The Kutthung, or Kattang, dialect was spoken amongst the Australian Aborigines living along the southern bank of the Karuah river and the south shore of Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia.
It was at one time spoken amongst the tribes lying between Port Stephens, West Maitland and Paterson.
The adjoining tribes were the Gummigingal, inhabiting the territory on the north shore of Port Stephens and the Karuah; the Warringal, living between Telegherry and Pipeclay Creeks; the Warrimoo, living between Telegherry Creek, Port Stephens, the Sea Shore and the Hunter River; the Garawerigal between the Myall River and the sea shore; the Yoerunggal, about the Myall Lakes; the Birrimbai, in the neighbourhood of Bungwall Flat; and the Birrooggal, on the Myall River.
VOCABULARY OF THE KUTTHUNG LANGUAGE.
The words in the following vocabulary have all been spelt phonetically and the translation of them into English is given as literally as possible. In some instances the English word will be found to have two equivalents in the Kutthung. This I think has been caused by tribes coalescing, as their numbers dwindled away and tribal boundaries were destroyed before the march of civilization. By this means each new addition to the tribe would inevitably mean a slight change to the language. The reader will please note that "d" and "t" are interchangeable as also are "g" and "k".
Kutthung ... English
Beo-yur ... father
Ber-ri-nun ... the teal
Boor-i ... baby boy
Broo-ee-gee ... to swim
Boor-i too-kal ... boy lit. big baby
Broo-ee-gal ... whip snake
Bit-thee ... old woman
Bung-hi ... today noun
But-ton ... black
Buk-oo-ee ... meat
Bur-ra ... white or lightly coloured
Bud-geo la ... bit-past tense
But-too ... smoke
But-tig-yeo ... wattle tree
Bur-ri ... earth territory belonging to a tribe
Bur-roo-ma ... mahogany
Bin-dul ... heard
Be-lorn ... stingaree
Bee ... the wrist
Bun-yee ... to strike
Buk-a ... the knee
Bunn-yil-la ... struck
Bar-ra-kun ... returning boomerang
Boo-ba ... to lie down
Bur-rid ... the wallaby
Bur-rung ... red
Book-ut ... bandicoot
Boo-mer-i ... grass tree
Bul-boo ... kangaroo rat
But-teo-yuk ... white ant
Bir-rum Bir-ra ... birds nest fern
Bee-num-ba ... your
Boo-ra ... short
Bum-ba-la ... married - past tense
Bir-rin ... wide
Boon-dhoe ... a club used both for throwing and striking
Bir-roon ... to break
Bool-goo bur-ri ... A drought lit. dry earth
Bin-dhee ... stomach
Boo-larng ... together
Bur-rin ... a net
Boon-ma ... to steal
Buk-a Buk-a ... savage
Bee-ram-mer ... marks made on the body of the initiate
Bur-oo-lit ... rosella parrot
Buk-a ... angry, to quarrel
Bun-bee-al-la ... to drop on ground
Bur-run-gee ... the native squirrel
Bum-bee wut-ta ... to make fire
Boom-be-ra ... the testicles
Boo-tonk ... soft, smooth
Bir-ree-wel goo-ran ... weak lit. not strong
Boon-ma ... quiet
Bar-koon ... a coward
Bit-yee ... to drink
Bir-ree-wel ... brave
Ba-rel-la ... a fly
Boo-i ... breath
Bur-rin ... a net
Bing-hi ... youngest brother
Boon-ger-al ... a fight
Bool-bung ... the larger circle at the keeparra ground
Bot-yee ... to carry
Boon-da-gee ... to swallow
Bar-ro-wa ... a large bullroarer used in keeparra ceremony
Ba-ra ... down
Ban ... aunt
Bort-la ... food
Booda-gee ... to swallow
Bil-lin ... yellow
Bee-rang ... very
Bee-yar Goo-ran ... fatherless
Bun-da-lee-la ... cut
Bur-rub-ba ... my
But-thoon ... a dilly bag
Buk-kin ... half
Bir-roo-yen ... fish-hook
Boo-oe-buh ... to copulate
Bil-lung-ree ... the black oak tree
Boor-rool ... heavy
Bun-ga Bug-gun ... flock pigeon
Bool-gee ... dry
Bor bor ... a circular piece of bark used as a flying target
Boor-ro-wang ... female of the Macrozamia
Bul-lo-ra ... two
Bul-lo-ra wok-kool ... three
Bul-lo-ra Bul-lo-ra ... four
Bul-lo-ra bul-lo-ra wok-kool ... five
Ba-ra ... they, them, those
Ba-loe ... to
Bar-in-gin-da ... their
Bar-in-gin-in-da-wee ... these
Din-na ... the foot
Doon-ga ... the right arm
Doo-kal or too-kal ... great, big, large
Doon-dee ... small coolamon
Dir-ra ... a tooth
Doon-git ... carpet snake
Dut-tee ... dead
Doon-ge-ra ... pelican
Doo-nong ... the eel
Dur-ra-ra ... dry
Dun-yoe ... eat
Dhur-ra ... the leg
Dhap-pee ... the chin
Doo-mu ... to keep
Dhun-barn ... strong
Dun-gee ... to lie
Dhur-oo-bal-lee ... to leak
Dhum-but ... thirsty
Dun-ga ... to shew
Doon-gal ... tears
Dhuroo-gal-lee kun -go-ra ... to bleed (lit. to leak blood)
Dhir-ra-bwoe ... oyster
Dhee-ra ... a branch
Dundul ... between
Darn-dee ... on this side of
Dhub-ba ... whilst
Dir-reo Dir-ree ... rough
Doo-ping ... a mosquito
Dip-oon-ga ... a stone used for sharpeing shell fish-hooks
Dheo-ka ... the native companion
Dhur-i-ee ... thin
Duldee ... to kick
Dhook-ken ... to rise
Dool-bee ... a pointer consisting of a stick lashed crosswise to an upright and pointing in the direction that people have gone
Dhal-gi ... a minor initiation ceremony
Dir-raw ... a rib
Doo-kal-la ... a lot, great many
Droo-al-ung ... speared
Dun-dul-la ... narrow
Dhee-wee ... the navel
Doo-roong ... brown
Dung-ga ... the vagina
Dhoo-ree ... straight
Doo-wa-kee ... to search
Doon-ga ... to know
Dhir-roo-la ... dangerous
Dhur-roo-me-ree ... a rainbow
Dil-ling ... also
E-goo-ba ... this
Ek-u-ba ... good-bye
Ga-roo-wa ... sea
Go-0n ... mangrove tree
Gool-ge-ree ... a few
Goo-la ... the native bear
Ga-long ... going
Gum-ml ... a spear
Gool-ga ... a penis
Ga-lun-gun ... the green tree-snake
Goo-ba ... of
Gun-gul-ba ... black comorant
Ga-ra ... the schnapper
Gra-bun ... groper (a fish)
Gur-ra wur-ra ... jew fish
Gur-um-boe ... white gum
Goo-oo-weo ... shark
Gir-um-bit ... salt water
Gir-ra-gar ... honey
Gip-pee ... wet
Goo-jee ik koo ... come here (the expression of greeting used among the Kutthung)
Goo-ra ... long
Goo-nood ... old
Goo-roo-mul ... young
Gul-lu ... cheeks
Gur-ri ... to choke
Ghin-doo-ee ... turkey
Gir Gir ... king parrot
Goo-wok ... hard
Gun-ya ... hut
Goo-bree-gi ... hungry
Goo-rum-ba ... to tell lies
Gool-bee ... a noise
Gra-hi-na ... to steal
Gir-ru ... alive
Gun-gil-lee ... to weep
Gir-ree-boo ... to lose
Goo-ee-wut ... shower of rain
Gur-rel-bool-lin ... to dig
Goo ... him
Gool-ga ... pathway leading from Boolbung to Goonumbung
Goo-lum-bra ... the first man, now the presiding genius of Keeparra
Goo-nan-duk-yer ... (lit. stercuns humanum edens) the small bullroarer
Goon-da-ree ... the apple tree (angophora)
Gir-ree-poot ... spotted gum
Gir-rum-bo ... dying
Gir-rung ... green (unripe)
Goor-rum-bal-in ... no gammon
Gir-rungh ... a leaf
Gul-bee-mee-nung ... silent
Gun-dim-mur-ra ... barbed spear made of hard wood
Gut-ta-la ... was or have been
Gun-yee ... shall or will
Goo-reel ... the large shield
Goo-ge-ree ... hut
Gub-bee-rung ... from the direction of
Gwa (also kwa) ... a suffix indicating among
Goo-ar ... a tribe
Gun-den-wi ... the flying fox
Goo-ran ... no, not
Gur-rool ... perspiration
Gin-du ... whilst
Jik--ker-a ... white ironbark
Kit-chung ... hair
Kidn ... woman
Koor-ee ... man
Koo-noong ... old man
Koong-un ... flood
Koo-ewe-wun ... summer
Kir-ra-kur-ra ... autumn
Koor-ra ... night
Kee-wong ... moon
Kun-ge-ra ... blood
Kree-pun ... spotted gum
Kur-ree-kl ... myrtle
Kee-la ... to micturate
Koo-yuk ... canoe
Kur-run-gl ... black duck
Kow-wer-ree ... brown snake
Kow-al-ga-lit ... diamond snake
Kur-roon-gee ... to jump
Kur-roo Dur-ree ... fast
Kur-ra-ka ... mouth
Kut-yee ... to cut
Kut-ta ... to drop out of your hand
Kok-a-too ... cuckatoo
Kut-ta-ra ... fast
Kur-rup-pa ... loins
Kur-run-gee ... a fool
Kur-roo-ma ... to climb
Kut-ti ... to go
Ky-in-dub-ba ... on this side of
Kup-po-ee ... an egg
Kup-poon-dee ... hut
Kun-ni ... a yam stick
Ko-kee-dun ... come here
Kil-lung ... a feather
Kup-po ... bye and bye
Kur-ia-gun ... soon
Koo-ye-roo ... a bone used for combing the hair
Kur-re-ki ... bush myrtle
Koon-dool ... root of a tree
Kun-da ... a birds nest
Kur-re-kee ... to fetch, to carry
Koot-thee wit-tee ... to sing
Krum-moon ... clouds
Kor-oo-ba ... the fortiscue fish
Kee-par-pa ... the initiation ceremony of the Kutthung
Kit-tee ... the large coolamon
Koot-the-ra ... a nullah or club
Kin-yarngh ... pleased
Koom-ba ... to-morrow
Koom-bug-ga ... day after to-morrow
Kur-reel-la ... drowned
Ky-in-goo ... over
Kow-wan ... uncle
Kut-thumb ... to spit
Ka-pee ... to throw
Khir-roodn ... itching
Koo ee-puk-kee ... to smell
Kup-paw ... stop
Koo-la-hee ... to snare
Kyin ... across
Koop-pal-ee-n ... runs
Mir-ree ... dog
Mur-re-kun ... girl
Mich-ee-gan ... little girl
Mul-boo ... thunder
Mun-ni ... star
Mut-te-ra ... hand
Mik-kong ... the eye
Mur-rook ... good, happy
Mur-rung ... nice, beautiful
Mun-um-ba ... red gum tree
Mun-nung ... sand
Mil-lhin ... mud
Mun-noog ... a hill
Mun-yil-la ... gave
Ma-ming ... to take
Mur-roo-ma ... to make
Ma-ril-la ... caught
Ma ... the finger
Mit-tee ... small
Mur-ro-ma-la ... made
Min-a-go ... why
Mut-too ... black snake
Moo-nul-gook ... death adder
Mim-mo ... blind
Mur-ra-lin ... climbing
Mur-rom-boo ... thank you
Min-ya-po ... something
Ma-poo ... widower
Mahl-gun ... a spider
Ma-koom-bal-lin ... nodding the head
Mak-ree ... porcupine
Muk-kee muk-kee ... lazy, useless
Moo-ree-ung-gub-ba ... how far
Mut-tuk ... the fishing spear
Muk-kun ... small species of lizard
Mug-gin ... a bulb found growing with wild potatoes
Mur-reen ... a star
Mit-tuk ... sore
Mur-rin ... sharp
Mur-ra-yung ... don't go
Mil-lin Mil-lin ... a swallow
Mah-poon-gun ... a window
Mi-kin ... a long time ago
Mi-poo-yoo ... a mullet
Mi-oe ... the point of a spear
Num-ba ... suffix signifying "at"
Na-ya ... mother
Nut-yoon ... fresh water
Nur-rin ... eldest sister
Nun-na ... elbow
Nim-bik ... bone
Narng ... nose
Nur-ree-an ... ear
Noo-ree-on ... hat
Nut-wa ... I
Noo-a ... he
Nyee-un ... us (we)
Noo-ya ... to ask
Na-na ... who
Na-na yoe ... who there lit. what who are you
Na-num-ba-yee ... whose
Noo-k wum-ba ... his
Noon-gum-ba ... her
Noo-koo-wom ba ... that
Nup-pun ... breasts (female)
Nup-pung ... milk
Nun-doo ... grass tree
Nyee-hu ... yes
Nur-run ... a hole
Nah-ka ... to see
Nur-rowin ... the lyre bird
Nur-roon ... kidneys
Noo ree ... noisy
Nur-ra ... a camp
Nap-poo ... sleep
Nuj-ee-leo-la ... possessed
Nur-ren ... the leg
Yu-ya ... at once
Nook-kil-la ... to swap
Nur-ro-win ... flat piece of country
Nuj-ee-roo ... a small bag for holding pieces of colourless quartz given to initiates
Nun-na-yook ... there
Noon-ghee ... nephew
Noon-gha-gun ... niece
Na-ya God-ran ... motherless
Nyee Nyee ... merry
Nut-ta ... shallow
Noot-ta ... to taste
Nur-run-gee ... remember
Noo-ka ... give
Oo-pik kee ... to send
Pur-ru-pa ... a hut
Pook-kul ... a knot
Poor-roo-pung ... smooth
Poo-ee-pir-ra ... tired
Poo-pur-ra ... close
Ping-gun ... lightning
Por-oo-look ... a flea
Pup-puh ... close
Too-ra-kee ... at
Tur-roo-ka ... hand of stone tomahawk
Too-toong ... narrow
Tu-ree ... the fighting boomerang
Tuk-ke-ra ... cold
Tul-lun ... the tongue
Ta-ral-lee ... hail
Too-kee War-ree ... soon
Too-kun ... the sun
Too-mul-la ... a creek
Tuk-kut ... a perch
U-lit-tin ... after
Wun-da ... where
Wol-long ... for
Way-in-gun ... will walk
Wot-too ... an opossum
Wok-ka ... on top of
Woor-roon ... loud
Wung=ga ... to dance
Wor-rine ... flat
Wot-thee ... mad
Wor-ra-kee ... to see
Wom-mo ... fat
Wah-kun ... a crow
Wy-yee ... a pup
War-ra-pa-mee-nung ... be quiet
Wee-ya ... to tell
Wong-ghu ... a corroboree
Wol-lun ... the head
Wol-lun yer-ra-kee ... a head-ache
Wee-yuh ... was it (word of interrogation)
Wol-loo-ya ... a large kangaroo
Woong-un ... the youngest sister
Wok-kha ... air
Win-no, weona ... spring
Wil-ling ... the lip
Wur-ring ... the left arm
Wok-kul ... the shoulder
Wut-ta ... fire
Win-yal-la ... burnt (past tense)
Waru-boyn ... kangaroo
Wit-too ... the neck
Wor-rin ... a stream
Wok-kool ... one
Wit-ta-kit ... the emu
Wal-lin-gul-ga ... the native bee
Woo-ya ... to hear
Wil-la ... to stone
Wi-la ... black cockatoo
Won-gul-lin ... a corroboree
Woo-roo-ma ... the westerly wind
Wor-ree-a ... a young swan
Wun-gl ... how
War ra gub-ba gnd ... pregnant
Woor-roo-bung ... the jew lizard
Wee-ree ... to sweep
Wor-rung ... frost
Wun-na ... to listen
Wun-yimbo wunyimbo ... always
Wad-yeo-deo ... bad, ill, sick
Yoon-goo ... a mountain
Yal lo-wal-lin ... sitting
Ya-ree ... or
Yar-rin ... light (in weight)
Yar-ruh ... to swim
Yur-reel ... a cloud
Yal0lowa ... the north east
Yer-reea ... evening
Yoo-kul ... the heart
Yup-pee ... to ti-trees
Yuk-ree ... the wommera
Yur-ra ... the sky
Yum-bine ... the scrotum
Yu-ka ... the flathead fish
Yun na ... to walk
Yoo-ra Yoo-ra ... slow
Yen-dheo-reo ... the eyebrows
Yal-lowa ... to sit down
Yoo-ra-ba-lee la ... to hide
Yan-da-meo-nor ... right
Yee-boo ... to finish
Yoo-lun ... to skin
Ya-ka ... mahogany
Ya-ree ... or
Yoom-broo ... in
Yar reo-nuin-ba ... our
Yit-tuh ... blunt
Yoon-nur-ra ... awkward
Yer-a-kee Yer-rakee ... painful
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