T

2022-09-26

16 min read

making

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

ta’ambor scattered adjective

tabadiri standing on end, erect adjective

tabakar₁ burn verb

tabakar₂ burnt adjective

tabaku utang ngai camphor (blumea balsamifera) noun

tabaku tobacco noun

tabala₁ split verb

tabala₂ split, cracked adjective

tabale₁ turned upside-down adjective

tabale₂ altered, changed adjective

tabale₃ entangle verb

tabangong wake up suddenly verb

tabanting fall verb

tabaos announcement, proclamation noun

tabaus [see tabaos] noun

tabe greetings noun

tabea “goodbye” interjection

tabembeng sagging, hanging down (especially in folds) adjective

tabera-bera afflicted with diarrhea adjective

tabongko-bongko with all one’s might adverb

tabuang₁ cast aside, cast away verb

tabuang₂ wash ashore verb

tabuka₁ open verb

tabuka₂ open adjective

tabulabale₁ upside-down adjective

tabulabale₂ reversed adjective

tacabu uprooted adjective

tacere separated adjective

tacigi₁ jerked verb

tacigi₂ shocked, surprised verb

taciri the urge to defecate, with some faeces already having come out noun

tacobo to have fallen in adjective

tacolo₁ dipped verb

tacolo₂ swamped with water, submerged verb

tacu wok noun

tacucu₁ impaled verb

tacucu₂ throb with pain verb

tacungkel gouged out adjective

tada₁ positioned ready to catch or receive something descending from above verb

tada₂ reach out to ask for something verb

tado₁ silent adjective

tado₂ calm adjective

tado₃ be quiet interjection

tadudu₁ end up sitting after losing balance verb

tadudu₂ exactly in place noun

taflak table cloth noun

tagae₁ snagged verb

tagae₂ related noun

tagai [see tagae] noun

tagal because conjunction

tagalasi covered provisions box, possibly tagalaya noun

tagalaya a woven bamboo basket or box used for the long-term storage of food and produce noun

tagantong hanging adjective

tagaris₁ scratched adjective

tagaris₂ become scratched verb

tagate captivated adjective

tagepe₁ wedged in adjective

tagepe₂ become wedged in between two things verb

tagi collect on a payment or debt verb

tagor₁ who pronoun

tagor₂ rebuke verb

tagoso scraped adjective

taguling roll over verb

tagulung wound up, curled up adjective

taha no, not, none adverb

tahaha drying coral reef noun

tahang mata remain awake verb

tahang₁ hold on to verb

tahang₂ hold still verb

tahang₃ withstand, endure verb

tahe [see ahe] verb

tahek-hek₁ hiccup verb

tahek-hek₂ sob with choking sounds verb

tahek-hek₃ make a choking sound laughing verb

tahela₁ attractiveness noun

tahela₂ drawn out, drawling adjective

tahela₃ drawn in verb

tahosa-hosa panting heavily adjective

tahuri conch noun

tai arus riptide noun

tai besi rust noun

tai gigi dental plaque noun

tai idong dried nasal mucus, ‘boogers’ noun

tai kuku dirt under the fingernails or toenails noun

tai lalar₁ mole (skin condition) noun

tai lalar₂ mold spot noun

tai mata₁ rheum, ’eye-boogers’ noun

tai mata₂ small child noun

tai minya edible dregs left over from the production of coconut oil noun

tai puki vaginal discharge or secretion noun

tai talingang earwax noun

tai tikus a kind of knot joining the ends of two fishing lines noun

tai₁ faeces noun

tai₂ any kind of excreta or byproduct noun

tajang sharp adjective

tajangke catch (a disease) verb

tajatu fall down suddenly verb

tajela clay cooking pot noun

taji [see taju] noun

taju₁ spur (of a rooster’s leg) noun

taju₂ boat frame noun

takajo₁ shocked, surprised verb

takajo₂ surprised by verb

takajo₃ lest verb

takajou [see takajo] adjective

takal boat tackle, gear noun

takanal₁ ensnared, entrapped verb

takanal₂ accidentally fall prey to supernatural powers verb

takangkang₁ hindered, held up verb

takangkang₂ lodged in the throat verb

takangkang₃ stuttering verb

takapa-kapa thrash about convulsively like a speared fish verb

takarang dose, indeterminate measurement of volume noun

takaruang hadat outside the traditional order of things adjective

takaruang₁ without order, arbitrarily adjective

takaruang₂ not happy adjective

takikis grazed, struck by a glancing blow verb

takincing-kincing wet oneself verb

takisu₁ sulking adjective

takisu₂ shy adjective

takonto-konto afflicted with a bout of farting verb

takor not enough adjective

takoro₁ shrink, shrivel, wrinkle verb

takoro₂ shrunken, shrivelled, wrinkled adjective

takoro₃ tangled noun

takotang [see taku] adjective

takser [see taksir] verb

taksir estimate, calculate approximately verb

taku scared, afraid adjective

takurung confined in an enclosure verb

talabukut nothing noun

talacu slip verb

talaga₁ pond noun

talaga₂ muddy adjective

talalo [see talalu] noun

talalu₁ too much adjective

talalu₂ overly adverb

talalu₃ be overly troublesome verb

talamburang dishevelled, untidy, disorganised noun

talampar₁ washed ashore verb

talampar₂ stranded verb

talang₁ swallow verb

talang₂ a species of seagull in the family laridae noun

talanggera seawall noun

talanjang naked adjective

talantang laying on one’s back adverb

talapak kaki sole of the foot noun

talapak tangang palm of the hand noun

talapak palm, sole noun

talapas detached adjective

talasu masturbated verb

talat₁ be late verb

talat₂ late adjective

talesu about to fall due to being loose adjective

tali balanda hemp rope noun

tali damang part of a sailing ship’s rigging (a sheet) noun

tali hahesi a kind of cord made from sago palm fiber or the outer skin of bamboo noun

tali kaeng sash to hold up a woman’s sarong noun

tali labrang part of a sailing ship’s rigging (a shroud) noun

tali nyimu cord, twine noun

tali pusa umbilical cord noun

tali skot [see tali damang] noun

tali₁ vine noun

tali₂ a children’s game in which the players proceed through grids etched in the earth noun

talingang tikus the jelly ear mushroom (auricularia auricula-judae) noun

talingang ear noun

talipa folded adjective

talo molding dough into small rounds using the hands verb

taloi earthenware dinner plate noun

talor₁ egg noun

talor₂ testical noun

talor₃ offspring (pejorative) noun

talucu₁ slip verb

talucu₂ come loose verb

talunjuk [see jari talunjuk] noun

tamang friend noun

tamang-tamang “guys” interjection

tamba gas increase the rpm of an engine verb

tamba mulu give one’s view or opinion (figurative, literally “add mouth”) verb

tamba₁ add verb

tamba₂ additionally, even more adverb

tambaga copper noun

tambaru new year noun

tambus₁ pass all the way through verb

tambus₂ translucent adjective

tamiring-miring in a staggering or wobbling manner adverb

tampa api fireplace noun

tampa bajalang the track made by a person or animal as it habitually follows the same path noun

tampa dudu any type of chair or seat, though usually used to refer to a bench noun

tampa kaki footprint noun

tampa maso entrance noun

tampa mati side of head directly behind each eye noun

tampa nae notch cut into the side of a tree to assist climbing noun

tampa siri box, usually of brass, for storage of betel-nut chewing paraphernalia noun

tampa tangang handprint noun

tampa tidor bed noun

tampa₁ place noun

tampa₂ imprint noun

tampa₃ bed noun

tampal clothes patch noun

tampar₁ slap verb

tampar₂ the largetooth flounder (pseudorhombus arsius) noun

tampayang large earthenware jar, usually for water or sageru noun

tampeleng [see tampar₁] verb

tampias₁ bounce, tumble verb

tampias₂ bouncing adjective

tampurung coconut shell noun

tamunta-munta afflicted with a bout of vomiting verb

tamusa’al small red ants that nest in trees noun

tana isi bare earth noun

tana lapang field used for games or ceremonies noun

tana mera red clay noun

tana rata level ground noun

tana₁ ground noun

tana₂ earth noun

tana₃ land noun

tanae₁ slightly raised adjective

tanae₂ raise up slightly verb

tanaga power, energy noun

tanala hunt for cucus verb

tanang plant verb

tanase the man who sits at the front of an arombae to spot fish and give directions noun

tanati right time (for fishing) noun

tandang kick verb

tang₁ tongs noun

tang₂ the sound of metal striking metal interjection

tang₃ the sound of a gunshot interjection

tangada₁ across from, in front of preposition

tangada₂ dealing with verb

tanggo [see tanggu] noun

tanggong₁ cost, fee noun

tanggong₂ responsibility noun

tanggu₁ small, round fishing net with a wooden handle noun

tanggu₂ church offering bag affixed to a long wooden handle noun

tangi rancid adjective

tangiri [see taniri] noun

taniri a species of Spanish mackerel (scomberomorini) noun

tanital₁ mountain ridge noun

tanital₂ snare (?) noun

tanitang [see tanital₂] noun

tanjong cape (geographical feature) noun

tanong [see tanang] verb

tanta “aunt”, term of address for an older woman noun

tantara soldier noun

tantu certain adjective

tanuar₁ time slot noun

tanuar₂ season noun

tanusang a small patch of land rising just above the water level, like a sandbar in a river or a sandy coral reef noun

taong-taong blyth’s hornbill (rhyticeros plicatus) noun

taong₁ year noun

taong₂ [see taong-taong] noun

tapake famous adjective

tapalang a raised platform with a floor of split bamboo or gaba-gaba, often for sleeping noun

taparego₁ a situation causing indecision as to which task to prioritise noun

taparego₂ busy, encumbered adjective

taparegu [see taparego] noun

tapareku [see taparego] noun

taparika tangle verb

taparika tangled adjective

tapeper₁ dizziness noun

tapeper₂ make dizzy verb

tapikong mystic noun

tapinda shifted noun

tapis₁ winnow verb

tapis₂ strain with a sieve verb

tapisang strainer, sieve noun

tapong flour noun

taprop plugged (of a hole) adjective

tapukul thud against something verb

taputar₁ revolve, spin verb

taputar₂ get involved with verb

taputar₃ wander about verb

taputar₄ whirlpool noun

taputus₁ broken adjective

taputus₂ stopped adjective

tar bae no good adjective

tar bisa unacceptable as an argument or proposition adjective

tar laku worthless adjective

tar pake completely unattractive, having no appeal adjective

tar pung muka di modeblat (of women) unattractive, unimportant, and unpopular (figurative, literally “don’t have [their**] face in a magazine”) adjective

tar tahu never (?) adverb

tar taku mati not afraid to die adjective

tar tau malu shameless adjective

tar ujung tar pohong without purpose or meaning adjective

tar no, not (general negation) adverb

tarabe₁ ripped, torn, in tatters adjective

tarabe₂ (of tree branches) completely detached from the trunk as a result of some sudden force adjective

tarampa (?) adjective

tarang₁ light noun

tarang₂ lamp noun

tarang₃ bright adjective

tarang₄ clear of vegetation adjective

tarang₅ clear, as of water or glass adjective

tarang₆ clear, plain adjective

tarangka₁ rise verb

tarangka₂ slightly raised adjective

tarap₁ pedal noun

tarap₂ pedal verb

tarasi₁ sambal noun

tarasi₂ [see balacang] noun

tarbai [see tar bae] adjective

tare tight, taught adjective

taresel to saw planks from tree trunks as a two-man team operating a two-handled saw verb

tari a particular stage in palm sugar manufacture adjective

tarigu wheat noun

tarik lotrei draw a lottery verb

tarika₁ entangle verb

tarika₂ entangled adjective

tarima kasi₁ gratitude, thanks noun

tarima kasi₂ “thank you” interjection

tarima accept, acquiesce verb

taripang sea cucumber noun

taro kira pay attention verb

taro₁ put, place verb

taro₂ put (it) down verb

taro₃ estimate verb

taro₄ bet, wager verb

tarobe₁ ripped, torn adjective

tarobe₂ ripped, torn verb

tarompa [see tarupa] noun

tarompong₁ chimney noun

tarompong₂ pipe through which to blow air upon a fire noun

tarong₁ aubergine noun

tarong₂ male hernia noun

tarpal tarpaulin noun

taru’u [see takoro] adjective

taru [see taro] verb

tarupa traditional sandal made of sago bark with rattan thongs, worn to protect the feet when working in sago swamps noun

tarus-tarus₂ continually adverb

tarus₁ continue, keep on verb

tarus₂ then, thereupon adverb

tas baribot durable plastic canvas bag noun

tasala₁ err, make a mistake verb

tasala₂ in error adjective

tasala₃ pulled muscle adjective

tasalep slip verb

tasangko linked, connected adjective

tasi₁ bag noun

tasi₂ monofilament nylon fishing line noun

tasimpir be struck very lightly by a glancing blow verb

tasisi (of persons) backward, provincial adjective

tasono asleep adjective

tasonto₁ stub (one’s toe) verb

tasonto₂ stumble on verb

tasorong-sorong stagger like a drunkard verb

tata₁ father noun

tatabuang [see totobuang] noun

tatahang impeded, detained adjective

tatanang firmly implanted adjective

tatari either the short mackerel (rastrelliger brachysoma) or the island mackerel (rastrelliger faughni) noun

tate₂ step verb

tatidor fall asleep verb

tatihu the torpedo scad (megalaspis cordyla), or the yellowfin tuna (thunnus albacares) noun

tatimbang tipped, tilted verb

tatinggal to have been left behind verb

tatohi a small sieve for sifting sago or separating grated coconut from coconut milk noun

tatoki to have been knocked verb

tatongka come up against, came across verb

tatoro kncoked backwards verb

tatu a species of triggerfish (the genus balistoides) noun

tatua eldest adjective

tatukar alternate verb

tatumbu₁ box made of the fibre at the base of aren palm leaves noun

tatumbu₂ pounded verb

tatumbu₃ the longhorn cowfish (lactoria cornuta) noun

tatumpa₁ poured out verb

tatumpa₂ spilt verb

taturung slightly lowered verb

tatusu impaled verb

tatutu₁ closed adjective

tatutu₂ capsized verb

tau-tau whereas, when really adverb

tawar₁ not sweet adjective

tawar₂ reluctant adjective

te gula sweet tea noun

te halia ginger tea noun

te susu tea with milk and sugar noun

te tea noun

tedong cow noun

teheng oppose verb

tekeng soldadu sign up for military service verb

tekeng tantara [see tekeng soldadu] verb

tekeng₁ sign (a document) verb

tekeng₂ sign up verb

tela tile noun

telefisi [see telepisi] noun

telefon telephone noun

telepisi television noun

tembak a game in which stones are tossed at coin targets noun

tempo₁ time noun

tempo₂ early adverb

tenggiri the dogtooth tuna (gymnosarda unicolor) noun

tengi [see tangi] adjective

tentamen exam noun

teong a traditional title granted to the area belonging to a clan or association of two or more clans noun

tep cassette stereo noun

tepar almost dying verb

teratai the lotus flower (nelumbo nucifera) noun

terek disturb, bother verb

testa forehead noun

teta [see tete] noun

tete jaganti a fairytale figure: seven children play in the forest and get lost, but are taken in by two friendly giants (nene jaganti and tete jaganti) who, it transpires, intend to eat the children for their breakfast noun

tete manis jesus christ noun

tete momo ghost with the appearance of a terrifying old man noun

tete₁ grandfather or great uncle noun

tete₂ ancestor noun

teteruga aer a kind of turtle (?) noun

teteruga darat a kind of turtle (?) noun

teteruga turtle, tortoise noun

tetu peck verb

teun [see teong] noun

tia aunt noun

tidor₁ lie down noun

tidor₂ sleep noun

tifa traditional single-headed goblet drum used throughout maluku noun

tifar tap the liquid from an aren palm verb

tigekor three tails (of), measure word for describing the number of fish, chickens, etc. measure

tikang kapala dive or fall headfirst verb

tikang lutu kneel verb

tikang stab verb

tikoang teapot noun

tikus mulu panjang a kind of shrew (?) noun

tikus utang a kind of forest rat or shrew (?) noun

tima puti tin noun

tima lead, tin noun

timba ruang scoop used to bail out a canoe noun

timbil basket woven from green sago stems and layered with runut on the inside, used by men to carry produce home from the fields noun

timbung pile up verb

tindis mata shut both eyes hard, a signal equivalent to a wink verb

tindis₁ press down upon verb

tindis₂ piercing noun

tinggal keep quiet verb

tinggalong chameleon (?) noun

tingka attitude, behaviour noun

tingkai conceited adjective

tingkalong the large indian civet (viverra zibetha) noun

tio-tio magic involving blowing. noun

tio₁ uncle noun

tio₄ inflate verb

tio₅ blow a magic spell at verb

tiop₂ blow verb

tiop₃ extinguish verb

tipa setang hear something without seeing it verb

tipa [see tifa] noun

tipar [see tifar] verb

tirang₁ barnacle noun

tirang₂ oyster noun

tiris roof of a house noun

tiris-tiris eaves of a roof noun

tirong [see tirang₂] noun

tistisan teenage girls behaving like they are in love noun

tita₁ traverse (a branch or plank over a stream) verb

tita₂ order, command noun

titi [see kayu titi] noun

tobe buoys indicating the location of fish traps in the sea noun

tobelo an ethnic group of halmahera and obi noun

tobu ikang the species of sugarcane saccharum edule noun

tobu-tobu a patch of reeds noun

tobu₁ sugar cane noun

tobu₂ any cane or reed plant noun

tofer perform magic verb

tofor [see tofer] verb

tohar strike as with a lance or battering ram, especially to strike the water in this way with a pantohar verb

toher afflicted with an ear infection adjective

tohor the boundary between shallow and deep sea noun

toi the red-cheeked parrot (geoffroyus geoffroyi) noun

tok sound of a stone striking ground. noun

toki tap (percuss) verb

tola lau a kind of fish (?) noun

tola₁ push verb

tola₂ the yellowstripe scad (selaroides leptolepis) noun

toleng-toleng a gong used to signal danger, made of a large bamboo trunk with a long hole in one side noun

toma₁ struggle against verb

toma₂ up noun

tombong₁ coconut sprout which forms a ball inside the fruit noun

tombong₂ hernia that causes a bulging scrotum noun

tomi-tomi the batoko plum (flacourtia inermis) noun

tonda₁ tow verb

tonda₂ troll for fish verb

tone₁ mash verb

tone₂ mashed adjective

tone₃ boiled adjective

tong drum (barrel) noun

tongala god / allah noun

tongisa jesus christ noun

tongka dagu regret verb

tongka langit [see pisang tongka langit] noun

tongka pinggang stand with one’s hand on one’s hip verb

tongka setang stick insect noun

tongke [see mange-mange] noun

tongke-tongke [see mange-mange] noun

tongkol the longtail tuna (thunnus tonggol) noun

toni fringe noun

top₁ first rate adjective

top₂ a card game, often gambled upon noun

topo₁ clap verb

topo₂ coax verb

topu [see topo] verb

torana stab verb

tornei go on a tour of inspection verb

toro₁ back up, reverse verb

toro₂ move a little distance away verb

torompong a piece of bamboo with a hole, used to blow oxygen into a fire noun

tosaul a kind of beetle (?) noun

toti the stick used to measure the distance between two pieces of thatch for a roof noun

totobuang instrument consisting of an array of pot-like gongs noun

tra [see tar] adverb

trofol trowel noun

tu’u a kind of fish (?) noun

tu that noun

tuagama church elder noun

tuang ampong “my goodness!” interjection

tuang₁ owner noun

tuang₂ sir noun

tubal using a talisman to heal someone verb

tudong conical hat made of nipa palm leaves noun

tudu accuse verb

tuer (tree) stump noun

tuhang the christian god noun

tui [see bulu tui] noun

tuing-tuing a species of flying fish in the genus cypselurus noun

tukang baruba shaman noun

tukang₃ the moluccan owlet-nightjar (aegotheles crinifrons) noun

tula and adv. day after day after tomorrow. cf. lusa. noun

tulang panggayo shoulder blade (scapula) noun

tulung help verb

tulung-tulung always helping adjective

tulungang help, assistance noun

tumang packaging for sago flour made from sago leaves, shaped like a truncated cone noun

tumbak₁ a spear used to hunt a pig or deer noun

tumbak₂ shoots, sprouts noun

tumbu dada pound one’s chest verb

tumbu₁ mash, pound verb

tumbu₂ box (with fists) verb

tumbu₃ (of the wind) fill a sail with great force verb

tumbu₄ sprout verb

tumbu₅ dive under water verb

tumbulawa javanese turmeric (curcuma zanthorrhiza) noun

tunangang boyfriend / girlfriend noun

tunda [see tonda] verb

tung [see tang₃] interjection

tuni original, authentic adjective

tunju show verb

turati waterlilies, the genus nymphaea noun

turung nai go up and down verb

turung go down verb

turung-turung decrease, decline verb

tusa cat noun

tusu skewer noun

tutang bunting afflicted with swollen gums adjective

tutang gums noun

tutu shut, closed noun

tutua [see tatua] adjective

tuturiha ceremony in which a man apologizes to his parents-in-law for eloping with their daughter noun