Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Palåbran 07/23/2013: Kabåles

Kabåles (ka-BALL-is): Complete; brought to completion or perfection; finish; fully realized; intact.

Uses:
"Håfa bali-ña i ti kabåles na balåha?"
   = "What is an incomplete (not complete) deck of cards worth?"

"Hunggan, mababa esta i kahita, lao kabåles sinahguan-ña."
   = "Yes, the box was already opened, but its contents were intact."

"Kao kabåles magagu-mu para i konfitmasion?"
   = "Are your clothes ready (intact) for the confirmation?" = "Have you finished (putting together) your clothes for the confirmation?"

Friday, July 19, 2013

Palåbran 07/19/2013: Gosa

Gosa (GO-sa): Enjoy; have satisfaction from; take pleasure in.

Uses:
"Kao un gogosa hao på'go?" = "Are you satisfied with yourself now?"
"Kao ya-mu apigige'? Uhu ya un gosa!" = "Do you like apigige'? Here, take it and enjoy!"
"I saina, ha gof gosa i minagof-ña i patgon-ña." = "The parent took much pleasure in the happiness of his/her child."

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Palåbran 07/14/2012: Oggan

Oggan (OH-gan): Stuck on, run aground, stranded, to land on accidentally.

Note: Oggan can also be used figuratively, as in ending up somewhere other than your intended destination.

Uses:
"Bai fa'maolek i batko-ku sa' kanna' ma'ippe' annai oggan yo' gi acho'." = "I'm going to repair my boat, because it was almost split when I accidentally landed on a rock."
"Oggan i boti gi chepchop unai, lao gi mayamak." = "The boat ran aground on the sand, but it wasn't broken."
"Ai, sa' oggan gue' otro båndan siudåt, sa' ti ha atetendi i siñåt siha." = "Oh [...], he ended up on the other side of the city, because he wasn't paying attention to the signs."

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Palåbran 01/24/2012: Nuebu

Nuebu (new-EH-boo): New, modern, strange, unfamiliar, fresh.

Note: Some also write/pronounce it as ñuebu.

Uses:

"Kao nuebu i karetå-mu?" = "Is your car new?"
"Gof bunitu ennao na nuebu na chininå-mu." = "Your new shirt is very nice."
"Trabiha ti hu bisita i nuebu na tenda." = "I haven't visited the new store yet."

Monday, November 5, 2012

Palåbran 11/05/2012: Må'gas

Må'gas (MAH'-gas): Boss, master, superior, foreman, manager, be master.

Uses:

"Mångge ma'gås-mu?" = "Where is your boss?"
"I ma'gas ha deskuentåyi yo' ni finahån-hu." = "The manager gave me a discount on my purchase."
"Båba gue' na må'gas, sa' ti ha na'fandeskånsa i emplehao-ña." = "He's a bad boss, because he doesn't let his employees take a rest."

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Palåbran 09/14/2012: Saina

Saina (SIGH-na): Parent, elder.

Note: Saina also shows up as Asaina, and can be used for "Lord" as in "Lord God." The plural of saina is mañaina.

Uses:
"Hu bisita i saina-hu gi gimå'-ña." = "I visited my parent/elder at his/her house."
"Sumåsaga i dos mañaina-hu gi sanlagu." = "My two parents are living/staying stateside."
"Hånao ya un åmen i mañainå-mu siha fine'nena." = "Go and show respect to your elders first."

Monday, July 23, 2012

Palåbran 07/23/2012: Kalaktos

Kalåktos (ka-LUCK-tus): Sharp, keen, acute.

Uses:
"Adahi sa' kalåktos ennao na se'se'." = "Be careful because that knife is sharp."
"Hu guåsa' i fesiños sa' ti kalåktos." = "I sharpened the hoe because it wasn't sharp."
"Usa fan i mås kalåktos na machete." = "Use the sharpest machete."

Usually, kalåktos is reserved specifically for the keen edge of something, but I've also heard it used in another way:

"Gof kalåktos i palabrå-mu." = "Your words are sharp/to the point/harsh."