This weeks word
bandjat (bright)
Noongar sentence: Boyal worl bandjat djinda.
English translation: In the eastern sky is a bright star.
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 |
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Word |
Translation |
Sentence and translation |
Audio |
| balara | chicken | Nidja balara marlak koorlboorli The chicken is behind the shrub |
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| balyoongar | sand | Nidja koobalong balyoongar-ak The frog is in the sand |
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| barn-barn | Butterfly | Nidja barn-barn baal yirra worl-ak koorliny bardanginy. This butterfly she is flying away up in the sky |
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| bidit | ant | Djidi-djidi baal bidit ngaarniny The Willy-wagtail is eating ants |
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| Birdiya | Elders | Nagla birdiya boodja-k waangkaniny We Elders speak for the land. |
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| djooraly | grass | Nidja djooraly nodjam The grass is green |
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| djook | sister | Nganyang djook boorn-ak nyininy |
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| kaal | fire | Kaal kaalak Fire is hot |
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| kaditj-kaditj | car | Nidja kaditj-kaditj kaalak baliny! The car is hot to touch! |
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| karda | goanna | Boola karda djit beniny The big goanna is digging a hole |
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| kwell | Sheoak tree | Nidja kwell bilya-ngat maladjiny This sheoak is growing near the river. |
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| kwila | shark | Aliwa! Nidja kwila warden-ak djiba djobliny Lookout! The shark is swimming in the sea |
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| kwilena | dolphin | Ngany djinang kwilena Derbal Yerrigan djiba djobling I see a dolphin swimming in the Swan River |
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| Kurdji-kurdji | Reed warbler (bird) | Nidja kurdji-kurdji yandjet-ak nyininy The reed-warbler is sitting in the bullrushes. |
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| Moodjar | dolphin | native Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda) The Christmas tree flowers, they are orange |
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| Ngaangk ngarda | sunset | Kedala ngaangk ngarda kwobidak Today the sunset is beautiful |
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| ngooni | brother | Windja nganyang ngooni? Where is my brother? |
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| 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. |
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Bunuru |
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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 |
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| bibdjool | Paper or Paperbark tree | Nidja koolangka maar-ak-ngat bibjool koorliny The children are writing on the paper |
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| booyi | turtle | Nidja booyi dabakarn koorling The turtle is slowly going |
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| 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. |
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| daatj | meat | Nidja daatj kaal-ak dookerniny The meat is cooking on the fire |
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| dabakarn | slowly | Nidja kwobidak noorn dabakarn koorliny This beautiful snake slowly moves |
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| Kanyinak | Sacred Kingfisher | Nidja kanyinak, baal djildjit ngaarniny The sacred kingfisher is eating fish | |
| kep | water | Nidja moort kep doorakiny The family drinks water |
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| 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 |
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| nanga banya | Hot/sweating sun | Kedala nanga banya – Today is hot | |
| Balara | chicken | Nidja balara marlak koorlboorli The chicken is behind the shrub |
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| barn-barn | Butterfly | Nidja barn-barn baal yirra worl-ak koorliny bardanginy This butterfly she is flying away up in the sky |
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| 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. |
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| djooraly | grass | Nidja djooraly nodjam – The grass is green |
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| Kaditj-kaditj | car | Nidja kaditj-kaditj kaalak baliny! – The car is hot to touch! |
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| kaw-kawiny | laughing | Nidja Kaa-kaa yira boorn-ak kaw-kawiny. This kookaburra is up in the tree laughing |
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| kert-kert | quickly | Nidja dwert baal kert-kert barlanginy. – This dingo, he is bounding quickly |
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| Kurdji-kurdji | Reed warbler (bird) | Nidja kurdji-kurdji yandjet-ak nyininy - The reed-warbler is sitting in the bullrushes. |
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| Moodjar | Native Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda) | Nidja Moodjar djet baal mirda-yoont – The Christmas tree flowers, they are orange |
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| nganop | stop | Ngany nganop kaditj-kaditj – I stop the car |
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| nyingarn | Echidna | Ngany nyingarn bardook mart djinanginy – I saw an Echidna along the road |
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| warda | crow | Warda baal koorlboorliny boornak – The crow is behind the tree. |
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| Yaakin | turtle | Yaakin bilya-k djiba-djobaliny. – Turtle is swimming in the river. |
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Djiran |
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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 |
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| Birrin Birrin | Rainbow bee-eater | Nidja birrin birrin baal kwobidak The rainbow bee-eater is beautiful |
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| bilara | dry leaf | Bilara werdiny Dry leaves are falling |
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| Boodalang | pelican | Nidja boodalang bilya nyininy The pelican is living near the river |
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| boola | lots | Yeyi djiridji boola mirda koondaka koorliny Now there is lots of red Zamia fruit coming |
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| 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 |
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| Kwenda | Rat or bandicoot | Ngalaak djinang Kwenda marlak nyininy We see Kwenda’s living in the bush |
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| Manatj | cockatoo | Nidja manatj worl-ak yakoorl This cockatoo is flying in the sky |
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| minyi | Morning frost | Nidja Djiran minyi koorliny Now it is Djeran, the morning frost is coming |
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| noorn | snake | Nidja noorn woori The snake is long | |
| noorook | egg | Nyit booyi noorook koorliny Little turtles are coming out of eggs |
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| nyidiny-mar | Cold winds | Nidja Djiran nyidiny-mar koorliny It is Djeran, cold winds are coming |
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| Warayan | Warran plant (Dioscorea hastifolia) | Yeyi Warayan djet koorliny Now Warayan flowers are coming out |
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| wangkaniny | Frogs are talking/croaking | Kooboolong wangkaniny Frogs are talking/croaking |
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| Wiridi-doorka mar | FSouth-westerly wind | Yeyi wiridi-doorka mar nooyanginy Now a south-westerly wind is blowing. | |
Mookaroo |
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Word |
Translation |
Sentence and translation |
Audio |
| dandjoo | together | Nidja moort kaal-ak dandjoo nyininy wer ngaarniny The family sits around the fire eating together |
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| djart | sunset | Djart-ak manatj baalap bilya-k yira worl-ak koorliny. At sunset the cockatoos at the river fly up away in the sky |
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| djidar | dawn | Yeyi djidar koolyir yirra-koorl bilya-k Now it’s dawn, fog rises on the river |
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| djilki | gilgie/crayfish | Nidja ngaank djilki dookeriny The mother is cooking gilgies |
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| djinda | star | Nidja djinda yirra worl-ak nyininy The starts live high up in the sky |
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| djoowi | Tawny frog-mouth | Nidja dwooyi boorn-ak nyiniy Tawny frog-mouth’s live in the trees |
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| dwert | dingo or dog | Noonakin dwert djoorabiny Everybody loves dogs |
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| kadadjiny | learning | Ngany Noongar waangk kadajiny I’m learning the Noongar language |
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| koondart | clouds | Yeyi djendal koondart worl-ak Now grey clouds are in the sky |
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| koorliny | coming | Kep-ak koorliny Rain is coming |
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| 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. |
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| Moyran | Grandfather | Kedala moyran ngardang yongka koorliny. Today Grandfather went hunting for kangaroo. |
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| nidja | this | Nidja djidi-djidi djidar-ak djiraly-ak bardanginy. This willy wagtail is hopping on the grass at dawn. |
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| woolah | A shout of praise or celebration | Nidja moorditj, ngala woolah waangkaniny! When something amazing happens, we shout woolah! |
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| yongka | kangaroo | Nidja yongka marlak-ngat nyininy Kangaroos live in the bush |
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| balyan | wet/damp | Yeyi Mookaroo boodja-abbin balyan – It is Mookaroo and the ground is becoming damp. |
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| djoorap | Happy | Yeyi Mookaroo ngany djoorap Now it is winter I am happy |
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| Kaata | hill | Kaal kaata-k naariny Fire is burning on the hill |
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| Koolbardi | Magpie | Koolbardi boodja-k minga warniny The Magpie is on the ground searching for insects |
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| koordiny | Wild carrots (Daucus glochidiatus) |
I am eating raw wild carrots. | |
| malka | thunder | Nidja malka bardak The thunder is close. |
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| 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 |
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| yandjet | Bull-rushes | Booyi baal yandjet-koorl djiba-djobaliny – The turtle is swimming towards the bull rushes |
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Djilba |
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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 |
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| djer-djer | Blue wren | Ngany djer-djer djinang – I see the Blue wren |
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| djoobak | orchid | Yeyi Djilba djoobak djinang – Now it is Djilba you can see the orchids |
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| djowiny | feather | Nidja Karak mirda djowiny-boorong – The Red-tailed cockatoo has red feathers |
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| Kaa-kaa | Kookaburra | Nidja kaa-kaa yirra boorn-ak kawiny- The kookaburra is high in the tree laughing |
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| manga | bird’s nest | Manga dorlak-ak nyininy – The birds nest is in the tree hollow |
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| marri | forest | Yeyi mari mereny-ap – Now the forest is a place for food |
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| nookert ngoorndiny | sleeping | Yongka wer djoodiny koordak nookert ngoorndiny – Kangaroos and Joeys long for sleeping |
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| babanginy | lightning | Balai babanginy Look out ! Lightning! |
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| boorong | rain | Kedala boola boorong It is daytime and there is lots of rain |
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| midjal | Light rain or drizzle | Yeyi midjal-iny Now there is light rain. |
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| ngany | I or me | Ngany miya-k nyininy I am sitting at home |
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| nyidiny | cold | Yeyi boola nyidiny Now it’s very cold |
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| wetj | emu | Nidja wetj koomba djerap The emu is a big bird |
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| worl | sky | Nidja ngaangk yirra worl-ak The sun is high in the sky |
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| yeyi | Now or today | Nidja bonar yeyi Djilba. Now this season is |
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Kambarang |
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Word |
Translation |
Sentence and translation |
Audio |
| djet | flower | Djilba-k boola kwobidak djet In August/September there are many pretty flowers |
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| karli | boomerang | Nganyang moort boola Karli baranginy My family is carrying many boomerangs |
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| kaya | yes or hello | Kaya! Yaamen noonook? Hello. How are you? |
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| koolangka | children | Koolangka boorn-k waabiny Children are playing with sticks |
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| koomool | Possum | Nidja koomool noomar ngaarniny. The possum is eating fungi. |
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| maaman | Father or man | Ngany maaman miya-k koorliny mereny ngarniny I’m going to my father’s house to eat damper |
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| waabiny | play | Ngany dwert-k waabiny. I play with my dog. |
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| walken | Rainbow | Yeyi bonar walken Now is the month of rainbows |
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| yoowart | no | Yoowart djet borniny No cutting of flowers! |
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| bedik-bedik | shhhh/quiet | Bedik-bedik! Maawit baal nookert ngoorndiny – Shhh! Baby is sleeping |
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| Bindi-bindi | butterfly | Nidja bindi-bindi djet-ak nyininy – The butterfly is sitting on the flower |
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| Djiba-djobaliny | swimming | Nidja Derbal Yerrigan ngaarlak djiba djobling – This is the Swan River, we are swimming in it |
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| dookatj | dugite | Nidja dookatj mereny-ak wardiny The dugite is searching for food |
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| karra | spider | Koomba karra boorn-ak nyininy – The big spider is in the tree |
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| koobalong | frog | Windja koobalong? – Where is the frog? |
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| maawit | babies | Yeyi Kambarang, karda maawit koorling – Now it is Kambarang there are goanna babies coming |
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| Moolya-idjow | sneeze | Yeyi Kambarang ngany moolya-idjow – Now it is Kambarang I sneeze |
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| Moorn ngarna | Black caterpillar | Moorn ngarna baal marabadiny – Black caterpillars, they are crawling |
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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.