Mekeo

Introduction

Mekeo is a language of Papua New Guinea. It is spoken in Central Province, Kaiyuku district, inland, west boundary is Waima, east are Kuni (See: Kuni) and Kunimaipa (See: Kunimaipa) language areas; into Gulf Province.

Dialects

East Mekeo, Ninikani, North Mekeo, Northwest Mekeo (Kovio), West Mekeo. Dialects mutually unintelligible, except North and West Mekeo, but most Mekeo are reportedly familiar with neighboring dialects. Kovio not contiguous and is peripheral to other dialects. Lexical similarity: 81% between Kovio dialect and West Mekeo and North Mekeo dialects, 79% with East Mekeo, 87% between East and West Mekeo dialects.

The Mekeo Verb

Verblist

• 'a'a -- to laugh
• afa -- to buy
• afia -- to hold
• aga -- to burn
• 'agau -- to climb
• agu -- to live, be alive
• agu -- to sit
• 'a'i'ina -- to scratch
• aina logo -- to hear
• 'aniani -- to eat
• apa -- to stand
• 'apepe -- to cry
• apia -- to dig
• au pugua -- to kill
• aufa'a -- to yawn
• auga -- to hit
• auga -- to pound, beat
• au-vake, oge-vake -- to hide
• fafa -- to split
• fauga -- to grow
• fauga -- to plant
• fauga, o-ga -- to stab, pierce
• feu -- to sleep
• fioka -- to squeeze
• foga logo -- to sniff, smell
• gaku -- to cook
• gau -- to swim
• gope -- to tie up, fasten
• gopo -- to fly
• guga -- to breathe
• guga -- to suck
• ifa -- to say
• inu -- to drink
• isa -- to see
• kafina -- to bite
• kai|na -- to sew
• kakipo -- to lie down
• kapukapu -- to hunt
• kinaga -- to choose
• kipo -- to flow
• logo -- to know, be knowledgeable
• mae -- to die, be dead
• mai -- to come
• mani'i -- to fear
• me'e -- to turn
• mo ipitina -- to shoot
• nipi -- to dream
• opia -- to cut, hack
• opola -- to think
• pagalaisa -- to open, uncover
• painao -- to steal
• pauga -- to count
• pea -- to walk
• pinauga -- to work
• piuga -- to throw
• pua -- to blow
• ufa -- to chew
• ufalai -- to fall
• ufu -- to swell
• 'uga -- to vomit
• 'upe -- to spit