A collection of useful phrases in Marshallese, a Micronesian language spoken on the Marshall Islands in the North Pacific Ocean.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | kajin m̧ajeļ (Marshallese) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Karuwainene |
| Hello (General greeting) | Io̧kwe (sg) Io̧kwe io̧kwe Io̧kwe kom̧ (pl) Io̧kwe aolep (hello everyone) |
| Hello (on phone) | |
| How are you? | Em̧m̧an mour? Ej et mour |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Em̧m̧an (I'm fine) Elukkuun em̧m̧an (I'm doing great) Ebwe (I'm so-so) Elukkuun nana (I'm not doing so well) Ak kwe? (And you?) |
| Long time no see | |
| What's your name? | Etam̧? |
| My name is ... | Eta in ... |
| Where are you from? | Kwōj itok jān ia? |
| I'm from ... | Ij itok jān ... |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Morning! |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Io̧kwe in raelep |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Io̧kwe in jota |
| Good night | Good night! |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Io̧kwe (sg) Io̧kwe kom̧ (pl) Io̧kwe aolep (goodbye everyone) Bar lo eok (see you later - sg) Bar lo kom̧ (see you later - pl) |
| Good luck! | Jeraam̧m̧an n̄an kwe |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
|
| Have a nice day | |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
|
| Yes | Aet |
| No | Jab |
| Maybe | Bōlen |
| I don't know | Ijab jeļā Ijeje In̄ak |
| I understand | Imeļeļe |
| I don't understand | Ijab meļeļe |
| Please speak more slowly | Karum̧wij am̧ kōnono Karum̧wijļo̧k am̧ kōnono |
| Please say that again | Bar ba mok |
| Please write it down | |
| Do you speak English? | Kwo jela ke kajin pālle? |
| Do you speak Marshallese? | Kwōjeļā ke kajin m̧ajeļ? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Aet, jidik |
| Speak to me in Marshallese | |
| How do you say ... in Marshallese? | Etan ... ilo kajin m̧ajeļ? |
| Excuse me | Jo̧lo̧k bōd Jo̧lo̧k aō bōd |
| How much is this? | Ewi jon̄an? |
| Sorry | Jo̧lo̧k bōd Jo̧lo̧k aō bōd |
| Please | Jouj |
| Thank you | Kom̧m̧ool (sg) Kwe emmal (pl) Kom̧m̧ooltata (Thank you very much) |
| Reply to thank you | Jouj Kōn jouj |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Ewi em jirikrik in? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | |
| This lady will pay for everything | |
| Would you like to dance with me? | |
| Do you come here often? | |
| I miss you | |
| I love you | Ij io̧kwe eok |
| Get well soon | |
| Go away! | |
| Leave me alone! | |
| Help! | |
| Fire! | |
| Stop! | |
| Call the police! | |
| Christmas greetings | Monono ilo raaneoan Nejin Jeramman ilo iio in ekaal |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Jeramon ilo rainin am |
| One language is never enough | Joun kajin ejar bwe |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Marshallese | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Other collections of Marshallese phrases
http://www.rmiembassyus.org/Marshallese Phrasebook.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/mio/marshallese.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Marshallese
http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/~rscook/pdf/PCMLT-JejeinM.pdf
http://www.peterrg.com/Practical Marshallese.pdf
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