Okinawan Language Chart

Compiled by Rich Boyden and Ricky Rose

Edited by Rich Boyden

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a very crude list of words collected from others' compilations and from informal conversations with speakers of the Okinawan language. It is not intended to be exhaustive or authoritative. The editor reserves the right to make sweeping changes (especially to the very weak introductory section below), and he welcomes contributions from others and invites volunteers to send e‑mail to Rich: kawatteru@yahoo.com or Ricky: Suiken000@insightbb.com

Introduction

Linguistically, the Okinawan language is related to Japanese, thought by scholars to have diverged between 800‑1400 years ago. At present, it can be said that most younger Okinawans speak Japanese spiced with leftover Okinawan phrases. Nevertheless, when comparing Japanese hyojungo (standard, Tokyo Japanese) with the language spoken by Okinawans, many generalized differences exist.

Phonologically, the sound written in Japanese romaji as "e" is pronounced in Tokyo similarly to the "ay" sound in the English word "say." In in Naha, the sound is more like the "ee" in the English word "see." Moreover, the sound written as "o" in Tokyo is pronounced "u" in Okinawa. Thus, the word "te" would be pronounced "tay" by a Tokyoite and "tee" by an Okinawan. The Japanese verb korosu would be "kurusu" and so on. Consonant differences also exist. For example, the "s" in the well‑known karate form Kusanku is pronounced in Okinawa with a slight rushing of air through the teeth, causing Tokyoites to pronounce it "kushanku." It is a very weak comparison, but the whistling sound is closer to the "hi" sound in the Japanese word "hito" than it is to the stronger Japanese "sh" sound. The Japanese "tsu" is also pronounced "chi." Because of the growing prominence of hyojungo in Okinawa, these generalizations apply more to middle‑aged and older Okinawans and increasingly less to young ones.

Grammar is also different. A section on grammar has been inserted below.

The following compilation of phrases includes mainly informal words; many of them are crude phrases. The primary reason for their inclusion is that the editor has heard few other phrases distinguishable from hyojungo. Another reason is that among younger people, Okinawan phrases appear to come out mainly when the fists come up. The editor anxiously invites others to expand the scope of the list's contents, and to this end, the editor pledges also to spend more time speaking with older, more reserved Okinawans. However, for the primary consumers of this list ‑‑ foreigners practicing karate ‑‑ the list should be useful in its present form.

Categorized List of Grammar and Words

Pronouns and People

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Wan	Washi, boku, ore	I, me	"Wan ga yo" ("Boku ga ne")
Yan	Omae	You
Ta	Dare	Who
Inagu	Onna	Woman	Caution: I am not certain of the level of respect here ‑ use at your own risk.
Ikiga	Otoko	Man	Caution: I am not certain of the level of respect here ‑ use at your own risk.
Anmaa, ayaa	Okaa, haha, mama	Mother, momma
Tanmei	N/A	Title for older man	Note: I have been told that the title has some respect, but I need to clarify on what the respect is based.
Shimakuwa	Shimaguni no hito	Island person
Dushikuwa	Tomodachi, Nakama	Friend, buddy, mate
Tugikuwa		Wife	Warning: I have not confirmed the level of respect for this word.
Yanawarabaiya	Amaeko da	[He's a] spoiled brat

Greetings/Pleasantries/Conversational Tools

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Haisai	Konnichiwa	Hello
Chaabirasai	Ojama shimasu, gomen kudasai	Pardon me	(used when entering a home)
Nama chichatan	Ima kuru (?)	I come now	(Used to enter a home?)
Nama chikaki	Ima chikaku (?)	I am coming	(Used to enter a home?)
Makaiga, mankaiga	Doko ni iku?	Where are you going?
Mensooree	Yokoso	Welcome	Mata, mensooree tai. ("Please come back again.")
Imensooree	Yokoso Irasshaimashita	Weclome (formal)
Nifeedeebiru	Arigato	Thank you
Ukimisoochii	Ohaiyo gozaimasu	Good morning
Hajimiti uganabira	Hajimashite	Nice to meet you
Usagai misooree	Uketotte kudasai	Please take some	Ucha usagai misooree. ("Please have some tea.")
Uchinaguchi wakai miseemi	Okinawago wakarimasuka?	Do you understand Okinawan?
Uu, ufee wakai biin.	Ee, sukoshi wakarimasu.	Yes, I understand a little.
Daarusa	So da ne	Uh huh; don't you think; that's right
Ya	Dar	Aren't you, isn't it	Yan, fura ya. ("You're an idiot, aren't you.")
Guburii sabira	Shitsurei shimasu	Excuse me please

Greetings/Pleasantries/Conversational Tools (continued)

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Chaa gwanjuu yaibiimi tai?	Genki deshita ka?	Have you been well?
Chaa gwanjuu yebiseemi?	O genki desuka?	How are you? (formal)
Chaa gwanjuu Yebindo.	Okagesama de, genki desu.	I am fine (formal)
Arando	Nai yo	There isn't any.
Wan ne ya, ippe shichun	Boku ha, kimi ippai suki dayo(?)	I love you a lot(informal).
Masami?	Oishii? (Umai?)	Does it taste good?
Guburisabira	Kaerimasu, Shitsureishimasu	I am going home, goodbye
Yakai	Okaeri (?)	Going home (?)
Maruketi yebimi	Ohisashiburi	Long time no see.
Chasugaiya	Do suru	What am I do (?)
Chasaiyebiga	Ikura desuka	How much?
(Ure) Nuyebiga	(Kore) Nandesuka	What is (it)
Ninjimi sooree	Oyasumi nasai	Good night
Unjo naya yami sega?	Anata no namae ha nan desuka?	What is your name?
Wan naya [name] yaibin	Boku no namae ha [name] desu	My name is [name]
Ganju yemi sega?	Genki datta?	How've you been?	Note: Used among friends

Greetings/Pleasantries/Conversational Tools (continued)

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Anucho ta yami sega?	Ano hito, dare desuka?	Who is that person?
Mihitchoti kimisoree		How do you do?
Imi soree	Agatte kudasai	Please come in
Hisai bin yasai	Samui desune	It's cold isn't it
Chuu ya ii tenki yabisa	Kyou ha ii tenki da ne	Today's nice weather, huh
Achisanu yasa	Atsui da ne	It's hot isn't it
Chuu ya kaji nu chusan yasai	Kyou ha kaze tsuyoi desu	It's windy today
Ashibiga mensooree		Come and see me
Ii soguwachiyasai	Omedetou gozaimasu	Congratulations
Wan ne Amerikachu yaibin	Boku ne, Amerikajin desu	I am an American
Umanji takushi murarigaiya yasai	Koko de takushi noremasuka (?)	Can I get a taxi here
Urikankai basunoriba banu aibigayasai		Something about a bus stop
Michi bappe saibitan		I am lost
Kashi shikumi soree		Please help me
Abindo	Arimasu	I have
Yukumisooree	Yukuri shite kudasai (?)	Come in and rest

Greetings/Pleasantries/Conversational Tools (continued)

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Wakaimi	Wakarimasuka	Do you understand
Wakaibindo	Wakarimasu	I understand
Nuyebiga	Nandesuka	What is it?
Nuga	Nani	What	Warning: Very informal. My source was punched when he misused it to a higher rank
Ii hazu yo	Ii hazu yo	Should be good	Used more often than in Tokyo?
Chiyabitai	Gomen nasai	I am sorry
Ato kara ya	Mata ato de	See you later

Descriptives

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Bannai	Ippai	A lot	Bannai yare ("Do it a lot!")
Deeji	Totemo	Very	Yan deeji fura ya ("Omae, totemo baka da.")
Ippe	Ippai	A lot (colloquial)
Abiyaa	Urusai, urusaiyatsu	Yelling, person talking too loudly
Nama	Ima	Now
Watabu	Debu (?)	Fat	Warning: I have not confirmed that this is not derogatory.
Masan	Mazui	Tastes bad
Masasai	Oishii	Tastes good
Michoki	Miru	Watch
Hijai	Hidari	Left
Chikaragi	Utsukushii	Beautiful
Yanakagi	Busu (boosue)	Ugly
Iibaikuwa	Tengu dana	[He's] stuck up
Dugurusan	Muzukashii	Difficult
Waji waji	Kan kan	Angry

Assorted Nouns, Counters

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Uchina	Okinawa	Okinawa
Ucinanchu	Okinawa no hito	Okinawan person
Yamato	Nihon, Nippon, Yamato	Japan
Yamatunchu	Nihonjiin	Japanese person
Uchinaguchi, Yanaguchi	Okinawago	Okinawan (the language)
Inguwa	Inu	Dog
Ucha	Ocha	Green tea
Andagii	Andonatsu (?)	Okinawan donuts
Taochi	Tachiai (?)	Street fight, brawl
Tichi	Hitotsu	One (thing)
Tachi	Futatsu	Two (things)
Michi	Mittsu	Three (things)
Yuchi	Yottsu	Four (things)
Ichichi	Itsutsu	Five (things)
Muchi	Mutsu	Six (things)

Assorted Nouns, Counters (continued)

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Nanachi	Nanatsu	Seven (things)
Yuchi	Yatsu	Eight (things)
Kukunuchi	Kokonotsu	Nine (things)
Tu	Tou	Ten (things)
Ure, uri	Kore	This
Kumisukuchin	Ocha	Tea (special kind?)
Hiitai	Heitai	Army, military person
Jinkuwa	Okane	Money
Gajan	Ka	Mosquito
Chidi	Kizutsuke	Cut
Wakuwa	Buta	Pig

States of Being/Emotions/Sensation

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Chikareta	Tsukareta	I'm tired
Chikareton	Tsukareta	Tired	(confirm conjugation)
Utaton	Tsukareta	I'm tired	(as in exhaustion)
Nibui	Nemui	I'm sleepy
Achiisan yaa tai?	Atsui da ne.	Hot, isn't it.
Aga	Itai	Ouch
Yasan	Onaka suita, hara heta	Hungry
Yamun	Iyamu (?), Itami	Ache, pain	Ex: Watai yamun (Stomach ache)

Anatomy

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Yakuan	Kinteki	Testes
Kuga	Kintama	Testes, balls
Chimuguchi	Suigetsu	Solar Plexus
Chiburu	Atama	Head, smart person	Yan, chiburu ka? ("Are you a smart guy?")
Chiburugi	Ke, Kaminoke	Hair
Mamaiyu	Mayuge	Eyebrow
Mi	Me	Eye	"Michoki" ‑ Watch (imperative)
Chira	Kao	Face
Kakugi	Ago	Chin, jaw (?)
Nudi	Kubi	Neck
Chibi	Oshiri	Buttocks	Warning: Could be English equivalent to "ass." Will confirm.
Chimu	Kokoro	Heart
Chinshi	Hiza	Knee
Hirige	Hiji	Elbow
Gamaku	Koshi (?)	Hips

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Shiba	Shita	Tongue
Udi	Ude	Forearm, arm
Watai	Hara (?)	Stomach
Ti	Te	Hand
Iibi	Yubi	Yubi
Chimi	Tsume	Nail
Hisa	Ashi (?)	Feet or legs
Hoomii	Omanko	Women's genitals	Warning: Said among men only. Amusingly, the words "hold me tight" sound like "hoomii mitai" and it has been found to arouse quite an enthusiastic response when sung in karaoke.

Epithets, Crude Phrases and Other Danger Words

HOGEN	*JAPANESE*	ENGLISH	Notes
Fura	Baka	Idiot
Naicha	N/A	Japanese person	Warning: This is a derogatory racial term.
Shimanaicha	N/A	Japanese person who has lived on Okinawa for some time	Warning: This term is still somewhat derogatory, but carries the nuance that the Japanese person is
Kurusu	Korosu	To kill	Note: This word can be used with either pronunciation. Increasingly, there is no automatic change of the "o" sound to "u."
Shinasu	Koroshite yaru	I'll kill you
Abitookee	Hozaitero	Keep talking, prattle on, "talk to the hand"
Abiranke	Urasai	Shut up.
Ibaiaguwa	Hana ga takai	Stuck up
Watabu	N/A	Fatso
Gwa/Kuwa	No direct translation	No direct translation	Generally a derisive ending to a person's name or title. Treat as similar to "baka" or "chikusho."
Ijimisoree	Deteikinasai (?)	Get out of here
Kuwa	Koi	Come here	(condescending tone)
Kusa maiakuwa	N/A	Smelly person (?)
Hanakusaiya Shibaiyakuwa	Hanakusaiya (colloquially)	[He] stinks (?)