Useful phrases in Bonggi

A collection of useful phrases in Bonggi, a North Bornean language spoken mainly on Banggi Island in Sabah in East Malaysia.

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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:

Phrase	Bonggi
Welcome
Hello (General greeting)	Ei aha Helo
Hello (on phone)
How are you?	Onu brita nu? (What is your news?) Mpia tuni nu? (How is your health?)
Reply to 'How are you?'	Mpia hai Ayad bah Aha mpia hai? (You also good?)
Long time no see	Meleid ndita megtomu (dl) Meleid ndihi megtomu (pl)
What's your name?	Esi ngaardn nu?
My name is ...	Ngaardn ku ...
Where are you from?	Bitangga nu?
I'm from ...	Ou tidi ...
Pleased to meet you	Mpia guakng ku ngetomu diha Senang ati ku ngetomu diha
Good morning (Morning greeting)	Selamat pagi Selamat rigiodu
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting)	Selamat tengodu
Good evening (Evening greeting)	Selamat petang Selamat gibiidn
Good night	Selamat robi Pia-pia ngodop
Goodbye (Parting phrases)	Mpanu ou pa (I go first) Pia-pia mpanu aha (Take care)
Good luck!	Paid-paid aha (sg) Paid-paid uhu (pl)
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day	Senang-senang uhu Pia-pia uhu na
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal
Bon voyage / Have a good journey	Ingat-ingat uhu mpanu
Yes	Oh Ohoh
No	Ndah
Maybe	Mangkali
I don't know
Do you understand?
I understand	Ou ngerati
I don't understand	Ndou ngerati
Please speak more slowly	Pelaadn-pelaadn suad nu Pelaadn-pelaadn suad nu naah?
Please say that again	Susuad pa malik
Please write it down	Nuart pa naah?
Do you speak English?
Do you speak Bonggi?	Aha pandi uubm Bonggi?
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?')	Oh, mah toyuk ga
I'm learning Bonggi
Do you speak a language other than Bonggi?
Speak to me in Bonggi
How do you say ... in Bonggi?	Punggah uubm Bonggi bakng patad nti?
Excuse me	Kimuat ou naah?
I would like ...
How much is this?
Sorry	Kiampudn ou diha Maap ga
Please
Thank you	Terima kasi
Reply to thank you	Sama-sama
Where's the toilet / bathroom?	Nggien bilik jambadn? Nggien bilik sompuh lahi? (Where's the gents?) Nggien bilik sompuh libudn? (Where's the ladies?)
This gentleman will pay for everything	Lahi nti miaar suhu nga
This lady will pay for everything	Libudn nti miaar suhu nga
Would you like to dance with me?	Aha mouh tuis dumah diaadn naah?
Do you come here often?	Odu-odu aha matakng diti?
I miss you	Kitabm ou diha
I love you
Get well soon	Senang-senang tuni nu
Go away!	Punguah!
Leave me alone!	Luas ga!
Help!	Tudi na!
Fire!	Ada api!
Stop!	Beranti!
Call the police!	Noog pulis!
Christmas greetings	Selamat ari natal
New Year greetings	Toudn baru
Easter greetings	Selamat ari paska
Birthday greetings	Selamat ari pininahadn
Congratulations!
One language is never enough	Sempatad uubm ndah sukup
My hovercraft is full of eels

Bonggi phrases and recordings provided by Lesley Housten

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Bonggi | Phrases | Numbers | Family words

Links

Other collections of Bonggi phrases
https://www.sil.org/resources/archives/58848

Phrases in Bornean languages

Bonggi, Central Dusun, Coastal Kadazan, Idaʼan, Tombonuwo

Phrases in other languages

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