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

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Tiiskibalut uliinsu, 'king sabang' ankwiima aak anaungi.
When the children vex, they call their partners "calebash head".
Cuando los niños se enojan, llaman a sus compañeros "cabeza de calabaza".

[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

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Ngarang ki maakuru? Aikat taalingi naakru.
Where were you? I was in between the cane.

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

Ejemplo de Frase-Phrase example:

Aliup namlaaki ikat skwa. Alkaa ki nsualiskiingi, urnga saala yuuungkama.
I pick the naata from its tree. In the sun we dry it to make the food red with it.

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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
el gran marsopa solo vive en el oceano

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

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chicha

I. N

1. food chicha

Composicion:

Compounds

Notas:

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

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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.

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CIDCA

I. N

1. CIDCA

Notas:

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

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daaratuk

I. N

1. nat. lightening

Notas:

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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kapuupu

I. N

1. animal,frog Cane Toad

Pictures/Imagenes:

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karangkang

I. N

1. animal,insect blanket lice

5381.

Notas:

Etnográfica:
Called 'chings' in Kriol

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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'.

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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.

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karkuut

I. N

1. animal,bird grass bird

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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).

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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'.

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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'.

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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'.

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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

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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.

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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

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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).

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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. Tamaas ki ikauni kiikik ikauni.
The owl lives in the river. High up on the fig tree I saw it. It sings in the morning and sings in the night.
El búho vive en el rio. Lo vi arriba, en los arboles de higo. 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,

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: