Noongar Word of the Week

This weeks word

Moyran (Grandfather)

Noongar sentence: Kedala moyran ngardang yongka koorliny.
English translation: Today Grandfather went hunting for kangaroo.

About the project

Our Noongar Word of the Week project started in April 2023 as an Aboriginal language revival initiative led by Midland Library and our Local History team. 

Throughout the year, our Noongar Language Class at Midland Library, led by Brenda Larsen, develops a list of words inspired by the current Noongar season. Brenda, a respected Noongar language educator and cultural advocate serving as an Associate Lecturer at Curtin University, is a Ballardong yok (woman) with ties to Whadjuk boodja. Brenda speaks and teaches the Northern dialect of the Noongar language, and some spelling and pronunciation may differ from other dialects of the Noongar language. 

Each week, a new Noongar word is displayed in City of Swan Libraries, Youth centres, and community hubs, and social media. The project has grown and expanded far outside of the City of Swan since its inception, and words are regularly shared with local teachers, schools, community groups, and homeschool parents.

Check out the full list of our Noongar Words of the Week below.

For more information about Noongar Word of the Week, please get in touch via email: local.history@swan.wa.gov.au

Words of the week

Each week, City of Swan Libraries shares a new Noongar word with our community. See below for the full list of words that we have shared to date.

Please note, these words are from the Northern dialect of the Noongar language. Spelling and pronunciation may differ from other Noongar dialects.

Copyright notice

Noongar Word of the Week audio recordings are copyright © 2025 belonging to Brenda Larsen. All rights reserved including moral rights. Audio recordings are not to be downloaded, reproduced, communicated or broadcasted in any way for any purpose, including for educational, personal, or commercial use without the prior written consent of the copyright owner. For more information about using these recordings please get in touch with our Local History team: local.history@swan.wa.gov.au


Birak

Word

Translation

Sentence and translation

Audio

balara chicken Nidja balara marlak koorlboorli
The chicken is behind the shrub
balyoongar sand Nidja koobalong balyoongar-ak
The frog is in the sand
barn-barn Butterfly Nidja barn-barn baal yirra worl-ak koorliny bardanginy.
This butterfly she is flying away up in the sky
bidit ant Djidi-djidi baal bidit ngaarniny
The Willy-wagtail is eating ants
Birdiya Elders Nagla birdiya boodja-k waangkaniny
We Elders speak for the land.
djooraly grass Nidja djooraly nodjam
The grass is green
djook sister Nganyang djook boorn-ak nyininy
 
kaal fire Kaal kaalak
Fire is hot
kaditj-kaditj car Nidja kaditj-kaditj kaalak baliny!
The car is hot to touch!
karda goanna Boola karda djit beniny
The big goanna is digging a hole
 
kwell Sheoak tree Nidja kwell bilya-ngat maladjiny
This sheoak is growing near the river.
kwila shark Aliwa! Nidja kwila warden-ak djiba djobliny
Lookout! The shark is swimming in the sea
kwilena dolphin Ngany djinang kwilena Derbal Yerrigan djiba djobling
I see a dolphin swimming in the Swan River
Kurdji-kurdji Reed warbler (bird) Nidja kurdji-kurdji yandjet-ak nyininy
The reed-warbler is sitting in the bullrushes.
Moodjar dolphin native Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda)
The Christmas tree flowers, they are orange
Ngaangk ngarda sunset Kedala ngaangk ngarda kwobidak
Today the sunset is beautiful
ngooni brother Windja nganyang ngooni?
Where is my brother?
warda tracks (animal) Boola boorn, warda wetj wer noorook wetj marlak-ngat, ngalak djinanginy.
We see many trees, track of emus, and eggs of emus in the bush.

Bunuru

Word

Translation

Sentence and translation

Audio

barlanginy Paper or Paperbark tree Nidja Kwenda, baal kert-kert bokadja barlanginy
This Kwenda, she is quickly hopping away
bibdjool Paper or Paperbark tree Nidja koolangka maar-ak-ngat bibjool koorliny
The children are writing on the paper
booyi turtle Nidja booyi dabakarn koorling
The turtle is slowly going
Bunuru Season of Bunuru Yeyi Bunuru nidja moort djoolap kep-ak djiba-djobliny..
Now it is Bunuru the family are happy swimming in the water.
daatj meat Nidja daatj kaal-ak dookerniny
The meat is cooking on the fire
dabakarn slowly Nidja kwobidak noorn dabakarn koorliny
This beautiful snake slowly moves
Kanyinak Sacred Kingfisher Nidja kanyinak, baal djildjit ngaarniny The sacred kingfisher is eating fish
kep water Nidja moort kep doorakiny
The family drinks water
koonatt Wattle seeds Nidja moort koonatt wedjaniny – The family is collecting wattle seeds
miyak moon Nidja kedalak moorart miyak
This evening there is a full moon
nanga banya Hot/sweating sun Kedala nanga banya – Today is hot
Balara chicken Nidja balara marlak koorlboorli 
The chicken is behind the shrub
barn-barn Butterfly Nidja barn-barn baal yirra worl-ak koorliny bardanginy
This butterfly she is flying away up in the sky
balyoongar sand Nidja koobalong balyoongar-ak – The frog is in the sand
Birdiya Elders Nagla birdiya boodja-k waangkaniny -
We Elders speak for the land.
djooraly grass Nidja djooraly nodjam
The grass is green
Kaditj-kaditj car Nidja kaditj-kaditj kaalak baliny!
The car is hot to touch!
kaw-kawiny laughing Nidja Kaa-kaa yira boorn-ak kaw-kawiny. 
This kookaburra is up in the tree laughing
kert-kert quickly Nidja dwert baal kert-kert barlanginy.
This dingo, he is bounding quickly
Kurdji-kurdji Reed warbler (bird) Nidja kurdji-kurdji yandjet-ak nyininy -
The reed-warbler is sitting in the bullrushes.
 
Moodjar Native Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda) Nidja Moodjar djet baal mirda-yoont
The Christmas tree flowers, they are orange
 
nganop stop Ngany nganop kaditj-kaditj
I stop the car
 
nyingarn Echidna Ngany nyingarn bardook mart djinanginy
I saw an Echidna along the road
 
warda crow Warda baal koorlboorliny boornak -
The crow is behind the tree.
Yaakin turtle Yaakin bilya-k djiba-djobaliny. -
Turtle is swimming in the river.

Djiran

Word

Translation

Sentence and translation

Audio

babing friend Ngang babing wer ngany djoorap djet My friend and I like to pick flowers
baranginy trapping/catching Nganyang ngooni baal djildjit baranginy
My brother, he is trapping fish
Birrin Birrin Rainbow bee-eater Nidja birrin birrin baal kwobidak
The rainbow bee-eater is beautiful
bilara dry leaf Bilara werdiny
Dry leaves are falling
Boodalang pelican Nidja boodalang bilya nyininy
The pelican is living near the river
boola lots Yeyi djiridji boola mirda koondaka koorliny
Now there is lots of red Zamia fruit coming
djildjit fish Nidja moort djildjit-bintj ijow kep-ak The family put fish traps in the water
kardjaliny cooling Yeyi Djiran kedalak kardjaliny
Now it is Djiran, nights are cooling
Kwenda Rat or bandicoot Ngalaak djinang Kwenda marlak nyininy
We see Kwenda’s living in the bush
Manatj cockatoo Nidja manatj worl-ak yakoorl
This cockatoo is flying in the sky
minyi Morning frost Nidja Djiran minyi koorliny
Now it is Djeran, the morning frost is coming
noorn snake Nidja noorn woori  The snake is long
noorook egg Nyit booyi noorook koorliny
Little turtles are coming out of eggs
nyidiny-mar Cold winds Nidja Djiran nyidiny-mar koorliny
It is Djeran, cold winds are coming
Warayan Warran plant (Dioscorea hastifolia) Yeyi Warayan djet koorliny
Now Warayan flowers are coming out
wangkaniny Frogs are talking/croaking Kooboolong wangkaniny
 Frogs are talking/croaking
Wiridi-doorka mar FSouth-westerly wind Yeyi wiridi-doorka mar nooyanginy Now a south-westerly wind is blowing.

Mookaroo

Word

Translation

Sentence and translation

Audio

dandjoo together Nidja moort kaal-ak dandjoo nyininy wer ngaarniny
The family sits around the fire eating together
djidar dawn Yeyi djidar koolyir yirra-koorl bilya-k
Now it’s dawn, fog rises on the river
djilki gilgie/crayfish Nidja ngaank djilki dookeriny
The mother is cooking gilgies
djinda star Nidja djinda yirra worl-ak nyininy
The starts live high up in the sky
djoowi Tawny frog-mouth Nidja dwooyi boorn-ak nyiniy
Tawny frog-mouth’s live in the trees
dwert dingo or dog Noonakin dwert djoorabiny
Everybody loves dogs
kadadjiny learning Ngany Noongar waangk kadajiny
I’m learning the Noongar language
koondart clouds Yeyi djendal koondart worl-ak
Now grey clouds are in the sky
koorliny coming Kep-ak koorliny
Rain is coming
maali Swan (bird) Nidja maali ngawer bilya-k, moort kaaditj yeyi maali baranginy
When Noongar people see feathers floating on the river, they know it’s a good time to hunt swans.
Moyran Grandfather Kedala moyran ngardang yongka koorliny.
Today Grandfather went hunting for kangaroo.
woolah A shout of praise or celebration Nidja moorditj, ngala woolah waangkaniny!
When something amazing happens, we shout woolah!
yongka kangaroo Nidja yongka marlak-ngat nyininy
Kangaroos live in the bush
balyan wet/damp Yeyi Mookaroo boodja-abbin balyan
It is Mookaroo and the ground is becoming damp.
djoorap Happy Yeyi Mookaroo ngany djoorap
Now it is winter I am happy
Kaata hill Kaal kaata-k naariny
Fire is burning on the hill
Koolbardi Magpie Koolbardi boodja-k minga warniny
The Magpie is on the ground searching for insects
koordiny Wild carrots
(Daucus glochidiatus)
I am eating raw wild carrots.
malka thunder Nidja malka bardak 
The thunder is close.
marr borang Stormy winds Yeyi Mookaroo marr borang – Now it is Mookaroo, there are stormy winds.
Waalitj eagle Nidja waalitj yoolang baalang miya
The Eagle is close to his nest
yandjet Bull-rushes Booyi baal yandjet-koorl djiba-djobaliny
The turtle is swimming towards the bull rushes

Djilba

Word

Translation

Sentence and translation

Audio

Dingkelyerang Budgerigar Nidja Dingkelyerang minyi-ak binbart-binbart
The budgie is rolling from side to side in the dew
 
djer-djer Blue wren Ngany djer-djer djinang
I see the Blue wren
djoobak orchid Yeyi Djilba djoobak djinang
Now it is Djilba you can see the orchids
djowiny feather Nidja Karak mirda djowiny-boorong
The Red-tailed cockatoo has red feathers
Kaa-kaa Kookaburra Nidja kaa-kaa yirra boorn-ak kawiny-
The kookaburra is high in the tree laughing
manga bird’s nest Manga dorlak-ak nyininy
The birds nest is in the tree hollow
marri forest Yeyi mari mereny-ap 
Now the forest is a place for food
nookert ngoorndiny sleeping Yongka wer djoodiny koordak nookert ngoorndiny
– Kangaroos and Joeys long for sleeping
babanginy lightning Balai babanginy
Look out ! Lightning!
boorong rain Kedala boola boorong
It is daytime and there is lots of rain
 
midjal Light rain or drizzle Yeyi midjal-iny
Now there is light rain.
ngany I or me Ngany miya-k nyininy
I am sitting at home
nyidiny cold Yeyi boola nyidiny
Now it’s very cold
wetj emu Nidja wetj koomba djerap
The emu is a big bird
worl sky Nidja ngaangk yirra worl-ak
The sun is high in the sky
yeyi Now or today Nidja bonar yeyi Djilba.
Now this season is 

Kambarang

Word

Translation

Sentence and translation

Audio

djet flower Djilba-k boola kwobidak djet
In August/September there are many pretty flowers
karli boomerang Nganyang moort boola Karli baranginy
My family is carrying many boomerangs
kaya yes or hello Kaya! Yaamen noonook?
Hello. How are you?
koolangka children Koolangka boorn-k waabiny
Children are playing with sticks
koomool Possum Nidja koomool noomar ngaarniny.
The possum is eating fungi.
maaman Father or man Ngany maaman miya-k koorliny mereny ngarniny
I’m going to my father’s house to eat damper
waabiny play Ngany dwert-k waabiny.
I play with my dog.
walken Rainbow Yeyi bonar walken
Now is the month of rainbows
yoowart no Yoowart djet borniny
No cutting of flowers!
bedik-bedik shhhh/quiet Bedik-bedik! Maawit baal nookert ngoorndiny
Shhh! Baby is sleeping
Bindi-bindi butterfly Nidja bindi-bindi djet-ak nyininy
The butterfly is sitting on the flower
Djiba-djobaliny swimming Nidja Derbal Yerrigan ngaarlak djiba djobling
This is the Swan River, we are swimming in it
dookatj dugite Nidja dookatj mereny-ak wardiny
The dugite is searching for food
 
karra spider Koomba karra boorn-ak nyininy
 The big spider is in the tree
koobalong frog Windja koobalong?
Where is the frog?
maawit babies Yeyi Kambarang, karda maawit koorling
Now it is Kambarang there are goanna babies coming
Moolya-idjow sneeze Yeyi Kambarang ngany moolya-idjow
Now it is Kambarang I sneeze
Moorn ngarna Black caterpillar Moorn ngarna baal marabadiny
Black caterpillars, they are crawling

Other resources

Keen to find out more about Noongar language and culture, or looking for more learning resources? 

For more Noongar words, we recommend Kaartdijin Noongar’s Noongar Word List or the Noongar Dictionary by Rose Whitehurst. 

Join a free online Noongar language and culture class led by Brenda Larsen through Curtin University and learn about the Noongar people of Western Australia, their culture and their language. 

Discover more about the six Noongar seasons, including flora and fauna, weather patterns, and the changes to boodjar (country) as the seasons change.

Place Names Maali is a Noongar language, knowledge and placenames project delivered in partnership with Landgate, the City of Swan, Moodjar, Noongar Elders and Traditional Owners. Read more about the project

Back to of the page