Penan is the language of the Penan people in Sarawak, a state of Malaysia.

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Common signs OPEN CLOSED ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH PULL TOILET MEN WOMEN FORBIDDEN

Hello.

. ( )

Hello. (informal)

. ( )

How are you?

Kineu akam ko'? (Kih-noo ah-kahm koh?).

Fine, thank you.

Akeu jian. (Ahkow jihahn)

What is your name?

Ineu ngaran ko'? (Ih-noo nah-rahn koh?)

My name is ______ .

Ngaran ké' ______ . (Nah-rahn keu _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

Jian temeu ngan ko. (Jih-ahn teh-moh nan ko)

Please.

. ( )

Thank you.

Jian kenin. (Jih-ahn keh-nihn)

You're welcome.

Kua' kua'. (Koo-ah Koo-ah)

Yes.

O'o. (Oh)

No.

Bé'. (Beh)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Menyat jian. (Mehn-yaht jih-ahn)

I'm sorry.

Nak jian or menyat jian "depend on the circumstances or who we talking to" (nahn-jih-yan)(mehn-yaht jih-yan)

Goodbye

Jian lakau. (Jih-ahn lah-cow)

Goodbye (informal)

Jian-jian lakau(jih-ahn jih-ahn la-cow)

I can't speak Penan [well].

Akeu bé' jam ha Penan [mu'un]. (Ah-kow beh jahm hah peh-nahn [moo-oon])

Do you speak English?

Jam ka'au ha puteh? (Jahm kah-ow hah poo-tee?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Séé jam ha puteh siteu? (Seh-eh jahm hah poo-tee sih-tow?)

Can I help you?

Omok akeu nolong ka'au?. (Oh-mohk ah-kow noh-lohng kah-ow!): How can I help you?: Ineu omok tenolong k?. (ee-neuu oh-mokh tehnholong k)

Look out!

Jaga Jaga! (Jahgah Jahgah!)

Good morning.

Jian ngivun. (Jih-ahn nee-woon )

Good evening.

Jian dau kuba'. (Jih-ahn dahoo koo-bah)

Good night.

Jian merem. (Jih-ahn meh-rehm)

I go sleeping.

Akeu tai pegen. (Ah-kow tah-ih peh-gehn) : I go sleeping(informal): Tai pegen akeu. (Thai peh-ghen ah-kheuk)

I don't understand.

Bé' akeu jam. (Beh ah-kow jahm)

Where is the toilet?

Semah pu'un jaban? (Seh-mah poo-oon jah-bahn?): Open.: Pukap. (pooh-kap): Closed: Petutup. (perh-thotop): Men: Lakei. (Lah-kei): Women: Redo. (Reh-thou): Grass: Ureu. (Uh-rhaw): Exit: Musit. (Moo-sit): Push: Mejuk. (may-jook): Pull: Menat. (may-nut): Toilet: Jaban. (jha-bun): Forbidden : Bek buhak.(Bay-boo ha): Not allowed : Bek reh buhak(Bay ray boo-ha): *just use google speak it come out almost the same sound as penan said it,or use siri to pronounce it.*:

Problems

Leave me alone./Don't disturb me

Mai ngasau akeu ( may ngasaw ah-kheu.)

Don't touch me!

Mai nisih akeu! ( may ni-see ah-kheu!)

I'll call the police.

Tenebai ke pulit tu dat (ter-ne-bye kay po-lit two-dart .)

Police!

Pulit ! (Po-lit !)

Stop! Thief!

Moko !Irah nekau ! ( maw-ko! Eih-rah neh-cow!)

I need your help.

Ko nolong ku (kho no-long kuu.)

It's an emergency.

Kebesau itut (khe bay-sha o ey-thoth.)

I'm lost.

Akeu tawang(ah-cow,tha-whang .)

I lost my bag.

Metat kivah k(may-tart key-va kay .)

I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

Akeu sakit. (Ah-kow sah-kiht.)

I've been injured.

Suhat ku rit. ( sue-hat khu-rid.)

I need a doctor.

Akeu gunah doktun. ( Ah-kow goo-nah doc-toon.)

Can I use your phone?

Omok ku pakai telifon ko? ( ow-mock khu phaa-kay teli-phone kok?) : *use google or siri to read the word in brackets,that the closest i can get to how penan pronouns those.

Numbers

1

jah(jah)

2

duah(doo-ah)

3

teleu(teh-low)

4

pat(paht)

5

lemah(leh-mah)

6

nem(nehm)

7

tuju(tu-joo)

8

ayah(aih-yah)

9

pi'en(pih-ehn)

10

polo(poh-loh)

11

polo jah(poh-loh jah)

12

Polo duah(polo do-wah)

13

Polo ter lew(polo ter lew)

14

Polo pat(polo path)

15

Polo lemah(polo ler-mah)

16

Polo nem( polo name)

17

Polo tuju( polo two-ju)

18

Polo ayah( polo ai-yah)

19

Polo piaen( polo pee-end)

20

duah polo(doo-ah poh-loh)

21

duah polo jah(doo-ah poh-loh jah)

22

( )

23

( )

30

( )

40

( )

50

( )

60

( )

70

( )

80

( )

90

( )

100

jah ato(jah ah-toh)

200

duah ato(doo-ah ah-toh)

300

teleu ato(teh-low ah-toh)

1,000

jah ibeu(jah ih-bow)

2,000

duah ibeu(doo-ah ih-bow )

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

Jeputui( jay poo-tui)

less

( )

more

( )

Time

now

Hun iteu( hoon e-tew)

later

Da'ap( dah-up)

before

Bek jak iteu(bay jack e-tew)

morning

ngivun(nih-woon)

afternoon

kuba'(koo-bah)

evening

tahup(tah-hoop)

night

merem(meh-rehm)

Clock time

one o'clock AM

Pukun jah(Poo-koon jah)

two o'clock AM

Pukun duah(Poo-koon doo-ah)

noon

Dau kuba'( dao koo-bah)

one o'clock PM

Pukun jah dau kuba'( poo-khun jhaa dao koo-bah)

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

Lepok merem(leh-pohk meh-rehm)

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

Dau iteu( dao e-tew)

yesterday

Dau malem( dao'h may-lehm)

tomorrow

Sagam(say-gam )

this week

Igu iteu(eih-guh e-tew )

last week

Igu lepah( eih-guh lay-pahh)

next week

Igu bau( eih-guh bow)

Sunday

Dau igu( dao'h ih-guh)

Monday

Dau jah( dao'h jach)

Tuesday

Dau du'ah( dao'h Do-wah)

Wednesday

Dau teleu( dao'h ter-lew)

Thursday

Dau pat( dao'h path)

Friday

Dau lemah( dao'h lay-maah)

Saturday

Dau nem( dao'h name)

Months

January

Laseh jah( la-sach jaah)

February

Laseh du'ah( la-sach do-wah)

March

Laseh teleu( la-sach ter-lew)

April

Laseh pat( la-sach path)

May

Laseh lemah( la-sach lay-mah)

June

Laseh nem( la-sach name)

July

Laseh tuju( la-sach two-ju)

August

laseh ayah( la-sach ai-yah)

September

Laseh pien( la-sach pee-end)

October

Laseh polo( la-sach polo)

November

Laseh polo jah( la-sach polo jaa)

December

Laseh polo duah( la-sach polo do-wah)

Colors

black

( )

white

( )

gray

( )

red

( )

blue

( )

yellow

( )

green

( )

orange

( )

purple

( )

brown

( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )

Learning more

 Penan language redirects to this page