S

This dictionary contains only those words that differ from standard Indonesian, following the lists compiled by Takaria & Pieter (1998), Devin, and Pattiasina, with orthography standardised between the three. Stress tends to be noticeably on the penultimate syllable, which plays a significant part in producing the distinctive Ambon accent. Many words are derived from Indonesian by applying the following substitutions:

• Initial -e, -er syllables in grammatical prefixes become -a

  • berdiri → badiri, terbakar → tabakar

• Final -n, -m modifiers become -ng

  • teman → tamang, asam → asang

• Final -k, -h modifiers are dropped

  • anak → ana, bersih → barsi

• Final -u syllable becomes -o

  • arus → aros, mabuk → mabo

• Initial -e, -er syllables more generally become -a

  • mesin → masing, lentera → lanterna

sa’aro   reef   noun

sa   just this   adjective

saaru   shallow sea, the neritic zone, fished extensively   noun

sabab   cause, reason. sbr. because. cf. tagal.   noun

sabala₁   half   noun

sabala₂   next to   preposition

sabala₃   one-sided   adjective

sabala₄   before   noun

sabalah   [see tampar₂]   noun

sabale   a bowl (of)   measure

sabang   every   adjective

sabantar₁   “just a moment”   interjection

sabantar₂   after a while   adverb

sabarang dapa   in any way one can.   adverb

sabarang₁   any one of a group   noun

sabarang₂   inconsiderate   adjective

sabarang₃   improper   adverb

sabatang₁   huge   adjective

sabatang₂   a trunk (of), a measure word for describing the number of trees, logs, etc.   measure

sabiji   a seed (of), a measure word used for describing the number of seeds, nuts, etc.   measure

sabla   [see sabala]   noun

sabole-bole   as much as possible   adverb

sabong cuci   laundry soap   noun

sabong karbol   carbolic soap   noun

sabong mandi   bath soap   noun

sabong   soap   noun

saboteng   [see sabatang₂]   adjective

sabotol   a bottle (of), a measure word for describing the number of bottles   measure

sabua₁   a   measure

sabua₂   a fruit (of), a measure word for describing the number of round things (fruit, loaves, etc.)   measure

sabua₃   a temporary shelter, as for cooperative work, a party, etc.   noun

sabuku mai   [see sabuku]   adjective

sabuku   a term for something big (?)   adjective

sacubi   a pinch (of)   measure

sacucu   the name of a rope used by fishermen to accommodate their catch (?)   noun

sacupa   a can (of), a measure word used in the sale of cloves equivalent to approximately 750 ml   measure

sadap   delicious   adjective

sadeka   alms   noun

sadia₁   prepare   verb

sadia₂   prepared, ready   adjective

sadiki lai   nearly, almost   adverb

sadiki   a little   adverb

sadiki-sadiki lai   in a little while   adverb

sadongen   an appropriate choice or option   noun

saekor   a tail (of), measure word for describing the number of fish, chickens, etc.   measure

sage   a kind of dance (?)   adverb

sagero   [see sageru]   noun

sageru   palm wine   noun

sagogo   a measure word used in the sale of cloves, the smallest volume offered   measure

sagu gula   [sagu lempeng**]   noun

sagu kalapa   [see sagu lempeng]   noun

sagu kasbi   as sagu gula but using cassava flour rather than sago flour   noun

sagu lempeng_molds   sago mixed with grated coconut and palm sugar, then baked in porna   -

sagu luhu   [see sagu tumbu]   noun

sagu manta   uncooked sago   noun

sagu raja   a variety of kind of sago palm   noun

sagu tumang   sago that has been packaged in tumang   noun

sagu tumbu   a sweet snack made from sago meal, kanari nuts, and palm sugar   noun

sagu₁   the sago palm tree (metroxylon sagu)   noun

sagu₂   the processed pulp of the sago palm tree   noun

saguer   [see sageru]   noun

saguero   [see sageru]   noun

sahani   green palm frond   noun

sahara   wooden box for cargo   noun

sahua   interfere in parents’ conversations   verb

sahulo   cheer   verb

saika   a bunch (of), a measure word for things in bunches or bundles   measure

saing-saing   the spanish flag snapper (lutjanus carponotatus)   noun

sajo   cool, fresh   adjective

sakakar   [see skakar]   adjective

sakali   one time   adverb

sakali-kali   once in a while   adverb

sakang   probably, almost certainly   adverb

sakarang   now   adjective

saki bulang   menstruate   verb

saki₁   hurt   adjective

saki₂   sick   adjective

saki₃   ill   adjective

sakitang   sickly   adjective

sakitar   around   preposition

sakola   [see skola]   noun

saku₁   a species of needlefish, either the hound needlefish (tylosurus crocodilus) or strongylura anastomella   noun

sakulau   the black marlin (istiompax indica)   noun

sakutu   ally   noun

sala₁   error   noun

sala₂   err   verb

sala₃   wrong   adjective

salaf   salve   noun

salaku₁   as (because, due to)   conjunction

salalu₂   always   adverb

salam   muslim   noun

salama   the indonesian “selamat” (used to express goodwill in doing something, e.g. “selamat datang” = “welcome”, “selamat makan” = “bon appétit”, “selamat jalan” = “bon voyage”, “selamat pagi” = “good morning”, etc.)   interjection

salamaker   dried leaves of the castor bean plant (ricinus communis), the bitter decoctions of which are used to treat constipation   noun

salamanya   always   adverb

salamat   [see salama]   interjection

salasa   tuesday   noun

salatang tumbu   “that guy is drunk” (figurative, literally “the south wind pounds”) (the man is drunk)   interjection

salatang   south   adjective

salawaku₁   traditional shield   noun

salawaku₂   the tree falcataria falcata   noun

salawar₁   bad luck   noun

salawar₂   cursed with bad luck due to the breaking of a taboo   noun

salawena₁   move busily about   verb

salawena₂   walk slowly (?)   verb

salekar paha   crotch   noun

salekar   cubbyhole, space between, interior corner   noun

salele₁   tie cloth or rope around a coconut tree to indicate that climbing is prohibited   noun

salele₂   wear a piece of cloth diagonally across the chest   verb

salempeng   a single sagu lempeng   noun

saleng₁   move   verb

saleng₂   pour   verb

salep   drag on the ground   verb

saleser   a children’s game involving marbles   noun

salimong   blanket   noun

salmameti   [see salmaneti]   noun

salmaneti   species of goatfish (the family mullidae)   noun

salobar   brackish water   noun

salokang   gutter   noun

saloki   jigger, a shot of (alcohol)   noun

saloko   a handful (of)   measure

saloro   disorganised thinking (?)   noun

salot   [see slot]   noun

saloyer   some kind of clothing (?)   noun

salwir   serve   verb

sama   with   preposition

sama-sama   together   adjective

samal   [see samar]   noun

samama   the tree neolamarckia macrophylla   noun

samandar   the mottled spinefoot (siganus fuscescens), white-spotted spinefoot (siganus canaliculatus), or leopard coral grouper (plectropomus leopardus)   noun

samangat   spirit, zeal   noun

samangka   watermelon   noun

samantara   during, while   conjunction

samar   a species of bird (?)   noun

samata-mata   altogether   adverb

sambilang pul sambilang   ninety-nine   noun

sambilang₁   nine   noun

sambilang₂   a type of marine catfish with a dangerous sting, probably the striped eel catfish (plotosus lineatus)   noun

sambong   connect, join end-to-end.   verb

sambunyi   hide   verb

samemer   a term for something big (?)   adjective

samonti   indeterminate amount   adjective

sampe₁   arrive   verb

sampe₂   enough   adjective

sampe₃   until   preposition

sampe₄   reach to   verb

sampu   shampoo   noun

samu api   fire ant (the genus solenopsis)   noun

samu mera   any species of ant that is red   noun

samu   ant   noun

samua   all, every   adjective

sanahur   game trail, the track made by a game animal as it habitually follows the same path   noun

sanang₁   happy   adjective

sanang₂   pleasure   noun

sanapang cis   pellet gun   noun

sanapang   gun   noun

sandal geta   rubber sandal   noun

sandar₁   lean against   verb

sandar₂   berth, dock   verb

sandar₃   get closer   verb

sandiri   alone   adjective

sanekar   [see salekar]   noun

sanelat   gap   noun

sangaja₁   joke, jest   verb

sangaja₂   on purpose   adverb

sange-sange₁   barb   noun

sange-sange₂   barbed   adjective

sangko₁   fish hook   noun

sangko₂   hook   verb

sangsara   miserable   adjective

sanin   monday   noun

saniri negeri   [see saniri]   noun

saniri   representative council of the people of a region, consisting of village elders, heads of soa, and others who traditionally hold positions in the community   noun

sanisa   a base built on a tree to help it grow (?)   noun

sanisi   [see sanisa]   noun

sanoil   a piece, a bit   measure

santa   jerk   verb

santang   coconut milk   noun

sanusu   wooden sticks cut to size for a purpose, e.g. to build a fence   noun

sao   stone anchor   noun

sapa   who   pronoun

saparo₁   half   adjective

saparo₂   quarter   adjective

saparo₃   partly   adjective

saparu   [see saparo]   adjective

sapatu   [see capatu]   noun

saptu   saturday   noun

sapul-   -teen (prefix for numbers 11-19)   noun

sapulu   ten   noun

sapuri   an insulting term for those who have lost the use of their legs   noun

sarampa   a skin disease or rash, possibly roseola   noun

sarane   [see sarani]   noun

sarani   christian   noun

saratus   a hundred   noun

sardencis   [see sardinya]   noun

sardinya   the spotted sardinella (amblygaster sirm)   noun

sare   lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus)   noun

saribu   a thousand   noun

sarlinya   [see sardinya]   noun

sarobot   push forward without regard for consequences   verb

saroma₁   forest shelter   noun

saroma₂   trauma (?)   noun

sarong   sarong   noun

sarta   as soon as   conjunction

sarui   a kind of fish (?)   noun

sarune   a flowering plant   noun

saruru   trim off (e.g. the leaves from a palm branch, etc.)   verb

sarut   [see sarutu]   noun

sarut₁   drag forcefully upon the ground   verb

sarutu   cigar   noun

sasa₁   cramped   adjective

sasa₂   hard to swallow   adjective

sasa₃   short of breath   adjective

sasaja   over and over again   adverb

sasak   (of hair) worn in a beehive style   adjective

sasawi   pak choi cabbage (brassica rapa)   noun

sasele₁   only part (of)   adjective

sasele₂   a quarter (of)   adjective

sasele₃   beside   preposition

sasi gereja   sasi announced by the church, through specific prayers during sunday services   noun

sasi negeri   sasi announced by the village head   noun

sasi   tradition prohibiting the harvesting of certain plants and animals at certain times to prevent overfishing, etc.   noun

sasiri   a kind of very virulent and dangerous abcess   noun

satenga   one half   noun

satrop   pink syrup commonly served on shaved ice   noun

sau   anchor   noun

sawai   tilted, slanting   adjective

sayor   vegetable   noun

se   [see ose]   pronoun

sedu   scoop into a pile (?)   verb

segon   vietnamese   adjective

sei   side   noun

sein   cue, signal   noun

seka   wipe something clean   verb

sela   fish by following schools of tuna and dragging a lure through them   verb

sele   [see sisi₁]   verb

sele   a quarter (of)   noun

selenter   anarchic, ill-mannered behaviour   adjective

selu   a kind of fish (?)   noun

semang   outrigger   noun

semerlap   [see smerlap]   adjective

sempe   earthenware vessel for papeda or water   noun

sena   walk   verb

seng bai₁   “good morning”   interjection

seng bai₂   bad   adjective

seng bai₃   not good   adjective

seng   no, not (general negation)   adverb

senu   eccentric, crazy   adjective

sepa   kick   verb

ser₁   plan   noun

ser₂   plan   verb

ser₃   take aim at   verb

serfet   napkin   noun

sero gantong_{but for deeper seas}   a contraption similar to a sero   -

sero   an elaborate fish pen set up in shallow seas to trap fish, consisting of bamboo stakes connected by nets. the form is of two large outswept arms that guide fish into three stacked truncated triangles of reducing size, and ultimately into a square holding pen   noun

ses   older sister   noun

setang   devil, evil spirit   noun

setru   enemy   noun

sibor   scoop   noun

sibu-sibu   the katabatic breeze blowing down off the hills from dusk until dawn   noun

sidemu   the three-striped whiptail (pentapodus trivittatus), the butterfly whiptail (pentapodus setosus), or the saw-jawed monocle bream (scolopsis ciliata)   noun

sidi   adult baptism   noun

siha   brown   adjective

sika₁   brush   noun

sika₂   brush   verb

sika₃   eat ravenously (slang)   verb

sika₄   separate bananas from a bunch   verb

sikat   hit, strike   verb

siku tangang   elbow   noun

siku   angle   noun

siku₂   elbow   verb

sikuda   either the ornate emperor (lethrinus ornatus) or the orange-striped emperor (lethrinus obsoletus)   noun

silapa   the lavender jobfish (pristipomoides sieboldi)   noun

silar   a kind of fish (?)   noun

silender   mechanical cylinder   noun

siloki   [see saloki]   noun

simpang   save, keep in a safe place   verb

sinabu   a kind of fish (?)   noun

sinama   (pronoun for a person of same name)   pronoun

singaro   a kind of fish (?)   noun

singga   stop by, drop in   verb

sinoli₁   sago meal heated in a wok, usually together with grated coconut   noun

sinoli₂   as above, but made from cassava meal   noun

sinyo   [see nyong]   noun

sio   “alas”   interjection

sipat₁   limit, boundary   noun

sipat₂   delimit, bound   verb

sirang   pour liquid upon   verb

siri isi   a wild variety of siri that is also chewed   noun

siri kaya   [see bua nona]   noun

siri nitu   a wild variety of siri that is not chewed, the fruit of which is used for medicinal infusions and the leaves in poultices for broken bones   noun

siri popar   the tree ficus septica   noun

siri talang   a wild variety of siri (piper longum) that is not chewed, the root of which is used as incense   noun

siri utang   a wild variety of siri (piper aduncum) that is also chewed   noun

siri   the betel tree (piper betle), whose leaves are chewed with the areca nut (also called betel)   noun

sirkaya   [see bua nona]   noun

sirpopar   [see siri popar]   noun

siselang   a kind of basket   noun

sisi₁   the act of removing the contents of a coconut from its shell by prying it out with a machete   verb

sisi₂   remove sago flour from a container and put it in a tumang   verb

sisi₃   shove something in place between two objects or layers   verb

sisi₄   supernatural influence   noun

sisi₅   rowing a boat such that the bow is directed by the helmsman (?)   noun

skaf   carpenter’s plane   noun

skaf₂   plane   verb

skakar   miserly, stingy   adjective

skang   [see sakang]   adverb

skanir   hinge   noun

skarek   [see iskerek]   verb

skaruf   mechanical screw   noun

skarup   [see skaruf]   noun

skeit   care   verb

skeleng   cross-eyed, lazy-eyed, or other similar condition   adjective

skikir   [see skakar]   noun

skit   beat (punch)   verb

skoim   froth, foam   noun

skola   [see iskola]   noun

skop₁   kick   verb

skop₂   scoop   verb

skosteng   glass cylinder protecting the flame of a lamp   noun

skot₁   kick   verb

skot₂   gunshot   noun

skrek   [see iskerek]   verb

skrobi₁   banish, kick out   verb

skrobi₂   depart quickly, get out   verb

skrup   [see skaruf]   noun

skrupmes   screw driver   noun

skuci   dinghy, skiff   noun

slaber   wash the floor   verb

slah   opportunity   noun

slak bagini   all of a sudden   adverb

slak   glib response   noun

slak   opportunity   noun

slak₂   in a single operation or cycle   adverb

slak₃   with the immediate result that   conjunction

slenger   crank   noun

slenter   do something without thinking   verb

slot₁   lock   noun

slot₂   lock   verb

smak₁   tasty   adjective

smak₂   flavor   noun

smal   narrow   adjective

smaput   faint, become unconscious   verb

smer   polish   verb

smerlap   arsehole, impolite person   adjective

smusis   bother   verb

sneweng   a term for someone who seems stupid   noun

snup   snack   noun

soa   the term for a sub-community in a country which is composed of several fam   noun

soa-soa pake layar   the ambon sailfin dragon (hydrosaurus amboinensis)   noun

soa-soa   monitor lizard, most likely the ceram mangrove monitor (varanus cerambonensis) and the mangrove monitor (varanus indicus)   noun

soami   grated and pressed cassava steamed in leaves   noun

sobat   acquaintance   noun

soki   pulling a boat up on to shore   verb

soldadu   soldier   noun

solder₁   solder   noun

solder₂   solder   verb

soldor   loft, attic   noun

som   folds   noun

somba   a gesture of respect or reverence, with the palms together and raised in front of the face   verb

sombar₁   protector   noun

sombar₂   shadow   noun

sombayang   pray   verb

sombayang   prayer   noun

sombong   arrogant   adjective

sondak skol   sunday school   noun

sondak   sunday   noun

sondo makang   tablespoon   noun

sondo te   teaspoon   noun

sondo   spoon   noun

sondor stom   without uttering a required greeting (figurative, literally “a ship not blowing its horn”)   adjective

sondor₁   no   interjection

sondor₂   without   preposition

songko   the hat commonly worn by mulsim men in southeast asia, the songkok or peci   noun

sono   sleep   verb

sono-sono ayang   eyes closed, but not yet asleep   verb

sonto₁   strike (the foot) against   verb

sonto₂   touch   verb

sontong batu   cuttlefish   noun

sontong   squid   noun

soper   driver   noun

sopi   traditional alcohol distilled from sageru   noun

sopo   warm oneself by drinking sopi   verb

sopu   quench hardening steel   verb

soro   termite   noun

sorong₁   shove, slide   verb

sorong₂   press an attack   verb

sosi   plank, timber   noun

sosiri   rheumatism, arthritis   noun

soso₁   close together, crammed in   adjective

soso₂   force one’s way into a crowded space   verb

sosoki   traditional fishing gear made from aren palm leaves that are dragged like a net to catch mackerel scad (decapterus macarellus)   noun

sowae₁   lazy   adjective

sowae₂   can fall asleep anywhere   adjective

spalak₁   splint   noun

spalak₂   put in a splint   verb

spanen   exciting   adjective

spat₁   acidic-tasting   adjective

spat₂   sour   adjective

speit   spray liquid at   verb

spok   [see setang]   noun

spul   rinse   verb

sput   moving fast   adjective

stamplas   bus stop   noun

star   start up (an engine)   verb

starat   [see strat]   noun

starika₁   clothes iron   noun

starika₂   iron clothes   verb

starika₃   eat (slang)   verb

starom₁   electric current   noun

starom₂   electric shock   noun

stat   town   noun

stel₁   stylish   noun

stel₂   set or adjust (e.g. a dial, a screw)   verb

steleng₁   defence   noun

steleng₂   fortification   noun

steleng₃   scaffolding   noun

sterek   strong physique   adjective

stir₁   steer   verb

stir₂   steering wheel   noun

stom   (of a ship) blow its horn   verb

stomwals   steam roller   noun

stop   stop   verb

stopfles   a kind of stoppered glass jar   noun

storeng   static sound, as on a radio, interference   noun

stori   talk   verb

stout   punch   noun

strat mata ampa   four-way intersection   noun

strat   street   noun

streng₁   assertive   adjective

streng₂   strict   adjective

strep   stripe   noun

strom   [see starom]   noun

su   already   adverb

sua   feed a baby or a sick person   verb

suak   very weak   adjective

sualap   unfinished timber   noun

suam-suam kuku   warm   adjective

suang   fence post   noun

suanggi₁   an evil spirit in the shape a person, who spreads disease through the use of their mmagic   noun

suanggi₂   possibly a species of fish in the family holocentridae   noun

suda₁   [see su]   adverb

suda₂   enough   adverb

sudara   sibling   noun

suet   [see suwet]   noun

sukong   [see sukung]   noun

suku   quarter   noun

sukung utang   a wild variety of breadfruit   noun

sukung   breadfruit (artocarpus altilis)   noun

sumasi   the mangrove red snapper (lutjanus argentimaculatus)   noun

sumbur₁   spray   verb

sumbur₂   chew up (something deemed magical) and spray it out of the mouth on to (something upon which magic is to be worked)   verb

sungga   a snare made by planting bamboo or sharpened wood   noun

sunggu   surely   adverb

sungsang   empty out the contents of a container by turning it upside-down   verb

sureng   the iron redwood (toona sureni)   noun

surkaya₁   the sugar-apple (annona squamosa)   noun

surkaya₂   a cake made with eggs, flour, and coconut milk   noun

suru   command, order   verb

surutu   [see sarutu]   noun

susa₁   difficulty   noun

susa₂   troubled, sad   adjective

susi   nickname for an older sister   noun

susu   breasts   noun

susudara   siblings   noun

susung   arrange   verb

susuwae   almost full   adjective

suteng₁   suit   noun

suteng₂   ballot conducted by the showing of thumbs   noun

suwai   [see sowae]   adjective

suwanggi   a person full of black magic   noun

suwet   sweat   noun