H - h

hae₁   n. kava. Mo vano matan a inu have. He went to drink kava. Piper methysticum.

hae₂   vt. ask an obligation of someone. Tovon nale stori, tamalohi mwende le hae na tamalohi rindi mo lai nora tambaka. When they are telling the stories, the man who had asked this obligation of the men brings their tobacco.

hahari   vt. write something. Kumbo hahari na bembe atea teleiho. I will write a letter to you. Originally 'engrave'.

haharia   n. writing. Ombo soaria ana haharia daeha. You'll see it in red writing.

haikarawalau   n. poles of thick bamboo, running length-wise high under roof, to support roof structure of house.

haiwahi   vt. carry something over shoulder, on only one end of a stick or pole. See: tetehi.

hai-   n. upper arm.

halihali-   n. top part of back of neck.

halili   n. a kind of shellfish, 'cat's eye' pattern on base of strong mottled black shell; spiral shape about 4-5cm; edible, collected by women. Turbo ?.

halili buela   n. shellfish, spiral shape, but rounder than halili.

halimbe   n. pattern used in weaving bamboo walls, woven one in, one out.

halo₁   vt. steer, direct, as with rudder of boat. Votasina mo halo nora aka. Her younger sister steered their boat.

halo₂   vt. fence something. Mo halo na vanuana. He fenced his house.

hamanji   vt. whip someone.

hamba   n. 1 • wing.

2 • sail of boat.

hambaha   vi. 1 • (be) winged, wing-like.

2 • with sails.

hambahamba   n. a kind of fishing done with a net.

hambai toa   n. a kind of soft yam.

hambalevua   n. man that can change at will into a shark or other animal, as believed of some of the ancestors.

hambana mata-   n. eyebrows. hambana mataku my eyebrows.

hambari   vt. destroy. Langi mo hambari na vanua. The wind destroyed the house.

hambasi   adv. apart. revei hambasi; tai hambasi pull apart; cut apart.

hambe   vt. cut food into pieces. O hambe na wewe/baeho/sowa! Cut up the laplap/breadfruit/pawpaw!

hambilai vuniu   n. cuts on the trunk of a coconut tree. See: bonambona.

hambu   n. 1 re fire • fire.

2 • firewood. Tamalohi na tai na lovuhai matai hambu. Men cut down the trees for firewood.

hambuara   n. north-west wind, very strong and dangerous, often lasts only a few hours.

hambuhani   n. volcano.

hambutango   n. bushfire.

hanhani hinau hana heletu   n.phr. evening star (Venus).

hani   vt. 1 • eat something.

2 • burn something up completely. Usage: Same in East dialect

hani marua   idiom. be greedy, unsharing. Tamalohi niala mo hani marua. The man over there is greedy.

hani maruahi   idiom. eat selfishly, not share food with others. Mo han' maruahiau. He ate without sharing with me.

hani vindoni   idiom. eat everything, not just one thing.

hanihani   n. food. Variant: hanhan.

vi. eat, be eating. Variant: hanhan.

hanihania   n. feast. Variant: hanhania.

hanilesi   vt. taste something. Variant: hanlesi.

hanimaomao   vi. yawn. Variant: hanmaomao.

haniwahi   n. stick used over the shoulder for carrying bags of food from the garden.

hanja   n. stalk of a plant. hanjai havera; hanjai vuresi stalk of island cabbage; stalk of the golden apple.

hanji   vt. hurt, make sore. Mo hanjiau. It's hurting me. Bauna le hanjia. Her knees are hurting her.

hao   vi. climb. Mote matavosai a hao ana vuhai. He couldn't climb into the tree.

haorahi   vi. to feel cold. Tovona ku haorahi. Now I'm feeling cold.

haorahiha   vi. makes one feel cold. Mo haorahiha. It's making us/them/me feel cold.

haosahi   vt. light the fire. O haosahi na hambu! light the fire! Variant: hasahi.

haovi   vi. stay in one place, stay behind, 'stay put'. Atete, nia mo haovi. No, she's staying put.

haraha   vi. crawl like a baby. Tovona mole haraha toho. She is crawling fast now. Usage: Same in East dialect

haramba   vi. new. Nia vanua haramba. It's a new house.

harambai   n. stick for throwing, approx. 50cm long, used to knock down fruit from trees or to throw at chickens. Nia mo lai na noku harambai. He took my stick.

vt. action of throwing such a stick at fruit on tree, or at animals. Voi mo harambai na moli. Mum threw the stick at the oranges (to get them down). Ku harambai na toa. I threw the stick at the chickens.

hari₁   n. pipi shellfish.

hari₂   n. tool for shredding flesh of coconut.

haritawa   n. a kind of strong yam.

harivi   n. rat.

harivi ngiringiri   n. mouse.

haro   vt. clear off burnt twigs in the garden prior to planting, usually by sweeping. Ka haro na tano. We cleared off the ground.

haroharo   vi. be clearing off, sweeping off twigs, picking up rubbish. Ka haroharo. We are/were clearing off.

haroharotoho   Usage: East dialect See: suvutoho.

haromura   n. a kind of taro (bweta).

harosi   vt. scratch something.

haro-   n. 1 • fontanelle, the small soft place on the top of a young baby's head.

2 • small marks on head when child's head not oiled.

hasahi   vt. See: haosahi.

hase   adv. alone, by oneself. Ku hase lolia. I did it by myself.

haseturua   n. independence. Nananovi bongi vorae matan Haseturua non' Vanuatu. Yesterday was the birthday of Vanuatu's Independence.

hasi   vt. cut (as with razor blade), lance.

haso   vt. praise or admire someone, express admiration, glorify. Tamalohi na hasoa matan mo andi walau asena. People admire him because he runs so very well.

hasohaso   vi. praise, continue to praise.

hasori   vt. spit out something, cough out something. Mo hasori hina tarusa. He spat out the saltwater.

hasuhasu   vi. steam coming out, steaming. O soari, mo hashasu. Look, it's steaming. Variant: hashasu.

hati₁   v. bite something. Manji hati nale walau. Feeding fish were running.

hati₂   vi. bear fruit. Vuniu niala mo hati moiso. The coconut tree over there is already fruiting. Usage: Used with reference only to coconuts. See: vira.

hatihati   vt. itch, make itchy. Mo hathatiau. I'm itchy. Variant: hathati.

hatou   n. hermit crab. Usage: Same in East dialect

hatusi   vt. bite off something.

hauhau   Usage: East dialect See: sausau.

have₁   n. kind of small crab.

have₂   vt. draw, pull back bow, as if to shoot arrow. Mo have na bakana mo sahe aulu. He drew back his bow and up it went.

havehave   n. boil under arm.

havehi   vt. hide something in the clothes on one's body.

havera   n. island cabbage. Abelmoschus manihot.

have-   n. armpit.

haviha₁   n. rose apple (Malay apple).

haviha₂   n. a kind of taro (bweta).

havo   n. twin/s, same sex. Nanatuku nira havo. My sons are twins.

havu   vt. cover up something in order to cook it.

havuhavu   vi. distribute vatu, yams etc. to people, on the 10th day after a death. Variant: havhavu.

havula   n. stalk of any kind of breadfruit.

havula-   n. lower back part of neck.

havuti   vt. make a gift of a share of the goods (to family, special friends) as part of the traditional rituals on 10th day following a death. Mo havutiau 100 vatu. He gave out 100 vatu to me. Gifts can be money, yams, etc. and amount is in proportion to the past relationship between the family member or friend to the deceased. See: havhavu.

ha-   gramm.part. possessive classifier, indicating food. ham sowa; haku ris your pawpaw (to eat); my rice (to eat).

heli   vt. dig up, usually to dig yam/s. Mo vano a heli bulana dam. He went to dig up his yams.

heliheli   vi. be digging, continue to dig. See: bongi helihelia.

henja   vt. 1 • paint face for custom dance.

2 • tattoo. Tamalohi niala mo henjae. The man over there tattooed him.

henjaha   vi. blue/green colour. Mo kiri tawera mo vaia lovuhai na henjaha. It rained heavily and made the trees green.

henjaha dondoha   vi. dark blue, dark green.

henjaha randa   vi. light blue, light green.

henjaha rohai   vi. leaf green.

henjaha tuka   vi. sky blue.

henjahenja   vi. be in the process of painting or tattooing.

here₁   n. a kind of traditional dance in which women dance, accompanied by music by men.

here₂   vi. be flat, as with ground.

hete   n. basket, general term.

hete asihurivae   n. garden basket, big, made from leaves of the vuvae tree; very commonly used.

hete hurilolovua   n. garden basket, originally whiteish, darkens with age, made from the vulolovua (tree).

hete hurimautou   n. basket made from the vumautou (tree).

hete maho   n. very white basket, made from the vumaho (tree).

hete ngende   n. basket of coconut leaves, especially used for collecting shellfish on the reef.

hete veveo   n. small basket made from pandanus, used for shopping, carrying hymn book to church, etc.

hetei uranji   n. uterus, womb.

hewa   n. mud, as after rain. Variant: hevua.

hewaha   vi. be muddy, as after rain. Tano mo hewaha tina. The garden is really muddy. Variant: hevuaha.

hia   vi. yelp, like the small sharp sound of a dog.

hihi₁   v. rub two small sticks together to make a fire.

hihi₂   vi. squeeze through, sidle through, as in a crowd. O hihi o vano! Squeeze through!

hili   vt. tickle someone.

hilihili   v. be tickling, tickle one another. Nale hilihilira. They were tickling each other.

hilo   vi. look while facing. O hilo mai! Look here!

hilo kereimata   v. glance sideways in order not to be noticed. See: hilo wambune.

hilo wambune   v. 1 • look sideways at something or someone deliberately.

2 • look up or out with one eye because eye is 'turned', something wrong with eye muscle.

hilohilo   vi. look all around.

himbu₁   n. skirt.

himbu₂   n. a kind of yam.

himu   vt. use something. Tuai sorae o himura mote mahere. Some words that you've used aren't correct.

himuvonohi   vt. be dishonest, not pay for s.t. Mo himuvonohia. He used it for nothing (without paying).

hina   prep. with, by, by means of.

hinahinau   n.pl. things. Moiso hinahinau matai gest rum mote mai aiso duhu. So things for the guest room haven't been finished properly yet.

hinau   n. thing, something.

hinavono   interj. it doesn't matter, no problem. Tamalohi nate were na mai ne hinavono. Not many people came but it doesn't matter.

hinda   pron. we, including you (1 Plural inclusive independent pronoun).

hinda avuho   n.phr. goodbye. Usage: Usually shortened to da vuo.

hini   prep. by, of someone or something.

hiniti   vt. pluck or nip off something, as with leaves one at a time. Ku hiniti na rohai. I pinched off the leaves.

hinitimbira   n. a game, where two groups put a tree branch as their base. Other group must try to 'steal' a leaf from the other team without being taken 'prisoner'.

hinji₁   vt. dig something.

hinji₂   vt. take something out from earth oven.

hinjihinji   vi. be digging.

hinjumahi   vt. put something up high, push it in.

hintama   excl. why ever, why on earth? O lol' na hinau sohen mote duhu, hintama? You did that badly, why ever?

hire   vt. tip out something. Na hirera ana tano mamasa. They tipped them out onto dry land.

hirehire₁   n. coconut leaf plate (general term; many different kinds).

hirehire₂   vt. put something into a container. Na hirehire na suina. They put his bones into the container.

hirehire muelungi   n. coconut leaf container for rubbish, curved shape like a big plate.

hirehire sinaha   n. coconut leaf plate for food, small and reusable.

hirehire tahetiu   n. coconut leaf container for rubbish.

hisa-   n. name. Hisana Vomaranda. Her name is Vomaranda.

hisei   n.interr. who?

hisi   vt. reach, touch something. Noku bembe mote hisiho. My letter didn't reach you. Mo ronjo tina tauni le vano mo vano mo hisi tovona. He was really sick last year and continuing up to now.

hitahu   vi. be last, be at the back.

hoho   vi. bend down, turn away as from a blow, to 'duck'. See: olo.

hohona   vi. sour-tasting, as when not ripe. Paplamus nian mo hohona. This grapefuit is sour. Usage: Same in East dialect See: amiami.

hohovi   vt. fluff feathers over, to protect chicks or when laying eggs.

hohovono   n. headband, plaited from leaves, traditional Kastom dance decoration (males only).

hoi hete   n. string/s of basket, for handle.

hoihoi   vi. withered, shrivelled up, as with pandanus leaves not in good condition for weaving.

holo   vi. sweet tasting.

hona   vi. bitter tasting, as with manioc, some liquids.

horo₁   vt. block something, stop something from happening. O horoa! You stop it!

horo₂   vi. be overgrown.

horo₃   n. root.

horoharivi   n. kind of traditional long fighting stick (manja).

horosala   n. road, bigger than sala. Tovon mole sahe aulu ana horosala, mo lai na itihona. While he was going up on the big road, he took his walking stick. Usage: Same in East dialect.

horotahi   vt. block out someone or someone completely.

horoti   vt. chop up, as with island cabbage.

horo-   n. pubic hair.

hoso   vi. come ashore, reach shore from sea.

houhoui aka   n. place to sit in an outrigger canoe (room for one). Also houhiarua (seats 2), houhiatolu (seats 3).

hovihovi   vi. to have scabies, a skin disease. Mo hovhovi. He's got scabies. Variant: hovhovi. See: taro hovhovi.

hovo   vt. hit s.t. or s.o. with a stick.

hualalaha baeho   n. Grey-backed White-eye; a small bird similar to Vanuatu White-eye (hualalaha levu), but bigger, up to 13.5 cm. The bird has a grey back with white underneath, a yellow head and white eye ring. Zosterops lateralis.

hualalaha levu   n. Vanuatu White-eye, a small yellowish-green bird up to about 12.5 cm, with bright white ring around eye. Moves in pairs or flocks, eats nectar, insects, spiders, berries. Zosterops flavrifans.

huembe   n. Pacific Imperial Pigeon, a whiteish-grey bird about 40cm, with shiny green wings and tail. Makes a loud noise: 'rooo-prooo... followed by a soft 'hooo.'. Ducula pacifica pacifica.

huli   vt. clear land for garden, by slashing and cutting. Na huli evui na tano. They finished clearing the garden/s. Nia bongi hulia. It's land clearing time.

hulihi   vt. move something around, shake something.

hulihuli   vi. be clearing, weeding. See: sambusambuti.

hulihulia   n. action of clearing land.

hulihulihi₁   vt. shake vigorously. Mo hulihulihi na matesia matan mote mavoka. He's shaking at the door because it won't open.

hulihulihi₂   vi. move around, wriggle, wave in wind.

humbuta   n. back part of house. Nale ate ana humbutai vanua. They are sitting at the back of the house.

humiha   vi. bearded, with a beard. Tamalohi niala mo humiha. That man has a beard.

humira   n. Yellowstripe goatfish, a kind of ocean fish with whiskers, grows to about 22-30cm. Mulloides flavolineatus.

humi-   n. beard. Usage: Same in East dialect

hunju₁   n. stump of a tree left after tree cut down.

hunju₂   n. beginning. ana hunjui stori. in the beginning of the story.

hunju₃   excl. mild exclamation of annoyance.

hunjurahi   vt. clear completely. Na tai hunjurahi komokomo na lovuhai. They completely destroyed the trees.

huri₁   n. skin/s. Mo loli na ruru hina huri manji. S/he made the clothes with animal skins.

huri₂   n. cooked taro or manioc, mashed, then coconut milk added, like savsav.

vt. mash up soft cooked manioc or taro.

hurihuri   v. wipe one's backside. Variant: huhuri.

hurimboewari   n. shellfish, edible, about 5cm long, clings to rock.

huruhu   n. 'open fruit', fruit from the vuhuruhu (tree), orange outside when ripe, splits open, crimson inside with black-covered edible white seeds.

hutu   n. flea, louse.

hutuhutu   vi. rub, as with washing.

hutumandi   n. louse on pig.

hutumboni   n. bedbug.

huturahi   vt. shake something violently. Mui tawera mo mai mo huturahi na lovuhai. The big earthquake came and violently shook the trees.

? hiro   n. fat (of an animal).

? horovono   v.intr.

? hunju!₂   interj. swear word when used by itself.

v.intr.

-ho   pron. you (2SG object pronoun). Ku soariho nananovi. I saw you yesterday.