Motu

Introduction

Motu is a language of Papua New Guinea. It is spoken in Central Province, Port Moresby area, coastal villages from Manumanu, Galley Reach, to GabaGaba.

Dialects

Eastern Motu, Western Motu.

The Motu Verb

Verblist

• ala-ia -- to kill
• ani-a -- to eat
• ara-ia -- to burn
• aru -- to flow
• bidi-a -- to pound, beat
• bona-ia -- to sniff, smell
• bota-ia -- to hit
• dadadae -- to climb
• diba -- to know, be knowledgeable
• duahi-a -- to count
• eno -- to lie down
• ḡaḡaro-a -- to scratch
• gari -- to fear
• ḡaua-ia -- to chew
• ḡaukara -- to work
• ḡei-a -- to dig
• gigi-a -- to squeeze
• gini -- to stand
• gudu -- to swell
• gwadaia -- to stab, pierce
• gwau, toma -- to say
• helai -- to sit
• henao -- to steal
• hidi-a -- to choose
• hiriria, toa -- to blow
• hoi-a -- to buy
• huni-a -- to hide
• inu-a -- to drink
• ita-ia -- to see
• kahu-a -- to hold
• kamonai -- to hear
• kanudi -- to spit
• keho-a -- to open, uncover
• kerehai -- to turn
• kiri -- to laugh
• kori-a -- to bite
• labana -- to hunt
• laḡa -- to breathe
• lalo-a -- to think
• mahuta -- to sleep
• mai -- to come
• mase -- to die, be dead
• mata-ia -- to tie up, fasten
• mauri -- to live, be alive
• mava -- to yawn
• moru -- to fall
• mumuta -- to vomit
• nadu-a -- to cook
• nahu -- to swim
• nihi -- to dream
• pidia -- to shoot
• pola-ia -- to split
• raka -- to walk
• roho -- to fly
• taho-a -- to throw
• tai -- to cry
• tara-ia -- to cut, hack
• topo-a -- to suck
• tubu -- to grow
• turi -- to sew