The phrases and words here reflect the Kayan worldview, capturing the essence of Kayan daily life. While modern terms are yet to be explored, particularly those related to modern living and technology, readers are encouraged to scroll down to the end of the page for interesting short paragraphs in Kayan-English-Kayan, including conversations about the Kayan migration to Sarawak based on Kayan oral history.
Kayan - English phrases
Marung kanen
Te' im na kanen
Uh sak nah kanen anih
Makin kanen
Ala kanen
Tutung kanen anih
Lema lan kanen anih
Mahing lan kanen anih
Im nape' kanen anan
​
About rice
Go cook rice
The rice is cooked
Scoop the rice
Take the rice
The rice is burned
The rice is too soft
The rice is too hard
You wrap the rice
​
Marung dapi
Te' im na dapi
Uh sak nah dapi
Heling lan dapi anih
Kahum lan dapi telo
Kanya lan dapi telo
Beleh dapi anih
Mih lan dapi anih
​
About the dish
Go cook our dish
The dish is cooked
The dish is delicious
There are too many dish
There isn't enough dish
The dish is not savory
The dish is too salty
​
Marung te' kakah
Te' telo kakah jima
Hino kelo te' kakah?
Te' kakah ha luma ha Apoh
Nun hadui kelo ha luma?
Te' lemirik
Dekaya luma kelo yah?
Usi ha nuno dekaya
Geri kelo kanen
​
Going to work (on the farm)
Let's go work tomorrow
Where do you (go) work?
Do work on our farm in Apoh
What work you do in the farm?
Slashing
Do you have a big farm?
It's not very big
Bring rice (to your work)
​
Te' ngejala'
Te' ngejala dawa
Hino dawa te' ngejala?
Ha hunge' Lidem
Kuri jala dawa geri?
Ji kurik
Masik nun hagen hinan?
Masik hitam hagen
​
Cast netting
They are going cast netting
Where do they go to cast net?
To Lidem river
How many net do they bring?
I think just one
What type of fish is there?
Mostly carps
​
Te ngasok
Dawa seng te' ngasok
Hino dawa te' ngasok?
Ha Pane'
Kahum bavui hinan
Asok hi dawa geri?
Asok Laing Balan
Lakin asok na nan
Kahum uh bavui kelan na
​
Hunting
They are going hunting
Where do they hunt?
In Pane' (river area)
There are wild boars there
Whose dogs do they bring?
Laing Balan's dogs
They (dogs) are good hunters
They caught many wild boars
​
Te' nyikep
Te' im ilo kelunan te' nyikep
Hi aleng ngenep te' nyikep?
Te' im meteng Usun Anyi
Jam ha ilo uge' sayu avan nyikep
Da'uk uge' do?
Haruk hi telo geri nyikep?
Haruk uk Manan tih deh
Kuri huang na?
Lima la'ong kurik dih
Lawa' anih anuk yah?
Maring lawa' anan
Lawa' kenak anan
​
Nyikep - catch fish
Ask who wants to go nyikep
Who wants to go nyikep?
Go ask Usun Anyi
She knows which river is good for nyikep
Is it low tide?
Whose boat do we use?
Manan's small boat
How many people fits?
I think 5 people
Do I use this lawa' ?
That lawa' is new
I made it (lawa')
​
Na inu ubut hung
​Haman lan Urei Anyi na hung
Kajo ubut hung kenan na
Kajo lan ikeng na
Hino ha belajen na nak?
Belajen dep, ineng daha
Kuri dara na ji ubut hung?
Jaki kah awi em te hadui beh
Alem ji-dua do nunan
Im na ji men akui
Ubut hung aya yah?
Na aleng da'uk tua
​
Make sun-hat ubut
Urei Anyi is good at making sun hat/hung
Her ubut hung is beautiful
The design is beautiful
Where did she learn it?
She learnt through observing others
How long does it take to make the hat?
Not long if there's no other work
Maybe in 1-2 days
Make one for me
You want the big one?
Just a small one
​
Hadui luma
Dekaya lan luma na
Da'uk kah luma anan
Su lan ha na luma
Hino ha na luma?
Ha Bah tih ha na luma
Nuno kam te' ha luma?
Pake' haruk
Uh nah ikam nyavep yah?
Usi piyan de'
Uh nah de'
Uh nah ikam nugan yah?
Usi piyan de'
Uh nah de'
Hiran kam ngeluno?
Hujung duman tih
Pelado kelo do?
ee, kalo pelado anih
Luma hi kelo te' danih?
Luma Akem Baya
Hiran kelo te' ha anum?
Jima kurik
Kahum pare' kelo duman anih
Usi nuno kahum
Usi kelo peli'yen duman anih
Sayu urip kalo duman anih
​
​Farm works
His farm is big
It's a small farm
His farm is far
Where do you farm?
He farms in Bah
How do you go to the farm?
We use boat
Have you done the burning?
Not yet
Already
Have you sow?
Not yet
Already
When do you harvest?
End of the year
Will you work together
Yes, we work together
Whose farm do you go today?
Akem Baya's farm
When will you go to your farm?
Tomorrow I think
You have good harvest this year
Not really
You won't go hungry this year
We are better this year
​
Tebara
Tangen te' sebayang
Tangen te' sekulah
Tangen belajen
Pelihe' te' hadui
Ineng sayu ano kelo
Sayu barik tek hang kelunan
Hituk kah im tek akui
Meng hado tek akui
Meng selagok
Meng kop
Meng ji'ek te kelunan
Meng peluvat kelunan
​
Advice
*Always go to church
*Always go to school
*Always study hard
Be careful at work
Be safe on your journey
Be good among people
Remember me
Don't forget me
Don't be naughty
Don't lie
Don't be bad with people
Don't *cheat on people
​
Itam alem amin
Hinei / Mok
Amei / Mei
Sepun / Pui doh
Sepun / Pui kek
Harik doh
Harik lake'
Ba'ong
Abok
Sau / So
Doh uk
Lake' uk
​
*Family
Mother
Father
Grandmother
Grandfather
My sister
My brother
Baby girl
Baby boy
Granddaughter/son
Young girl
Young boy
​
Aran tam men daha panak
Mei Bui
Mok Et
Akem Emang
Et Urei
Oyong Wan
Oyong Puyang
Aban Ngo
Balo Paya
​​
Relationship name
Uncle Bui
Aunt Et
*Akem Emang - Akem is a term for a man that has lost his middle child. When Emang lost his child, the Akem is added to his name, thus he is now Akem Emang.
*Et Urei - Et for a woman who has lost her middle child. Urei who lost her middle child is now known as Et Urei.
*Oyong Wan - Oyong is a term for a man who lost his eldest child. When Wan lost his eldest child, Oyong is added to his name, thus he is now known as Oyong Wan.
*Oyong Puyang - same as Oyong Wan. Puyang lost her eldest child, now she is known as Oyong Puyang.
*Aban Ngo - Aban signifies a widower, a man who lost his wife.
*Balo Paya - signifies a woman who lost her husband.
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English - Kayan words
Positive character
wise
clever
loving
helpful
welcoming
patient
kind
cooperative
​
Barik sayu
nyemugen
haman
nyalam
masi
nyamah
aru kenep
sayu kenep
nyadui peji
​
Negative character
stupid
cruel
​
Barik ji'ek
palui
kelalo ji'ek
​
'Modern' work
teacher
lawyer
police
lecturer
nurse
businessman
accountant
​
Hadui 'maring'
guru
loya
pulis
guru universiti
misi
bisnes
kira sin
​
Body descriptions
big
small
tall
short
fat
thin
pretty
beautiful
handsome
​
Marung batung
dekaya
da'uk
bo'
liva
madung
kangen
kajo
nyamdoh
nyemake'
​
Parts of the body
feet
arm
eyes
mouth
face
cheek
teeth
fingers
ears
hairs
nose
​
Marung batung
kudek
usu
matak
ba
neng
pingah
ipak
usu
iling
buk
urung
​
Clothes and accessories
pants
blouse
panty
pajamas
shoes
slippers
watch
bracelets
necklace
rings
ear rings
​
Kanan batung
selu'en
basung
selu'en alem
basung tudu
kasut
slipa
jam
galang
tep'eng
selegem
iseng
​
Praise and worship
faith
God
pray
praise
worship
angel
​
Marung sebayang
kinah
Tuhan
sebayang
meju
ngetalo
meliket
​
Nature
mountain
river
stream/creek
sky
cloud
rain
water
rapid
flood
sun
tree
log
flower
thunder
drought
windy
​
Marung usun tana
ngalang
hunge'
hunge' uk
langit
up
usan
atak
kasih
lepa'
matan do'
kayo'
batang kayo'
bunga
bekilet
tagak
bahui
​
Health
sick
headache
stomach ache
pain
pain in the eye
pain in the ear
backache
toothache
​
Marung ageh
perah
kelivak kuhung
perah butit
perah
perah mata
perah iling
perah la'ung
perah ipak
​
Life status
single
married
divorce
young
old
dead
​
Marung urip
usi piyan ngehawa
uh ngehawa
puli
nyam
muku
mate'
​
Sustenance
eat
drink
sleep
love
hungry
full/sated
​
Marung u'a urip
kuman
du'i
tudu
halem
la'o
besuh
​
Action
eat
drink
sleep
walk
run
lie down
cook
buy
throw
take
spit
kick
fall
cry
laugh
giggle
hug
hit
point
wash
wash laundry
pee
pass motion
​
Ket en tam na
kuman
du'i
tudu
pano
tempurung
miri
na kanen/na dapi
bele
so
ala
lemura
sipak
jatu
nangih
kesing
ngi'em
kelameng
mukut
nuju
mayo
mesop
nget'ian
nget'e
​
Animal
bird
pig
wild boar
dog
cat
chicken
fish
prawn
crocodile
snake
dragon
ant
*germ
​
Tulan
manuk
uting
bavui
aso
seng
nyiap
masik
urang
baya
nyipa
lejo
kepirang
ulen
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Part of the house
house
door
bedroom
kitchen
attic
toilet
bathroom
mat
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Uvung amin
amin
ketamen
tilung
tebeh / avok
keparung
avan sengit
uma duh
berat
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Short sentences in Kayan-English
​
Conversation about Kayan migration as told to me by Jau Anyi (Taman Harun):
​
Asen tam Kayan nih kurin daha', men Kalimantan ha Indonesia hitih tam nih ne'. Ne' bulak kurin daha. Te' kah tavit na kurin daha bi itam ne' bulak avan tam ilo urip kah aleng lan na nih pa.
​
Accordingly, we are said to be originated from Kalimantan in Indonesia. They said we migrated. There were many reasons, but it would seemed we moved here to build new life for ourselves.
​
Usi itam bulak atih itam pasan daleh, alem daleh Borneo anih loh kah itam tek kereh. Pelitah tam aleng dap areh pa, daleh tam nih daleh Kayan.
​
It's not that we migrated (to a different country), we are still in Borneo. It's our government(s) that are different, we are in our Kayan country.
​
Aring tam ne' ha beji hinih, ha Tubo hitih tam tek. Daha sepun tam menuna hitih daha na uma. Bi ne' nah daha bulak ha beh Telangusan hinih, daha ne' ilo tana avan daha na luma.
​
At the beginning of their migration to this side (of Borneo), our ancestors settled in Tubo (an area in Belaga, Bintulu district). Later they decided to move to this part of the Telangusan (a district in the Baram) to look for fertile land to farm.
​
Tek kuri-kuri duman itam uh ne' bulak ha Sarawak nih. Tek loh kah daleh tam ha Kalimantan tih, bi usi nah tek kelunan tam tinih. Awi tam te' ilo daha ju tek kah kepa, bi usi nah itam nuno jam la'an avin itam uh dara em te' hitih.
​
We have migrated here to Sarawak since a long time ago. We still have our country there in Kalimantan, but our people are no longer there. If we did go and look for them, maybe we will find them, but we would not know who because we have not returned for such a long time since.
​
Usi kah itam nuno jam lung nuno tam ne' bulak nih avin usi tek kelunan aleng ngalung na men itam. Uh kahum lepet nah itam aleng bulak anih pa, 4-5 lepet nunan kurik. Daha aleng dekaya men itam Kayan ha Sarawak nih, usi pah daha lim nuno jam avin nganak hinih lim daha, ure' kah hinan taman, sepun daha lahuh. Te' kah uk lung-lung kitan daha bi usi nah daha nuno hituk. Aleng kurin daha men'a dih, avin itam ilo tana avan tam na luma.
​
We do not really know the history of our migration because there was no written record of our migration. There would have been many generations ago, perhaps 4-5 generations ago. Those amongst us who are old, our elders, they would not know much as well because they were born here. Their parents too, and even grandparents were born here. They may know some stories, but vaguely. But as I said just now, its was most likely due to their need for fertile land to farm.
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My conversation with Jau Anyi (Taman Harun) about Kayan migration to Sarawak. Lung marung tam bulak ne' ha Sarawak.
Roselind: Ha hino ka nganak? Where were you born?
​
Taman Harun: Ha uma dipah, At uma dipah ("uma dipah" means the house on the other side of the river) this is a term for the old longhouse that was built at the opposite side of the river from where the current longhouse is situated).
​
Roselind: Duman kuri? What year?
Taman Harun: Je'eh. Duman jaka perang Jepun. Don't really know. Around the time of the Japanese occupation.
​
Roselind: Kuri nah umun ka re? How old do you think you are?
Taman Harun: Sayak pulu nunan lo. Maybe 80's
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Roselind: Nun lung aleng kitam marung itam Kayan bulak hinih? Do you know any stories about how we migrate here?
Taman Harun: Kurin daha' tih avin kelunan lap jaka daha' pekayo. They said the people left because of the *civil unrest.
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Roselind: Daha' hi pekayo? Who were fighting?
Taman Harun: Daha' kelunan hitih. Tek lung kurin daha' marung nuno tuk itam lap. The people there, then. They had a story about how we left.
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Roselind: Nuno lung atih? What is the story?
Taman Harun: Marung pekayo' anan kah. Bi sala leti daho' aleng daha' kelenghi atih.About the fighting (at the time). But they misheard the word.
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Roselind: Daho' nun? What word?
Taman Harun: payo' payo' (deer). (They were in fact saying) deer, deer.
​
Roselind: Payo'?
Taman Harun: Ee. Daha' uli ngaso' pah. Payo' payo' ken daha'. Daha' bara kelan dalo ngaso atih. Yes. People were coming back from hunting. They said, payo' payo'. They were telling people they caught payo' (deer).
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Roselind: Payo' kelan daha' ngaso' nan pa. Oh I see. They caught payo' (deer) from the hunt.
Taman Harun: Avin piyah dahok atih. Daha' menuna pekayo' kurin daha. Because the sound (of the two words) are similar. In the past, they fought each (ngayo').
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Roselind: Payo' dahin ngayo' anan pa. Payo' and ngayo' do sound the same.
Taman Harun: Ee. Jadi saru' nah daha'. Daha' kuma kelunan ne' ngayo' daha'. Yes, so they were mistaken. They thought the enemy came to hunt/ fight them.
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Roselind: Bi daha' kuma daha' ala payo' kum. But actually they were telling people they caught deer.
Taman Harun: Iha kah. Yes, indeed.
​
Roselind: Bo nuno nah sekah? So what happened?
Taman Harun: Bei ha kah daha' tempurung tua lap. Yes, indeed. Everyone scuttered (run) away.
​
Roselind: Hino daha tempurung lap? Where did they run?
Taman Harun: Te' ji jabatan avan daha te' lawat hunge'. There was one bridge that they use to cross the river.
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Roselind: Unge' nun? What river?
Taman Harun: Je'eh. Ji unge' titih kah atih pa. Hunge' Kayan anan kah kurik. I don't know. There was a river there. It might be the Kayan river.
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Roselind: Ee. Hunge' Kayan kah anan kurik. Yes. It could be the Kayan river.
Taman Harun: Hunge' Batang Kayan kurin daha'. They say the Batang Kayan river.
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Roselind: Nuno nah daha uh tempurung lawat jabatan anan? What happened when they crossed the bridge?
Taman Harun: Pehile' daha tih pa. Daha takut, avin daha' kuma kelunan ne' ngayo' daha'. They were fighting to cross the river as they thought the enemy were coming to kill them.
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Roselind: Nun jadi tek daha'? What happened to them?
Taman Harun: Kahum daha' tih pa jadi tasa' nah jabatan anan. Legak nah bale' kelunan. Because they were many of them so the bridge couldn't hold them. Some of the people fell in the river.
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Roselind: Pasi lan. It's so sad.
Taman Harun: Tek nah bale' aleng lebo dipah hunge' anan, daha' nah aleng ne' ha Sarawak hinih. Some of them who managed to cross to the other side of the river, they were those we came to Sarawak.
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Roselind: Daha' anan nah aleng ha Sarawak kere' nih kum. So these are the people that now settled in Sarawak.
Taman Harun: Ee. Iha nah itam anih. Daha' sepun tam aleng lawat anan deh. Yes, they were those that came, our ancestors who crossed the river.
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Roselind: Tek nah daha' bale' melak ha Kalimantan hitih yah? So some were left in Kalimantan?
Taman Harun: Daha' anan nah aleng Kayan ha Kalimantan. They are the Kayan of Kalimantan.
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Roselind: Ju tek kah panak tam ha hitih yah? Do we still have relatives there?
Taman Harun: Ju tek kah pa bi itak nah em jam avin dara lan nah itam em te' hitih. There might be so, but we won't know them because that was a long time ago.
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This section provides a brief snapshot of simple everyday conversational phrases.
​​Simple Kayan phrases to English
Sayu kenep - thank you.
Bara sayu kenep lan men ika.
Thank you so much.
kuman - eat
Uh nah ika kuman yah?
Have you eaten?
du'i - drink
Du'i nah kopi ka nan.
Drink your coffee.
pano / panau - walk
Ika tei panau hino anan?
Where are you going?
bakeh - friend
Akui tei keli'ah dahin bakeh kui anih
I am going to play with my friend.
nyivan - dance
Haman lan doh anan nyivan.
The girl can really dance.
Haman lan lake' anan nyivan.
The boy can really dance.
nyadui - work
Hino ka nyadui du?
Where do you work?
Nyadui ha Miri kuri jarun anih.
I am working in Miri now.
bahat - heavy
Bahat lan kayo anih.
This log is heavy.
Bahat lan kenep kui marung anih.
My heart is heavy on this matter.
perah / ji'ek noh - sick / now well
Perah noh kui danih.
I feel sick today.
Ji'ek noh kui danih.
I do not feel well today.
meng - do not / don't
Meng tusah kenep hinei.
Do not worry mother.
kelivak kuhung - headache
Kelivak kuhung kui pelemana ika.
I have *headache thinking of you.
tudu - sleep
Uh tudu nah ba'ong yah?
Is the little girl asleep already?
Uh tudu nah abok yah?
Is the little boy asleep already?
nyelanguk - naughty
Nyelanguk lan lake' uk anan.
He is a naughty boy.
pidah - wait
Im pidah kui uli nyadui ha tu' tei panau.
We can visit/go for a walk after I finish work.
hineng - watch / look
Meng hineng TV lale' kereng.
Do not watch too much TV.
Im hineng ha nan, haman lan ha.
Look at him, he is very clever.
pasi - sad
Pasi lan kenep kui pelemana ika.
I feel sad thinking of you.
sin - money
Kahun lan sin na.
He has a lot of money.
(na - refers to either male or female. non-gender)
doh anan - the girl/woman
lake' anan - the boy/man
mavuk - drunk
Mavuk pa'en ha nan, kelalau te' dui.
He is always drunk, he drinks a lot.
tangen - diligent / hardworking
Tangen im belajen ja si deng lebau
Study hard (Be diligent) so that you pass
kenep kui - I think
Kenep kui nih ngenep ngahawa.
I think I am ready to get married.
pelemana - think
Akui nei pelemana marung ika anih.
I am thinking of you.
Simple everyday English phrases to Kayan:
​How are you?
Nun dengah?
I am fine.
Sayu kah akui.
I do not feel good.
Ji'ek noh kui.
Where are you going?
Tei hino ka du?
I am going to the market.
Akui seng tei ha pasen anih.
I am going to the farm.
Akui seng tei ha luma anih.
Akui seng tei kakah anih
*kakah - the word kakah means going out to do general works on the farm.
I am going to work (office).
Akui seng tei nyadui anih.
What do we have for lunch today?
Nun kan telo danih?
We are having fish.
Kan masik.
We are having chicken.
Kan nyap.
We are having pork.
Kan bavui.
We are having preserved pork meat.
Kan lisem bavui.
We are having preserved fish.
Kan lisem masik.
The weather today is good.
Sayu lan dau danih.
It's a bad weather today.
Ji'ek dau danih.
It's raining today.
Usan dau danih.
The weather is terribly hot today.
Hanit lan dau danih.
I am drenched because of the rain.
Basa nyot kui kenan ujan anih.
Have you taken your bath?
Uh nah ika duh du?
No, I haven't.
Usi piyan.
I have a headache.
Perah kuhung kui.
You need to take medicine.
Kani ubat k.
I don't have medicine.
Usi te' ubat.
The clinic is close today.
Usi klinik buka, or,
Tutup klinik danih, or
Pekap klinik danih.
Take care of yourself.
Pelihei kah, ineng sayu.
Life is hard.
Tusah lan urip.
Take heart.
Pelihei kah.
He is a good person.
Sayu lan lake' anan.
She is a good person.
Sayu lan doh anan.
Can you throw the rubbish, please?
Im tolong meso / mesau luhap anan.
Bring this to school.
Im geri anih sekula.
Bring this to work.
Im geri anih nyadui / kakah.
They had a good time during Christmas.
Ngelu'an lan dalo tek dau aya dih.
They are going fishing today.
Tei mesek dalo danih.
They are going hunting tonight.
Tei nimak dalo malem anih.
They are going to catch fish tomorrow.
Tei nyikep dalo jima.
*nyikep is a Kayan term for catching fish using a traditional net usually used by women.
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