marker '-up' for roundish objects.

[arriba]

kung uup

I. N

1. artef.,dom.,plant,tree potwood seed

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The seed of the kungkat (tree). It resembles the iron bouys previously found on the beaches or in the sea in size and shape. People cut off the top of the buoys to make cooking pots which are still in use and highly valued because they are very sturdy. People similarly cut off the tops of the seed, but use the "pot" only to store salt, as you cannot use it to cook.
Léxica:
Also kungkat uup.

[arriba]

kunik

I. N

1. animal,bird green macaw

[arriba]

kunkun

I. N

1. artef.,fishing bob

2. artef.,fishing spool

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Fishing bob made out of kunkun tree root. Also used to make spool for the harpoon line.
Gramatical:
Reduplicated form.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu

[arriba]

kunkun kat

I. N

1. plant (bobwood tree)

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The root of it is used for fishing bob and spool of harpoon.
Léxica:
Kunkun borrowed from Miskitu.

[arriba]

kuntrayak

I. N

1. animal,fish,food small river and creek fish , [ESP] Cichlid spp

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
You usually clean them and then fry them; you eat them because “they help wash the rice and beans down.” Traditionally, Rama Cay people catch and eat more of
them than the Ramas in the other communities.

Generalmente se limpian y se comen fritas; se comen para “ayudar a limpiar porque hace que el arroz y los frijoles vayan hacia abajo”. Tradicionalmente son capturadas y comidas más por la gente de Rama Cay que por las otras comunidades Rama.
Etnográfica:
A small cichlid, "a shiny truu," truu being another small cichlid. Lives in small rivers and creeks. Can be caught by hook, but more often caught in cast nets, or by getting in the water and being "chased" downstream and netted. They are eaten when there are no better, meaning bigger, fish caught. They are usually cleaned and fried whole, being eaten to "help wash the rice and beans down." Traditionally are more often caught and eaten by Rama Cay people than by the other Ramas. Are also used for bait.
Cichlid pequeña rayada, pez brillante (shine truu) siendo truu otro Cichlid pequeña según algunos hablantes. Hay bastante pequeños peces rayados, y se dice que este es el mas pequeño. Es muy agresivo, y persigue a los más grandes, especialmente cuando tiene nido. Vive en los riachuelos y criques. Se puede pescar con anzuelo pero más a menudo se agarra con atarraya, o se persiguen con red en el agua río abajo. Se comen solamente si no hay nada mejor, es decir pescado grande. También se usan como carnada.
Léxica:
Also kontraya
También kontraya

[arriba]

kup

I. C+

1. swell

II. N

1. bump

Notas:

Gramatical:
Surely related in some way with 'tkup' and its derived words.
Used with helping verbs '-ting' and
'-uung'.

[arriba]

kuplangkuplang

I. N

1. animal,bird quail

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.

[arriba]

kurakiing

I. N

1. plant pineapple

[arriba]

kurang

I. N

1. body,fish dorsal fin

[arriba]

kurban

I. N

1. body shoulder

[arriba]

kurusking

I. N

1. body chest

2. body breast

Notas:

Gramatical:
Either one of the two first vowel can be elided so we get the variants 'krusking' and 'kursking'.

[arriba]

kurusking aabak

I. N

1. body chest hair

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kurusking	aabak
chest	body hair

[arriba]

kusmalaatu

I. N

1. animal,bird vulture

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are several different vultures, a red-headed one, a black-headed one, and a white one. The first two are more common in the region.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu
Léxica:
Also "kusmulaatu."

[arriba]

kusmalaatu king saala

I. N

1. animal,bird red-headed vulture

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kusmalaatu	king	saala
vulture	head	red

Notas:

Etnográfica:
On of three vultures, the other two being the black-headed one, and the white one. Common in the region.

[arriba]

kusmalaatu parnga

I. N

1. animal,bird black-headed vulture

2. animal,bird black-headed vulture

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Regardless of the phrase in Rama, the black-headed vulture is also seen in the bush, though it is possible that previously it was more common in the town.

[arriba]

kusmalaatu pluuma

I. N

1. animal,bird white vulture

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kusmalaatu	pluuma
vulture	white

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One of three vultures, the other two being the black-headed one, and the red-headed one. This one not as common in the region as the other two.

[arriba]

kutkulu

I. N

1. dory,plant yamari tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Sometimes used to make dory but it is not a choice tree for it because it does not last more than a couple of years.

[arriba]

kutkut

I. N

1. animal,body unidentified small pigeon

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a small bush pigeon that eats rice.
Léxica:
Also" kutkutba."

[arriba]

kutung

I. N

1. animal,mammal type of squirrel

[arriba]

kutuutuk

I. N

1. animal,frog black toad

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Black and bumpy toad that sings in the night.
Gramatical:
Onomatopeic word. Has a variant form 'kaat tutuk'.

[arriba]

kuuk

I. N

1. food,plant chocolate

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is the planted cacao. You can eat the jelly around the seeds. You cannot roast it and just eat it because it is too bitter. You have to bust the pod, dry the seeds, parch the seeds, peel them, grind them, and roll that paste into a ball. When it's hard you chip some off into a pot of boiling water or cane juice to make chocolate to drink. Add sugar if you didn't use cane juice.
Léxica:
See 'kuuk arii', and other kinds of cacao : 'ngerba', 'aumaup','ngungisup'

[arriba]

kuuka

I. N

1. human old woman

Notas:

Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu

[arriba]

kuuk aing alkiini

I. N

1. food,plant bird pepper

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Kind of pepper used traditionally to make pepper chocolate. Now used for all kinds of food. Very small sweet red pepper.
Gramatical:
Genitive construction referring to the plant. Different from 'kuuk alkiini' which is supposed to be the pepper chocolate drink.

[arriba]

kuuk aing sabang

I. N

1. artef.,food,plant calabash for chocolate

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Might have been an important item of the turmala (seer) that drank special peppered chocolate.

[arriba]

kuuk alkiini

I. N

1. food pepper chocolate

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A chocolate drink made with water, chocolate and ground up bird pepper. The chocolate seeds themselves have already been dried, parched, peeled, ground on a rubbing rock , shaped into a ball and left to harden. You boil some of the chocolate with a little water until it fries because of the oil in it. In this chocolate preparation you skim the oil before you mix it with pepper. Strain the chocolate with the pepper, add water and drink.
Léxica:
A short form for 'kuuk arii alkiiniwa/alkiini u'. See 'aumaup' for recipe of pepper chocolate.

[arriba]

kuuk arii

I. N

1. food,plant chocolate drink

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This used to be the main drink of the Ramas. The preparation of the drink is a lot of work. You must open the pod, take out the seeds, dry them, parch them, peel off the skin, and grind the seeds into a paste. You handroll the paste into bars which harden. when you want to drink some chocolate you boil water or cane juice and chip some of the chocolate into it. If it is just with water you have to add sugar. It is a very rich drink since it has all the cocoa oil in it and gives some people headaches.
Gramatical:
Because of the compounding, the long vowel of 'kuuk' can be reduced (kuk arii).

[arriba]

kuuka yuwa

I. N

1. human old, old woman

[arriba]

kuuk kat

I. N

1. plant cacao tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is the planted kind of cacao tree, the 'tamed' cacao as opposed to 'wild' cacao. A belief is that if you hang a hawksbill skull in this tree it will bear more cacao pods. This is a hawksbill that you have hunted, and then roasted its head until the meat fell off.
Léxica:
See also 'ngerba', 'aumaup', 'ngunis?'.

[arriba]

kuukuk

I. N

1. animal,insect house fly , [ESP] Mosca comun

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kuukuk yaadar su alpulki. Nainguku kalma pang u tkwakama yaadara.
The kunkas fly/go on anything ('pitch' on anything = perch). That's why we have to cover the things with a piece of cloth.
La “kunkas” se posa en cualquier cosa. Por eso tenemos que cubrir las cosas con una tela.

[arriba]

kuula

I. N

1. geo,plant bush

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used to refer to both brush in general as found, for example, surrounding a house, or in a location such as Rama Cay, and plants smaller than trees, including small medicinal plants.

[arriba]

kuulup

I. N

1. food,plant avocado

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They grow them to sell and sometimes eat them. They have problems keeping them until they are ripe to pick. Not a common plant for them to have.

[arriba]

kuung

I. N

1. animal,insect lice

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kauling aing kuung sukwaakitka, taimka angka yalamskwi. Yupsi mliikaba spaayaka yalamskwi, barka ning taim suaataiki kuung aing yupsi, angka supaayai.
People lice when we get it sometimes it can't go away. When we buy sweet grease then it goes away, but now it is too expensive, the grease for lice, we can't buy it.
Cuando la gente tiene piojos a veces no se los puede quitar. Cuando tenemos con que compramos grasa dulce (vaselina?), pero ahora es muy cara, no la podemos comprar.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
People spend time picking lice out of each other's hair. They use kerosene to kill them.

[arriba]

kuung aing siika

I. N

1. health louse medicine

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kuung	aing	siika
lice	of	medicine

[arriba]

kuup

I. N

1. language

2. body tongue

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

kuup sakaikba

I. N

1. health,human stammerer

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kuup	sakaikba
language	left

[arriba]

kuut sinsak

I. N

1. animal,bird type of duck

[arriba]

kwaakak

I. N

1. animal,health,insect butterfly

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kwaakak kukat aakwaals yaungai, stanangkama.
The butterfly wings look pretty to look at

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Butterflies are bad omens. Seen as causing illness with fever. Old people say that the migrating butterflies go to Turtle Bogue in Costa Rica where they suck turtle blood.
There is a month when migrating butterflies go through Bluefields lagoon by the millions. Other time when the swampwood trees are covered with butterflies.
Léxica:
Generic for butterflies. No other known names for butterflies.

[arriba]

kwaaka uup

I. N

1. health,plant,whit unidentified

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A large brown seed used as a purge and as one ingredient of bush medicine for a snake that lives high up. For a purge, you peel off the skin, scrape the meat into little pieces, roll them up and swallow them like pills.

[arriba]

kwaal

I. N

1. animal,frog spring toad

[arriba]

kwaalup

I. N

1. artef.,dory paddle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Paddles are fashioned by men out of pieces of wood, lumber using machetes. "Samwood" a common wood to use. The top is a T-bar shape to grasp, then a longisih slender neck becoming an elongated flatter bottom. It's best to have your own paddle made for your own preferences of size, weight, etc.
Gramatical:
Class marker '-up' for roundish objects.

[arriba]

kwaalup pung

I. N

1. artef.,body,dory middle of the paddle

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwaalup	pung
paddle	waist

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The part that you hold.

[arriba]

kwataaz

I. N

1. animal,bird clay-colored thrush

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The national bird of Costa Rica; not flashy, but sings a beautiful sweet song.
Léxica:
Also heard as waaterz.

[arriba]

kwatang

I. N

1. animal,mammal big bat

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Any of a number of large black bats that fly in the night. No particular beliefs associated with them.
Léxica:
Also kuaatang

[arriba]

kwerku

I. N

1. animal,food,mammal pig/hog

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Free-roaming hogs in small numbers have been raised for a long time as a source of income. By 2008, many more hogs, most still free-roaming, which has created more problems of hygiene and of digging up crops (though many have taken up the local custom of knotting a wire through the snout to dissuade the latter.) Pork has been eatenby many for a long time. The good time to castrate a hog is with the new moon because the skin is soft. If you do it at the full moon the skin is tough.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Spanish (puerco).

[arriba]

kwerku kaanu

I. N

1. house,space pig pen

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwerku	kaanu
pig/hog	place

[arriba]

kwiik

I. N

1. body arm

2. body hand

Notas:

Gramatical:
The vowel can be shortened, mostly in compound words.

[arriba]

kwiik aabak

I. N

1. body arm hair

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwiik	aabak
arm	body hair

[arriba]

kwiik ariira

I. N

1. artef.,clothes bracelet

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwiik	ariira
arm	string

[arriba]

kwiik baing

I. N

1. body,human right hand

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwiik	baing
hand	very

[arriba]

kwiik kutkubis

I. N

1. body fist

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwiik	kutkubis
hand	round

[arriba]

kwiik minsa

I. N

1. body,human wrist

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kwiik	minsa
hand

Notas:

Gramatical:
'minsa' doesn't exist alone.

[arriba]

kwiik nguu

I. N

1. body handprint

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwiik	nguu
hand	imprint

[arriba]

kwiik saa

I. N

1. body palm of hand

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwiik	saa
hand	palm

[arriba]

kwiik sakaikba

I. N

1. body left hand

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwiik	sakaikba
hand	left

[arriba]

kwiik saliup

I. N

1. body elbow

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
kwiik	saliup
arm	articulation

[arriba]

kwiik sarak

I. N

1. body upper arm

[arriba]

kwiikup

I. N

1. body finger

Composicion:

derivation

Morfemas
kwiik	up
hand	round shape

Notas:

Gramatical:
'sulkup' also means 'finger'. We can recognize the final '-up' as the classifier for round things.

[arriba]

kwiikupkika

I. N

1. artef.,clothes ring

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
kwiikup	ki	ka
finger		from

Notas:

Gramatical:
Constructed with postpositions 'ki+ka', like 'kukaakika' (earrings).

[arriba]

kwiik uuknga

I. N

1. artef.,clothes gloves

[arriba]

kwiima

I. N

1. human relative

2. human friend

3. human partner

4. human sister

5. human brother

[arriba]

kwiisa

I. N

1. artef.,body,plant needle

[arriba]

kwiksaksak

I. N

1. animal,house,reptile Asian house gecko

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a small whitish lizard that is often found in houses. It usually comes out at night, and is seen running along walls and ceilings or on the underside of thatch or zinc roofs catching smal insects. It also chirps like a bird.

[arriba]

kwsing

I. N

1. artef.,break axe

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kwsing kat yuanpaukkama.
The axe is for them to fall trees.
Uut nsupangi kwsing u nsuaapaik traatkama.
We dig out the dory with an axe to go paddle around.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used for falling trees, or splitting wood.

[arriba]

kwsing kaat

I. N

1. artef. axe handle

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kungkung kaalkit nangtki kwsing kaat kama bii.
we cut the quamfoot tree only for axe handle

[arriba]

kyabij

I. N

1. food,plant cabbage

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The most common vegetable bought in Bluefields. Not often eaten and some don't eat it at all.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (cabbage).

[arriba]

kyangkyangka

I. N

1. plant unidentified riverside plant

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

laakun aing triisu

I. N

1. animal,fish,food shad species

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
You catch them with a gill net or with a cast net which you use in dark water where there are rocks. The Ramas fish for them in the morning when the fish are looking for food. The Ramas fry them and run them down, and they also boil them to give to the dogs. Women who have recenty had a baby don’t eat them because the young baby will get sick, or might not be able to sleep in the night.

Se captura con trasmallo o con atarraya que se tiran en lugares de aguas oscuras donde hay rocas. Los Rama lo pescan por la mañana que es la hora que estos peces buscan alimento. La familia Rama lo prepara frito para rondón. También se hierve para los perros. No lo comen las mujeres recién alumbradas por que se enferman los tiernos o pueden tener problemas para dormir en la noche.
Etnográfica:
One of two shad; this one is not as round as the other, and is darker. Netted and eaten or sold. Popular to fry and eat with boiled cassava.
Una de las dos palometas, esta no es redonda como la otra, y es más oscura. Se captura en redes para comer o vender. Es popular comerlo frito con yuca hervida.

[arriba]

laap

I. N

1. food a smooth porridge

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A type of porridge made by boiling and then beating any kind of breadkind (especially green or ripe bananas or ripe plantain) with a thick stick (laap kat, or wabul stick), and adding coconut milk, ad sometimes sugar. To be differetiated from KR "pap," which is usually bumpier in consistency, made with something such as oatmeal or corn. Green breadfruit lap referred to with KR "kriminal."
Léxica:
Miskito "wabul" also used.

[arriba]

laap kaat

I. N

1. artef.,cooking wabul stick , [KRI] wabul stick

Pictures/Imagenes:

1. [KRI] wabul stick

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Made out saapla tree.

[arriba]

laasup

I. N

1. food,fruit,plant,tree xxx

Notas:

Léxica:
See pkuup, tkuup. Given as Rama in Wiring Cay, but others say this is Rama Cay Kriol.

[arriba]

lakun kaut

I. N

1. animal,bird Ibis species

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A chicken-sized black swamp/lagoon bird with a long curved bill.

[arriba]

lakuun

I. N

1. geo lagoon

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Parpas lakuun psutki aakar.
This porpoise lives in the lagoon.
Lakun ki naakring bataaki.
I am going to sail on the lagoon.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Aside from the large, permanent lagoons that connect to the sea year-around, there are some that are formed or cut off seasonally behind the beach during the dry season. Just as with swamps that are likewise cut off from the sea during the dry season, fish get trapped. When the rains start, people in Cane Creek watch to see when the swampy lagoon just south of the bar is just about to break through the beach and form a creek that will reconnect with the sea. Everyone, children and adults, gathers at the chosen location with harpoons, lances, machetes, nets, baskets....and starts to open a way for the water. As the water starts coming out, fish start to come out. The water starts running faster and faster, and as more fish are carried out, the idea is to catch fish any way you can until the water is too deep and fast. Thereafter, there will be a creek to cross until the next dry season if you want to walk down the beach.
Gramatical:
Loanword from English lagoon.

[arriba]

laulau

I. N

1. plant mangrove

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Laulau lakuun skleera su yaapuni. Laulau kiit kaalba.
The red mangrove grows on the lagoon edge. The mangrove has plenty root.
Wairu laulau tupki inguri yuungi.
The wairu crab puts its hole under the mangrove root.

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. plant red mangrove

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Laulau lakuun skleera su yaapuni. Laulau kiit kaalba.
The red mangrove grows on the lagoon edge. The mangrove has plenty root.

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication. By default, it refers to the red mangrove.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu laulu.

[arriba]

laulau parnga

I. N

1. plant black mangrove

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

laulau pluuma

I. N

1. plant white mangrove

Notas:

Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu laulu.

[arriba]

laulau saala

I. N

1. plant red mangrove

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Laulau kat saala su yuknaatingsu, kalma yimpau. sasaisba tingatkulu.
I sat down on a red mangrove and it dyed my clothes. It turned it all pink.

Composicion:

expression

Notas:

Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu laulu.

[arriba]

laulung pluuma ngalma

I. N

1. plant button mangrove

[arriba]

luna

I. N

1. artef. tarp

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from Spanish (lona)?

[arriba]

maama

I. N

1. mama

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from Spanish (mama).

[arriba]

maamu

I. N

1. animal otter

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Maamu lakuun su traali, sii su traali, tauli skaik traali. Kabiis tataara bayalpi traali, ikwiskama.
The river otter (water dog) walks in the lagoon, in the river and on the iceab beach side . It looks for black shrimps to eat.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Fresh water otter. Not eaten. They figure in the Adam cycle stories. Have become scarce now.

[arriba]

maaruk

I. N

1. mark

[arriba]

maat

I. N

1. body,percep. scent

2. percep. smell

Notas:

Gramatical:
In relation with the verb 'maal' (to smell).

[arriba]

maata kaat

I. N

1. artef.,cooking pestle

[arriba]

maata uup

I. N

1. artef.,cooking mortar

2. artef. rice stick

[arriba]

maikmaik

I. N

1. animal,insect cricket

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Grasshoppers and crickets seem to exist as two different categories to most, but many seem to call the ones that "sing in the night" grasshoppers, and the ones that are out in the day crickets. This is said by some to be a small dark cricket that does not sing.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.
Léxica:
Walter prefers "ngalingkat maikmaik," which he says in the same insect as "walsa aing aras," literally, "the Devil's horse," but does not know why it is so named.

[arriba]

maina

I. N

1. plant banak

[arriba]

makril

I. N

1. animal,fish mackerel

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Principally a sea fish; comes in the lagoon when it is salty, usually in April and May. Caught on hook or in nets. Some don't eat it because it doesn't have scales. If eaten, it is usually fried, but is also dried, and then run down.
Principalmente es pez de mar, pero se encuentra en la laguna cuando el agua esta salada, en abril y mayo. Se pesca con anzuelo, o se atrapa en red. Alguos no lo comen porque no tiene escamas. Si se come, generalmente se pone a freir; de otra manera, se seca, y entonces se lo cocina en rondon.
Léxica:
Borrowed from English "mackerel."

[arriba]

maligyas

I. N

1. animal,fish,food small yellow drummer

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
You fish for them in March and April at Hone Sound Bar. They like to live on the shell banks. Rama men and women like to fish for them when they go to Hone Sound. They use a small hook to catch it. Rukruk is very tasty fried and in soup.

Se pesca en marzo y abril en la barra de Hone Sound. Les gusta vivir en los concheros. A los hombres y mujeres Rama les encanta ir a pescarlo cuando van a Hone Sound. Se usa anzuelo pequeño para agarrarlo. Es muy bueno frito y en sopa.
Etnográfica:
Food fish commonly caught in the lagoon toward the ocean and near shore in Punta de Aguila. One of a number of different croakers (drummers).
Pez comestible que generalmente se pesca en la salida de la laguna hacia el mar y cerca de la costa de Punta de Águila (Bangkukuk Taik). La mayoría de la gente en Bluefields no lo conoce. Es un pequeño pez amarillo de agua salada.
Léxica:
same as rukruk (B.A. from Nellie )
Para algunos hablantes es el mismo rukruk.

[arriba]

manais

I. N

1. animal,insect big black ant

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The bite of this ant does not hurt.

[arriba]

manawar

I. N

1. animal,bird magnificent frigate bird; man o' war

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Very large sea bird.
Pajaro marino bien grande.
Léxica:
Borrowing from English 'man o' war'.

[arriba]

manud

I. N

1. plant,tree manud

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This tree is good to make house posts.

[arriba]

maraas

I. N

1. plant unidentified swamp plant

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A common rather tall long-leaved bush-sized plant that grows around the lagoon edges and mangrove swamps. Does not resemble a grass. So-named because it is said that tigers used to hide in it. Some say that this is not the real tiger bush......that that is a prettier bush with light green, "finer" leaves that can be found upriver in Wiring Cay.

[arriba]

marai

I. N

1. human girlfriend

1. human lover

2. human boyfriend

[arriba]

markit

I. N

1. space market

Notas:

Gramatical:
Loanword from English (market).

[arriba]

marmari

I. N

1. animal,mammal mouse

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Mice in the bush are generally brown, and resemble hamsters (except that their tails are longer) more than gray city mice.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.
Léxica:
Aso "mrimri."

[arriba]

masmas

I. N

1. animal,fish,food cichlid species , [ESP] Pinto

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
We enjoy fishing for it when it’s masmas time. You find it where there are a lot of thick grasses in the water. The women go out early in the morning to look for it in the little creeks and in the mangroves. They use earthworms to fish for it.

Disfrutamos pescándolo cuando está en temporada, se encuentra donde hay algas, grama o pasto. Las mujeres van temprano en las mañanas a buscarlo a los criques pequeños y en los manglares.Usan gusanos de tierra para pescarlo.
Etnográfica:
A preferred freshwater food fish caught on hook in creeks, not in big rivers or in big lagoons. Likes shrimp for bait. Usually cooked in coconut milk.
El pinto es uno de los peces de agua dulce favorito del pueblo Rama. Se pesca con anzuelo en los criques, no en los grandes ríos ni lagunas. Le gusta el chacalín o los gusanos de carnada. Generalmente se cocina en leche de coco. La gente de Bluefields no lo conoce.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.
Duplicación es común en los nombres de animales.

[arriba]

maukala

I. N

1. artef.,fish net

2. artef. net bag

3. body uterus

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nets and net bags used to be made with string/rope from whits. Today they are made of plastic line or even bought ready made.

[arriba]

mauli

I. N

1. animal,insect moony

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Mauli maarch tukan ki ngaraak inganaak traali. Yuup an inguuk ngarkali awas isii, inganaak traali susungi.
The firefly in the month of march it flies plenty. Its eyes and belly underneath blaze like light, so we see it flying.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A beetle which when flies in the evening appears to have two fluorescent green "headlights." Children like to catch them and put them in a basket made especially for them, or in a jar. On Rama Cay they call them 'muni bugs'. To be distinguished from "kamsiik," lightning bugs

[arriba]

mauli uuknga

I. N

1. artef. firefly basket

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Mauli uuknga mauli kinikaakama. Piungkit u niparki.
The moony basket is to put moony in. I make it with wari wees.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
mauli	uuknga
moony	container

[arriba]

miirummiirum

I. N

1. animal,insect unidentified beetle , [ESP] Escarabajo (sin indentificar)

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Miirummiirum uuli aing uut. Yuut isii. Yaap yuuk ngalma ikuaakar.
The miirummiirum is a bug for the turtle. The body is like a bug. Its body has a hard shell.
Es un insecto de las tortugas. El cuerpo es como el de un insecto. Tiene una concha dura.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Sings in the late evening May-June, "turtle time" as this is historically one of the months to go turtling as it is when they come ashore to lay. As of 2009, a commercial veda
has been in place during the laying season, though indigenous communites are allowed to harvest for food.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common to many animal names.
Léxica:
Also called "uuli uut," lierally, "turtle bug." "Miirummiirum" represents the sound it makes.

[arriba]

mingkuk

I. N

1. animal,mammal tayra

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They eat cane a lot, so most likely to be seen in a cane field. They also eat fowl (chickens).
Léxica:
"Bush dog," like "nightwalker," can refer to several different animals, and the Rama, at least now, probably follows suit.

[arriba]

Mins aing Kaanu

I. N

1. toponomy Hash House

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a location in Wiring Cay where everyone likes to stop, make a little ranch, and cook when they come up from the bar because it's dry (i.e., not swampy), and has plenty of skomfra leaves (to make a shelter, slep on, etc.)

[arriba]

misi

I. N

1. animal,mammal coati mundi

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Traditional animal found in Adams stories.
Rama people used to keep them as house guards (same with racoons).
Animal tradicional que se menciona en las historias de Adam. Al pueblo Rama le gusta tenerlos como guardianes de la casa (lo mismo que a los mapaches.

[arriba]

misla

I. N

1. bread,food,plant plantain wabul

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Praanti misla yiriima uung.
Make the plantain wabul thin!

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You boil the plantain, pour off the water, mash it with the wabul stick and pour in coconut milk. You can make it with green plantains or ripe plantains. If it is green plantain wabul you might throw in oysters, cockles, or ahi. Ripe plantain is sweet.
Se hirve el plátano, se escurre el agua, se machaca con el palo para hacer wabul y se le agrega leche de coco. Se puede hacer con plátanos verdes o maduros. Si es con verdes se le puede agregar ostras o almejas. El plátano maduro es dulce.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu.

[arriba]

miuk

I. N

1. animal,insect mosquito

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Miuk kaanu taaki kiyaakar. Taimka nguu ki kiikik yarnguli. Taimka suulaik sutraatka, ngaarak yarnguli.
The mosquito lives every where. Sometimes in the house at night it bites. Sometimes when we walk in the bush, it bites us plenty.
El mosquito vive en todas partes. A veces, en la casa, pica de noche. A veces, cuando andamos en el monte, nos pican muchisimo.

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

mukmuk

I. N

1. animal,bird owl

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Mukmuk sii su aakituing. Kuyak tuut aap ki nah sungu. Ikaunka nah sungu. tamaas ki kauni kiikik ikauni.
The owl lives in the river. High up on the fig tree I saw it. When he was singing I saw it. It sings in the morning and sings in the night.
El búho vive en el rio. Los veo arriba, en los arboles de higo. Lo vi cuando estaba cantando. Canta en la mañana y en la noche.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication common for animal names.

[arriba]

muksa

I. N

1. animal,mammal collared peccary

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nakak sii su yaapuni sikwiik skaa su. Muksa kwsi ikaa aamliika brik imaali.
"the ""nakak"" bush grows in the river, on the edge of the creek. The peccary eats the leaves. It smells bad."

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The meat of the white lipped peccary is preferred because supposedly it does not have as strong a scent as this peccary. Supposedly both peccaries (but not pigs/hogs) have a gall that protects them from snake bites. Supposedly also this peccary does not have an 'owner' and runs in all directions (unlike the wari).

[arriba]

muksa urmut

I. N

1. plant peccary gut

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Muksa urmut kat aap su yaapuni. Taimka nsuaamlaki kat yunsuangaisi.
the peccary gut whit grows on a tree. Sometimes we pull it down and we tie sticks with it.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Type of whit.

[arriba]

mulka

I. N

1. plant samwood

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Hardwood tree. Samwood dories last up to ten years with proper care. (Mahogony the preferred wood) Smaller pieces shaped to make paddles and other useful objects. All good hardwood trees large enough and straight enough to consider for making a dory very hard to find, not even going several days into the bush now.

[arriba]

mulun

I. N

1. food a kind of porridge

[arriba]

mulung

I. N

1. animal,fish,food a fish

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A food fish which some people eat, and others don't.
La mayoría de la gente dice que es familia del bagre, pero de agua dulce, y que suele vivir en aguas inmóviles, como estanques con bastante vegetación. Es fácil agarrarlo con anzuelo cuchara. Mucha gente lo come. Una preparación tradicional es rayarlo con cuchillo, salarlo, y asarlo envuelto en hoja de bijagua Generalmente la cabeza no se come; se le da a los perros.
Léxica:
See tukbut.

[arriba]

mumum

I. N

1. animal,insect fly

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Mumum tataara. Nainguku biip aing mumum sut aungi. Aanamaa ma yarnguli.
This fly is big. That's why we call it cattle fly. It bites you hard.
Esta mosca es grande. Por eso es que la llamamos mosca del ganado. Pica duro.

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication common to animal names.

[arriba]

mumum tataara

I. N

1. animal,insect cattle fly

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Mumum tataara. Nainguku biip aing mumum sut aungi. Aanamaa ma yarnguli.
This fly is big. That's why we call it cattle fly. It bites you hard.
Esta mosca es grande. Por eso es que la llamamos mosca del ganado. Pica duro.

Notas:

Léxica:
Also called 'biip aing mumum'

[arriba]

murus

I. N

2. animal,bird ground dove

II. onom.

1. murus

Notas:

Léxica:
Also murusmurus

[arriba]

muskak

I. N

1. animal,bird scarlet-rumped tanager

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Common bird up creeks and rivers and in the bush around Bluefields lagoon. Often seen flying across the creeks and around the yard. The male is black with a bright red swatch across the lower back; the female is brown.
Léxica:
Also "nguiskak."

[arriba]

mutkalking

I. N

1. animal,bird a kind of toucan or aracari

[arriba]

mutrus

I. N

1. animal,fish puffer fish , [ESP] Pez Globo, mutru

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Mutrus siita uruk su aakar. sut siita aaplukka sii ki, taimka sula yarnguli.
The mutrus stay on top of the oyster. When we pick oyster, sometime he bite we.
El pez globo permanece encima de los ostiones. Nos muerden, algunas veces, cuando recogemos ostiones.

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
The children use guts for bait, tie them on a piece of nylon string, drop that down in the water, and then wait for the mutrus to bite. We no longer see very many around Rama Cay (2009).

Los niños usan las tripas como carnada, las amarran con una cuerda de nylon, la ponen en el agua y esperan que el mutrus se acerque a comer. Ya no se ven muchos en Rama Cay.
Etnográfica:
Small speckled brackish and salt water puffer fish. Not eaten because it is poisonous. Children like to strike them from the wharf to learn to strike fish.

El pez globo es pequeño, moteado y de agua salobre y salada. No se come porque es venenoso. Los niños practican con él con “juguetes” de arcos y flechas y lanzas para aprender a pescar.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu mutrus
Préstamo del Miskitu

[arriba]

muula

I. N

1. family grandchild

[arriba]

muulung

I. N

1. animal,fish,food catfish (small, freshwater) , [ESP] Pez Gato (pequeño, agua dulce)

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Muulung lakuun tiiskiba psutki bii kauling sungi. sauk ankiingaka ankwii.
People see the bagre only in the little lagoon in land. When they fish, they catch it.
El bagre sólo se ve en la laguna chiquita. Cuando salen a pescar, lo capturan.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some eat it and some don't. The term is used in Rama and RCC. Refers to similar, but different fish to different speakers: fresh or brackish water catfish is what most agree on. Found in slow-moving, or virtually non-moving water such as very small ponds or "lagoons" connected to creeks, or in swamps. As the fresh or brackish water catfish, most people eat it; one traditional popular way is scored, salted, wrapped up in a waha leaf, and roasted in the fire. The head is not usually cooked.
La mayoría de la gente dice que es familia del bagre, pero de agua dulce, y que suele vivir en aguas inmóviles, como estanques con bastante vegetación. Es fácil agarrarlo con anzuelo cuchara. Mucha gente lo come. Una preparación tradicional es rayarlo con cuchillo, salarlo, y asarlo envuelto en hoja de bijagua Generalmente la cabeza no se come; se le da a los perros.
Léxica:
See mulung, takbut, tukbut, tagbut, uula, tongki, tungki, batsi, bachi, sabut, elik.

[arriba]

muulung maama

I. N

1. animal,fish eel

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Variation among speakers, but most say this refers to a freshwater eel. Not usually eaten because it looks like a snake.
Léxica:
See muulung, tukbut, takbut, sabut.

[arriba]

muupi

I. N

1. animal,fish,food snook

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
The traditional way to fish for snook is with a harpoon. There are some Rama men who are experts at this, but these days it is hardly ever done. May is snook time; the men go fishing for it either when the sun is going down, or very early in the morning. These days they use gill nets to catch it. It fetches a very good market price. If it is really large, you dry it, being sure to put enough salt on it that it doesn’t spoil, so you can also sell it salted and dried in addition to fresh.

La forma tradicional de pescar de los Rama es utilizando arpón, hay expertos en tirar el palo con anzuelo en la punta. Actualmente, lo usan muy pocas veces. El mes de mayo es el tiempo para pescar róbalo, los hombres van a pescarlo al caer el sol o muy temprano en la mañana. Ahora se utiliza el trasmallo para capturarlo, tiene muy buen precio en el mercado. Cuando tiene buen tamaño se seca poniéndole suficiente sal para que no se descomponga y se vende seco y salado.
Etnográfica:
Traditionally, the people from Rama Cay would "torch" snook at night during the dry season in the lagoon. They would use silico torches to provide light, and strike the snook with harpoon (rather than fish with hook and line) because snook can be up to about four feet long. Cooked many ways, including snook hash, usually made from roasted snook being fried with oil (coconut oil, or rich coconut milk preferred), and onion and black pepper if available. Especially desirable were the roe, usually fried, or put in a waha leaf and set down in a pot of rondon to cook. As of 2008 this custom had virtually disappeared as the number of snook had suffered a great decline. Furthermore, for any torching (whether for fish or game), many people now had headlamps. As of 2008, Wiring cay still had some large snook. As of 2009, it was noted that a number of fish netted in Cane Creek and called "kalua," did not appear to be"kalua," but rather small snook.
Tradicionalmente, la gente de Rama Cay captura los róbalos durante la estación seca, para ello iluminaban la laguna con antorchas. Hacían antorchas de silico (una palmera) para iluminarse. Capturan los róbalos con arpón (en vez de anzuelo y cuerda) porque el róbalo puede medir hasta 4 pies de largo. Se cocina de diversas maneras, incluso desmenuzado. Este plato se hace de róbalo ahumado y frito en aceite (aceite de coco o preferiblemente en leche de coco), con cebolla y pimienta si se tiene. Las huevas son especialmente apetecidas, generalmente fritas, o puestas a cocinar envueltas en hoja de bijagua o banano dentro de una olla de rondón.
En el 2008 notamos que esta costumbre estaba desapareciendo y que la cantidad de róbalo había disminuido. Más aún, en vez de antorchas (ya sea para alumbrarse o jugar) mucha gente usa ahora lámparas de cabeza. En el 2008, en Wiring Cay todavía se veían róbalos grandes. En el 2009 se observó en Cane Creek, que en las redes lo que decían que eran “kalua”, eran róbalos pequeños.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu.

[arriba]

mwaing dama

I. N

1. God

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
mwaing	dama
1plexPOSS	God

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also 'almuk yuwa' for God.

[arriba]

nakak

I. N

1. plant peccary bush

[arriba]

namala

I. N

1. animal,insect sugar bee

[arriba]

nansi

I. N

1. animal,insect nansi spider

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A type of spider and a character in traditional Kriol folk story also told by Ramas. Nansi is the Kriol name borrowed by the Ramas

[arriba]

ngaaba

I. N

1. remains

2. food leftover

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Leftovers are rare! Everything gets eaten unless you save it on purpose for another meal.

[arriba]

ngaabang

I. N

1. artef.,food,plant Unidentified tall aloe-looking plant

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Formerly used to make a strong thread for sewing, weaving hammocks, nets,, rope. A few still know how to make it. The individual long stems are braced against a tree, and the the long meaty "leaves" are scraped with a kiskis to peel out the "thread." Can be eaten, but it is sour.
Léxica:
Also ngabang

[arriba]

ngaan

I. N

1. plant sawdust

Notas:

Gramatical:
Minimal pair with 'ngaang' (bed).

[arriba]

ngaang

I. N

1. artef.,house bed

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tuula uuk nsuangtki. Ikaat ngaang yunsuparki. Yuuk nsuangtki baul isii nsuungi.
We cut the rawa tree and we make beds with it. The bark we cut and we make it like a bowl.
aisting maing ngaang skwarka
Get up from your bed!

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. artef.,house tapesco

Notas:

Gramatical:
Minimal pair with 'ngaan' (sawdust).

[arriba]

ngaang kaat

I. N

1. artef.,house bed leg

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaang	kaat
bed	leg

[arriba]

ngaanguk

I. N

1. artef. money

[arriba]

ngaang uruk

I. N

1. artef.,house,plant tapesco

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaang	uruk
bed	top

[arriba]

ngaansa

I. N

1. plant flood debris

Notas:

Etnográfica:
With the rainy season come floods, when all kinds of logs and other debris clog up the rivers and streams. Unfortunately, as of 2009, this has included more "city trash" in the form of plastic bottles and bags, foil wrappers, etc., as there are more peope living upstream, and more people generating trash which is simply tossed.

[arriba]

ngabang sinsin

I. N

1. dom.,plant,tree unidentified tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
this is the smallish tree they prefer to use to hold up the ngabang when scraping it with a kiskis to make thread.
Léxica:
ngaabang

[arriba]

ngabang uup taara

I. N

1. plant big silkgrass

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngabang	uup	taara
Unidentified tall aloe-looking plant	fruit	big

[arriba]

ngabang uup tiiskiba

I. N

1. plant small silkgrass

[arriba]

ngabuk

I. N

1. health blister

[arriba]

ngalaali

I. N

1. animal,food,health honey

Notas:

Etnográfica:
When they find it, they cut it and they eat it if it is sweet. They try to smoke the bees out not to be stung. It is a treat traditionally. There are several categories of honey from sour to more sweet. Some are used in bush medicine/medication, for example honey with lime for asthma. Particularly important as sweetener before sugar.

[arriba]

ngalaaliis

I. N

1. animal,body,insect beeswax , [ESP] Cera de abejas

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngalaaliis maliima sauk ariira yuanangaiskama.
The wax is good to tie the fishing line with it.

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
ngalaali	is
honey	wax

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used traditionally in the fabrication of hunting and fishing instruments, used like a glue.

[arriba]

ngalaali tran

I. N

1. honey glue

2. animal honey comb

[arriba]

ngalaali uut

I. N

1. animal,insect honey bee

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngalaali tran kat aap su nsut sungi. Ngalaali uut sabii nganaksu tauki itran aap su.
We see the honey pipe (hive) on the tree. The bees fly straight and get in through the pipe.

[arriba]

ngalaali yirii

I. N

1. animal,body,food honey juice

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

ngalang

I. N

1. animal,bird currassow

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Traditionally its feathered wing can be used as a fire fan ('kangkangup'). It is a turkey sized bird highly prized for its meat, lives up creeks and rivers and is very rare now.

[arriba]

ngalang sinup

I. N

1. plant monkey apple

[arriba]

Ngalang Taasup

I. N

. toponomy Curassow Hill

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojón 007 sur, Curassow Hill

[arriba]

ngaliis

I. N

1. animal,reptile caiman

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngaliis tangkit tkuptkupwa.
The alligator back is bumpy bumpy.
La espalda del lagarto es gruesa y rugosa.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It figures a lot in the Adam stories. A sort of boogey man traditionally: Based on a traditional story, the saying that if old people sleep too much, the alligator will come down (and eat you). Belief that alligator gall is used to poison people.
They still hunt it to sell the hides. They don't eat the meat, and there is no market for it.
Aparece bastante en las historias de Adam. Una especie de "boogey man" tradicional. Basado en un cuento tradicional, se dice que si los ancionos duermen mucho los lagartos van a bajar (y comerte). Se cree quela bilis del lagarto sirve como veneno. Todavía los cazan para vender el cuero. No lo comen, y la carne no tiene mercado.

[arriba]

ngaliis aing kat

I. N

1. plant alligator wood tree

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngaliis aing kat nsut paukka, uut nsukaini, an taat.
When we fall the alligator tree, we make dory, and lumber.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaliis	aing	kat
caiman	of	tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The trunk of the tree is bumpy like the alligator's back.

[arriba]

ngaliis kwiiksa

I. N

1. animal,health,reptile turnip-tailed gecko

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngaliis kwiiksa kuyak nguu ki kalka nangka ki yaakri. Ikwiik ngaliis isii aakar.
The alligator lizard lives high in the house in the thatch. His hand like an alligator.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaliis	kwiik	saa
caiman	hand	palm

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A large gecko believed to be poisonous, found in the house and in the bush. Bigger than the other house lizards (kaskas). If it bites you the cure is: "Look into the sun and don't blink and drink lots of water". Also said that when it bites you, it looks for water, but if you reach water before he does, nothing will happen to you. Some say that the tail is steel, and that if it drops its tail straight down, it can stick in the floor boards.
Léxica:
To be differentiated from 'kaskas' for slightly smaller and harmless house lizards. Some call this "gelliwaaz" in Kriol; others use "gelliwaaz" as the Rama name of a different lizard, which is "galliwasp" in English.

[arriba]

ngaling

I. N

1. geo rock

1. land stone

[arriba]

ngaling kaala

I. N

1. geo rapids

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaling	kaala
rock	rapids

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Rapid running fast around rocks. There are several in Wiring Cay.

[arriba]

ngaling kaalup

I. N

1. body kidney

Notas:

Gramatical:
Old Rama. Today the word 'kalngup' is used.

[arriba]

ngaling kaat

I. N

1. artef.,cooking grinding stone foot

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaling	kaat
rock	foot

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You have to dream it, and then it will come up through the ground for you to find it while you are walking in the bush. If you walk past it without picking it up and holding it, it will think you don't want it and will go back down into the ground. Sometimes you just find the bottom, sometimes just the top, ngalingkaat uup. If you are lucky, you find both parts.

Debés soñarlo y entonces él saldra de la tierra para que vos lo encontrés mientras caminás por los arbustos. Si caminás cerca de él y no lo recogés ni lo sostenés, él pensará que no los querés y regresará a lo profundo de la tierra. Algunas veces sólo encontrás la parte de abajo, algunas veces sólo la parte de arriba, ngalingkaat uup. Si tenés suerte, encontrás las dos partes.
Léxica:
Kriol, at least RCC, is "rubbin(g) rock."

Kriol, al menos RCC, es "rubbin(g) rock."

[arriba]

ngalingkat

I. N

1. artef.,cooking rubbing rock

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaling	kat
rock	handle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Myth around it: is supposed to be dreamt of by the future owner before it comes up to the surface of the earth to be found.
Used to grind coco beans, and ibo bunya.

[arriba]

ngalingkat maikmaik

I. N

1. animal,insect praying mantis , [ESP] Mantis religiosa

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngalingkat	maikmaik
rubbing rock	cricket

Notas:

Gramatical:
'maikmaik' alone means 'grasshopper'.

[arriba]

ngalingkat uup

I. N

1. artef.,cooking,dom. handle for grinding stone

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Possibly a variety of 'thunder stone', which includes stone axe heads, and other round stone objects believe to fall from the thundering sky.
Re thunderstones: old people used to boil one in water and drink that water as a cure for fluttering hearts.
Used with grinding stone (rubbing rock) 'ngalingkat'.
Gramatical:
Expression with two class markers: 'kat' for long objects and 'uup' for roundish ones.

[arriba]

ngaling ngurii

I. N

1. geo cave

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaling	ngurii
rock	hole

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Spirit owners of animals such as wari and various other beings in the Rama stories and cosmology are often said to inhabit "rock holes" far in the bush.
Léxica:
rock hole is Kriol.

[arriba]

ngalingup

I. N

1. geo,land stone

Notas:

Gramatical:
Should be smaller than 'ngaling' (rock). Note the '-up' class marker for roundish shape.

[arriba]

ngalinguupup

I. N

1. artef.,geo rock handle

[arriba]

ngaraak

I. N

1. animal,bird macaw

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Another important animal in the Adam cycle (with the jaguar, the alligator, the white lipped peccary (wary), coati mundi (cuash)). A partner of the alligator snapping turtle ('sbiiru) because they have the same head and bill.

Very big beautiful parrot. They are all endangered.
Gramatical:
Makes a minimal pair with 'ngarak' (plenty).

[arriba]

ngaraak ngarngaringba

I. N

1. animal,bird green macaw

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaraak	ngarngaringma
macaw

Notas:

Léxica:
See kunik.

[arriba]

ngaraak saala

I. N

1. animal,bird red macaw

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaraak	saala
macaw	red

[arriba]

ngaraak tuk aing katuruk

I. N

1. plant macaw tail flower

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngaraak tuk aing katuruk nguu tuksu yaapuni. saala, ikaa suskiiba.
the macaw tail flower grows around the house. It is red and the leaves are longish.

[arriba]

ngaraak tuk ariis

I. N

1. animal,bird no name; macaw with a short tail

[arriba]

ngarbing

I. N

1. animal,food,mammal tapir

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngarbing tiiski aakitka bii, iniitniit ikwaakari.
Only when the mountain cow is small it has stripes.
La danta tiene rayas, solo cuando es pequeño.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
An important animal in the Adam cycle.
It has a very tough hide. They hunt it for meat, sometimes torching it in the night during dry weather, but not everybody likes to eat it because it is a very dark meat. Used to use the hide to make things with because it is tough (like ropes, sacks, shoes, belts...).
El danto es un animal importante en el Ciclo de Adam. Tiene un cuero fuerte. Lo cazan por su carne, algunas veces salen a buscarlo con antorchas durante el verano, pero no a todos les gusta comerlo porque la carne es oscura. Se utiliza el cuero para hacer cuerdas, bolsos, zapatos, fajas.

[arriba]

ngarbing aing kiskis

I. N

1. artef.,cooking,dom.,plant,tree palm, unidentified

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a stouter variety of the kiskis tree, the trunk of which is used to make tongs for holding food such as fish, meat or bananas while roasting or serving, or to pick up "pieces of fire," etc. The thinner tree (kiskis) is preferred for making the tongs.

[arriba]

ngariik

I. N

1. plant mountain cow cane

[arriba]

ngariirik

I. N

1. animal,bird motmot

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Pretty river bird, not hunted. The turquoise-browed motmot is the national bird of Nicaragua.

[arriba]

ngarik

I. N

1. plant small lungko

[arriba]

ngaukngauk

I. N

1. animal spider

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Generic for spiders. Are differentiated by being hairy (particularly the black tarantula), or by color words, or by being "high up," ("nantsi" which spin webs in the house or trees vs. tarantulas, which live in holes in the ground.)
Gramatical:
Reduplication common to animal names.

[arriba]

ngaukngauk aabakwa

I. N

1. animal tarantula

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaukngauk	aabakwa
spider	hairy

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some people think that tarantulas are poison. One kind said to be extra large, and capable of killing a cow.

[arriba]

ngaukngauknga kuyakba

I. N

1. animal spider

Notas:

Etnográfica:
"Kuyakba" is added to differentiate spiders that live "high up," i.e., that make webs in the house or trees, from tarantula-type spiders that live in holes in the ground. The "kuyakba" spiders are the kind referred to in the Kriol nantsi stories

[arriba]

ngaukngauk nuknuknga

I. N

1. animal female spider

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaukngauk	nuknuknga
spider	yellow

[arriba]

ngaukngauk parnga

I. N

1. animal male spider

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngaukngauk parnga nkiikna.
The black spider is a he.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaukngauk	parnga
spider	black

[arriba]

ngaukngauk taara

I. N

1. animal big spider

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngaukngauk taara aabak pluuma.
the big spider has white hair

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngaukngauk	taara
spider	big

[arriba]

ngaungup

I. N

1. animal,body,mammal wari scent

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is an oval shaped organ about 4 by 4 1/2 inches from near the kidney. It is roasted for the hunting dog.
Gramatical:
With the '-up' suffix of roundish shapes.

[arriba]

ngerba

I. N

1. food,plant white cacao

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A variety of cacao with a pod that is larger than "regular" cacao, ad the husk is thicker. You can eat the jelly around the seed, and eat the plain roasted seed as it is not as bitter as other chocolate. Called 'werba' in Rama Cay kriol. Prepared the same way as regular cacao (chocolate) to drink; flavor very similar. Unknown to most people in Bluefields.
Léxica:
Also ngarba, nyerba, narba. Also 'kuuk', 'aumaup' 'ngungisup' for other kinds of cacao. Pataste in Spanish.

[arriba]

ngerbaup

I. N

1. food,plant white cacao seed

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Has bigger pod and seed, and thicker husk than 'kuuk' cacao. The seed is whiter and sweeter than the 'kuuk' cacao seed. You can roast that seed like peanuts (pinda in Kriol). You can eat the jelly around the seed, like for 'kuuk' cacao. Spanish word for it is pataste (which is the name of a Rama settlement up Punta Gorda).
Gramatical:
The final '-up' class marker is for roundish shape.

[arriba]

ngiira

I. N

1. stripe

2. line

3. dory side of the bottom of dory

[arriba]

ngiit

I. N

1. color line

2. color stripe

2. geo way

4. animal trail

Notas:

Gramatical:
The initial velar nasal can be reduced to 'n'.

[arriba]

ngiitngiit

I. N

1. stripe

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

ngiitngiitba

I. N

1. striped

Composicion:

derivation

Morfemas
ngiitngiit	ba
stripe	ADJ

[arriba]

ngiskat

I. N

1. artef.,body,hunting jaw

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some still hang a wari jawbone (or of other game) in a tree facing the direction where they hunted successfully to be able to find them there again. Horse jawbone used as one of the instruments in the Rama Cay band, probably learned from Kriols.
Gramatical:
Contains the class marker 'kat' fro long and rigid object. The initial velar nasal can be reduced to 'n'.

[arriba]

ngiskat ulis

I. N

1. body beard

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
ngiskat	ulis
jaw	hair

Notas:

Gramatical:
A short form 'ngunis' (beard) is also used.

[arriba]

ngisngis

I. N

1. animal,insect cricket

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngisngis tkua aatkukiba. sumsuma. Kiikik yaaksi.
The cricket leg is not short. It's very long. It sings in the night.

2. animal,insect grasshopper

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Many do not seem to distinguish between grasshoppers and crickets, but those who do, often refer to the ones that "sing in the night" as grasshoppers.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.
Léxica:
See "maikmaik."

[arriba]

nguang

I. N

1. plant type of plant

[arriba]

ngulaik

I. N

1. dory,space bow

II. PSP

2. space ahead

III. SUB

3. before

Notas:

Gramatical:
Used in the expression 'ngulaik aating' (to feel sorry for someone).

[arriba]

ngulang

I. N

1. dom.,palm,plant,tree species of palm

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One of several palms whose leaves are used for the roof of a house. Ngulang can last ten years.
Léxica:
Also nguulang, nuulan, nuulang

[arriba]

nguliik

I. N

1. animal,bird parrot

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nguliik aabak ngarngaringma.
The parrot has green feathers.
El loro tiene plumas verdes.
Naas nguliik mamaamisba kwaakari namaa yaakri.
I have a very tame parrot. He sits quiet.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
If they can get them, they like to keep them as house pets.

[arriba]

nguliik kiing nuknuknga

I. N

1. animal,bird yellow headed parrot

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguliik	kiing	nuknuknga
parrot	head	yellow

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The Rama nickname of the linguist 'Miss Colette', because she can teach them to talk.
El sobrenombre Rama de la linguista "Miss Colette", porque les enseña a hablar.

[arriba]

nguliik kiing pluuma

I. N

1. animal,bird white head parrot

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguliik	kiing	pluuma
parrot	head	white

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Can be a nuisance because they eat crops like corn, supa.

[arriba]

nguliik ngarngaringba

I. N

1. animal,bird green parrot

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguliik	ngarngaringba
parrot	green

[arriba]

nguliik taik parnga

I. N

1. animal,bird black nosed parrot

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguliik	taik	parnga
parrot	the feathers just above a bird's bill	black

Notas:

Léxica:
BA: "taik" as part of a bird's name refers to the feathers just above the beak, not the beak itself, nor to the nose, which is on the beak.

[arriba]

nguliik taik saala

I. N

1. animal,bird,dom. red nosed parrot

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguliik	taik	saala
parrot	the feathers just above a bird's bill	red

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This has been a common parrot on the South Atlantic Coast, and one that has often been kept as a pet. In Cane Creek and Aguila, people often let their parrots fly free; they are half-tame, meaning that they purposefully come around and into the house looking for cooked food or raw fruits to eat, but they usually won't let you pick them up. Then they often fly off with wild parrots for a while. These half-tamed parrots are birds that were taken or fell from nests as babies, and then tamed, it is said, by feeding them salted food.
Léxica:
"taik" refers to the feathers just above the bill, not the bill and not the nose, which is on the bill.

[arriba]

ngulkang

I. N

2. animal,mammal white lipped peccary

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Preferred bush meat which may be eaten roasted, or roasted and stewed in coconut milk, or salted and stewed. Also sold salted in Bluefields. Traditionally hunted with bow and arrow, currently hunted mostly with gun, and with the help of small dogs if they have them. Some still use homemade lances to hunt them.
Figures prominently in Adam stories and belief system in general. Lots of beliefs regarding waris and fer de lance snakes (tamagaf). There is also a "wari owner," a little man who lives in the bush and who controls release of the wari from a big hole deep in the bush, where he also hides them sometimes.
You are supposed to hang the skull facing the direction of where it was killed so that it will call the others for you to hunt them. The hunter is not supposed to eat the guts or the feet. In Cane Creek they don't keep the guts to eat but in Rama Cay they do. But it is good for the hunter to eat the nose so that he can smell the wari from far away.
You cut out the wari scent (an organ about 4x2 1/2 inches, oval, from around the kidney area) and roast it for the dog.

[arriba]

ngulkang aing urmut

I. N

1. plant,whit unidentified vine

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A big-leaved vine that grows on trees and logs. The "string" part of the vine is used to tie up things.

[arriba]

ngulkang airi

I. N

1. animal,food,mammal wari soup

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngulkang	airi
white lipped peccary	soup

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One of the foods you prepare when you kill a wari. You make the soup after you have roasted the meat and shared it out. You boil rice in water and add boiled wari meat, salt and coconut milk. You can add gourd pepper, black pepper, onion if you have it. Another, probably more traditional way to make the soup (from cane creek) is to boil the meat, and peel and boil green banana. Then beat the banana with the wabul stick and put it in the wari soup water. Add salt, gourd or other pepper, culantro or basil. Leave the wari head for the following morning. That you can boil and then stew (with coconut milk) or make more soup.

[arriba]

ngulung

I. N

1. powder

2. food flour

3. food wheat flour

4. food pinol

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They buy wheat flour and they make bread. They make creole style tortillas with baking soda, sometimes adding coconut milk and/or trash for more flavor; these are fried. Bread or sweetbuns made with yeast are usually a special occasion food. Olden times "flour" was made from dried bananas, used to make porridge.
Gramatical:
Generic name for powder and flour. When it is not specified, it means 'wheat flour' and sometimes 'pinol'.

[arriba]

ngungka

I. N

1. dom.,plant,tree scomphra

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A palm which grows in the swamp. One of the preferred leaves for the roof of your house because it can last ten years.
Léxica:
lungku is Miskitu, and Kriol.

[arriba]

ngungka uuruk

I. N

1. artef.,dom.,plant,tree skomfra

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is the part of the skomfra tree which holds the "fruits." Is used as a strainer when making coconut milk, or for cane juice. Also hung over the fire and used as a net to dry and store chocolate or weerba seeds. Children sometimes use it as a cap in play.
Léxica:
Also ngungka katruk, ngungka kat uuruk, ngunka kat uruuk; literally, "skomfra flowers."

[arriba]

ngunguluk

I. N

1. animal,bird dry weather bird

Notas:

Gramatical:
Partial reduplication.

[arriba]

ngunis

I. N

1. animal,body antenna

2. animal,body whisker

3. body,human beard

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also the composition 'ngiskat+ulis' (jaw hair)

[arriba]

ngunisup

I. N

1. food,plant wild chocolate

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There is (or used to be) plenty, but if you pick it up, when you try to back the sack to your dory, you just keep going round and around the tree. Because it is wild you can't have, the owner won't let you (NR).
Gramatical:
Takes the class marker 'up' for roundish shape. Refers to the seed.
Léxica:
A kind of wild cacao, see also 'kuuk' 'ngerba' and 'aumaup' for other kinds of cacao/chocolate.

[arriba]

ngunkiing

I. N

1. geo,space road

2. path

Notas:

Gramatical:
Has many variant pronounciations : each nasal can be either velar or dental and the long vowel 'ii' can be shortened.

[arriba]

ngurii

I. N

1. space hole

2. geo harbor

[arriba]

ngustak

I. N

1. house,space outside

[arriba]

ngusti

I. N

1. body piss

[arriba]

nguu

I. N

1. artef.,house house

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kiiknadut katkup yusiiki sulaik karka anulaing nguu kama.
The men bring the logs from the bush for their house.
Nguu aaplang tursin u.
Sweep the house with the broom.

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. animal nest

3. imprint

[arriba]

nguu aing alaungkama

I. N

1. food,house cooking place

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguu	aing	alaung	kama
house	of	cook	for

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Better houses have a separate place for cooking to keep the smoke out of the sleeping area. They can also have a board built to hang out of a window to clean and rinse fish or breadkind, wash dishes.

[arriba]

nguuk

I. N

1. animal,body,human belly

Notas:

Gramatical:
Homonym with the verb 'to smell'.

[arriba]

nguu kat

I. N

1. artef.,house house post

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Manud kat mliima aingwa nguu kat kama.
The manud tree is the best for house posts.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguu	kat
	post

[arriba]

nguu kiing

I. N

1. body,house roof

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguu	kiing
house	head

[arriba]

nguuk uula

I. N

1. body,health afterbirth

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguuk	uula
belly	mud

[arriba]

nguu kuyakba

I. N

1. house,space roof of the house , [ESP] techo de palma

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguu	kuyakba
house	high up

[arriba]

nguu pan

I. N

1. house ranch

[arriba]

nguu tuk

I. N

1. body,house,space house eaves

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nguu	tuk
house	tail

[arriba]

ngwaas

I. N

1. animal,body,fish gill

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also 'ngwaasup' (armpit) for humans.

[arriba]

ngwaasup

I. N

1. body,human armpit

Notas:

Gramatical:
With the class marker '-up' for roundish shape.

[arriba]

ngwairup

I. N

2. plant kwakwa seed

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tiiskibadut ngwairup u aalatbaingi. Ariira u analkangi.
The children like to play with a kwakwa seed (gig). They throw it with a string.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
From a mangrove plant. The seed is called kwakwa is Kriol, or 'deer eye'. It is a pretty round, flatish chesnut-colored seed with a black stripe around the side.
Gramatical:
With -up suffix for roundish shaped items.
Léxica:
kwakwa seed is Kr.

[arriba]

ngwiis

I. N

1. animal,bird warbler

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Gave its name to the month of September 'ngwiis tukan'.
Children like to shoot them with slingshots and then sometimes roast them and eat them.

[arriba]

Ngwiis Tukan

I. N

1. calendar,time September

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
ngwiis	tukan
warbler	month

[arriba]

ngwut

I. N

1. body face

Notas:

Gramatical:
The variant 'ngwul' is used before a postposition beginning by a vowel such as 'u' (with). The initial complex consonant 'ngw' can be reduced to 'ng'.

[arriba]

niising

I. N

1. family,human sister

[arriba]

nisataaki

I. N

1. all kinds of things

II. QUANT

1. all kinds of

[arriba]

nisnis

I. N

1. animal,insect cricket , [ESP] Grillo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nisnis kalka up su kalnik baakar.
The cricket is standing on the leaf.
El grillo esta parado en la hoja.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
N
Léxica:
cricket

[arriba]

nkiikna

I. ADJ

2. animal male

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nkiikna katkup angatki, nguu anparkkama.
The men cut logs to make houses.
Ikursking aabak baingbing ning nkiikna.
This man has plenty chest hair.

II. N

1. human man

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nkiikna katkup angatki, nguu anparkkama.
The men cut logs to make houses.
Ikursking aabak baingbing ning nkiikna.
This man has plenty chest hair.

Notas:

Gramatical:
Original pronunciation of the word, with initial consonant cluster. Today semi spealers use a simplified version 'kiikna'.The plural form is with either -dut 'nkiiknadut' or -lut 'nkiiknalut'.

[arriba]

nkiikna aing praak

I. N

1. clothes shirt

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nkiikna	aing	praak
man	of	dress

[arriba]

nkiikna painba

I. N

1. human bachelor

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nkiikna painba. Kumaa tahma yaakar.
He is a bachelor. He is without a woman

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nkiikna	painba
man	single

[arriba]

nkiikna suksuk

I. N

1. human boy

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nkiikna	suksuk
man	little

[arriba]

nuunik

I. N

1. nat. sun

2. time day

Notas:

Gramatical:
Used with borrowed names of the week days of English as in 'monday nuunik' , 'tuesday nuunik' etc.

[arriba]

nuunik kaas

I. N

1. air,nat. sky

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nuunuk	kaas
day	meat

[arriba]

nuunik kaas saala

I. N

1. nat. rainbow

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nuunik	kaas	saala
day	meat	red

Notas:

Gramatical:
Actual Rama. In old Rama, 'rainbow' is called 'sarkingmangkat'.

[arriba]

nuunik taim

I. N

1. time dry season

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nuunik	taim
sun	season

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (time).

[arriba]

nuunik urmut

I. N

1. animal,reptile grass snake

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
nuunik	urmut
day	guts

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This one is not poisonous.

[arriba]

nuursking

I. N

1. artef.,hunting,plant,tree species of rawa-type palm

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A type of very tall and straight rawa palm used for making peg staffs for hunting turtles. You can take 8 out of a tall one. You can't make a "baul" (bowl) out of this one because no part of it is big enough.

[arriba]

nuuruk

I. N

1. animal,body wattle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Wattle on certain lizards, birds
Léxica:
Also norukla.

[arriba]

okonaup

I. N

1. plant,tree hone palm

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Identified as "real hone tree." Seed is small and round, red outside when ripe; inside black and tough. Some people boil the seeds to eat like suupa, though it is very oily, and doesn't taste as good as suupa. Some people use the oil as a hair care product. Hogs, wari, and peccary eat the seed. The seeds ripen around November.

[arriba]

paak

I. N

1. animal,insect flea , [ESP] Pulga

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Paak tausung aing kuung. Paak ngaara tingka, angka mkamii kiikik. Aamliika kalma psutki.
The flea is the dog louse. When they get plenty you cannot sleep in the night. It feel bad in your dress.
La pulga es el piojo de los perros. Cuando tienen muchas no pueden dormir en la noche. Se siente mal en tu ropa.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
As of 2008, fleas have greatly increased in number in some communities due to the increased number of dogs, and some also say because of the increased number of hogs. One remedy, if you have a board floor, is to mash up soursop leaves and spread them over the floor to "run" the fleas.
Gramatical:
Sometimes with strongly aspirated initial p (IB).

[arriba]

paalkat

I. N

1. animal,body rib

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-kat' for longuish shapes.

[arriba]

paalpa

I. N

1. animal,food,hunting,mammal manatee

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Another important animal in the Adam cycle. Has a spirit owner, the whale. The hunt used to be a communal event, with a lot of ceremonial rules, as was the butchering and eating.
Hide used for various artifacts. Extremely scarce now. Ghost Point, at the north end of Red Bank, is one location where manatees are traditionally said to hang out.

[arriba]

paalpa paalkat

I. N

1. plant manati rib

[arriba]

paanga

I. N

1. body spleen

[arriba]

paapu

I. N

2. animal,insect small black ant , [ESP] Hormiga negra pequena

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Paapu kaanuk taaki aakar. Paapu tiiskiba parnga. Mkaat su yalplukatkutka, yarnguli.
The ant lives everywhere. It is small and black. When it climb all over on your foot it bite.
La hormiga vive en todas partes. Es pequeña y negra. Cuando se te sube a los pies te pica.
Paapu yubusuk kwsi.
The ants eat the sprouts.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Also called sugar ants because they get into the sugar.
Léxica:
Used as a generic name for ants.

[arriba]

paaruk

I. N

1. animal,food,reptile fresh water turtle

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They are very hard to catch because they swim fast and dive deep. Men and boys dive for them, usually catching them by hand up in creeks and rivers. They eat them, feet and all; they especially like the females that have eggs, which they stew in the pot with the meat. If they find the nest, they dig up the eggs and boil them to eat. They use the shell for a musical instrument. As of 2009, Mestizos, and even some of the younger Ramas, were using scuba masks and homemade spearguns to catch both fish and hicatees in rivers and creeks, further decimating the already decreased numbers.
Rama nickname for Cristina Benjamins. "Paaruk" is a generic for freshwater turtles; paaruk alone usually refers to either the "speckled" one (sisiknga), or a black one (parnga). Others may go by either "paaruk" plus the other name, or simply by the other name, e.g., "kaat plat."
Léxica:
Hikiti in Kriol from jicotea in Spanish.

[arriba]

paas

I. N

1. animal,insect rain ant

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Paas parparnga. Sii aataikka, antraali.
The rain ants are very black. When the rains pass, they walk about.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are a lot of them after it rains.

[arriba]

paasungup

I. N

1. plant hog plum

Notas:

Etnográfica:
a bitter-tasting fruit

[arriba]

paasungup mamaama

I. N

1. plant tame hog plum

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

paatang

I. N

1. plant mangrove

[arriba]

paatang pluuma

I. N

1. plant white mangrove

[arriba]

paatrut

I. N

1. bread,food,plant patriot banana

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Paatrut seerinka nsut angtki naingkarka laap nsuungi naingkarka tuktinka abung ki nsuauki naingkarka nsukwsi.
When the patriot banana is full, we cut it and we make wabul. When it is ripe we put it in the fire to roast and we eat it.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Real big banana, bigger than the 'Yucatan banana'. It cooks soft.
Léxica:
See also 'yukatan' (Yucatan banana). see also 'samuu aingwa'.

[arriba]

paik

I. N

1. food,plant sweet potato

2. potato

Notas:

Gramatical:
Means 'potato' only in the compound 'paik saima'.

[arriba]

paik saima

I. N

1. food,plant potato

Notas:

Etnográfica:
These are considered a gourmet item by the Ramas who eat them as they cannot be grown in the region, and must be bought in Bluefields, where they are brought in from the Pacific. They cook them in rundown or boil them as another variety of "breadkind," and also make wabul "laap," (without sugar).
Léxica:
Also "piteeta," borrowed from English.

[arriba]

Painis

I. N

1. human Spanish

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (Spanish : people).

[arriba]

pais

I. N

1. animal,mammal sloth

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are sloths in the traditional Adam stories. There are different kinds of sloths. They don't hunt them or eat them.

[arriba]

pakaak

I. N

1. animal,reptile a green lizard

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Pakaak tki su ingalbi traali, kaanu taaki aakri.
This lizard runs on the ground and lives everywhere.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
Also pronounced 'pkaak' or 'mkaak'.

[arriba]

pakalsang

I. N

1. color dark

[arriba]

pakanup

I. N

1. artef. basket prickle

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish shapes.

[arriba]

pakanup aaluk

I. N

1. plant basket prickle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Grows in swamp, like whit, covered with prickles.

[arriba]

Pakpa

I. N

1. human Miskitu

[arriba]

pakpak

I. N

1. animal,bird river bird

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication common to animal names: onomatopeic?
Léxica:
See pakpak.

[arriba]

palangka

I. N

1. plant,tree broom

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used to make brooms, like the tursin tree.

[arriba]

palka

I. N

1. plant,tree yahal

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Mountain tree.

[arriba]

palkat

I. N

1. plant,tree big, big bribri (Kr)

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are many different kinds of bribri with different sizes of pods (resembling tamarind) whose seeds are sweet and can be eaten.
Léxica:
See tamtamakat, tamtamaup

[arriba]

pan

I. N

1. house zinc

[arriba]

pang

I. N

1. body piece

[arriba]

pangkat

I. N

1. piece of

Notas:

Gramatical:
With the marker -kat for long objects.

[arriba]

pangkwiskwis

I. N

2. animal,bird chicken hawk

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Type of chicken hawk that eats crabs. In Rama Cay Creole it is called crab hawk .
Gramatical:
Reduplication commonly found in animal names.

[arriba]

paniis

I. N

1. animal,body fin

[arriba]

pantuk

I. N

1. pan?

[arriba]

papta

I. N

1. plant palm tree

[arriba]

parpas

I. N

1. animal,mammal,water porpoise

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Young boys from Cane creek used to go out to sea close to shore and strike porpoises with harpoons just for fun.

En Cane Creek los jóvenes solían ir al mar, cerca de la costa, a arponear delfines para divertirse.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (porpoise).

Prestado del Inglés

[arriba]

pasankiirup

I. N

1. plant givenot food

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Type of whit.

[arriba]

pasankiit

I. N

1. plant belly full whit

[arriba]

patan ngalma

I. N

1. plant buttonwood tree

[arriba]

payla

I. N

1. artef.,cooking frypan

[arriba]

piang

I. N

1. animal,mammal most likely cacomistle or kinkajou

Notas:

Etnográfica:
small mammal that walks high up in the trees at night and hollers loudly. The call is frightening! Probable that many people, not just Ramas, do not differentiate among several diifferent species with similar body shapes and coloring, e.g., kinkajous, cacomistles, and olingos, since they are all arboreal and nocturnal and therefore not often actually seen. The cacomistle is the only one of the three identified in literature as having a loud call, which it uses to defend it s territory.

[arriba]

piatka

I. N

1. animal,bird bird species

Notas:

Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu.

[arriba]

piisa

I. N

1. family,human nephew

2. family,human brother

[arriba]

piisa tiiskama

I. N

1. family,human young brother

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
piisa	tiiskama
brother	small

[arriba]

piitunu

I. N

1. animal,bird yellow-tailed oriole

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A yellow and black bird that sings all kinds of ways. One of the ways is 'tuksi kakabing' (roll your bottom)! Has been heavily decimated due to capture for market trade for its numerous beautiful melodies. Likes to build nests woven on the underside of banana plant fronds. Still fairly common in Cane Creek as of 2009.

[arriba]

pikngwaak

I. N

1. animal,bird squirrel cuckoo

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Another onomatopoetic bird. Commonly seen and heard in the bush, but one which most people don't like because they say that when he hollers, something bad is going to happen. A few say that that is only so when he hollers like his name. If, however, he hollers "kriskriskris," that indicates that good luck is coming.
Léxica:
Also 'pishnwaak," "pishwaak."

[arriba]

pikpik

I. N

1. animal,reptile a type of ant

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.

[arriba]

pikpikba

I. N

1. animal,bird a kind of bird

[arriba]

pila

I. N

1. artef.,house pillow

[arriba]

pilispilis

I. N

1. animal,bird small toucan

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Pilispilis parnga. Isiik sumaa, haap parnga haap sasaisba. suupa ikwsi.
The billbird is black and his bill is long, half black and half sort of red . He eats suupa.
El "billbird" es negro y su pico es largo, mitad negro y mitad casi rojo. Come bananos.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

pingka

I. N

1. animal,fish small jack species

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A small species of jack caught in the lagoon and sold or consumed. Fights like crazy when hooked. Usually is roasted, and then you pull off the skin because it has a “bone” along the side. After that, you stew it (run it down) in coconut milk.
Una especie pequeña del jurel que se pesca en la laguna para consumo y para vender. Lucha como loco cuando pica el anzuelo. Para cocinar, se pone a asar, y después se le quita la piel para eliminar el “hueso” que tiene a lo largo del cuerpo. Luego se prepara en rondón.

[arriba]

pisabed

I. N

1. plant lizabeth leaf

[arriba]

pispis

I. N

1. animal,fish,food drummer fish (little white) , [ESP] Tambor (pequeño)

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Pispis salpka tiiskiba pluuma. sauk u ankiingai ankuu. Nguu ki yuansiikka, anangskwi. Kansi anuungi, ankwiskama.
The liittle white drummer is a small and white fish. They fish it with a hook. They catch it. When they bring it to the house they clean it. They fry it to eat it.
El peuqeño pez tambor es pequeño y es un pez blanco. Lo pescan con anzuelo. Lo agarran. Cuando lo traen a la casa lo limpian. Lo fríen y lo comen.

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. animal,bird northern waterthrush

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
During dry weather childen
catch large quantities of these small fish. For them it is a form of entertainment to go to the point on Rama Cay and fish for pispis.
They also catch it to feed the dog.

Durante el verano los niños Rama pescan grandes cantidades de estos pececitos, para ellos es una diversión ir a la punta de las islas a pescar pispis. También lo pescan para darle de comer a sus mascotas.
Etnográfica:
Small lagoon/ocean fish, kind of slimy to eat. A common fish for children just "fishnin' about" in the lagoon to catch. Not as desirable as other fish, but eaten anyway. Looks like a small "raukrauk." It is always found "between shrimp," and plenty are caught while casting nets for chacalines during chacalin time (dry weather.)

Pez de mar y lagunero, algo viscoso para comer. Un pez común que los niños agarran en la laguna para pescar. No es tan apetecido como otros peces, pero es comestible. Parece un “raukrauk” pequeño. Se encuentra siempre revuelto con los chacalines, y se atrapan muchos en las atarrayas durante la temporada de chacalines.

As a bird, a robin-sized bird with a gray-brown back and broken stripes running down its chest. Delightful to watch bobbing and flicking its tail about as it searches for food among the rocks and plants at creekside.
Would also refer to the Louisiana waterthrush, but only the northern waterthrush observed.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common to animal names.
Léxica:
Fish: Borrowing from Miskitu pispisya.
Bird: Only heard pronounced "pishpish."

[arriba]

pisup

I. N

1. plant prickly tree

[arriba]

piteeta

I. N

1. food,plant potato, meaning Kr. Irish potato

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Rama do not grow these; they must be bought in Bluefields, so are not eaten very often.
Léxica:
Borrowing from English. Also "paik saima."

[arriba]

piun

I. N

1. animal,bird thick-billed seed finch

Notas:

Etnográfica:
'Piun tukan' used for January.
Also called 'grass bird' in Kriol.

[arriba]

piungkit

I. N

1. artef.,house,plant wari whit

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Piungkit kat aap su aapuni. Nsut aamlaki usnaan yunsuparki. Nguu yunsuangaisi.
the wari whit grows on a tree trunk. We pull it down. We make baskets with it. We tie the house with it.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Dark color whit. Used to tie the roof leaves with it, to tie game (including heavy waris) to carry back home. Also used to make baskets. Not as strong as 'kaung' (congkiva o bejuco de mujer).

[arriba]

piup

I. N

1. nat. star

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Piup baingbing ning kiikik kuyak nuunik kas ki.
There are plenty stars in the sky tonight.
Piup taara nuunik kaas ki tabulak an tamas ki yaakari.
The big star is in the sky in the evening and in the morning.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish shape.

[arriba]

piup taara

I. N

1. nat. big star

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
piup	taara
star	big

Notas:

Gramatical:
Old time people used to call it 'piup airung' (mother star).

[arriba]

piup tuk sumawa

I. N

1. nat. shooting star

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
piup	tuk	suma	wa
star	tail	long	with

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Literally 'star with a long tail'.

[arriba]

plaanak

I. N

1. artef.,break machete

[arriba]

plaanak aing salpka

I. N

1. animal,fish unidentified sea fish

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:

A long sea fish which is also found in the lagoon sometimes when it is salty. Has ugly sharp teeth. For many, an unwanted bycatch in gill nets near shore in places such as Punta de Águila. Some eat it, saying it is like mackerel. They roast it and run it down, or fry it.
Un pez grande de mar con horribles dientes filosos. También se encuentra en la laguna cuando esta salada. Para muchos, es un pez no deseado. Aparece en las redes colocadas en las playas cercanas en lugares como Bangkukuk Taik. Algunos lo comen, diciendo que es como la macarela. Lo asan, y después cocinan en rondón, o lo fríen.

[arriba]

plaanak kaat

I. N

1. artef.,body machete handle

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
plaanak	kaat
machete	handle

[arriba]

plaanak siik

I. N

1. artef.,body machete edge

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
plaanak	siik
machete	tooth

[arriba]

plangka kat

I. N

1. dom.,palm,plant,tree broom tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One of a number of plants that is used to make the sweeping part of a broom. This palm has large, tough rounded fan-shaped fronds.
Léxica:
Also called turusiin, truusin (broom)

[arriba]

pliis

I. N

1. animal,food,hunting,reptile hawksbill turtle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They prefer the green sea turtle meat to the hawksbill turtle meat but this one was more valuable for its shell (tortoise shell), which was sold in Bluefields even though it is a highly endangered species. As of 2008, since the shell is not as readily sold in Bluefields due to tougher laws, some people throw away the plaques!
If you catch a hawksbill turtle you roast the head and when the meat falls off you hang it high in a cacao tree to make it bear a lot of cacao pods. It is badluck for the hawksbill striker to eat the fin, you are supposed to throw them in the water. but these days the strikers eat the fins anyway.
It's bad luck for future striking if people pee on the fin bones.
Ramas eat hawksbill eggs, usually fried these days. The fried egg said to taste like fried chicken egg, but is much larger. Hawksbills lay on the beaches around Pointer Rock ad Corn River.

[arriba]

pliis sungsung

I. N

1. animal,body unidentified songbird

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A little brownish bird the size of a piitunu that sings a two-note half-step song of repeated "du-du, du-du, du-du, du-du."

[arriba]

plingking

I. N

1. food,health,plant provision tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Eaten raw when it is young. It's very rich. Not eaten when the pod is big and brown, and the large seeds inside are mature, but the bark is peeled and dried, boiled and drunk to strengthen the blood. Dried chiny root is sometimes mixed with this tea. Creoles often add milk and Condor wine to the mixture, and call it a tonic. If you don't dry the provision bark well before making the tea, it will be stainy-tasting.

[arriba]

plung

I. N

1. fire,plant ash

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You can use ashes to clean your pots and eating utensils if you don't have soap, along with cocnut husk to scrub them. Some of the old people don't like the scent of soap on eating utensils.

[arriba]

praak

I. N

1. clothes dress

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kumaa praak mliima kitauki.
The woman put on a pretty dress.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (frock).

[arriba]

praak ikaalaikba

I. N

1. clothes,space skirt

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'dress from the feet side' used to refer to bottom (clothes) in opposition to 'praak ikiingaikba', literally 'dress from the head side', used to refer to top (clothes). It is a neologism, a mix of borrowing from English (frock) and relational noun for lower part 'ikaalaikba'.

[arriba]

praak ikiingaikba

I. N

1. clothes,space dress

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
praak	i-	kiing	-aik	-ba
dress		head	side	ADJ

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'dress from the head side' used to refer to top (clothes) in opposition to 'praak ikaalaikba', literally 'dress from the feet side', used to refer to bottom (clothes). It is a neologism, a mixt of borrowing from English (frock) and relational noun for upper part 'ikiingaikba'. This relational noun must not be confused with the other one 'kiingaikba' meaning 'from the east' and with 'kiinga' (day, east) as the head.

[arriba]

praak tupki ka

I. N

1. clothes,space slip

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
praak	tupki	ka
dress	under	at

Notas:

Gramatical:
Part borrowing from English (frock) with Rama complex postposition 'tupki ka' (from under).

[arriba]

praanti

I. ?

1. plantain

II. N

1. bread,food,plant plantain

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Pranti ungi nsupauksu nsuaasiki. Yaltingka laap nsuungi. Kukunup arii kinsukai.
We put plantain in the pot and we boil it. When it is cooked, we make the wabul. We put coconut milk in it.
Sii su naing praanti tangaangu nikuaakari.
I have my plantain plantation in the river.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A preferred breadkind to eat. Eaten green and ripe in coconut porridges both sweetened and unsweetened, in rondon, roasted (ripe), and less frequently fried (green). The latter is the common Mestizo form of preparation. As of 2008 not as prevalent due to disease, replaced largely by the "filipito" banana, which was introduced after the hurricane.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (plantain).

[arriba]

praanti almuumu

I. N

1. body,bread,plant bosome plantain

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

'Almuumu' nsut aungi praanti puksak taktingimaka.
"We say ""bosome"" when two plantains peg together."

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
praanti	almuumu
plantain	joined

[arriba]

praanti kiing

I. N

1. body,plant bunch of plantains

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

praanti laap

I. N

1. bread,food plantain wabul

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Yupyuwadut 'sunukba' aungi. Nsut 'pranti laap' aungi ning namangku.
The old people say `sunukba'. We say `pranti laap' now.

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

prang

I. N

1. artef. adze

[arriba]

prang kaat

I. N

1. artef.,body adze handle

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
prang	kaat
adze	handle

[arriba]

praukubliis

I. N

1. cooking,health,plant coriander

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Also known as "wild culantro". Used to season fresh fish soup made with machaca fish. As a medicine, used mashed and plastered on hand for drawing out the heat of a fever. Similarly a person can be beaten with it until blood is drawn to draw out the heat of a fever.

[arriba]

priya nguu

I. N

1. house church

Composicion:

expression

Notas:

Gramatical:
Neologism based on borrowing from English (prayer) and Rama name 'nguu' (house).

[arriba]

prunkikis

I. N

1. animal,insect small black ant

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Prunkikis manais isii susungi seem. Parnga barka uruk su tiiskama.
This ant looks like a manais ant (to us). It is black too but smaller.
Esta hormiga se parece a la hormiga mania (para nosotros). Es negra tambien pero pequeña.

[arriba]

prup

I. N

1. artef.,dom. diesel/kerosene lamp

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A kerosene or diesel lamp made out of a small can with a snap in lid, like a powered milk can. You make a hole in the lid and make a wick with a piece of cloth. Diesel was the more common fuel used by Rama in locations such as Monkey Point or Cane Creek, i.e., those who traded with commercial shrimp and fish boats, etc. As distinguished from twitwi, made with a cloth wick in a bottle, and more usually using kerosene, as on Rama Cay: they did not regularly trade with fish boats (shrimp boats), and bought kerosene in Bluefields.
Léxica:
"Prup" was also used by some Kriols in Monkey Point. Also given as "pruk."

[arriba]

pruuki

I. N

1. artef.,palm,plant,tree unidentified palm

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A small slender tree in the bush. You strip pieces of the bark lengthwise to use to use for any number of things that require a sturdy cord, for example, to tie up a hog or game, or to make a tump line so that you can carry a sack of breadkind on your back by putting the "strap" around your forehead.

[arriba]

pruun

I. N

1. dom.,plant,tree trumpet tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The tree does not have a lot of uses; it is used to make hog sties.
Gramatical:
Is used for both a tree 'pruun kat' (trumpet tree) and an ant 'pruun uut' (trumpet ant), but 'pruun' alone can only mean the tree.

[arriba]

pruun uut

I. N

1. animal,insect trumpet ant

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
pruun	uut
trumpet tree	bug

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Called this way because they climb on the trumpet tree.

[arriba]

psaa

I. N

1. body liver

[arriba]

psaarik

I. N

1. animal,bird big toucan

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Psaarik sinsak isiik sumaa ikuaakar. Isiik taik astraabing nuknuknga, astraabing saala.
The billbird is a bird who has a long bill. The side of the bill is one side yellow and one side red.
El billbird es un pájaro que tiene un pico largo. Un lado del pico es amarillo y el otro rojo.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Found in the Adam stories.
They live in the creeks and rivers and are not hunted.

[arriba]

psaauk

I. N

1. animal,body turtle belly

[arriba]

psak

I. N

1. animal,mammal small ground squirrel

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

psuk

I. N

1. animal worm, caterpillar, maggot

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some fish, such as tuba, "pick," (bite) well with different kinds of worms as bait.

When refers to intestinal parasites, there are a number of different purges that adults take, and children are given (e.g., senna leaf tea) periodically as purges to get rid of worms. Round worms (ascaris) are very common.

[arriba]

psuk aalukwa

I. N

1. animal white hairy worm

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
psuk	aalukwa
worm, caterpillar, maggot	with prickles

[arriba]

psuk aing siika

I. N

1. health worm medicine

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
psuk	aing	siika
worm, caterpillar, maggot	of	medicine

[arriba]

psuk alkiinuing

I. N

1. animal hairy worm

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
psuk	alkiin	-uing
worm, caterpillar, maggot	itch	HAB

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'itching worm'.

[arriba]

psuk pluuma parnga

I. N

1. animal white and black hairy worm

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
psuk	pluuma	parnga
worm, caterpillar, maggot	white	black

[arriba]

psut

I. N

2. space inside

Notas:

Gramatical:
Rarely used as a lone noun. See also 'psutki', where 'psut' is a relational noun.

[arriba]

puk

I. N

1. animal,mammal agouti

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Smaller than a paca (givenot in Kriol). It is reddish brown color and is hunted for food.
Léxica:
Kyaki is Miskitu and kriol.

[arriba]

puk saala

I. N

1. animal,food,hunting,mammal agouti

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A pretty red-brown rodent, smaller than a givenot (paca) which is hunted for its meat. Usually roasted. Sometimes then are stewed. Some also fry it. Kyakis and pacas dig dens with tunnels in the bush, often among the big tree roots. Some dogs are specialists for hunting givenot and kyaki (agouti). Despite their rabbit size, they can do a lot of damage if they have the chance to bite up the hunting dogs.
Léxica:
They are all the same color. The babies are striped and speckled like fawns. Those who say puk saala probably use puk alone for givenot (kulii).

[arriba]

puksiik

I. N

1. body milk teeth

Notas:

Gramatical:
Composition with 'siik' (tooth).

[arriba]

pukup

I. N

1. food,fruit,plant,tree xxx

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A large, round, brown-skin fruit with a thin layer of orangish-yellow fruit similar to the Nicaraguan zapote surrounding a huge round seed with a kinky hair-looking covering. Sweet and tasty, but not much of it! Grows on a very large tree.
Léxica:
laasup given as Rama in Wiring Cay, which others say is Rama Cay Creole. Also , pkup, pkuup, tkuup (very long falling vowel from Clotilda) Ulwa: lasa/lasap

[arriba]

pulkat

I. N

1. nat.,wind wind

[arriba]

pulkat airung

I. N

1. wind hurricane

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
pulkat	airung
wind	big

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also 'pulkat taara'.

[arriba]

pulkat kiingaikba

I. N

1. nat.,wind out breeze

2. space,wind northeast wind

Notas:

Gramatical:
See also 'yaabra kiingaikba'.

[arriba]

pulkat kruk

I. N

1. nat.,wind big breeze

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
pulkat	kruk
wind	big

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also 'pulkat taara' for 'hurricane'.

[arriba]

pulkat taak skwa

I. N

1. geo,space,wind wind from the land

[arriba]

pulkat taara

I. N

1. nat.,wind hurricane

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
pulkat	taara
wind	big

Notas:

Etnográfica:
See also 'pulkat airung'.

[arriba]

pulkat tup baingi ka

I. N

1. wind wind from down

[arriba]

pulkat uup

I. N

1. wind round wind

[arriba]

pulkat wapaasa

I. N

1. wind south wind

[arriba]

pulkat wapaasa kiingaikba

I. N

1. wind southeast wind

[arriba]

pultis

I. N

1. poultice

[arriba]

pung

I. N

1. body waist

2. body,dory middle of paddle

[arriba]

pungkit

I. N

1. animal,bird hawk

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Pungkit, kuyak yaakitka usru isungka, bayalptungu. Ikuuka, kuyak yuitunguli, ikwisbang.
The hawk, when it gets high up and when it sees a chicken, it comes down for it. When it catches it, it ges up with it to eat it.
El águila, cuando se eleva y ve una gallina desciende por ella. Cuando la captura, se eleva con ella y se la come.

[arriba]

pungkit taara

I. N

1. animal,bird big eagle

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
pungkit	taara
hawk	big

[arriba]

puntutuk

I. N

1. animal,bird trumpet pigeon

II. onom.

1. puntutuk

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Told they like to stand up together. The name of the animal is itself an onomatopeia of the noise it makes.

[arriba]

put

I. N

1. body breath

[arriba]

puulik

I. N

1. artef.,dory,plant unidentified

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A tree which can grow to tremendous size, and which therefore has huge outcroppings at the bottom of the trunk ("gamba" in Kriol, "ikiit" in Rama) to anchor it. Has a lot of folklore connected with it. For example, each tree is said to have an "owner," and you have to talk to this owner before you do anything with the tree. The owner is thought by most to be some kind of "perri piypil," i.e., "fairy people." Can be used for dories, which will last about two years unless you cover the inside with fiberglass, which extends their use.

[arriba]

puulik uruk

I. N

1. clothes,plant cotton

[arriba]

puulup

I. N

1. body throat

Notas:

Gramatical:
With the class marker '-up' for roundish entities.

[arriba]

puunu

I. N

1. plant,tree babwood

Notas:

Léxica:
See kunkun.

[arriba]

puupu

I. N

1. animal,fish

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A minnow-sized fresh-water fish in creeks. Looks like a mollie. Not usually actively sought; children playing around in the water with pans or buckets or may catch various small fish or shrimps, which can be used as fishing bait. Reported that children used to boil it with green breadfruit to eat.
Es del tamaño de un gobio de agua dulce de los criques. Parece un pez molly (pequeño pez mascota). Los niños juegan con ellos en el agua o los usan de carnada. Se cuenta que antes los niños lo comían cocido en agua con fruta de pan verde.
Léxica:
Does not appear to need to be combined with salpka. Some speakers say "nguk taara," "big-belly fish."
No parece necesitar combinarse con salpka. Algunos hablantes dicen “nguk taara”, “pez panzón”.

[arriba]

puupup

I. N

1. plant milk tree

[arriba]

puupu piup

I. N

1. seven star

[arriba]

puus

I. N

1. animal,mammal cat

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Puus ngunis kunkunbi kuaakari.
The cat has four whiskers.
El gato tiene cuatro bigotes.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Sometimes kept around the house. A wet cat means bad weather, so if you have one in your dory, you try to keep it dry. particularly in the southern communities, a number of cats appear to have mixed with wild spotted cats, as can be seen from the photo.
Gramatical:
Loanword from English 'pussy cat'.

[arriba]

puuti

I. N

1. animal,bird great tinamou

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is a chicken-like bird that lives far up in the creek. They don't find it very often, and they eat them if they catch them. Increasingly rare.
Léxica:
big mountain hen (Kr)

[arriba]

pwatpa

I. ADJ

2. taste sweet

II. N

1. food sugar

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They use cane sugar or honey. They don"t use honey in cooking, they just eat it or sometimes use it as part of bush medicine.
Gramatical:
Sometimes pronounced 'poatpa'.

[arriba]

pwatpa arii

I. N

1. food fresco

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
pwatpa	arii
sweet	drink

[arriba]

pwatpa ngulung

I. N

1. food powdered sugar

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
pwatpa	ngulung
sugar	powder

[arriba]

pwatpaup

I. N

1. food,plant candy

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
pwatpa	up
sugar	round shape

[arriba]

rais

I. N

1. food,plant rice

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One of the main foods of the contemporary Rama. Usually eaten cooked with coconut milk, or cooked in coconut milk with beans which have previously been boiled. They do not usually make the Spanish-style "gallo pinto" with previously cooked rice and beans being fried together with cooking oil, nor do they fry raw rice before cooking it or mix leftover rice with something else for a second meal. Having only rice, "so-so rice" as the whole meal, even with breakind, is reason for complaint. Coconut-stewed rice and beans plus breadkind is a common principal meal, though they prefer to also have some kind of meat or fish as part of the meal. The rice in the rice and beans must not be mushy; they like the grains to separate so that the dish is "shelly-shelly." Round grain rice which naturally stick together when cooking, and which is what has often come from foreign donations in the past, is not to their liking. Many plant rice for their own consumption, and perhaps some to sell. It has to be watched to keep animals from eating it, and has to be weeded, as well as hulled after being harvested. The whole family participates in various of these endeavors. They also clean it (pick out tiny rocks, etc.), and wash it before cooking.
Gramatical:
Loanword from English (rice)

[arriba]

rais ngulung

I. N

1. food rice flour

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
rais	ngulung
rice	flour

[arriba]

rais ulung

I. N

1. food rice grain

[arriba]

Ramalut an Nikrulut Niingi Antraali

I. N

. toponomy Rama and Kriol Lodge Here , [ESP] Lugar del hospedaje rama y kriol

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojon 002 Sur Rama and Kriol Lodge Here

[arriba]

raukrauk

I. N

1. animal,fish,food croaker

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a big whitish-colored drummer found in the river, and in the lagoon when the water is fresh. Fatter than a coppermouth but with the same smallish scales. It is cooked all kinds of ways. The names of drummers are onomatopoeic.
Este es un pez tambor grande color blanquizco que se encuenta en el río y en la laguna cuando el agua esta dulce. Más grueso que una corvina pero con el mismo tipo de escamas pequeñas. Se prepara de varias maneras para comer. El nombre del pez tambor es onomatopéyico.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names. The drummer was called 'aitukpa' by ancient Rama people.
Léxica:
An old Rama word for drummer was “aitukpa.” There are different kinds of drummers, big and small, silver and yellowish, and speakers disagree as to which terms apply to which fish. For some, “raukrauk” is the same as “kapamout” in Kriol.
La palabra del Rama antiguo para tambor es 'aitukpa'. Hay diferentes tipos de pez tambor, pequeños y grandes, plateados y amarillentos, y los hablantes no estan de acuerdo en cuanto a cual palabra describe cual pez. Para algunos, “raukrauk”es el mismo “kapamout” en Kriol.

[arriba]

rii

I. N

1. geo,water creek

Notas:

Gramatical:
Has variant with short form 'ri'.

[arriba]

rukruk

I. N

1. animal,fish,food drummer (small, yellow) , [ESP] Tambor (pequeño, amarillo)

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A food fish commonly caught near the shore around Bangkukuk Taik. Caught with hook and small beach crabs as fishing bait. Rukruk is principally a sea fish; Rama Cay people also talk about “maligyas aista,” i.e., “maligyas oysters,” which are oysters from Maligyas Bank, before Handkerchief Point, on the left when you are coming into Hone Sound Bar.
Pez comestible que se encuentra comúnmente en las costas alrededor de Punta de Aguila (Bangkukuk Taik). Se pesca con anzuelo y carnada como pequeños cangrejos de la playa. El rukruk es principalmente un pez de mar. La gente de Rama Cay habla de “maligyas aista,” i.e., “maligyas oysters,” que son las ostras de Maligyas Bank, antes de Handkerchief Point, al lado izquierdo cuando se viene de Hone Sound Bar.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu rukruk. See maligyas.

[arriba]

saa

I. N

1. body,human palm

2. body,human sole

Notas:

Gramatical:
Used only in the expressions 'kwiik saa' (palm of hand) and 'kaat saa' (sole of foot).

[arriba]

saaduk

I. N

1. food,plant grapefruit

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Another citrus planted and consumed, usually as "fresco," though not as common as oranges of different kinds. Kyador likes to put grapefruit juice in a calabash of warapo (cane juice) to drink.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu sadik. Also "uriaup tataara."

[arriba]

saaling

I. N

1. animal,fish mountain mullet, bobo , [ESP] Lisa de montaña

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Saaling sii su kuyaanik yaakituing ngaling tataara aunga ki. Anaalali nsut sungi.
The mountain galleyfever stays way up the river between the big rocks. We see it play.
La lisa permanece río arriba entre las grandes rocas. La vemos jugar.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are many kinds of mullet in the area; some call this one “mountain califavor.” Most Bluefields people are only familiar with one sea mullet, if any mullets at all. This fish is only found up in big rivers such as Punta Gorda or Corn River; it needs deep water. This kind of mullet lives in the riverhead, but comes down to the sea to lay near the beach edge in June and July (rainy season). You can hardly see them when they come down in the flood, but you can see them flashing in the water when they go up. You have to catch them in a net or strike them because they hardly take the hook. They can weigh up to 7 or 8 pounds, and are fat in June, and have big roe, which is a special treat. They are very oily, though, so are usually roasted and not fried. May be put in rondon after roasting. Another source put the months at November for them to come down, and Dec. 8 for them to go back up. They get fat from eating “mojo flowers” (“unsing uruk”) that drop in the river.

Hay muchas especies de este pez en la región. Unas personas conocen este pez como “califavor de la montaña.” La mayoría de la población en Bluefields solo conoce un tipo de lisa de mar. Necesita aguas profundas como los del rio Punta Gorda o Rio Maíz. Este tipo de lisa vive río arriba, pero sale al mar a desovar cerca de la playa en junio y julio (época de lluvia). Con dificultad pueden verse brillando en el agua cuando vienen con la corriente, pero se pueden ver bien cuando van para arriba. Se tienen que capturar con red o golpearlos porque no pican el anzuelo. Pueden pesar entre 7 y 8 libras, están gordos en junio y tienen bastantes huevas que son muy apetecidas. Son muy grasosos por eso generalmente se ahúman no se fríen. Ya ahumados se pueden poner en el rondón. Otras fuentes dicen que baja el rio en Noviembre, y sube el 8 de Diciembre) Se engorda comiendo las flores del árbol “mojo” (“unsing uruk”) que caen en el rio.
Gramatical:
Also "sahaling," and "shaaling."
Léxica:
Sp. bobo mullet

[arriba]

saaluk

I. N

1. body,plant prickle

[arriba]

saaluk

I. N

2. plant coconda

[arriba]

saalya

I. N

1. animal,bird scarlet tanager

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A bright red bird with black wings in the bush. Not to be confused with "muskak," which is a black bird with a bright red rump. They used to catch them around September and feed them worms and seeds, and then later let them go.
Léxica:
Also "singsak saala."

[arriba]

saamut

I. N

1. animal,reptile green snake

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Slightly poisonous, green tree viper.
Gramatical:
Also 'shamut'

[arriba]

saan

I. N

1. plant,tree saba

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A good wood for dories.

[arriba]

saa ngulung

I. N

1. body,plant sawdust

Notas:

Gramatical:
From English borrowing 'saa' (beginning of 'sawdust') and Rama 'ngulung' (powder). The Rama name for 'sawdust' is 'ngaan'.

[arriba]

saapang

I. N

1. artef.,cooking grind stone

[arriba]

saapla

I. N

1. plant,tree type of tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This tree is used to make wabul (lap, in Rama) sticks.

[arriba]

saaru

I. N

1. animal,bird small wild duck

[arriba]

saasing

I. N

1. animal,fish,food unidentified freshwater fish

[arriba]

saasuk

I. N

1. family,human sister of male

2. sister

[arriba]

saasukima

I. N

1. family,human sisterkind

Notas:

Gramatical:
Used for both 'sister in law' and 'half sister'

[arriba]

sabaka

I. N

1. food,plant sopadilla

[arriba]

sabang

I. N

1. artef.,dom.,plant,tree gourd

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Sabang refers to the gourd tree, or to the round "fruit." After being picked and dried, it is cut and used for bowls for eating, drinking, or bailing the dory. As of 2008 not as prevalent in households due to increased use of plastic containers and metal and plastic bowls and plates. Some cut plastic gallons in half, using the bottom as a bowl, and the top as a large mug for "fresco." "Sabang" refers to the round gourd; "uulup" or "ulngup" is the long one. The Ramas do not generally carve designs in them or decorate them.
Léxica:
More commonly "saabang" in the Cane Creek area.

[arriba]

sabangup

I. N

1. gourd

Notas:

Gramatical:
With marker '-up' for roundish shapes.

[arriba]

sabii

I. ADV

1. plain

1. bright

2. measuring clear

II. N

3. time daylight

[arriba]

sabiiru

I. N

1. animal,health,reptile alligator snapping turtle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It can be in the swamps, in the creeks or in the rivers. They are huge and look like a log. They dangerous because they can take off your foot or your hand if they bite you.
The belief is that when it bites it won't let go until the macaw hollers because they are partners, because they have the same head and bill.
They also say that if you bury and dry the bottom shell you can use that for medicine for asthma and to keep enemies from your door. Not eaten.
Gramatical:
Variant forms: 'sbiiru, shbiiru'.

[arriba]

sabut

I. N

2. animal,fish,food,health unidentified fish , [ESP] Guabina

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A freshwater fish which most people eat. Grows up to about 15”. Caught on handlines in rivers and creeks. Reported to sometimes jump out of the water to catch bugs, and that they can catch themselves on a spoon hook the same way. (As of 2008, due to severe declines of all fish stocks, nets were being used, both cast nets and gill nets) Most say there are two classes of sabut: the white sabut and the black sabut. In KR, some call the white one “fall elik,” and some call the black one “swamp elik” or “Simon elik.” Other Ramas say there are three different “sabut”: a short brown and black one with a big head that you don’t eat, a long one, “pluuma,” that is more of a brown color, and which you do eat, and the biggest one, a black one, which many eat. That one is “cabo de hacha” in Spanish. Eating any kind of “sabut” is a remedy for those who suffer from peeing too much.

Pez de agua dulce que la mayoría de la gente come. Crece hasta 15”. Se pesca con cuerda en los ríos y criques. Se dice que a veces salta del agua para agarrar insectos, y que a veces se atrapa solo en un “anzuelo cuchara”. Desde el 2008 se usan redes (verticales y tarraya), debido a la disminución de todo tipo de peces. Se dice que este pez tiene dos variedades: sabut blanco y sabut negro. En KR, algunos llaman al blanco “fall elik,” y al negro “elik de cienega, o “Simon elik”. Otros dicen que hay tres especies: uno que es café con negro que no se come, otro “pluma,” que se come y que es mas largo y mas café, y el mas grande que es negro, que se llama “cabo de hacha” en español, y que unos comen. Tambien es bueno comer este pez cuando uno orina demasiado.

[arriba]

sahaling

I. N

1. animal,fish,food unidentified freshwater fish

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A fish from upriver in Punta Gorda that comes down with the flood. Usually catch it with net to the bar. Very oily, so not normally eaten in rondon. Eats nice if you score it, salt it, and roast it in a banana leaf or waha leaf. May also salt and roast it over the fire, but oil will drip constantly form the fish.
Léxica:
See also saaling
Ver también saaling

[arriba]

sai

I. N

1. dom.,land,plant farm

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This refers to the place where you have cleared ground, usually not very big, and have planted crops. Calling it a "farm" or "plantation" For both Rama and Kriol does not usually denote a large area with a house, large cultivated fields, and livestock. There may very well be no shelter at all at the site.

[arriba]

saliiba

I. N

1. body,health boil

2. body,health sore

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are a number of bush preparations which are used to help heal different kinds of sores, usually in the form of poultices.

[arriba]

saliiba arii

I. N

1. body,health pus

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
saliiba	arii
	liquid

[arriba]

saliuk

I. N

1. animal,food,hunting,reptile iguana

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Salpka an saliuk itangkit su kurang ikuaakar.
The fish and the iguana have a back bone on their back.
El pez y la iguana tienen un hueso en su espalda.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is an iguana species that is green young and adult. Dry weather, March, especially, is iguana time. Catching them is usually teamwork: If you see one on a tree, one person climbs to shake it off, ad the others strategically place themselves below on the ground and in the creek to try to catch it when it drops. This often means that you have to "dive" it. Either way, you have to try to grab it by the head and the base of the tail. Ramas traditionally don't shoot them to catch them, but Mestizos do. It is a highly desireable meat which was also formerly sold, but which is now (2008) extremely scarce. Iguana can be roasted and then run down with coconut milk and breadkind. Soup is made by boiling the meat until soft, taking it out, and then adding breadkind, rice, and condiments (onion, gourd pepper, sweet pepper, black pepper) to the broth. The you might stew the softened meat separately in coconut milk with breadkind and condiments if you have them. If the iguana had eggs that were still very soft, you would probably stew them along with the softened meat in the coconut milk. The head is usually roasted for the dog.

[arriba]

saliuk aing mumuum nuknuknga

I. N

1. animal,insect unidentified fly

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One of two flies slightly smaller than a housefly which fly singly and bite. They don't make noise, so the victim is often unaware of their presence until bitten, and it hurts.

[arriba]

saliuk aing mumuum patparnga

I. N

2. animal,insect unidentified fly

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One of two flies slightly smaller that a house fly which fly singly and bite. They don't make noise, so the victim is often unaware of their presence until bitten, and it hurts.

[arriba]

Saliuk aing Tukan

I. N

1. calendar,time March

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
saliuk	aing	tukan
iguana	of	month

Notas:

Etnográfica:
literally: iguana month

[arriba]

saliuknurukla

I. N

1. plant prickle tree

[arriba]

saliup

I. N

1. body articulation

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for round object.

[arriba]

salpka

I. N

1. animal,fish,food fish , [ESP] Pez

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Salpka sii ki bii aakri. Paniis ikuaakar, ituk ikwaakar, itris ikuaakaar.
The fish lives only in the water. It has fins, it has a tail, it has scales.
El pez vive solamente en el agua. Tiene aletas, tiene una cola, tiene escamas.
Salpka aalisba abung uruk su nsuangkingi.
I hang the dry fish over the fire.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Rama Cay people traditionally spent more of their time fishing and ate more fish than Cane Creek people (who principally ate
breadkind, especially bananas). "Real tuba," a fresh and brackish water cichlid caught by hook, has always been a favorite fish, usually cooked in rondon. As of 2008, everyone concerned because of greatly decreased fish stocks everywhere due to overfishing, especially commercial fishing, and Mestizos throwing pesticides and herbicides into the creeks and rivers in order to float up the fish. Mestizos have also introduced homemade spearguns ("waterguns" in Kriol) to use to scuba dive fish and freshwater turtles in the creeks and rivers. The Rama have also noted that the heavy deforestation is contributing to creeks and rivers drying up, which is also contributing to decreased fish stock. Because of the difficulty in catching fish by hook for a meal, more people using gill nets and cast nets to fish (vs. hook and handline), even in creeks, which was previously unnecessary and unheard of. This manner of fishing puts further pressure on the fish stock.

Tradicionalmente la gente de Rama Cay pasaba mucho de su tiempo pescando y comía más pescado que la gente de Cane Creek (principalmente comían bastimentos, especialmente variedades de plátanos). La "Real tuba," es una Cichlidae de agua dulce y salada que se pesca con anzuelo, ha sido siempre un pescado favorito del pueblo Rama, usualmente se cocina en el rondón.

Desde el 2008, todos estaban preocupados por la gran disminución de las reservas de peces en todas partes debido a la pesca excesiva, especialmente la pesca comercial, y a las prácticas de la población mestiza recién migrada de tirar pesticidas y herbicidas en los criques y ríos para sacar los peces a flote. Los mestizos también han introducido arpones artesanales para pesca de buceo y captura de tortugas de agua dulce en los criques y ríos. Desde el 2009, hay indicios de que los Criollos de Bluefields habían empezado a poner los trasmallos a la orilla del mar fuera de la barra de Hone Sound. El pueblo Rama esta consciente que la deforestación masiva está contribuyendo a secar los criques y ríos, lo que también contribuye a la disminución de las reservas de peces.

Debido a las dificultades para pescar con anzuelo la comida del día más gente está utilizando redes rastreras verticales y atarraya (vs. Anzuelo y cuerda de pescar), aun en los criques, en los que anteriormente era innecesario y desconocido. Esta manera de pescar pone aun más presión en las reservas de peces. Otra consecuencia es que más Rama consumen especies de pescado que antes no consumían (por ejemplo el “Tungki” anteriormente desdeñado por la mayoría), y también están consumiendo una mayor cantidad de peces de menor tamaño que lo solían hacerlo.
Gramatical:
Has variant pronunciations: 'shalpka' by Rama speakers of mainland south, and various reductions by second language learners of Rama, such as 'sapka' .
Léxica:
Both salpka and tuaa are used in combination with other modifiers to describe fish for which the speaker has no other name, e.g., "tuaa saala" for red snapper (which is also called "snaapa" by some), or "plaanak aing salpka" to describe the machete fish.

[arriba]

salpka aing maukala

I. N

1. artef.,fish fish net

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
salpka	aing	maukala
fish	of	net bag
Pez

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Using nets to catch fish is not traditional. These are gill nets which are set in Bluefields Lagoon. The Rama further south don't net fish.

[arriba]

salpka kaas

I. N

2. animal,food fish meat

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
salpka	kaas
fish	meat
Pez

[arriba]

salpka kruk

I. N

1. animal,fish,food Goliath Grouper, formerly known as Jewfish

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
salpka	kruk
fish	big
Pez

Notas:

Léxica:
See djupis.

[arriba]

salpka ngwaas

I. N

1. body,fish gill

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
salpka	ngwaas
fish	gill
Pez

[arriba]

Salpka Siikwiik

I. N

. toponomy Fish Creek , [ESP] Caño de los peces

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojon 004 sur Fish Creek

[arriba]

Samaalung Taasup

I. N

. Cedar Creek #2 , [ESP] Caño del Cedro #2

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojón 011 sur, Passam Hill

[arriba]

samalssamals

I. N

1. plant short wild plan (Kr)

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Looks like a banana or plantain plant, but isn't. This is the short wild plan.
Léxica:
See "wang."

[arriba]

samalung

I. N

1. animal,mammal opposum

Notas:

Léxica:
Also smaalung

[arriba]

samuu

I. N

1. food,plant banana

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Samuu seerinnanaaki.
The banana is maturing (fulling/ getting more flesh).
Samuu tukpaa baing, angka skwsi.
The banana is too green. We kyan eat it.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are many different kinds of bananas, many of which have their own name.
All are considered a kind of breadkind when green, and are either stewed in coconut milk, preferably with some kind of fish or meat, or boiled. Green ones that cook "soft" may also be boiled, mashed, and consumed as a porridge with coconut milk added. Some bananas are also consumed raw when ripe , or may be cooked, usually as a porridge with coconut milk added, or roasted.
As of 2009 in Cane Creek/Aguila, the "real banana," or patriot, said to burn instead of growing, though other varieties still grow well.
Gramatical:
Has a variant 'sumuu' that is less frequent.

[arriba]

samuu aingwa

I. N

1. bread,food,plant real banana

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Samuu aingwa yuuk palplaas altangi.
the real banana, its skin/peel looks dark

Notas:

Léxica:
real banana meaning the big ones that cook soft

[arriba]

samuu brup

I. N

1. bread,food,plant greytown banana

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Samuu brup seerinka nangkti, naingkarka nikai tuktinkama. Naingkarka laap yuniuungi, taimka swiin yuniuungi. Tuktinka pwatpa, tkukiba aingwa.
when the greytown banana is full I cut it and I put it up to ripen. Then I make wabul with it, sometimes I make bread with it. When it is ripe it is sweet and very short.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A small banana which is commonly grown and sold in Bluefields. As of 2008, "real" bananas increasingly scarce.
Léxica:
Has many other names: punga, tika, greytown, rosita. Punga is from Misk. Rosita relatively new (2008), probably brought in by Sp.

[arriba]

samuu kaaluk

I. N

1. plant,space old banana plantation

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Place where old Ramas planted bananas and where you can still find bananas to cut.

[arriba]

samuu kaat

I. N

1. bread,food,fruit,plant banana sucker

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The suckers are the new plants that shoot up around the banana tree. You dig these out and carry them to plant new trees.

[arriba]

samuu kiing

I. N

1. body,food,plant bunch

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is the whole stalk.

[arriba]

samuu pluuma

I. N

1. bread,food,plant white banana

II.

. [KRI] white G , [RCK] white G

Notas:

Etnográfica:
'Real old time white banana'.
Léxica:
not the same as the 'patriut'.

[arriba]

samuu saala

I. N

1. bread,food,plant red banana

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
samuu	salaa
banana	red

Notas:

Etnográfica:
An old times Rama banana, more common in the southern communities (but even there not very common as of 2008). Stout medium size banana (as the 'sammu pluuma). Not usually cooked "green" as breadkind. Can be eaten raw when ripe, but usually cooked by roasting. Sometimes they drink chocolate accompanied by roasted ripe red bananas.

[arriba]

samuu sabaa

I. N

1. food raw banana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some kinds of bananas are only eaten ripe and raw, some are eaten green or ripe cooked, and also eaten raw when ripe, and some are only eaten cooked, whether green or ripe. Additionally, of those that are cooked, some are usually preferred roasted (for example, ripe red bananas) rather than boiled in water, stewed, or fried. Frying is not as common a cooking method as boiling, stewing, or roasting. For example, the Rama tend not to make fried green plantain slices, chips, or "tostones," as do the Spaniards. (Tostones are semi-fried thick slices of green plantains which are flattened and then fried again until crisp.)

[arriba]

samuusamuu

I. N

1. bread,food,plant unidentified swamp plant, a vine

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Samuusamuu suupa isii. Uup yirii ki yaapuni.
The sprickle banana (not a banana!) looks like supa. It grows in the swamp.
Samuusamuu kat aalukwa. yupyuwadut kwsi. Anaasiki, ankwsi. samuusamuu kaa seem kiup isii yaungai.
This swamp tree has prickles. The old time people eat the seed. They boil it and eat it. The leaf of the swamp prickle tree look like a heart.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Original first time Rama breadkind. Some of the Ramas occasionally still eat it.It grows on a swamp tree with prickles. The starchy edible seed looks like a chesnut; it is boiled and peeled to be eaten. Tastes like castana (Sp.)
Gramatical:
Reduplication.
Léxica:
'samuu' by itself means banana, the reduplication refers to a breadkind chesnut like seed.

[arriba]

sangkis

I. N

1. artef.,cooking strainer

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Can strain through your coconut grater , or, for example, with cane juice, through a skomfra cap, a strainer-like piece you cut off of the skomfra palm.

[arriba]

sanis

I. N

1. craw

[arriba]

santa maria

I. N

1. plant santa maria

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A desirable hardwood.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Spanish (Santa Maria).
Léxica:
Usually pronounced santa 'maryia (stress on first syll.)

[arriba]

sarak

I. N

1. space upper part

1. upper

2. body gum

3. body,plant foot of tree

Notas:

Gramatical:
Unknown concept in English of something attached to a body. 'sarak' cannot be used alone : it enters in the expressions 'kwiik sarak' (upper arm), 'tkua sarak' (upper leg), 'siik sarak' (gum), 'kat sarak' (foot of tree).

[arriba]

sarap

I. N

1. plant marassee

[arriba]

sarap sii ki ka

I. N

1. plant water marassee

[arriba]

sarkin

I. N

1. animal,mammal,water whale

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The Whale is supposedly the mananti owner. It is found in the Adam cycle also.

[arriba]

sarkin

I. N

1. animal,reptile boa

Notas:

Léxica:
in Kriol and Miskitu 'woula'.
homonym with whale?

[arriba]

sarkingmangkat

I. N

1. nat. rainbow

Notas:

Gramatical:
Old Rama. In actual Rama, 'rainbow' is called 'nuunik kaas saala'.

[arriba]

sarkit

I. N

1. plant whit

2. plant beach whit

[arriba]

sarkit saala

I. N

1. plant red whit

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sarkit	saala
beach whit	red

[arriba]

sarkit ulis

I. N

1. body,plant whit roots

[arriba]

sarpang

I. N

1. plant moho

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not a hardwood. Still may used to make bags, perhaps rope, perhaps hammocks, by peeling the bark, soaking the insides for several days, and then using that to fabricate the above items. There are different kinds of moho, freshwater, saltwater....

[arriba]

sarsari

I. N

1. animal,insect sandfly , [CNT. ESP] Familia Phlebotomus

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sarsari aataara. suaataiki yarngutka, angka yumuukit. Untas ki yaakar.
The sand fly is small. When it over bit you you kayan stand it. It lives on the beach.
La mosca de arena es pequena. Cuando te pica por todas partes no lo puedes soportar. Vive en la playa.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They drive you crazy. If you get out of your dory on the beach at Hone Sound you are eaten alive by these sandflies.
Gramatical:
Paitial reduplication.
Léxica:
See also 'tartara' for sand fly.

[arriba]

sauk

I. N

1. artef.,fishing hook

[arriba]

sauka

I. N

2. nat. fog

II. V

1. nat. be foggy

[arriba]

sauka aing sii

I. N

1. nat.,water dew

[arriba]

sauk aing sii

I. N

1. nat.,water dew

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sauk	aing	sii
hook	of	water

[arriba]

sauk amkas

I. N

1. artef.,fishing hook blade

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sauk	amkas
hook	blade

[arriba]

sauk ariira

I. N

1. artef.,fishing fishing line

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sauk	ariira
hook	line

[arriba]

sauk kaat

I. N

1. artef.,fish fishing rod

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sauk	kaat
hook	stick

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The Rama don't usually fish with a pole or rod of any kind. They use hand lines most frequently, and can catch fairly large difficult fish with them. Men also use harpoons for really large fish such as snook or tarpon, and a few are still adept at bow and arrow or fish spear for use far up the creeks. In Bluefields Lagoon they now fish by setting gill nets to catch fish for personal consumption and to sell in Bluefields.

[arriba]

sauk tupumkama

I. N

1. fishing sinker

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Sinkers are not usually used for fishing in creeks and rivers, but are used for sea fishing with handlines when available. They are not usually bought; rather, various pieces of metal are used to fashion into something that can be tied on a line.

[arriba]

saung

I. N

1. family,human old brother

[arriba]

saura

I. N

1. animal,bird heron

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Saura nanaak traali, yalptangi lakuun skaik, tiisanga ki itraali. Kabiis tuuru bayalpi traali. Ikat suma aingu.
This heron (garling) flies about, drops down the edge of the lagoon, and walks on the shore. It looks for little shrimps. It has a long leg, that's why.
Esta garza vuela alrededor, desciende a la orilla de la laguna y camina en la playa. Busca camarones pequeños, chacalines. Por eso tiene patas largas.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They are not hunted nor eaten.

[arriba]

saura ngarngaringis

I. N

1. animal,bird species of heron

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

saura parnga

I. N

1. animal,bird species of heron

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
saura	parnga
heron	black

[arriba]

saura pluuma

I. N

1. animal,bird species of heron

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
saura	pluuma
heron	white

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Probably not as common now (2009) as cattle egrets, which are similar-looking to most people.
Léxica:
"gaalu" also heard.

[arriba]

sawa

I. N

2. percep. smoke

4. nat.,percep. fog

II. V

2. smoke

3. percep. steam

[arriba]

seel

I. N

1. artef.,dory sail

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (sail).

[arriba]

seel aing kat

I. N

1. artef.,dory mast

[arriba]

septemba

I. N

1. calendar September

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Rama calendar name is 'ngwiis tukan' (literally 'warbler month').
Gramatical:
Loanword from English.

[arriba]

sibaaba

I. N

1. animal,bird cormorant

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They are a common sight sitting around on rocks inn the lagoon with their wings outstretched.

[arriba]

sii

I. N

1. nat. water

2. geo river

Notas:

Etnográfica:
'sii' is for plain water, found in water, river, creek, and rain as in 'sii aatsi' (it rains) ; ocean is 'tauli' (salt).

[arriba]

sii aing aalbut

I. N

1. animal,fish eel , [ESP] Anguila

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Aalbut sii ki ka sii ki bii aakari. Kauling aa yarnguli.
The water snake stays always in the water. He no bite people.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sii	aing	aalbut
water	of	snake

Notas:

Gramatical:
See also 'aalbut sii ki ka' with the same meaning.

[arriba]

sii aing sarap

I. N

1. plant water marassee

[arriba]

sii alburnima

I. N

1. geo,nat. twirling water

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sii	alburnima
water	twirling

[arriba]

siibalbal

I. N

1. bread,food,plant 500 plantain

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Yupyuwalut aakrikurkaing sibalbla ankuaakari, kuni laap antukkama, barka yalamsukatkulu. Angka saapi.
Old time people have this plantain to make wabul, but it got lost (loss up). We kyan find it.
Siibalbal pranti saina barka yuup ngaarak ikuaakari. Taisung hundred kwikistar ikuaakar. seerinka angka sangking yaubri baingi. Nangtikka tuktinkama nikai, naingkarka laap yuniuungi.
the 500 seed plantain is another plantain but it has many seeds. Sometimes it has 500. When it is full we can't back it, it's too heavy. When we cut it we put it to ripen and make wabul with it.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Usually called quinientos plantain. It's not known when bananas and plantain, and which varieties, first came into Rama culture. Likewise, it's not known which ones were lost due to disease, or whether some that they say are lost might still be around somewhere.
Léxica:
Seed here means individual fruits.
Also "siibalbala."

[arriba]

siik

I. N

1. bird,body bill

2. body,human tooth

Pictures/Imagenes:

4. point

4. artef. blade

5. edge

Notas:

Gramatical:
Used for sharp objects such as the edge of the machete (see 'plaanak siik') or the edge of the knife (see 'siiru siik').

[arriba]

siika

I. N

1. health medicine

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ning kumaa siika uungi suula suliin u. Yaasarki ingulung yaasiiki.
That woman makes medicine with the deer horn. She scrape it and she boil the powder.
Esa mujer hace medicinas con el cacho del venado. Lo raya y pone a hervir el polvo.

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu.

[arriba]

sii kakaa

I. N

1. geo,sea bar

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sii	kakaa
water	mouth

[arriba]

sii kiing

I. N

1. river head

[arriba]

siikit

I. N

1. plant,tree polewood

[arriba]

siik sabaakba

I. N

1. body bottom teeth

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
siik	sabaakba
tooth	from down

[arriba]

siik sarak

I. N

1. body gum

[arriba]

siiksiik

I. N

1. percep. spots

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication

[arriba]

siikubing

I. N

1. artef. gun

Notas:

Gramatical:
'ibung' is more frequent to say 'gun'.

[arriba]

siikuk

I. N

1. body lips

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
siik	uuk
tooth	skin

[arriba]

siikuk kuyakba

I. N

1. body upper lip

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
siikuk	kuyakba
lips	upper

[arriba]

siikuk sabaakba

I. N

1. body lower lip

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

siikwiik

I. N

1. geo,water creek

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
sii	kwiik
river	arm

Notas:

Gramatical:
Rare to see two long vowels in the same word.

[arriba]

Siikwiik Pargna aing Kiing

I. N

. toponomy Blackwater Creekhead

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojón 013 sur, Blackwater Creekhead

[arriba]

siilak

I. N

1. iron

2. artef.,house nail

3. cooking grinding mill

4. house jail

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nails, bucket handles, and other pieces of metal are used to file and create a number of sharp objects for hunting and fishing. Also, the old people, particularly those down in the bush, like to keep boards, nails, and perhaps a sheet put away for their coffin and burial.
Gramatical:
Basically means the iron metal, but it can refers to objects made of it.

[arriba]

siilak kat

I. N

1. peg staff

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The peg is filed out of a nail or other piece of metal.

[arriba]

siilak taik

I. N

1. artef.,hunting arrow with piece of iron

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The point is filed from a nail or other piece of suitable metal.

[arriba]

siin

I. N

1. cooking,dom.,plant,tree swampwood tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used traditionally for the household fire. Three long swampwood logs were placed with ends facing one another on the earthen floor of the house. Once burning, they would burn continuously very slowly. They would be pulled slightly away from one another when not in use. For cooking, they would be moved closer together, and smaller sticks and twigs put in the center to catch fire. The pot would be set on that fire in the middle of the logs. Most people have used a raised fire hearth for many years now. The tree also has an interesting yearly cycle in that different animals are attracted to it at different times of the year. For example, for a time it is covered with butterflies, and at another, hummingbirds.
Léxica:
Also sinkat, sinup, sinis

[arriba]

sii ngaling kungima

I. N

1. iced water

[arriba]

sii ngiit

I. N

1. geo,space,water landing

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sii	ngiit
water	way

[arriba]

sii ngurii

I. N

1. artef.,water well

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

siipungku

I. N

1. animal,water small water duck

Notas:

Etnográfica:
We can recognize the initial 'sii-' as water, but 'pungku' cannot appear alone. Also known as 'diving duck'.

[arriba]

siirik

I. N

1. animal,fish,food machaca , [ESP] Machaca

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tuuk uup tuktiinma uriaatingka sii ki, siri kwsi.
When the ripe fig seed drop in the water, the machaca eat it.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A popular food fish, a freshwater fish which is traditionally caught principally by handline. (As of 2008 more people were fishing in creeks and rivers with gill nets and cast nets due to the greatly reduced number of all fish) It has a lot of bones, so is scored very finely before cooking. Most people make fresh fish soup with it (soup is made with coconut milk, but is of thinner consistency than rondon) and season it with fitz bush (also called wild culantro). Also eaten fried; some don't like to fry it because a lot of oil pops up while doing so.
Pescado popular de agua dulce que se encuentra principalmente en los criques y rios, y no en la laguna, y que tradicionalmente se pesca con cuerda. (En el 2008 mucha gente lo agarraba con redes debido a la reducción en el número de peces). Tiene muchos huesos, por eso se hacen cortes bien finos en la carne antes de cocinarlo. La mayoría de la gente hace sopa de pescado con él (la sopa se hace con leche de coco, pero es menos espesa que el rondón), y se sazona con culantro. También se come frito; a algunos no les gusta freírlo porque el aceite popea mucho cuando se hace.
Léxica:
machaca in Spanish for this fish, and also a Latino beef dish

[arriba]

siiru

I. N

1. artef.,cooking knife

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Siiru aingwa twis taik su ankai. Ngulkang yuanmalngi.
They put a real knife at the end of the lance. They kill wari with it.
Tuunuk yaatarki siiru u.
he cuts the papaya with a knife.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They make a lot of their own knives out of old machetes. The handles are carved out of pieces of wood.

[arriba]

siiru kaat

I. N

1. artef.,body knife handle

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
siiru	kaat
knife	handle

[arriba]

siiru siik

I. N

1. artef.,body knife blade

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Siiru siik kalba. Baltanang mkwik yangatikka.
The knife edge is sharp. Mind you cut your hand.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
siiru	siik
knife	tooth

[arriba]

sii sawa

I. N

1. nat.,water drizzle

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sii	sawa
water	fog

[arriba]

siisik

I. N

1. animal,insect unidentified black biting fly

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A black fly with a mean bite that looks like a black version of the yellow guana fly. Both are a litle smaller than a house fly.

[arriba]

sii skaa

I. N

1. geo sea edge

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sii	skaa
water	edge

[arriba]

siisu aing triisu

I. N

1. animal,fish,food shad species

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:

One of two similar shad fish. This one is rounder and lighter in color than the lagoon shad. Netted and eaten or sold. Popular to fry and eat with boiled cassava. Both are often caught together in Wiring Cay lagoon, especially when the rainy season starts. Some say that when you eat the little ones, your mouth itches.

Uno de los dos tipos de palometa. Este es redondeado y de color más claro que el de la laguna. Se agarra con red para comer y vender. Popularmente se fríe y come con yuca hervida. Ambos tipos se agarran a menudo juntos en la laguna de Wiring Cay, especialmente cuando comienzan las lluvias. Algunos dicen que cuando se comen pequeños se siente picazón en la boca.

[arriba]

siit

I. N

1. artef.,house hammock

2. plant moho

[arriba]

siita

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish oyster

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sii alsakatkutka, siita mliis baing aapulki.
When the tide is low, one can pick oysters good.
Naas almtung siita naaplukbang.
I bend down to pick oysters.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Important food for Rama Cay not for the other Ramas because they are found only in the lagoon. It is an important source of income for women because they sell them in Bluefields.
They are usually eaten in a soup with coconut milk. As with cockle, when the water is deep it is hard and dangerous to pick them because you have to dive and there is more danger of stingrays and sharks.
A traditional belief is that if a woman has just picked oysters (or cockles) in cold water , she should not nurse her baby because she would give it a cold.

[arriba]

siita airi

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish oyster soup

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The soup is made with rice boiled in water, salt, and onion and/or black pepper if you have them. At the end you drop in the oysters and basil leaves and add some coconut milk.

[arriba]

siitani

I. N

1. health waterwoman

Notas:

Etnográfica:
She lives under the water. When a man dreams her, can be once, or many times, she will come by him in the night. She can hold you and frighten you to death; you can wake up soaking wet, and never know until then that she came by you. There is a waterman who will do the same to a woman.
Léxica:
Also siitangi

[arriba]

siita uuk

I. N

1. animal,body,shellfish oyster shell

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Siita uuk uruk su nitraatsu, nkaat saa siita u nalngatku.
I walked on the oysters shells and I cut the sole of my foot on the oysters.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
siita	uuk
oyster	shell

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There were previously two islands and a missionary had them fill in the space in between with oyster shells to make one island, Rama Cay. See the Rama Cay song: 'We have oyster shells; we have cockle shells to tough up the land."

[arriba]

sii tkua

I. N

1. food tea

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sii	tkua
water	hot

[arriba]

siituk

I. N

1. artef. file

[arriba]

sii uuknga

I. N

1. artef.,food water dipper

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sii	uuknga
water	container

[arriba]

sii uumut

I. N

1. animal,insect smelling wasp

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sii uumut ingiit puksak ikuaakar yaap su, parnga nuknuknga. sii su kat aap su inguu iparki.
This wasp has two lines on the body, black and yellow. It builds its nest on the river on the tree.

[arriba]

sii uut

I. N

1. animal,insect army ants , [ESP] Hormiga guerrera, marabunta

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sii uut nupisba yarnguli.
The marching ants are brown.
Estas hormigas son de color cafe.

[arriba]

sikariira

I. N

1. dory dory run

[arriba]

sikla

I. N

1. animal,bird small migratory bird

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It is a little migratory bird.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu.

[arriba]

siksam

I. N

1. animal,fish,food a kind of needlefish , [ESP] Pez aguja (tipo de)

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A sea/lagoon fish that is usually netted. Some eat it when it is large. Small fish of any kind are often cooked for the dogs or used for bait.
Pez de mar y laguna que generalmente se agarra con redes. Algunos lo comen si es bien grande, pero generalmente se come frito; no se come en rondon. Los peces pequeños de cualquier tipo por lo general se cocinan para los perros o son usados como carnada. No obstante, en 2009, más de una vez se notó que la gente esta comiendo cualquier especie de pescado y de cualquier tamaño.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu.

[arriba]

siksik

I. N

1. animal,bird,dom. chicken

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Siksik ikaalkup u yalplangi. Yurnga bayalpi.
The chicken scratches with his claw. He is looking for food.
La gallina rasca con sus garras. Busca comida.
Siksik kaabi yaat uuk yaarikbaakiri, tabiibang.
The baby chick just broke the egg shell to come out.
El pollito acaba de quebrar el cascaron para salir.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Women raise chickens sometimes if they have corn to feed them, though they will feed them rice when they don't. They sell the eggs in Bluefields. They usually don't eat eggs, and rarer yet kill chickens to eat. Rice is sometimes jokingly referred to as "siksik urnga," chicken food.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common with animal names.

[arriba]

sikuku

I. N

1. animal,fish,food sheephead , [ESP] Diente de Mico

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sikuku tuaa isii. Haap kutkabisang ngiitniitwa.
The sheephead is like a tuba. Half round with stripes.
Se parece ala tuba. Es medio redondeado con rayas.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Sea fish to eat. You catch it with a hook using shrimp and little beach crabs for bait. Also in the lagoon and at the river bar when the water is salty. Weighs up to about two pounds.

Pescado de mar comestible. Se pesca con anzuelo con cebo de chacalines o pequenos cangrejos de la playa. Se encuentra tambien en la laguna y en la barra del rio cuando el agua esta salada. Pesa aproximadamente dos libras.
Gramatical:
Partial and uncommon reduplication : usually the first part is reduplicated.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu.

[arriba]

sikwiik

I. N

1. geo,water creek

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
sii	kwiik
water	arm

Notas:

Gramatical:
Coppounding of 'sii' water and 'kwiik' hand, with shortening of vowel of the first word.
Can be found as 'siikwiik', 'sikwik'.

[arriba]

silak uup

I. N

1. artef. harpoon

2. artef.,fishing short harpoon for turtle

[arriba]

sinak

I. N

1. artef. arrow

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Three or four pronged arrow used for killing fish (Loveland).
Can be used with a bow or by hand in the water.

[arriba]

singaring

I. N

1. animal,mammal small bat

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Small bats often live in the roofs of thatched houses, flying in and out during the evening and night. Various bats, small brown rats, birds, and raccoons eat bananas that have been hung by the bunch in the house as they ripen.

[arriba]

sinis

I. N

2. plant swampwood trash

[arriba]

sinkat

I. N

1. plant swampwood tree

[arriba]

sinking

I. N

1. body knee

[arriba]

sinsak

I. N

1. animal,bird bird

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sinsak kukatwa. Kukat u inganaaki.
A bird is with wings. With the wings he flies.
Un ave tiene alas. Con las alas vuela.
Tiiskibalut ngalingup aapulki, sinsak yuankangkama awas u.
The children pick up the stones to strike the birds with a slingshot.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Generic name for birds. Some are specified by adding adjectives, such as "singsak saala," (bird red); many are specified by a name that is onomatopoetic, often reduplicated. Birds are traditionally very important in the belief system, in tales, and as good or bad omens, and a number are eaten, though as of 2008, the preferred wild food birds had become very scarce. Are also the source of sport for young boys with slinghots.
Léxica:
Also "singsak."

[arriba]

sinsak aing alkiini

I. N

1. food,plant bird pepper

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Yupyuwa taim ki sinsak aing alkiini aing alkiini kuk yuanamaiki, naingkarka anaasiiksu anngwi, barka yalkiinbaingi. Annguut yusaatingatkulaakari anngwuka.
The old time people they rub cocoa with bird pepper, then they boil it and drink it, but it is too hot. Their faces get red with it when they drink it.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sinsak	aing	alkiini
bird	of	gourd pepper

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This plant can be used to make the stem of a smoking pipe (the bowl of the pipe is a hollowed out siliku seed). Its name is because birds eat it.

[arriba]

sinsin

I. N

1. artef.,hunting supa arrow

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication

[arriba]

sinsinba

I. N

1. animal,insect striker mosquito

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sinsinma seem miuk isii, barka pluuma, isiik suma ikuaakar. Ma yarngutka ma ngulsyuungi kaabi.
The striker mosquito is like a mosquito fly but it is white and it has long teeth. When they bite you, they bore you, it feels like.

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication common to animals. Has a variant 'sinsinma' surely due to nasal influence.

[arriba]

sinsinka

I. N

1. plant grass

2. plant,water seaweed

[arriba]

sinsinka arii

I. N

1. food,health,plant lemon grass tea

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They grow it by the house, usually used medicinally to cure headaches. They might make tea with it when they don"t have coffee or leaves to make tea.

[arriba]

sinup

I. N

1. swampwood seed

[arriba]

sinup kraa

I. N

1. animal,bird small parakeet with a fine long tail

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Literally, this bird is addicted to swampwood seeds

[arriba]

sirik

I. N

1. health,plant kind of lime

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Large yellow bumpy thick skinned lime used for bathing dead people and for the body washers to bathe in.
Gramatical:
Minimal pair with 'siirik' (macharca fish)

[arriba]

skaa

I. N

1. space edge

[arriba]

skaik

I. N

1. space side

II. PSP

1. space by

[arriba]

skaikba

I. N

1. side

[arriba]

skaleera

I. N

2. space edge

3. space side

[arriba]

skup

I. N

1. artef.,body necklace

Notas:

Gramatical:
'necklace' can also be said 'kiingkat ariira' (literally 'neck string').

[arriba]

smaaru

I. N

1. animal,insect cicada

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Called 'head and tail light bug' in Kriol.

[arriba]

snaapa

I. N

1. animal,fish,food snapper , [ESP] Pargo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Snaapa salpka yaap kaski saala. Ipang skaa su nsut sauk kiingaka. sukwii.
The snapper is a fish (that has) a pure red body. Around the edge of the island we fish it. We catch it.
El pargo tiene el cuerpo rojo. Lo pescamos en la orilla del mar.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Investigadores Comunitarios:
March, April, and May are the best months to catch snapper with a hook. Rama children go out in dories to fish for it, or sit on rocks and fish for it when the sun isn’t too hot. Tourists go to the islands around Rama Cay to fish for
snapper for sport.

Se pesca o captura en marzo, abril y mayo, son los meses más favorables de captura con anzuelo. Los niños Rama salen en cayucos a pescarlos o se sientan en las rocas, cuando no hace mucho sol. Los turistas llegan a las islas cercanas a Rama Cay para hacer pesca turística del pargo.
Etnográfica:
Sea and lagoon fish. There are many different
kinds, but they are not usually differentiated linguistically by the Rama. If asked, usually will identify two or three different ones by adding, for example, “saala” for red snapper, “tuk nuknuknga” for yellowtail,” or “tataara” for a big sea “snapa” (up to 30 pounds)
that sometimes comes into the lagoon. This latter one is described
as whitish with pretty greenish lines on the face. Highly desirable to
eat and to sell. As of 2009, reported that almost all snapper is sold
in Bluefields (18 córdobas/lb.). Small ones are sold on Rama Cay
for 10 córdobas/lb. The best time to catch snapper with a hook is
in dry weather (March – May), or September – October, when the
sea is smooth.

Pez de mar y laguna. Hay diferentes tipos, pero generalmente los Rama no lo diferencian lingüísticamente. Si se les pregunta, generalmente identifican dos o tres tipos agregando, por ejemplo, “saala” para el pargo rojo, “tuk nuknuknga” para la cola amarilla, o “tataara” para indicar un “snapa” muy grande del mar que suele a veces entrar en la laguna. Se dice que este es blancuzco, con la cara rayada en verde de una manera muy bonita. Muy apreciado para comer y vender. En el 2009, se reporta que casi todo se vende en Bluefields (18 córdobas/libra), y que los pequeños se venden en Rama Cay a 10 córdobas la libra. La pesca con anzuelo es mejor cuando el mar esta liso, Marzo - Mayo, y Septiembre – Octubre.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (snapper).
Léxica:
Also "tuaa saala"

[arriba]

soodya

I. N

1. animal,shellfish hermit crab

Notas:

Léxica:
Borrowing from English 'soldier. ' See also 'krais aap biibing,' 'krais siktakba.'

[arriba]

spaapa

I. N

1. animal,food,reptile male iguana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Ramas think it is a male iguana, but it is a different species. It is blackish as adult and bright green as young. They eat it.

[arriba]

sriin

I. N

1. animal,bird rain bird

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Swallow like bird. You see them when it is going to rain, or raining.

[arriba]

srung

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish small surf clam, coquina

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Braukubliis kalkaup srung airi yunsuuungi.
We make ahi soup with fitsbush.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You dig them out from the sand on the ocean beach. Very small. You can make soup with them but it is traditionally thick like porridge, made with grated green plantain to which your condiments (small red peppers, onion, black pepper, basil or culantro...) and coconut milk are added. The other, more modern way (which is preferred nowadays by many) is rice-based, i.e., there is no grated green plantain or other breadkind in the soup. In either case, the ahi are first put in hot or boiling water to open, and the meat is picked out. The water (hopefully minus as much sand as possible) is then the soup base to which either the grated plantain or rice is added. The ahi meat is added at the end. (See srung airi.) Not found in the lagoon; found on ocean beaches: Hone Sound Bar beach, and points south such as Monkey Point Beach, Long Beach, etc. Picked in dry weather, e.g., March-May; Sept. As of 2008, ahi had become scarce. First, there was the effect of the hurricane, but worse, Mestizos lately had been introduced to ahi, and had begun to harvest it by shoveling the sand into containers with holes, and then pouring water through. They were therefore harvesting much greater quantities at a time. Long Beach was formerly a favorite location for good ahi-hunting, but no longer.
Léxica:
Very commonly pronounced "shrung," or "shuruung." "Ahi" in KR., borrowed from Miskitu.

[arriba]

srung airi

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish ahi soup

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Braukubliis kalkaup srung airi yunsuuungi.
We make ahi soup with fitsbush.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
srung	airi
small surf clam, coquina	soup

Notas:

Etnográfica:
To make this soup you have to put the ahi in hot water until the shells open, and then you have to pick out the ahi and clean off the sand. Then you grate green plantain and cook it in the water to make the thick soup base. Add seasonings you have such as salt, black pepper, sweet red pepper, onion, culantro, and at the end you add the ahi. Mostly eaten by Ramas that live in Monkey Point and Cane Creek.
Gramatical:
Variant form 'surung'.

[arriba]

stiima

I. N

1. artef.,dory boat

Notas:

Gramatical:
Loanword from English 'steamer'. Enters in the compound 'stiima kuyakba' (plane).

[arriba]

stiima kuyakba

I. N

1. air,artef. plane

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nuunik kas sawa parnga baingbing aingu, stiima kuyakba angka sisung, ngarang su yaataikaing.
The clouds are pure black smoke so we can't see the plane when it passes.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
stiima	kuyakba
boat	high up

Notas:

Gramatical:
Neologism.

[arriba]

stori

I. N

1. story

[arriba]

suaila tuk

I. N

1. artef.,plant unidentified leaf

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The leaf is used for any number of purposes, e.g., to put over your shoulder so that a bunch of bananas you are carrying won't stain your clothes, for a pot cover, to carry honeycomb, iibo, coajada, etc.
Léxica:
Only heard pronounced "shwaila." also shortened to just "tuk," (tail")

[arriba]

suang

I. N

1. plant,tree tuburus

[arriba]

suk

I. ADJ

1. small

II. N

1. young

2. baby

[arriba]

suk kumaa

I. N

1. family,human daughter

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Naing nsuk kumaa ikiing ulis tunistunis yuung batingi yaungi.
My daughter says she wants to curl her hair.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
suk	kumaa
young	female

[arriba]

sukling

I. N

1. animal,frog toad

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sukling taara, barka aa suataiki. Parnga. Ikauni `kurr' `kurr' `kurr'.
"The black toad is big but not so big. It is black. He sings, ""kurr kurr kurr""."

2. animal,frog frog

Notas:

Léxica:
ba/ Borrowed from Miskitu sukling, where it is also generic for many speakers. Close to a generic word for frogs and toads in Rama. Use the word toad in Kriol as a generic for frogs and toads.

[arriba]

sukling aing sambruk

I. N

1. plant toad cap mushroom

[arriba]

sukling ngarngaringba

I. N

1. animal,frog leaf frog

[arriba]

sukling nuknuknga

I. N

1. animal,frog little yellow frog

[arriba]

sukling pekpekba

I. N

1. animal,frog small green frog

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Can come into the house, and be found on the roof.
Léxica:
Can also be called just by the sound 'pekpek'.

[arriba]

sukmurk

I. N

1. animal,frog spring chicken toad

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sukmurk 'sukmurk' yaungi yirii ki yaakitka.
The spring toad says 'sukmruk sukmurk' when it is in the swamp.

Pictures/Imagenes:

II. onom.

1. sukmurk

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Has red eyes and yellow stripes. This animal is called by the sound it makes.
Gramatical:
Onomatopea.
Also 'sukmuruk' 'shukmurk'.

[arriba]

suknguang

I. ADJ

2. measuring very small

3. young

II. N

1. animal animal baby

2. human baby

[arriba]

suk nkiikna

I. N

1. family,human son

[arriba]

sukpiang

I. N

1. body,health cough

[arriba]

suksuk

I. N

1. animal,mammal raccoon

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Suksuk aap niitniitwa bii.
The body of the racoon is a striped one too.
El cuerpo del mapache es rayado también.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Supposedly old time people had them in the house as house guards.
Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

suksuk uup

I. N

1. food,plant unidentified fruit

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A fruit that grows on a low tree in Long Beach. When ripe, it is 1/2 yellow, and 1/2 green, the same size as a star apple Sp. caimito). The inside is white with little seeds similar-looking to a star apple's.
Léxica:
Also just "suksuk."

[arriba]

sukup

I. N

1. toy

[arriba]

sulba

I. N

1. health,plant a medicinal bush

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A bush, a "meager tree," i.e., a tree with a thin trunk, whose leaves are boiled and the water is then used as an antiseptic.

[arriba]

suleera

I. N

1. artef.,health walking stick

2. artef.,health cane

[arriba]

suleeru

I. N

1. animal,reptile a type of lizard

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A type of colorful shiny lizard found in the bush which moves rather like a snake. The colors resemble the markings of the coral snake.
Léxica:
Also "suleera." For some the same as 'kiibanga' lizard. Book photo is "coral-mimic galliwasp" in English. Some say this is "gelliwaaz" in Rama; others say "gelliwaaz" is Kriol for the turnip-tailed gecko, "ngaliis kwiiksa" in Rama.

[arriba]

sulin

I. N

1. animal,body horn

[arriba]

sulinup

I. N

1. artef. handle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The side handle of a jug for instance.
Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish shape.

[arriba]

sulkup

I. N

1. body finger

Notas:

Gramatical:
We can recognize the final '-up' as the class marker for round things. See also 'kwiikup' for finger.

[arriba]

sulkup kiskis

I. N

1. animal,body pincher

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
sulkup	kiskis
finger	tongs

[arriba]

sulkup uuk

I. N

1. body fingernail

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
sulkup	uuk
finger	shell

[arriba]

sulup

I. N

1. plant silico

Notas:

Léxica:
See suulup.

[arriba]

sulupang

I. N

1. artef. silico torch

Notas:

Léxica:
See entry for suulup with torch description.

[arriba]

sungsung

I. N

1. animal,bird fish hawk

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication commonly found in animal names.

[arriba]

sunukba

I. N

1. bread,food ripe plantain wabul

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not really considered breadkind but food made of plantain. This is a ripe plantain 'laap' (a porridge).
Léxica:
One of the kinds of 'laap' (porridge). There is also green plantain 'laap'.

[arriba]

susungula

I. N

1. animal,insect small yellow bee

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Susungula yuut tiiskiba nuknuknga yuut. Yirii yungka, pwaatpa.
This bee is a little yellow bee. When it makes its juice (honey), it is sweet.

[arriba]

suuk

I. N

1. animal,mammal rat

Pictures/Imagenes:

[arriba]

suukia

I. N

1. health,human medicine man or woman

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu.

[arriba]

suula

I. N

2. animal,mammal deer

[arriba]

suula aat

I. N

1. bread,food unidentified tuber

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Literally "deer eggs" Yampi is a purple kind of slightly sweet, dry potato; there are lighter and darker varieties. More common farther north on the coast. Not grown by many Rama, but known and eaten time to time.
Léxica:
Also "suula yaat."

[arriba]

suula alkiini

I. N

1. food,plant gourd pepper

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Suula alkiini astaiki.
The (deer) gourd pepper is hot.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
suula	alkiini
deer	gourd pepper

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Probably called this way because deer eat it.

[arriba]

Suula Ipang Lakun Skaa

I. N

. toponomy Deer Cay Lagoon Side

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojón 014 sur, Deer Cay Lagoon Side

[arriba]

Suula Ipang Tauli Skaa

I. N

. toponomy Deer Cay Sea Side

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre mojón 015 sur, Deer Cay Sea Side

[arriba]

suula mamaama

I. N

1. animal,mammal tame deer

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
suula	mamaama
deer	tame

Notas:

Etnográfica:
In old times, people migh keep a baby deer around the house.

[arriba]

suula mamaama aing tuaa

I. N

1. animal,fish goatfish

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
a small sea and lagoon fish with tow lower barbs on the chin; not generally consumed, but boiled for the dog.
Léxica:
Composed from "goat" + fish. Also suula mamaama salpka, got aing tuaa, salpka muniswa

[arriba]

suula pluuma

I. N

1. animal,mammal white deer

[arriba]

suula saala

I. N

1. animal,mammal red deer

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
suula	saala
deer	red

[arriba]

suula sulin

I. N

1. animal,body,health deer horn

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
suula	suliin
deer	horn

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used in the making of some medicine? (the actual horn or the plant called deer horn tree?)

[arriba]

suula sulin kat

I. N

1. plant deer horn tree

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
suula	suliin	kat
deer	horn	tree

[arriba]

suulatuk

I. N

2. plant swallow tail palm

[arriba]

suuli

I. N

1. animal animal

[arriba]

suuli kaas

I. N

1. animal,body,food meat

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The preferred meats are wari and turtle. Rama Cay people eat more meat and fish than Cane Creek people, who believe that it rottens up your guts to eat too much of either. They eat mostly bananas.

[arriba]

suuli kaas sabaa

I. N

1. food raw meat

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They usually don't eat raw meat, but see comments on hunters eating raw heart of game animals.

[arriba]

suuliup

I. N

2. plant milky tree

[arriba]

suulki kruk

I. N

1. animal,mammal anteater

[arriba]

suulsulu

I. N

1. house,plant,tree xxx

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One tough stick (a short tree) for house beams. Skwaalup Cay is in Bluefields Lagoon, but there aren't any of the trees there. As of 2008, there are plenty around Aguila.
Léxica:
Also sulsul (Angela). Sulba in Spanish.

[arriba]

suulup

I. N

1. fishing,health,palm,plant,tree palm variety

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. artef. pipe bowl

3. artef. torch

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A bitter fruit that only the Rama used to eat. You cut the bunch of fruits and let it ripen for eight days before you eat it. You eat the seed when it is ripe: yellow outside, and red inside. It is called "Rama pills." It is bitter, but it is good for the blood. You can mix it with coconut trash (the grated coconut that is left after you sqeeze the milk out), or with roast ripe banana. You can also use the seed to make the bowl of a pipe. The siliku torch is to make light to see the snook so you can strike them with a harpoon in dry weather times in the lagoon and in Cane Creek. If you cut it in the rain times you have to put it in the house to dry. You cut off the leaf part, peel back the bark, beat the white part, split it fine, put about three of them in a bundle and tie them up and light the end. Each bundle is two yards long and lasts about an hour. As of 2008, however, there were not enough snook around to torch, and even if there were, more and more people have headlamps now. The leaves also used to make the walls around a house and a sleeping mat when you're in the bush and have nothing else.
Gramatical:
With 'up' for round objects.
Léxica:
Kind of palm tree.

[arriba]

suulup kabungkabung

I. N

1. animal,shellfish fiddler crab

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Jokingly called Fidel Castro. Used for fish bait.

[arriba]

suupa

I. N

1. artef.,food,plant peach palm

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Tree species with very strong wood used to make bows, staffs, sinnaks, and arrows. Also refers to the fruit, which is a nutritious staple traditionally in season around Sept.- Nov. There is a number of different varieties of this palm, some with spiny trunks, and some with smooth trunks. The clusters of fruit grow high up on the tree, and most varieties are red, orange, or yellow when ripe. Each suupa looks like a miniature coconut. The best ones are "cracky-cracky;" i.e., the outsie of the fruit is not overly smooth and shiny. You boil them in water with a little salt, peel them, and eat what corresponds to the husk of the coconut. The flesh should be dry like a potato, and not "waterish." Enjoyed as a meal accompanied by hot coffee. Is also made into bunya. (See "suupa kaas.") Highly desirable commercial item all over the coast and in Managua especially by Costenos. Will rot if not cooked and eaten within about four days from harvest. Problems with people stealing suupa from owners' trees, sometimes even cutting down the tree to get the bunches of fruit. Can also be dried and made into flour to use to make a porridge, though no one today does that. Some trees also bear in dry weather, around April. As of 2009, commentary that with the climate change, some trees are "mix-up, mix-up" regarding when they are bearing.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu 'supa'.

[arriba]

suupa kaas

I. N

1. food,plant bunya

[arriba]

suurak

I. N

1. food,fruit,plant pineapple

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are a number of different varieties, from so extremely sour and acidic that it is edible (horse pine) to very sweet and non-acidic (sugarloaf). Horse pine will actually cut up your tongue if you try to eat it. They usually just eat pineapple raw, but also sometimes make pineapple wine. To make this, you put the cut peels in a jar with freshly squeezed cane juice and let it ferment in the sun for a few days. Only made in the bush by those who have both sugar cane and a cane press.

[arriba]

suurak king

I. N

1. plant pineapple sucker

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The new pineapple leaves sprouting off the side which you break off to plant a new fruit-bearing plant.

[arriba]

suuran

I. N

1. animal,bird small mountain hen

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A quail-sized ground-dwelling bird that is hunted and eaten.

[arriba]

suusanga

I. N

1. plant cotton

[arriba]

swiin

I. N

1. food bread

2. food cake

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Yeast leavened bread is a special occasion item. Traditional Rama did not eat anything made out of flour.

[arriba]

taakan

I. N

1. plant,tree nanciton

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Good for lumber.

[arriba]

taalu

I. N

1. animal,bird duck

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Taalu sii su traali, lakun su itraali. Nkiiknadut ai anpiaka, rais anpiaka, sai psutki yalptangka, ikwsi rais, ai kwsi.
The bush duck walks in the river and the lagoon. When men plant rice and corn, when its drops in the ground he eats it.
El pato de monte camina en el rio y la laguna. Cuando se siembra el arroz y el maíz, se come los granos caídos en la tierra.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Ducks are numerous in Wiring Cay. Many Ramas do not eat duck; others will eat wild duck, but not domesticated duck.

[arriba]

taangup

I. N

1. body navel

[arriba]

taapum

I. N

1. animal,fish,food tarpon , [ESP] Sábalo Real

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Taapum salpka taara. Itris aatiiskiba ikuaakar. Kiiknadut mlingka, nsut sungi.
The tarpoon is a big fish. He has big scales. When the men kill it, we see it.
El ´sabalo real es un pez grande. Tiene escamas grandes. cuando los hombres lo matan, nosotros los vemos.
Taapum sii anang bi aakari.
The tarpoon lives only in deep water.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They have to strike it with a harpoon. A very large sport fish very hard to catch. They usually eat it as tarpon hash: you hang the meat over the fire to roast, mince it and add coconut milk and and salt, along with onion and black pepper if you have them.
Also called 'uup taara' and 'uupbal'. "Taapam Lagun" is near Cane Creek. Sometimes you see big tarpon jump there.
Lo matan con arpón. Un pez grande apreciado en la pesca deportiva y difícil de capturar. Cuando logran conseguir uno, se lo comen. No hay nada de “pescar y soltar”. Generalmente lo comen como picadillo de tarpón: se ahuma la carne sobre el fuego, se pica y se le agrega leche de coco y sal junto con cebollas y pimienta negra si se tienen. Sin embargo, hoy en dia, dicen que tambien se come fresco. Algunas veces se ve un sabalo real saltando en la Laguna de Wiring Cay.
Léxica:
Borrowing from English (tarpon). Also used in Miskitu.

[arriba]

taas

I. N

1. plant species of tree

2. food fruit of the "taas" tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Smallish fruit bearing tree that grows alongside creeks. Fruit similar to, but smaller than, kineps (Kr.). It has white "meat" around the seed. It's sour, but people eat it. The old people would cook it with cane juice and make lap, and also jelly.
Léxica:
"Taas uup" more commonly for the fruit.

[arriba]

taasup

I. N

1. geo hill

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kuyak taasup su angka ntraali. sisitba naa kuu.
I can't go up the hill. I feel weak. (The weakness got/catch me.)
Takan kat tataara aapuni. taasup tataara aap ki yaapuni. ngungkiing su yaaksari.
The nanci tongue grows big. It grows on the side of the big hill. It stay on the side of the road.

Pictures/Imagenes:

3. geo mountain

Notas:

Gramatical:
With final class marker '-up' for roundish objects. Homonym with 'taasup' meaning 'comphra' (type of tree).

[arriba]

taasup

I. N

1. plant comphra

Notas:

Gramatical:
Homonym with 'taasup' meaning 'hill'.

[arriba]

taasup pliis

I. N

1. animal,reptile wood turtle spp.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
taasup	pliis
hill

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Small turtle up in the woodland; stays mostly on land, but sometimes goes in the water. Not generally eaten.

[arriba]

taat

I. N

1. artef.,house board

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
"Taat" refers to lumber in general, single boards, or a piece of board or anything else that might be used to make a cross-piece seat in a dory: Your taat might even be the lower piece of a coconut frond if nothing else is available. Conversely, your taat might be used for firewood in an emergency. Taats are generally not fastened to the dory as you need to move them around to accommodate passengers and loads as necessary, so you also need to have different sizes at different times. However, as 0f 2009 it was reported that some people on Rama Cay had started nailing in at least the "captain's" taat to deter theft.

[arriba]

taata

I. N

1. family,human papa

2. family,human father

[arriba]

taata yuwa

I. N

1. family,human grandfather

2. god

Notas:

Gramatical:
One of the many ways to say 'God'.

[arriba]

taat nguu

I. N

1. body,house floor

[arriba]

taatup

I. N

1. body,plant board knot

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
taat	up
board	round shape

[arriba]

taatup ngurii

I. N

1. plant board knot hole

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
taatup	ngurii
board knot	hole

[arriba]

taau

I. N

1. human baby

[arriba]

taau psuk

I. N

1. animal baby worm

[arriba]

tabak

I. N

1. dom.,plant,tree sleeping tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A hardwood that has a lot of uses. It is good firewood whether big or small. You cut house posts from the trunk when it is half-big so that you don't have to split it. When it is big you split the trunk to get posts. When it is small you cut the small trees to make house walls. When it is half-big, you cut the branches to make a pig sty or chicken house.

[arriba]

tabuulak

I. N

1. time evening

[arriba]

tabuulak aik

I. N

1. time afternoon

Notas:

Gramatical:
Can be pronounced 'tabuulkaik' with elision of the final 'a' of 'tabuulak'.

[arriba]

taik

I. N

1. space end

2. geo point

4. space edge

5. animal,body,human nose

5. bird,body the feathers just above a bird's bill

[arriba]

taik ngiira

I. N

1. dory bottom edge of dory

[arriba]

taiksiiri

I. N

1. body,health snot

[arriba]

taiksik

I. N

1. geo bend in river

[arriba]

taikupkupba

I. N

1. bread,food,plant bat nose plantain

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Taikupkupba pranti saina. Itaangup singaring taik isii yaltangi. Nkim nuunik naing pranti alamskwu. Angka saung ngar ki aakiri.
the bat nose plantain is another plantain. Its navel (banana part) looks like a bat's nose. Today this plantain is lost. We don't know where it is.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
taik	tkuptkupba
nose	knotty

Notas:

Gramatical:
A shortened form of a compound 'taik+tkuptkupba'

[arriba]

taim

I. N

1. time time

2. calendar,time season

Notas:

Gramatical:
Loanword from English (time).

[arriba]

taimyang

I. N

1. animal,insect black wasp

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Taimyang uumut barka parnga. Nisataaki uumut aakar. Taimka untas ki susungi, lakuun aik susungi. Taimka kukunup aap su inguu iparki.
This kind of wasp is a wasp but black. There are all kinds of wasps. Sometines we see it on the beach or we see it on the lagoon. Sometimes it build its nest on the coconut tree.

2. animal,insect wasp

[arriba]

taimyang nuknuknga

I. N

1. animal,insect yellow wasp

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
taimyang	nuknuknga
black wasp	yellow

[arriba]

tairung

I. N

1. family,human brother

2. family,human sister

Notas:

Gramatical:
Not sex marked. Corresponds as well to brother as sister.

[arriba]

tairung yuwa

I. N

1. family,human old brother

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tairung	yuwa
brother	old

[arriba]

taiski

I. N

2. animal,fish,food guapote , [ESP] Guapote

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Taiski salpka sii su ka. Taiski mliima. Yaaluk aa kuaakar. Ikaas baingbi ikuaakar.
The guapote is a river fish. The guapote is good. It no have no bone. It have plenty flesh.
El guapote es un pez de río. El guapote es bueno. No tiene huesos y tiene mucha carne.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You usually have to go far far up in the creek to find it. A special treat to eat; caught on a hook.
As of 2008, lamented as yet another fish that is virtually no longer around.

Cichlidae colorida, azulada y grande. Hay que ir bien largo crique arriba para encontrarlo. Muy apetecido para comer. Se pesca con anzuelo con chacalines de rio o grillos como cebo Se puede comer fresco, o se sala, y se cocina la mañana siguiente en rondón con coco y banano verde. Desde el 2008 es lamentablemente otro de los peces que ya no se ve en los alrededores.
Léxica:
Also "sahsing" from Miskitu.
"guapote" in Sp.

[arriba]

takayak

I. N

1. animal,shellfish land crab

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Takayak ngaling tupki aakituing sii su kuyaanik.
This crab lives under rocks way up in the river.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not distinguished from 'wairu' crab by younger people. This is the bush land crab that lives on high land way up in the creek. Most people won't eat it, but will eat krais and wairu, although only the legs (and the big claw for the krais) Miskitu and Sumu will eat them, and the whole crab. This crab is the food for the kulmang, the "perry people," (fairy people, likened to the Spanish duende.)
Léxica:
Also kyak. See also 'krais' and 'wairu.'

[arriba]

takrak

I. N

1. animal,bird type of bird

[arriba]

taktaknguusaia

I. N

1. plant tiger bush

[arriba]

tamaas

I. ADV

1. time early

II. N

1. time morning

Notas:

Gramatical:
Most commonly used with postposition 'ki' (in).

[arriba]

tamaas ki

I. N

1. time in the morning

[arriba]

tamaik

I. N

1. time tomorrow

[arriba]

tamaik baki

I. N

1. time day after tomorrow

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tamaik	baki
tomorrow	after

Notas:

Gramatical:
Other possible translation : 'in two days'.

[arriba]

tamarsu

I. N

2. animal,mammal skunk

[arriba]

tamtama kat

I. N

1. plant,tree bribri tree

[arriba]

tamtamaup

I. N

1. food,plant,tree big bribri

2. plant,tree bribri

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication. See also 'taulkup' (small bribri).

[arriba]

tamtamaup parnga

I. N

1. food,plant,tree unidentified tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The flowers are red. The seed pod is green, black when ripe. The sweet sticky paste around the seeds inside the pods is eaten; the color and taste resemble molasses. Traditionally picked from trees in town or in the bush, but not a commercial item. As of 2008 also sold in Bluefields. Some people don't like to eat it, but plant the tree because they like the flowers.

[arriba]

tamtamaup pluuma

I. N

1. plant white bribri

[arriba]

tamtamaup saala

I. N

1. plant red bribri

[arriba]

tamus

I. N

1. plant,tree a kind of cedar tree

[arriba]

tanaliup

I. N

1. plant locust tree

[arriba]

tangaa

I. N

1. body back

1. space back

4. artef. keel

Notas:

Gramatical:
Spatial meaning with 'i-tangaa su' (behind).

[arriba]

tangaa

I. ADJ

1. measuring expensive

II. N

1. price

Notas:

Etnográfica:
In Rama, 'tangaa' is oriented towards being expensive. The notion of price is the same as the notion of expensive.

[arriba]

tangaangu

I. N

2. artef.,house bedspread

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tangaangu aakwaala ikwaakar yaing ngaang su.
She has a pretty bedspread on her bed.

3. geo,space plantation

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sii su naing praanti tangaangu nikuaakari.
I have my plantain plantation in the river.

[arriba]

tangaik

I. N

1. body,space backside

II. PSP

2. space behind

Notas:

Gramatical:
Derived from relational noun 'tanga' (back). See also 'itangaa su' (behind).

[arriba]

tangkat

I. N

1. artef.,hunting bow , [ESP] arco

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
With '-kat' class marker for objects long and rigid.

[arriba]

tangkat aing ariira

I. N

1. artef.,hunting bow string

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tangkat	aing	ariira
bow	of	string
arco

[arriba]

tangkit

I. N

1. body back

[arriba]

tangkit aaluk

I. N

1. body back bone

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tangkit	aaluk
back	bone

[arriba]

tangsuuru

I. N

1. animal,insect needle case/dragonfly , [ESP] Libelula

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tangsuuru yaap suma. Ikukat pluuma aa pamama ngasngaasang.
The needle case body is long. Its wings are white and is not thick but is thin thin.
El cuerpo de la libelula es largo. Sus alas son blancas y no son gruesas sino bien delgadas.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Said to be good luck when they fly in your house. As of 2009 noted that there are not as many around as previously, at least by Rama Cay residents. Not used for fishing.
Léxica:
Also tangsiiru

[arriba]

tankeli

I. N

1. animal,reptile baselisk

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A type of lizard somewhat like an iguana, but smaller. usually not eaten.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Kriol; usually "kraana" or "ishalii" in Rama.

[arriba]

tartara

I. N

1. animal,insect sand fly , [ESP] Mosca de arena

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Turturu tartara.
little black sand fly/river fly
Mosca de arena pequena y negra.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
River sandfly, smaller than sarsari, the "regular" sandfly. It's a little black fly that bites and leaves a drop of blood on our skin.
Léxica:
Tartara from Walter/Nora. Turturu the Cane Creek pronunciation.

[arriba]

tauli

I. N

1. sea sea

2. food salt

3. nat.,sea breakers

[arriba]

tauli aing albut

I. N

1. animal,fish saltwater eel

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This refers to saltwater eels, most likely moray eels from the description. Most likely it does not refer to true sea snakes, which do not appear to have been reported in this region. People from Cane Creek and Aguila say that they don't like to walk in the water near the rocks close to shore because of "tauli aing albut." No known case of being bitten, but they would be formidable-looking if seen.
Se refiere a las anguilas de agua salada, lo más probable a la morena de la descripción. Se dice que se parece a la barba amarilla (fer- de- lance). Probablemente no se refiere a las verdaderas culebras de mar que no parecen haber sido reportadas en la región. La gente de Cane Creek y Bangkukuk Taik dicen que no les gusta caminar en el agua cerca de las rocas próximas a la costa porque hay tauli aing albut. No se conocen casos de mordeduras, la descripción sería formidable de haberse visto.
Léxica:
See "albut sii ki ka," "sii aing albut," "tukbut."

[arriba]

tauli aing butku

I. N

1. animal,bird sea pigeon

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tauli	aing	butku
sea	of	sea pigeon (Kr)

Notas:

Léxica:
See butku.

[arriba]

tauli aing kabiis

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish sea shrimp

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tauli aing kabiis lakuun ki taukka kiiknalut kuu maukal u anpaayakama.
The ocean shrimp when it come in the lagoon, the men catch it with a net for them to sell.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tauli	aing	kabiis
breakers	of	shrimp

[arriba]

tauli aing kabiis tataara

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish ocean lobster

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tauli aing kabiis tataara ngunis sumsuma puksak ikuaakari.
The ocean lobster has two long beard (antennas).
La langosta de mar tiene dos grandes antenas.
Tauli aing kabiis lakuun ki taukka kiiknalut kuu maukal u anpaayakama.
The ocean shrimp when it come in the lagoon, the men catch it with a net for them to sell.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tauli	aing	kabiis	tataara
breakers	of	shrimp	very big

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Ramas are not lobster people. Very, very few, if any, have ever dived lobster, and only a couple set lobster pots out in the ocean. They do not consume it, either, as they would have to buy it in town, and it would be prohibitively expensive.
Gramatical:
Neologism.

[arriba]

tauli aing walsa

I. N

1. animal,fish manta ray/sea devil

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Huge single manta rays (can grow up to 22 feet across) used to be seen off and on out to sea, and in Monkey Point Harbor. Rama described them as being"as big as a house top." But as of 2008, no longer appear to be around. Never pursued for food or for market, which would have been done by striking them with a harpoon as are other large fish. Belief that the danger from them is that either they will fly out of the water and land on your boat, sinking it down, or that they will grab you with the two "hooks" in front (cepahalic lobes) and haul you out to sea.
Enorme manta raya (puede crecer hasta 22 pies de ancho) se solia ver adentro en el mar y en el puerto de monkey Point. Las describen tan grandes como el techo de una casa. En el 2008 parecía no haber en los alrededores. No se capturan para comer o para vender, si se caza se hace golpeándola con el arpón como se hace con los peces grandes.Se cree que el peligro es vuela y aterriza en el bote hundiéndolo y arrastrándote al mar con sus dos cachos )lóbulos cefálicos.
Léxica:
Walsa borrowed from Miskitu.

[arriba]

tauli kaali

I. N

1. sea wave

[arriba]

tauli kamiis kamiis

I. N

1. animal,body unidentified small shorebird

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A small shorebird such as a sandpiper
Léxica:
Only heard with "sh" and not "s"

[arriba]

taulikat

I. N

1. plant garlic

[arriba]

tauli kraana

I. N

1. animal,reptile sea iguana

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tauli	kraana
sea	lizard/baselisk

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Only found in beach communities such as Cane Creek. They jump in off th etree and into the sea and swim around and are not desirous to eat.

[arriba]

tauli sabangup

I. N

1. plant salt water gourd fruit

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a gourd tree that grows along the edge of brackish water in swamps near the sea. The gourd only grows large enough to make a cup, as compared to the bush sabang tree from which bowls are made for eating and drinking.
Léxica:
Also "tauli aing sabang"

[arriba]

tauli sabangup kat

I. N

1. plant salt water gourd tree

[arriba]

tauli siit

I. N

1. plant wild moho

[arriba]

tauli sii tuuk

I. N

1. plant salt water moho

[arriba]

tauli sii tuulkat

I. N

1. plant saltwater tree

[arriba]

tauli skaa

I. N

1. geo,space coast

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tauli	skaa
sea	edge

[arriba]

tauli taara

I. N

1. geo ocean

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tauli	taara
sea	big

[arriba]

tauli tupki ka kat

I. N

1. animal,sea coral

Notas:

Gramatical:
Literally 'tree from under the sea'.

[arriba]

tauliup

I. N

1. sea pebble

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' of roundish objects.

[arriba]

tauli uut

I. N

1. animal,insect ship worm

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Salt water worms that eat boats.
Some people call the boys from Cane Creek 'sea weebles' because they are extremely adept seamen and fishermen in the sea, as well as expert turtle strikers.
Léxica:
Also said 'tauli aing uut'.

[arriba]

taulkup

I. N

1. food,plant,tree small bribri

[arriba]

tausung

I. N

1. animal,hunting,mammal dog

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
People who can, have hunting dogs, which are usually small. Good hunting dogs are highly valued, if not always well treated.
Léxica:
RCC uses "shuku" for dog, especially a small one. Ulwa "sulu" from Nahuatl xulo. Yul in Miskitu.

[arriba]

tausung aing kat

I. N

1. plant dogwood tree

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tausung	aing	kat
dog	of	tree

[arriba]

tausung aing kuung

I. N

1. animal,insect dog lice , [ESP] Pulga

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Paak tausung aing kuung. Paak ngaara tingka, angka mkamii kiikik. Aamliika kalma psutki.
The flea is the dog louse. When they get plenty you cannot sleep in the night. It feel bad in your dress.
La pulga es el piojo de los perros. Cuando tienen muchas no pueden dormir en la noche. Se siente mal en tu ropa.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tausung	aing	kuung
dog	of	lice

[arriba]

tawaina

I. N

1. animal,fish sawfish

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tawaina uut uruk su tabiika, uut ingarngi, uut yatarki, angka kiibi yalngaangi.
The sawfish when the dory gets up on it, it hits the dory, it splits the dory so it can't float straight.
Cuando el cayuco choca con un pez sierra este lo golpea y lo parte y ya no puede flotar.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Until the addition of sawfish fins to the sharkfin trade (i.e., up into the 80s), they were a common sight in the shallow water along the beach down the coast. There used to be a lot of them in Cane Creek and boys would try to chop off their saws with machetes just for play. As of 2008, very scarce.
Desde que las aletas de pez sierra entraron al mercado de aleta de tiburón (Ej. durante los años ochenta), era común verlos en las aguas poco profundas a lo orilla de la playa. Había muchos en Cane Creek y los muchachos se divertían tratando de cortarles las sierras con machetes. En el 2008 eran muy escasos. Antes, casi no se comía, pero ahora, como otros peces, si los capturan, lo irán comiendo más y más.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu (tuwaina).

[arriba]

tawan

I. N

1. geo town

Notas:

Léxica:
Borrowing from English 'town'.

[arriba]

tiin

I. N

1. plant,tree basida or boss-cedar

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are different varieties of cedar trees with different qualities of wood. Tiing is good to make bauls because it doesn't split; sabba splits. But, tiing doesn't grow straight and round for boats like sabba. Some trees are harder and harder to find now, so some varieties used for specific constructions are not found anymore and other varieties are used instead.
Gramatical:
There are three variant forms: tiin, tiing, tin

[arriba]

tiirbi

I. N

1. bread,food,plant yellow plantain

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tiirbi pranti ikaa nuknuknga yuup nuknuknga yuup tkukiiba aatiiskiba.
The yellow plantain has yellow leaf and yellow fruit. The fruit is short and stout.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Called in Kriol 'maiden plaan' (short for plantain). It is squarish and pinkish inside. Eaten cooked.
Léxica:
Possibly the older Rama word for a native banana. Used later for imported plantains, also called praanti.

[arriba]

tiisanga

I. ADJ

1. measuring,water not deep

II. N

2. geo shore

[arriba]

tiiskama

I. ADJ

1. measuring small

II. N

2. human child

2. human baby

Notas:

Gramatical:
See also 'tiiskiba'.

[arriba]

tiiskama suk

I. N

1. human small baby

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tiiskama	suk
child	young

[arriba]

tiiskiba

I. ADJ

2. measuring small

Composicion:

derivation

Morfemas
tiiski	ba
small

Notas:

Gramatical:
In the sense of 'child', 'tiiskiba' is mostly used in the plural 'tiiskibalut'.
Léxica:
Also tiskiiba

[arriba]

tiiskibadut

I. N

1. human children

Composicion:

derivation

Morfemas
tiiskiba	dut
child	PL

Notas:

Gramatical:
Noun most commonly used in the plural. Has variant plural form, as in 'tiiskiba-lut'.

[arriba]

tiksak

I. N

1. clay

[arriba]

tiksakup

I. N

1. fine dirt

[arriba]

tiktik

I. N

1. animal,insect leafcutter ant , [ESP] Zompopo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tiktik paapu bii barka saala. Tiktik kalka kaa ingatik traali. Yaing kaanu ki yaapauki.
The wiwi is an ant too but it is red. It go cut leaves about. It put it in its nest.
La wiwi (el zompopo) es tambien una hormiga pero es roja. Va a cortar las hojas. Alli hace su nido.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They worry about this wiwi ant destroying their food crops.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.

[arriba]

tiltilba

I. N

1. animal,body small black bird, unidentified

[arriba]

tingung baki

I. N

1. time day before yesterday

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tingung	baki
yesterday	before

Notas:

Gramatical:
Other possible translation : 'two days ago'.

[arriba]

tisbaba

I. N

1. animal,reptile a kind of snake

[arriba]

titilba

I. N

1. animal,bird unidentified black bird

Notas:

Etnográfica:
One of several grackle-sized black birds around creeks and rivers

[arriba]

titinba

I. N

1. animal,bird hummingbird

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are many different kinds. There is a month when they cover the swampwood tree all over.

[arriba]

tkan

I. N

1. plant unidentified weed with thorns

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are two different kinds: one with big leaves, and one with small leaves. There are many such bothersome plants in the bush that are one of the less enjoyable aspects of life there.

[arriba]

tkii

I. N

1. geo land

2. dirt

3. space ground

4. earth

Notas:

Gramatical:
The long vowel 'ii' can be shortened.

[arriba]

tkii kuyakba

I. N

1. geo,space highland

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tkii	kuyakba
ground	high up

[arriba]

tkii ngurii

I. N

1. animal,house burrow

[arriba]

tkiiruk

I. N

1. geo,space grave, cemetery

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Formerly a person's possessions were left on the grave, e.g., plate, bow and arrow, etc. (even into the 70s in southern communities), but this custom has been abandoned largely because people were stealing these items, and people decided it was more practical to keep them to use. Some old people also used to keep lumber for their coffin and a pair of pants and a shirt (men) put up in the house for years. But, these items increasingly came to be used as needed, or taken by other family members to use, especially lumber. The old-times Rama also used to put food on the grave in the morning and at noon (not always at night if they didn't feel like it) for one year. (Supposedly some of the Miskitu still do (2009). They also used to keep nine-night, a "set-up" for nine nights after a death, but they just sat up all night; they didn't sing as the Creoles do.
Gramatical:
Possible derivation from 'tkii-uruk' (under ground).
Léxica:
Also tkeeruk

[arriba]

tkii taara aik

I. N

1. geo mainland

Composicion:

expression

Notas:

Gramatical:
Pronounced 'tkiitaaraik'.

[arriba]

tkii taik

I. N

1. geo bank side

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tkii	taik
land	end

[arriba]

tkua

I. N

1. body leg

[arriba]

tkua sarak

I. N

1. body upper leg

2. body hip

[arriba]

tkuaup

I. N

1. plant yanu

[arriba]

tkup

I. N

1. bump

2. body penis

Notas:

Gramatical:
Surely related in some way with 'kup' and its derived words.

[arriba]

tkupka

I. N

1. food,plant,tree cowfoot

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used to make tea. Has a slightly anise taste to it.
Gramatical:
The final '-ka' surely comes from 'kaa' (leaf).

[arriba]

tkustkus

I. N

1. animal,mammal rabbit

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They don't raise them. Not a common animal.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.

[arriba]

tkutkut

I. N

1. animal,bird a brown and blue bird

[arriba]

tkwaik

I. N

1. dory,space stern

[arriba]

Toby aing Siikwiik

I. N

. toponomy Toby Creek , [ESP] Caño de Toby

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojón 009 sur, Toby Creek

[arriba]

tran

I. N

2. stain

3. glue

3. pipe

[arriba]

traus

I. N

1. clothes pants

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (trausers).

[arriba]

triisu

I. N

1. animal,fish,food shad or Atlantic spadefish , [ESP] Palometa

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Triisu salpka pluuma aataara. Nikrulut paaya sut Rama kang ansungka.
The stone bass is a small white fish. The Creole people buy it from us Rama when they see it.
La palometa es un pequeño pez blanco. Los Creole se lo compran a los Rama cuando lo ven.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Generic for two similar smallish striped fish caught and consumed year around, the river triisu, and the lagoon triisu. The river triisu is rounder and lighter. The lagoon triisu is less round and darker. Very nice fried and served with boiled cassava.
Es el genérico para los dos peces rayados pequeños que se agarran y consumen todo el año, el triisu de río y el de laguna. El de río es redondeado y claro. El triisu de laguna es menos redondo y oscuro. Es muy sabroso frito y servido con yuca hervida, pero dicen que comerlos muy pequeños da picazón en la boca.
Léxica:
See "lakun aing triisu" and "siisu aing triisu."

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trimit

I. N

1. animal,bird small snipe

[arriba]

tris

I. N

1. measuring piece

2. body,fish scale

[arriba]

truk

I. N

1. cooking,dom.,plant waha leaf

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A large-leafed plant grown around homes the leaves of which are used to make small house shelters while planting up a creek or river, wrap food in, etc.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu; used in Kriol

[arriba]

trumtrum

I. N

1. artef. guitar

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication. Onomatopeic word.

[arriba]

truu

I. N

1. animal,fish,fishing,food unidentified small cichlid

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A small creek and river fish not normally eaten unless nothing better is caught. Also used for bait. Some say there are two different, but similar fish: "truu" and "shine truu." (RCK), "kuntrayak" (R) or "kontrayya" (also RCK). The "shine truu" by definition would have shinier scales. Others, however, say, "truu is truu," meaning that there is only one kind of truu.
Pez pequeño de crique y río, no es para comer a menos que no se haya encontrado otra cosa mejor. Se usa para carnada. Algunos dicen que hay dos tipos diferentes pero muy similares "truu" y "truu brillante". Por definición esta última tiene escamas brillantes. Otros dicen "truu es truu," para indicar que sólo hay una variedad.
Léxica:
See "kuntrayak."

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tuaa

I. N

1. animal,fish,food cichlid species , [ESP] Mojarra

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tuaa salpka parnga. Ingut saala. Taalingi yaap kaski parnga.
The tuba is a black fish. His face is red. For some the body is pure black.
La mojarra es un pez negro. Su cara es roja. Algunos son totalmente negros.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The Rama have several categories of tuba. This is the largest one. It is often caught in the lagoon, rivers, and creeks, and usually cooked in rundown. Tuba "pick" (bite) well on bait such as the brown "dirt" worms with the "red" head.
Los Rama tienen varias categorías para la tuba. Esta es la más grande. Se encuentra a menudo en las lagunas, ríos y criques y generalmente se cocina en el rondón. La tuba pica bien las carnadas de gusanos con cabeza roja.
Léxica:
Miskitu borrowing. Also called tuaa parnga.

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tuaa pluuma

I. N

1. animal,fish drummer species

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A type of drummer, not as fat as raukrauk. Sold and consumed. Spoils quickly.
Una especie de pez tambor, blanco, no tan graso como el raukrauk. Para vender y consumir. Se daña muy rápido.

[arriba]

tuaa saala

I. N

1. animal,fish,food a cichlid species , [ESP] Cichlid spp

2. animal,fish,food red snapper , [ESP] Pargo Rojo

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This tuba has a red eye, and is a little smaller than the black tuba (the "real" tuba.). A lagoon, creek and river fish caught and usually eaten in rundown.
Also used by some for "red snapper." There are several sea fish that are composites based on "tuaa," indicating that the rama were probably not originally sea people.
Tuaa Saala puede referirse a dos peces distintos, mojarra, y pargo. Cuando se refiere a la mojarra, se cocina en el rondón. Algunos hablantes lo usan para referirse al “pargo rojo.” Hay varios tipos. Esta tiene el ojo rojo y es más pequeña que la tuba negra (la “verdadera” tuba). Se encuentra a menudo en las lagunas, ríos y criques. Generalmente los peces de mar tienen nombres compuestos con la palabra “tuaa” y esto podría indicar que el pueblo Rama originalmente no era un pueblo marinero.
Léxica:
Also (tuaa) yuup saala. Miskitu borrowing.
También yuup saala. Préstamo del Miskitu.

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tuakukwaut

I. N

1. animal,frog small black toad

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tuakukwaut sii aataska yaaksi.
When it rains this frog sings.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Little black and blue frog that likes to peg up on trees. Makes a lot of noise. Called in Kriol 'tuba ears'.

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tuk

I. N

1. animal,body tail

2. body,human buttock

3. tail end

4. end

5. space back

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tukan

I. N

1. nat. moon

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tukan uup aungai nuunik kas nangka nangka su.
The moon (eye) is shining between the clouds.
Tukan seerini nainguku awas sabii ma itangi.
The moon is full that's why it gives you bright light.

Pictures/Imagenes:

3. calendar,time month

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tukan pasma altingi ki nsiiki.
I am coming at the beginning of the month.(First of the month coming around.)

II. MOOD

2. period of the year

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Alka tukan malktinganaaki.
The dry months coming around.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The eight traditional Rama periods of the year do not correspond to occidental months. Four neologisms were created to meet the occidental view of the year.

[arriba]

tukan abiisa

I. N

1. time new moon

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tukan	abiisa
moon	new

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tukbut

I. N

1. animal,fish,food eel, mudfish , [ESP] Anguila, pez lodo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tukbut salpka aalbut isii. Kauling aa kwsi.
The eel is a fish like a snake. People don't eat it.
La anguila es un pez parecido a la culebra. La gente no se la come.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not sought after; eaten by some. Usually cooked by roasting in a waha leaf.
No es muy buscado, algunos lo comen. Generalmente se cocina asado en una hoja de bijagua. En el 2009 se nota su escacez.
Léxica:
Can also be called 'aalbut sii ki ka' (literally 'the snake from the water') or 'sii aing aalbut' (literally 'water snake').
BA: Also takbut, tagbut, muulung maama. Some also say it is muulung, most likely collapsing freshwater eel and mudfish into one. See takbut, tagbut, mulung.

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tuk kaas

I. N

1. body,human buttocks

Composicion:

expression

Notas:

Gramatical:
The long vowel 'aa' can be shortened.

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tukmamam

I. N

1. animal,bird unidentfied falcon or hawk

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Hawk or falcon with white neck. Speakers usually pick out the collared forest-falcon from bird books.
Gramatical:
Reduplication commonly found in animal names.

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tuktaik

I. N

2. stern

[arriba]

tukup

I. N

1. body anus

Notas:

Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish shape.

[arriba]

tulintulin

I. N

1. animal,bird sunbittern

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A large fan-tailed wading bird found in the more open areas upstream (i.e., not in the swamps). Head like a heron, body more like a duck. Beautiful sunburst colors on the wings when spread. Never common, but virtually gone as of 2008.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common to animal names.
Identified by some as tuulin.

[arriba]

tulmakas

I. N

1. animal,health scorpion

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tulumkas ituk u ma yarunguli.
The scorpion bites you with its tail.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Probably the big black scorpion from the bush (while you are more likely to find the smaller brownish scorpion in the house). They are poisonous but not as dangerous as the ones from Africa.

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tulura

I. N

1. animal,reptile crocodile

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kauling tulura malngi yuuk kama, yuuk anpaayai.
People kill the crocodile for its skin and they sell the skin.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not nearly as common as caimans (alligator). Both hunted for their hides to sell in Bluefields.

[arriba]

tum

I. N

1. food,plant,whit

[arriba]

tumtum

I. N

1. flower,plant water lily (probable)

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a "blue flowers" in the water in Punta Gorda. No known use.

[arriba]

tumtuma

I. N

1. color dark

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

tung

I. N

1. family,human father

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tungki

I. N

1. animal,fish Small saltwater catfish. small bagre , [ESP] Bagre (pequeño)

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tungki lakuun taara psutki bii aakar. Kauling tungki aa kwsi. Yaaluk tiiskiba ikuaakar itangkit su. Taimka ma ngulsyuungi.
The small bagre live only in the lagoon. People don't eat it. He has a little bone on his back. Sometimes he strike (bore) you.
El bagre pequeño sólo vive en la laguna. La gente no se lo come. Tiene un hueso pequeño en la espalda. A veces te aguijonea.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Also called 'small catfish." It mostly stays in the sea, but goes in the lagoon and upriver in the dry season. It has a big "bone" (i.e., top fin) on top. You have to kill it to take out the hook, and chop off the head. It is not generally a preferred fish, but is usually eaten fried by those who do eat it. Miskitu people do eat it, so those Rama with Miskitu roots are the ones most likely to eat it. Miskitu used to change snook for tungki.
También llamado "pez gato pequeño". Permanece más en el mar, pero sube a la laguna y río arriba en la época seca. Tiene un gran “hueso” (Ej. aleta superior) encima. Hay que matarlo para quitarle el anzuelo y cortarle la cabeza. No es un pez apetecido, pero por lo general los que lo comen lo fríen. Desde el 2008, se ha visto disminuir las variedades de peces. Ahora se comen peces que antes no se comían. Miskitos y Rama con raíces Miskitas son los que más lo comen. Los Miskitos solían intercambiar el róbalo por el bagre. Se dice que se vende a buen precio en Costa Rica.
Léxica:
Also "tongki." Borrowed from Miskitu. Both Rama and Kriol. See also 'walah'.

[arriba]

tung yuwa

I. N

1. family,human grandfather

[arriba]

tunsuk

I. N

1. human uncle

[arriba]

turinturin

I. N

1. animal,bird type of bird

[arriba]

turkikik

I. N

1. animal,bird ants bird (Kr)

[arriba]

turkulka

I. N

1. page

2. artef. book

3. letter

4. artef. paper

5. artef. dictionary

[arriba]

turmaala

I. N

1. health,human medecine man

[arriba]

tursin

I. N

1. artef.,house broom

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. plant broom tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Brooms are made out of various leaves tied to a stick with a whit, or sometimes may even be a whole piece of a plant such as the fallen limb of a palm such as a coconut with the bottom part of the broom being what's left after the fruits or seeds have dropped off. The broom plant resembles corn.
Léxica:
Also trusiin, turusiin.

[arriba]

tusku

I. N

1. animal dog, puppy

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Old Rama word for dog; tausung more commonly used now.
Léxica:
Rama Cay English routinely uses "shuku" for dog, a term which is not recognized by other varieties of Kriols on the Coast.

[arriba]

tut

I. N

2. animal,bird oropendula

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Oropendula that build hanging nests in colonies in tall trees. Do not live in the swamps but more in the woodland areas.
Gramatical:
Minimal pair with 'tuut' (fig).
Léxica:
Sometimes translated as warbler, but that is ngwiis.

[arriba]

tutung

I. N

1. family,human young brother

[arriba]

tuu

I. N

1. food,plant tobacco

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They may have grown it in the past but not anymore. Beaten and used as a poultice on a wound or to cure something.

[arriba]

tuu kaa

I. N

1. plant tobacco leaf

Composicion:

Compounds

[arriba]

tuu kaat

I. N

1. artef.,food pipe

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The stem of the pipe is made out of the bird pepper leaf stem ('alkiini') and the bowl is made of siliku seed ('suulup').

[arriba]

tuu kat

I. N

1. artef. pipe

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not commonly used anymore; formally used by women as well as men before cigarettes came in. Made from a siliku seed for the bowl and a bird pepper leaf stem for the pipe stem.

[arriba]

tuula

I. N

1. dom.,plant Rawa palm

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are different kinds of rawa palms used for different things. Tuula is used to make a stretcher. The trunk and bark pieces are cut to make bed slats, table tops, etc.
Gramatical:
Has many names : bungka, rawa, tuularaba, makengue. (Sp.)

[arriba]

tuula uuk

I. N

1. dom.,plant part of one species of rawa-type palm

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
tuula	uuk
Rawa palm	bark

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is the base of the frond of one kind of one kind of rawa-type palm. Used for bauls (bowls) to carry water, iibu, anything. Cut off the "bowl," and tie the ends with kongkiiva whit
Léxica:
kongkiib/va

[arriba]

tuulin

I. N

1. animal,bird sunbittern

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A large fan-tailed wading bird found in the more open areas upstream (i.e., not in the swamps). Head like a heron, body more like a duck. Beautiful sunburst colors on the wings when spread. Never common, but virtually gone as of 2008.
Léxica:
Identified by some as the same as tulintulin.

[arriba]

tuulis

I. N

1. bread,food dried ripe banana

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Samuu pranti tuktiinma ngang uruk su nsut kai sut aliskiingi abung uruk su yatkutka tuulis yaak nsut aungi.
Ripe banana or plantain we put on the tapesco. We dry it on the fire. When it is done we call it 'tuulis'.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The closest they used to have to flour, used to make traditional pop with it.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu 'tuulis' which refers to a different banana preparation.

[arriba]

tuunu

I. N

1. plant tunu tree

[arriba]

tuunuk

I. N

1. food,health,plant papaya

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They grow it on Rama Cay to eat. They know that it can also help to aliviate constipation. Not grown in Cane Creek.

[arriba]

tuut

I. N

1. plant fig

2. plant fig tree

Notas:

Gramatical:
Minimal pair with 'tut' (yellowtail bird).

[arriba]

tuut uup

I. N

1. plant fig seed

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

twiis

I. N

2. artef.,hunting lance

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A lance is made by tying a blade to a sturdy pole, and securing it with whatever is available now, usually some kind of cloth and twine or line. The blade is usually fashioned from an old machete. The twiis may be improvised for temporary use if necessary, for example, if you find out that a drove of wari is in the vicinity and don't have a gun, you might use your "kitchen machete" for the blade.

[arriba]

twisaksak

I. N

1. animal,reptile coral snake

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Some people believe it bites with its tail. Called bidsy snake in Kriol.
Gramatical:
Partial reduplication

[arriba]

twitwi

I. N

1. artef.,dom. oil lamp

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A lamp made from a bottle containing kerosene and with a cloth stuffed in the neck as a wick. Diesel more often used as the fuel by Rama who trade with shrimp boats and lobster boats, e.g., in Monkey Point and Cane Creek. Also tongue in cheek called ulak lamp.
Léxica:
See prup.

[arriba]

ubusup

I. N

1. body,plant sprout

[arriba]

ufki

I. N

1. animal,bird type of heron or bittern

Notas:

Etnográfica:
It hunts around the edge of the lagoon at night, and hollers like a jaguar, which scares you to death if you don't know what it is.
Gramatical:
Rare bilabial fricative 'f'. Might indicate a borrowing?

[arriba]

ukaaka

I. N

1. animal,bird kyarpenter bird (Kr)

[arriba]

ulakauling

I. N

1. animal,bird small ufki (Kr)

[arriba]

ulbang

I. N

1. geo,water cascade

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Wiring Cay has several big cascades 'ulbang taara'

[arriba]

ulinguling

I. N

1. animal,mammal howler monkey

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ulinguling ikakat su yukyaatingi.
The baboon sit down on the big limb.
Ulinguling tuut uup tuut kaa ikwsi sirik tuut uup alptangka sii ki ikwsi.
The baboon eat the seed and the leaf of the fig tree. When the fig seed drop in the water, the machaca eat it.

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. plant baboon pepper

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ulinguling pluuma, yuup tiiskiba suk. Yastaikbaingi.
the baboon pepper is white, its seed is very tiny. It is very hot.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You can hear them from a great distance away. Can frighten you the first time you hear them. Travel in troupes, and are part of the traditional early morning and early evening sounds in the bush, and until not so long ago, on the outskirts of Bluefields. As of 2008, increasingly rare due to loss of habitat and killing by new campesinos.
Se pueden escuchar a gran distancia. Pueden atemorizar la primera vez que se escuchan. Viajan en manadas, temprano en la mañana y al atardecer, son parte del sonido tradicional en el monte. Hasta no hace mucho se encontraban en las afueras de Bluefields. Desde el 2008, es cada vez mas raro encontrarlos debido a la pérdida del habitat y a que los campesinos los matan.
Gramatical:
Reduplication common in animal names.

[arriba]

ulinguling aing ngalaali

I. N

1. animal,insect baboon honey bee

Notas:

Léxica:
Could also be for the honey produced by those bees. Could be short form 'ulinguling', or 'ulinguling aing ngalaali' for the honey or the bee, or the full form'ulinguling aing ngalaali uut' (baboon honey bee).

[arriba]

Ulinguling Taasup

I. N

. toponomy Cedar Creek #1

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojon 010 sur, Cedar Creek #1

[arriba]

ulis

I. N

1. body hair

Notas:

Gramatical:
Cannot be used alone. Enters in expressions such as 'kiing ulis' (head hair) or 'ngiskat ulis' (beard: jaw hair).

[arriba]

ulngup

I. N

1. artef.,food,water long hollowed out gourd

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A long hollowed out gourd used as a dipper or dory bailer, as contrasted with "sabang," which is round. The Ramas do not generally carve or decorate them.
Gramatical:
With class marker '-up' for roundish shape.
Léxica:
See "uulup."

[arriba]

ulung

I. N

1. body,plant seed

2. body,plant grain

[arriba]

ulungulung

I. N

1. animal,mammal porcupine

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication common to animal names.

[arriba]

ungkalaup

I. N

1. plant tabacon tree

[arriba]

ungsing

I. N

1. plant moho

[arriba]

ungskup

I. N

1. food,plant bean

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Small red beans, a lot of which they grow themselves, and from which they save some to plant again the next time. Like other crops, a lot of work to keep animals away from, to weed, to harvest, to shell and to dry. Used to keep them in a gourd to keep them dry and to help keep out mice, weevils, etc. Now they use jars or other containers. If they get weevils, they won't germinate. Eaten boiled, stewed with coconut milk, stewed in coconut milk with rice (and salt plus onion, black pepper, gourd pepper, if you have it), boiled, sometimes fried. (coconut oil if they have enough coconuts to make it). Newly-harvested red beans accompanied by boiled or stewed breadkind are very tasty. If they have enough, they will sell some.
Gramatical:
With the class marker '-up' for roundish shape. Has two variants 'nguskup' and 'biinz'. The second one is a borrowing from English 'beans'.

[arriba]

unsuba

I. N

1. plant,tree mahogany

[arriba]

untas

I. N

1. sand

2. geo,land,sea beach

[arriba]

untas aing tuaa

I. N

1. animal,fish small flounder-type fish

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Ramas do not generally eat flounder-type fish, which seem to be fairly small fish in the region. Not seen in restaurants or markets, either. Several sea fish are composites based on "tua," which is more of a fresh or brackish water fish, indicating that the Ramas were probably not sea people originally. Tuba from the creeks, rivers and lagoon are still highly desired fish, though as of 2008, heavily decimated by overfishing and use of pesticides and other toxins by the mestizos to dump in the water and float the fish (and everything else) up.
Se atrapan en los trasmallos o en las redes puestas para chacalines. El pueblo Rama generalmente no come los peces flotadores que parecen ser peces bastantes pequeños en la región. Tampoco se ven en los restaurantes ni en los mercados. Muchos peces de mar tienen nombres compuestos con la palabra “tuaa”, que son peces más de aguas dulces o salobres y que podría indicar que el pueblo Rama originalmente no era un pueblo marinero. Las “tuba” de los criques, ríos y lagunas son muy apetecidas y desde el 2008 se han diezmado grandemente por la sobreexplotación, uso de pesticidas y otros tóxicos que utilizan los mestizos para sacar a flote los peces (y todo lo que existe).

[arriba]

Untas Pluuma

I. N

1. toponomy Long Beach

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
untas	pluuma
beach	white

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Called 'Long Beach' but literally means white beach'. It is between Cane Creek and Duck Creek.

[arriba]

upkika

I. N

1. plant rubber tree

[arriba]

upsi

I. N

1. animal,body fat

2. animal,cooking oil

3. animal,body,food grease

5. artef.,house kerosene

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The green turtle has yellow fat and green fat; some people like to eat one or the other. Oil extracted from different animals can have different medicinal uses. When they butcher and sell fried hog meat, a lot of people prefer more fat than actual meat.It is a sign of health to them if you are fat.
They probably burned mananti oil for oil lamps, explaining the extension to kerosene.

[arriba]

upsiksik

I. N

1. animal,reptile klapantaya snake

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not a poisonous snake.
Gramatical:
Partial reduplication common in animal names.

[arriba]

uriaup

I. N

1. food,plant orange

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowed from English 'orange' to which the Rama class marker '-up' (round) was added. Has variation 'oriaup' with English 'o'.

[arriba]

uriaup kat

I. N

1. plant orange tree

[arriba]

uriaup nuknukisba

I. N

1. food,plant tangerine

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

uriaup pakaskaaba

I. N

1. food,plant bitter orange

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
uriaup	pakaskaaba
orange	bitter

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Not just a bad orange. This variety never has sweet flesh and juice. Bigger and bumpier than sweet orange. Used for fresco.

[arriba]

uriaup pulkaaba

I. N

1. food,plant sweet lime

Notas:

Etnográfica:
You don't make lemonade out of it, you eat it. It is not overly juicy. Harvested around Christmas time.

No hacés limonada con él, te lo comés. No es muy jugoso. Se cosecha en época cercana a la Navidad.

[arriba]

uriaup supkaaba

I. N

1. food,health,plant lime

Notas:

Etnográfica:
They make lemonade with it sometimes, or squeeze it into cane juice. Limes, lime tree leaf, bark and roots are heavily used medicinally and also to cleansed (like after you have been dealing with sick people).

[arriba]

uriaup tataara

I. N

1. food,plant,tree grapefruit

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
uriaup	tataara
orange	very big

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Grapefruit is one of a number of different citrus planted both for personal use and as a source of income. They eat them and make "fresco" with the juice: juice with water and sugar added. Ramas, like most other people in Nicaragua, usually don't drink the pure juice of fruits.
Léxica:
Also uriaup tataara nguknguknga. Some use the word s(h)aaduk, borrowed from Miskito.

[arriba]

urmut

I. N

1. body guts

[arriba]

urmut siira

I. N

1. body small guts

[arriba]

urmut taara

I. N

1. body big guts

[arriba]

urnga

I. N

1. food food

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Food traditionally means some kind of breadkind; otherwise, you name the specific food.

[arriba]

uruk

I. N

1. space top

2. body,plant flower

Notas:

Etnográfica:
'uruk' means flower in compounded words such as 'puulik uruk' (cotton). 'A flower' is 'katuruk'.

[arriba]

usnaan

I. N

1. artef.,food basket

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Are made with different whits, often wari whit. made for storing items in the kitchen, usually, or for carrying items such as seeds, fruits, shellfish.
Gramatical:
Borrowing ?
Léxica:
Usually "ushnan."

[arriba]

usru

I. N

1. animal,bird,dom. chicken

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Domestic chicken. They previously raised chickens more to sell the eggs, but as of 2008, the business was heavily tilted toward raising chickens to sell. Ramas don't usually eat them, and some still don't like domestic chicken, or domestic meat in general. They feed chickens corn and rice, and they forage in the yard. As of 2009, there were many more chickens around in every community than at any previous time. The chickens are still more of a woman's activity than a man's. One concern is the many very hungry dogs that abound; they usually go after the eggs when they have the chance, though they don't usually go after the chickens. The eggs are future profit, so it is an unlucky dog who is caught with egg on his face.

[arriba]

usru aing kungsungup katuruk

I. N

1. plant rooster comb plant

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Usru aing kungsungup katuruk mamaama. Nguu tuksu yaapuni. saala yaungai ansam yaltangi.
the rooster comb flowers are tame. They grow around the house. They look red, they look pretty.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
usru	aing	kungsungup	katuruk
	of	comb	flower

Notas:

Gramatical:
Expression based on another expression : 'usru aing kungsungup' means 'rooster crest'.

[arriba]

usru aing kungsungup

I. N

1. animal,body rooster crest

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Usru aing kungsungup saala.
The fowl comb (crest) is red.
La cresta del ave es roja.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
usru	aing	kungsungup
	of	comb

[arriba]

usru aing kuung

I. N

1. animal,insect fowl lice , [ESP] Piojo de las aves, acaros

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Usru ngaarak sukwaakitka, usru aing kuung traali. Kiikik sukaikungka, sutiisi itraali maap su.
When we have lots of fowl, we feel the fowl lice walk. In the night when we lay down, we feel it walk on out body.
Cuando nosotros tenemos muchas aves sentimos los piojos de las aves caminar. En la noche los sentimos caminar sobre el cuerpo.

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
usru	aing	kuung
	of	lice

[arriba]

usru kumaa

I. N

1. animal,dom.,land hen

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
usru	kumaa
	woman

Notas:

Gramatical:
the full expression with 'kumaa' is rarely used

[arriba]

usru nkiikna

I. N

1. animal,bird,dom. rooster

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
usru	nkiikna
	man

Notas:

Gramatical:
rarely specified as male, and could be pronounced 'kiikna'

[arriba]

uubli

I. N

1. stain

[arriba]

uuk

I. N

1. animal,body,human skin , [ESP] piel

2. body,plant bark , [ESP] corteza

3. animal,body shell , [ESP] concha, cáscara

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Used for 'turtle shell'.

[arriba]

uuk airung

I. N

1. animal,mammal big rat

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
uuk	airung
	mother

[arriba]

uukakkak

I. N

1. animal,bird dark blue heron-like bird with a white eye-stripe

[arriba]

uuk alkushkush

I. N

1. animal,reptile slender anole

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A common small anole with a long tail that is seen on logs and trees catching bugs.

[arriba]

uukanaup

I. N

1. plant,tree hone seed

[arriba]

uuknga

I. N

2. artef.,dom. container , [ESP] recipiente

2. artef.,cooking dish

3. artef.,clothes clothes , [ESP] ropa

4. artef. basket

5. artef. bag , [ESP] bolsa

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Base for a number of artefacts such as plate, dish, shoe, cap, basket, bucket; plus an animal body part (hoof). For the generic noun 'clothes', 'kalma' is generally used.

[arriba]

uula

I. N

1. nat. mud , [ESP] lodo

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sii uula.
The water is muddy.

3. animal,fish,food large freshwater catfish , [ESP] Bagre

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sabut salpka parnga haap suma. Yaap aataara. Ikaikungi uula uruk su tiisanga ki.
The mud fish is a black fish half long. His body is small. It lays down on the dirt in the shoal.

Pictures/Imagenes:

4. animal,fish,food large sea catfish

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Mud is a big problem in the rainy season for people who live in the bush. It makes obtaining clean water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing difficult, as well as causing "ground itch," a painful burning foot fungus from having your feet constantly wet and muddy. The amount of slippery mud makes everything more difficult and dangerous. And in the rainy season, the lagoons and rivers become muddy, which affects fishing. Serious problems with mud have been developing in several communities over the years due to the heavy deforestation. The result is drying rivers and creeks, but heavy deposits of mud at the creek/river bars after several years. As a result, in 2009, the bar at Cane Creek was nearly completely closed and virtually impassable by all but the smallest and lightest dories, obligating people to get out of the dory, and sink nearly up to their knees in gooey, sticky mud to try to haul the dory over the bar and into the creek. For the first time in memory, Wiring cay bar was 100% closed in 2009 during the dry season. There are many different names and classifications of catfish/mudfish/eels by different speakers. "Mudfish" generally refers to "sabut." Corn River said to have large freshwater catfish.
Léxica:
At least for some speakers;, there may be a connection between mud and fish that are principally bottom-dwellers in the lagoon and rivers. For large sea catfish, see also walaha/wala, bagri. Bagri from Spanish bagre.

[arriba]

uulak

I. N

1. a dangerous kind of boogeyman

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A dangerous monster. Variations, but some constants include that he is extremely tall (7 - 12 ft.), hairy all over, has very big feet (good for running in the swamp and being able to catch people), has an incredible sense of smell, has long fingernails, eats only raw meat, is noisy. Usually said to live back in Wiring Cay, though also cited in other places so that you have to be wary wherever you are. Usually talked about as one individual, but occasionally a group is mentioned, and occasionally an ulak woman. More usually though, it is one ulak man who in stories carries off a human woman.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu "uhlak," glossed as "gorila" in Heath and Marx.

[arriba]

Uula Rii

I. N

. toponomy Dirty Creek , [ESP] Caño Sucio

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojon 003 sur Dirty Creek

[arriba]

uuli

I. N

1. animal,food,hunting,reptile green sea turtle , [KRI] tortl , [RCK] toortl

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kauling uuli mlingka, kauling taaki kwsi. Waisku u anmalingi.
When people kill green turtle, everybody eats it. They kill it with harpoon.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Highly endangered species of sea turtle that mostly eats grass. Ramas still kill by striking them with harpoons, while Miskitu use nets.
Preferred turtle meat hunted both for their own consumption and to sell in town (more Puerto Cabezas than Bluefields). The old tradition is to share it out according to certain conventions. They eat the turtle eggs when they find them, but green turtles tend to lay more to the south, from Colorado Bar down to Tortuguero in Costa Rica.
Cane Creek people are known as more adept at hunting and striking them because they are sea people, more than the lagoon Rama Cay people. Ramas used to go down to Turtle Bogue (Tortuguero) in Costa Rica to catch them.

[arriba]

uuli aing uut

I. N

1. animal,insect turtle bug

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Miirummiirum uuli aing uut. Yuut isii. Yaap yuuk ngalma ikuaakar.
The miirummiirum is a bug for the turtle. The body is like a bug. Its body has a hard shell.
Es un insecto de las tortugas. El cuerpo es como el de un insecto. Tiene una concha dura.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
These are 'turtle weevil' (like little worms).
Gramatical:
Other name for beetle because of its likeness with turtle shell.
Léxica:
See also 'miirummiirum'

[arriba]

uuli kaas

I. N

1. green sea turtle meat , [KRI] tortl mit , [RCK] toortl miit

Pictures/Imagenes:

Composicion:

Compounds

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Green sea turtle meat is the preferred meat to eat. They also eat hawksbill, but this was hunted in the past primarily for the shell, which was sold in Bluefields and used locally or exported to make jewelry and other "tortoise shell" adornments. Green sea turtles are the only herbivorous adult sea turtles, eating mostly "turtle grass." The meat therefore has a milder, slightly sweet taste compared to other sea turtles.

[arriba]

uuli kukaut

I. N

1. animal,insect unidentified

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A big long bug that hollers i the late afternoon and night like a small motor saw. Hollers when turtle time is coming.
Léxica:
Alternative form given as uuli uut; both acceptable.

[arriba]

uuli uruk

I. N

1. animal,reptile wood turtle

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is a turtle that lives on the land in the bush.

[arriba]

uulung

I. N

1. family,human younger sister

2. family,human sister of female

[arriba]

uulup

I. N

1. artef. palangka (?)

2. artef.,dom.,plant gourd dipper/bailer

Notas:

Etnográfica:
"Uulup" refers to a long gourd, as contrasted with "sabang," which is round. As with the "sabang," these are dried, halved, and hollowed out to make utensils. The long ones usually serve a dippers or dory bailers.
"Uulup" also refers to a long pole (palangka) which is used to move a dory or motorboat when it is too shallow to paddle or use the motor, or to maneuver where the "uulup" is more effective.

[arriba]

uulupup

I. N

1. artef.,cooking scooper

2. artef.,cooking dipper

Notas:

Gramatical:
On the contrary to 'uulup', this noun cannot mean 'pole for dory'.

[arriba]

uumut

I. N

1. animal,insect wasp , [ESP] avispa

2. animal,insect small black wasp

Notas:

Gramatical:
Used as generic name for wasps.

[arriba]

uumut nuknuknga

I. N

1. animal,insect big yellow wasp , [ESP] Avispa amarilla grande

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Uumut nuknuknga kiangkiangkat tupki, naingi aakituing.
The yellow wasp it is under the kiangkiang tree (small bush) that it stays.

[arriba]

uung

I. N

1. artef.,food pot , [ESP] olla, porra

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Traditionally made their own pot out of iron buoys picked off the beach (from shipwreck). Pots are very valuable household items. For instance if you have to pay a snake doctor (no longer Rama), he might ask for part of his payment in cookware.

[arriba]

uung king

I. N

1. artef.,body,space lid , [ESP] tapa

[arriba]

uung tangaa

I. N

1. artef.,body,space bottom of pot

[arriba]

uup

I. N

1. body eye , [ESP] ojo

2. plant seed , [ESP] semilla

3. plant fruit , [ESP] fruta

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Very common in languages to have the same word for 'eye' and 'seed'.
Gramatical:
'uup' is lexical source of the class marker '-up' for roundish things.

[arriba]

uupbal

I. N

1. animal,fish tarpon

Notas:

Gramatical:
Also called 'taapum' and 'uup taara'.

[arriba]

uupkika

I. N

1. artef.,clothes eye glasses , [ESP] anteojos

Composicion:

Compounds

Morfemas
uup	ki	ka
eye		from
ojo

Notas:

Gramatical:
Constructed with double postposition 'ki+ka' , like 'kwiikupkika' (ring) and 'kukaakika' (earring).

[arriba]

uup skaa

I. N

1. body,space eyelid , [ESP] párpado

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

uup skaa kuyakba

I. N

1. body,space upper eyelid

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
uup	skaa	kuyakba
eye	edge	high up
ojo

[arriba]

uup taara

I. N

1. animal,fish tarpon , [ESP] Tarpón, Sábalo Real , [KRI] tapam , [RCK] taapam

Notas:

Gramatical:
Also called 'taapum' and 'uupbal'.

[arriba]

uuru

I. N

1. artef.,hunting wax arrow

2. wax , [ESP] cera

[arriba]

uut

I. N

1. artef.,dory dory , [ESP] cayuco

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Uut aingwa nipaukka uut yunikaini.
when I fall a cedar tree, I cut a dory with it

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. plant,tree cedar , [ESP] cedro

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Dory-making is an important skill for men, but some are much better than others, and in general all make fun of the heavy, ugly, crooked dories Spaniards tend to make. They are made completely by hand, from felling the tree by handaxe to final planing. Seagoing dories have to be shaped differently than dories that will stay in the lagoon or go up river, and not everyone has the skill to make them differently. The preferred tree to use is mahogony, but that is virtually impossible to find now in a big enough size and straight. That can last up to 15 years if you tar it up with cresote so that the salt water worm doesn't destroy it. Samwood 10 yrs.Yamari and ceiba might last 3 -4 years. Sabba 3 years, and cedar 1 - 2 years. If you dream the tree, you will find it while you are walking in the bush. Sometimes you find a really good tree, but after you do all of the prep work and cut it down, you find there's a big hole in the middle, so it's only good for making paddles and other small wooden implements.
Gramatical:
For the meaning 'cedar', see 'uut aingwa'.

[arriba]

uut

I. N

1. animal,insect bug

Pictures/Imagenes:

2. animal,insect bee , [ESP] abeja

Notas:

Gramatical:
Source of many compound expressions.
Léxica:
Homonymy with 'uut' (dory).
Generic for bugs, insects. See 'kungkung uut' (wood lice), 'ngalaali uut' (honey bee), 'pruun uut' (trumpet ant), 'sii uut' (marching ant, 'tauli uut' (shipworm).

[arriba]

uut aing taat

I. N

1. artef.,dory seat in dory

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Uut aing taat su yuknatingsu, naapaiki.
I sit down on the dory board to paddle

[arriba]

uut aing uulup

I. N

1. artef.,dory pole for dory

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Nsut kuyaanik taakka uut ki, nsut kalniksu, uut ngulaik karka ulup u nsut kauki.
When we go up river in the dory, we stand up and we pole in from the bow.

[arriba]

uut aingwa

I. N

1. artef.,dory,plant cedar tree

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Uut aingwa nipaukka uut yunikaini.
when I fall a cedar tree, I cut a dory with it

Notas:

Etnográfica:
favored wood for dories, but scarce for several decades, and extremely uncommon as of 2008.

[arriba]

Uut Aingwa aing Siikwiik

I. N

. toponomy [RCK] Siida central mojone

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojón 012, Ciida central mojone

[arriba]

uutkiing

I. N

1. plant,tree johncrow tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A large tree with yellow flowers.

[arriba]

uut sukup

I. N

1. artef.,dory toy dory , [ESP] cayuco de juguete

[arriba]

uut tangaa

I. N

1. body,dory,space keel

[arriba]

Wahai

I. N

1. human Sumu people

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Sumu kaulingdut 'Wahai' nsut yaa kauni.
"We call the Sumu people ""Wahai""."

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Rama name for Sumu people.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Sumu (Ulwa), meaning 'man's brother or male cousin'

[arriba]

waham

I. N

1. plant grape , [ESP] uva

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Grows along the beach between the beach and mangroves. Supposedly can be eaten, but is not sweet or juicy like other grapes; not eaten by Rama.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu "waham."

[arriba]

wairu

I. N

1. animal,food,shellfish land crab

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Wairu laulau tupki inguri yuungi.
The wairu crab puts its hole under the mangrove root.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Blue round-bodied hairy ,hairy crab that lives in swamps. Are eaten stewed in coconut milk. Most people eat just the legs, others the whole body after scraping off the hair.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu. Also ngwairu.

[arriba]

waisku

I. N

1. artef.,fishing harpoon , [ESP] arpón

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Harpoon sometimes only refers only to the metal barbed "blade" which fits into the carved wooden staff. Used to hunt sea turtle, large fish such as snook and tarpon, manatee. The staff and barb are fashioned by Rama men for their own use; these days the line is plastic rope bought in Bluefields, and because money is needed to buy it, the line is often thought of as more valuable than the staff and barb, which they spend days making.
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu

[arriba]

waisku amkas

I. N

1. artef.,fishing harpoon blade

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
waisku	amkas
harpoon	blade
arpón

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Usually fashioned from a big nail, bucket handle, any appropriate piece of metal, something picked up on the beach if possible.

[arriba]

waisku kaat

I. N

1. artef.,body,fishing harpoon staff

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
waisku	kaat
harpoon	handle
arpón

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Fashioned from a strong piece of wood such as suupa.

[arriba]

waisku tangsiira

I. N

1. artef.,fishing harpoon's gauge

Composicion:

expression

[arriba]

waisukwaisuk

I. N

1. animal,bird cocrico

Notas:

Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

wakaira

I. N

1. animal,insect swamp honey bee

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Wakaira yuut yirii ki aakituing bii.
The swamp honey bee is a bee that lives only in the swamp.

Notas:

Léxica:
Also 'wapaira' and wapaira uut'.
See "wokaira."

[arriba]

wakling

I. N

1. animal,mammal white face monkey , [ESP] mono cara blanca

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Kaniinis kauling aa kwsi. Aamliika imaali. Wakling bii kwsi.
People don't eat shankwa turtle. It smells bad. Only the white face monkey eats it.

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Sometimes they will have it as a household pet.
Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu.

[arriba]

waksauk

I. N

1. mythological being

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
He has a big bushy head, a waist small like a monkey, and he can walk on the ground and climb trees and he must be able to use his tail to go limb to limb. Then he makes the noise 'waksauk, waksauk!!!'. He walks more at the end of the year and the old people say the Master lets them walk about; there are plenty of them.

[arriba]

walah

I. N

1. animal,fish big bagre , [ESP] Bagre (grande) , [KRI] bagri, kyatfish , [RCK] baagri, bukanshi

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Walah anmlingka, taimka tawan ki anpaayai. Tauli taara su sauk yuankiingakama anpaayai.
The big bagre, when they kill it, sometimes they sell it in Bluefields. They sell it to fish with it in the ocean.
Cuando matan un bagre grande lo venden, a veces, en Bluefields. Lo venden para irse a pescar al mar.
Walah nguringba kwiskama.
The catfish is delicious/tasty to eat.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Corn River and Wiring Cay are said to have large freshwater catfish. Some people eat catfish and some don't; not usually a preferred fish. If eaten, it is mostly fried, or dried and then later run down. The oil pops a lot while frying.

Se dice que en Corn River y Wiring Cay hay pez gato de agua dulce grande. Algunos lo comen otros no. No es una comida favorita. Si se come, generalmente se come frito, o se pone a secar y luego se prepare en rondon. Mientras se frie, el aceite “popea.”
Gramatical:
Has a variant 'walaha'
Léxica:
Borrowing from Miskitu 'walaha'. Bagre is Spanish; it is also called 'big catfish'. Some say "big bagri," and some just say "bagri," which is the same as uula or walaha/walah because this is the big catfish. As of 2009, “bukanshi” is described by those familiar with the word as “an old Rama Cay word,” known mostly to those at least 50 years old, while younger people on Rama Cay say “baagri.”

Préstamo del Miskitu 'walaha'. Bagre es en español, o pez gato. Algunos dicen bagre grande o solo bagre que es lo mismo que uula y walaha/walah que es el mismo pez gato grande. En el 2009, en el ingles-kriol de Rama Cay, la palabra “bukanshi” es conocida principalmente por la gente de mayor edad, mientras que los más jóvenes utilizan la palabra “baagri.”

[arriba]

walsa

I. N

1. the devil , [ESP] diablo

Notas:

Léxica:
Borrowed from Miskitu, ulasa/wlasa

[arriba]

wangka

I. N

1. animal,bird snake hawk, laughing falcon , [ESP] Gavilan

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Wangka `wangka' `wangka' ikauni. Aalbut ikwsi.
"The snake hawk hollers "wangka wangka". He eats snakes."
El águila ratonera grita “wangka wangka”. Come culebras.

II. onom.

1. 'wangka'

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This hawk gets its name from the sound it makes. Three are plenty of snakes to eat, so the snake hawk was a fairly common bird around the lagoon edge and down the beach where there are mangroves behind . As of 2009 still encountered, though not as frequently. Some say that if he hollers from a tree with leaves, he is begging for rain. If, on the other hand, he is hollering from a dry tree with no leaves, he is begging for "sunhot."
Léxica:
onomatopeic

[arriba]

wanguut

I. N

1. animal,bird Purple Gallinule

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A chicken-sized brilliant neon blue-chested and and neon blue-green backed -creek/river side wading bird. Not overly common, but can be seen stalking prey in the waterside wang grass. Noticeable also for its contrasting red bill.
Léxica:
Also "wangut."

[arriba]

wapaasa

I. N

1. geo south

[arriba]

wapaasaikba

I. N

1. space south side

[arriba]

wark

I. C+

1. work

II. N

1. work , [ESP] trabajo

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (work). The verb 'to work' is expressed by the association of the borrowed English noun and the Rama helping verb 'ting'.

[arriba]

wingku taara

I. N

1. animal,mammal giant anteater

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Extremely endangered. They can be fearsome animals when cornered as they are powerful and have long claws. There is a story from Cane Creek of a young man who was supposedly killed by one.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu.

[arriba]

wipri

I. N

1. animal,fish,health whipray , [ESP] Raya vaca , [RCK] wipri

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A type of ray. Not eaten, but the tongue is dried, washed, scraped, and then dried as a powder to put in tea to use as a medicine for asthma. It will keep for years.

Un tipo de raya. No es comestible, pero la lengua se seca, lava y raspa para hacer un polvo que se bebe en té como medicina para el asma. Se conserva por años.
Léxica:
Borrowed from English.

[arriba]

Wiring Cay

I. N

1. toponomy Wiring Cay

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Area south of Honesound, marshy, with a bar for entrance, little creeks, including Wiring Cay creek. Not an island nor a cay per se.

[arriba]

Wiring Cay Kakaa

I. N

1. toponomy Wiring Cay Bar

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Wiring Cay bar at the entrance of Wiring cay, a marshy area with little Wiring Cay creek.

[arriba]

wistartar

I. N

1. animal,bird smaller hummingbird , [ESP] gorrion chiquitito

[arriba]

wokaira

I. N

1. animal,food,insect unidentified bee

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A kind of bee that makes sweet honey and has its hive in a tree trunk or log. You cut the honey in May.

[arriba]

yaabra

I. N

1. geo north , [ESP] norte

2. nat.,wind north wind

3. breeze , [ESP] brisa

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from Miskitu.

[arriba]

yaabra aingwa

I. N

1. wind north wind

[arriba]

yaabraikba

I. N

1. geo north side

[arriba]

yaabra kiingaikba

I. N

1. nat.,wind out breeze

1. wind northeast wind , [ESP] viento del noreste

Notas:

Gramatical:
See also 'pulkat kiingaikba'.

[arriba]

yaabra taak skwa

I. N

1. nat.,wind breeze from the land

[arriba]

yaabra tukan

I. N

1. calendar,time november

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
yaabra	tukan
north wind	month

[arriba]

yaadar

I. N

1. thing , [ESP] cosa

2. something

[arriba]

yaakiira

I. N

1. time , [ESP] tiempo

Notas:

Gramatical:
Appears only in the expression 'ning yaakiira' (right now).

[arriba]

yaataaki

I. ADV

1. everything , [ESP] todo

II. N

1. things , [ESP] cosas

III. QUANT

1. measuring plenty of things

Notas:

Gramatical:
The translation 'things' is in the plural because it has the meaning of 'belongings'.

[arriba]

yahal

I. N

1. dom.,plant,tree sandpaper tree

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The leaves closely resemble the leaves of the trumpet tree, but are rough like sandpaper and can be used to help smooth wood artefacts. The trunk is brownish.
Léxica:
Possible borrowing from Miskitu. See palka.

[arriba]

yampi

I. N

1. food,plant unidentified tuber

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A small purple potato with a dry texture and very slightly sweet taste. Though some might say "purple yam," these are much smaller than yams which are huge in comparison. Yampi commonly grown Wiring Cay and south, not so much around Rama Cay. (Also more common farther up the coast....in both cases perhaps due to it having come from the Kriol community). For the most plentiful and best-tasting harvest, plant as follows: Plow up the ground and plant May-June (full moon said to be best for all planting). What you plant is the "seed," i.e., any small yampi you have dug up when you "hauled" the plant. If you want to keep these for a while before ou plant them, you must keep them on the "stick" and keep them wet. Plant where the vine can climb up. Don't harvest until the second dry season (around March).

[arriba]

yamz

I. N

1. food,plant yam , [ESP] camote, papa dulce

Pictures/Imagenes:

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A breadkind more common among those who lived where there were more bush Kriols, e.g., Cane Creek, Aguila. There are several varieties, e.g., white yam, yellow yam. Not so common on Rama Cay and more people there don't like them. Grow very large. After you dig them up you can plant the head of the plant (It's small), or any of the small yams that you pull up. You should plant where the vine can climb. You can harvest after one year, in the next dry season.
Gramatical:
Borrowing from English (yam).

[arriba]

Yatkulikika Nguu

I. N

. toponomy Top House , [ESP] Casa de arriba

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Nombre del mojon 005 sur, Top House

[arriba]

yeer

I. N

1. time year , [ESP] año

Notas:

Gramatical:
Borrowing from English 'year'.

[arriba]

yengyeng

I. N

1. bread,food,plant small banana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Very tiny banana found in Cane Creek.
Banano bien pequeño que se encuentra en Cane Creek.
Gramatical:
Reduplication.

[arriba]

yiraa

I. N

. Machacha (young) , [ESP] Machaca

Notas:

Etnográfica:
This is the only know case of a word specifically referring to one fish only, supposedly when it is young and small. The word cannot be used for any fish other than a small “siirik.” Furthermore, no known connection with the meaning “breadkind.”

Es el único caso encontrado en donde la palabra se refiere solamente a un pez en una etapa de su vida. No se utiliza con otro pez, ni con una “machaca” más grande. Tampoco se conoce algún vínculo con el sentido de “fruta de pan” el otro sentido de la palabra “yiraa.”
Léxica:
Is also an old Rama word for “breadkind”: samuu yiraa, isiup yiraa, etc.
Tambien es palabra antigua del rama para fruta de pan samuu yiraa, isiup yiraa, etc.

[arriba]

yirii

I. N

1. thick liquid , [ESP] liquido espeso

2. body,plant sap

3. juice , [ESP] jugo, zumo

4. geo swamp , [ESP] ciñenaga, suampo

Notas:

Etnográfica:
A lot of Rama territory is in swampy areas, so many Rama spend a lot of time in swamps, hunting, fishing, looking for plants for building and making things, for various fruits and medications. They are obviously aware of the difficulties and dangers, but that is a central part of their territory, so they have learned how to take advantage of what that environment has to offer while managing the difficulties and dangers through communally shared knowledge.

[arriba]

yirii saa

I. N

1. paint , [ESP] pintura

[arriba]

yirii tuptupba

I. N

1. geo swamp

Composicion:

expression

Morfemas
yirii	tuptupba
swamp	soft
ciñenaga, suampo

Notas:

Etnográfica:
There are many swamps in Wiring Cay.

[arriba]

yubusuk

I. N

1. spirit , [ESP] espíritu

[arriba]

yukatan

I. N

1. bread,food,plant Yucatan banana

Notas:

Etnográfica:
The Yucatan banana is smaller than the patriut banana, but also cooks soft.
Probably a variety of banana brought in by banana companies.
El banano Yucatan es mas pequeno que el banano patriota, pero tambien se asuaviza al cocinar. Probablemente es una variedad de banano traida por las companias bananeras.
Léxica:
Borrowing from English/Spanish (Yucatan). See also 'paatrut'.
Prestamo del Ingles y Espanol (Yucatan). Ver tambien "paatrut".

[arriba]

yupyuwadut

I. N

1. human very old people

Composicion:

Flexion

Morfemas
yupyuwa	dut
very old	PL
muy viejo

Notas:

Gramatical:
Nominalization from adjective with plural suffix. The suffix can be '-lut' or '-dut'.

[arriba]

yuum

I. N

1. animal,reptile tiger ratsnake

Notas:

Etnográfica:
large black and white "speckle" snake. Sometimes seen swimming in creek or river. Catches fish. Some think it is poison, but is not. Gets "vex" (angry) and flattens itself out when approached; aggressive.

[arriba]

Diccionario

I. N

I. N

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

Notas:

I. N

I. N

Composicion:

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

I. N

Composicion:

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

I. N

I. N

Notas:

I. N

II. V

I. N

I. N

I. N

Composicion:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

I. N

Notas:

I. ADJ

Composicion:

I. N

Composicion:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

Notas:

I. N

Composicion:

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Notas:

I. N

Composicion: