Useful phrases in Coastal Kadazan

A collection of useful phrases in Coastal Kadazan, a North Bornean language spoken in Sabah in Borneo in Malaysia.

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: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

Phrase	Kadazan Tangaa' (Coastal Kadazan)
Welcome	Kopivosian do kinoikatan
Hello (General greeting)	Kopivosian
How are you?	Onu abal nu? Ingkuo ko no?
Reply to 'How are you?'	Noikot vinasi, om iziau?
Long time no see	Ahaid kito au nokopisohovot Ahaid kito au nokopisoomo!
What's your name?	Iisai ngaan nu?
My name is ...	Ngaan ku zi ... Ngaan ku nopo nga zi ...
Where are you from?	Nomboo o nontodonon nu?
I'm from ...	Mantad zou doiho ...
Pleased to meet you	Tabi pintutunan kumaa diau
Good morning (Morning greeting)	Kopivosian doungosuvab
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting)	Kopivosian doungadau
Good evening (Evening greeting)	Kopivosian minsosodopon
Good night	Kopivosian doungotuvong
Goodbye (Parting phrases)	Tumoodo no
Good luck!	Ahansan do kahantoi!
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal
Bon voyage / Have a good journey
Yes	Oh
No	Au A’a
Maybe	Kanto
I don't know	Au zou nokoiho
Do you understand?	Kalati ko po naku dii? (sg) Kalati ko? (inf/sg) Kalati kou po naku dii? (pl)
I understand	Kalati zou
I don't understand	Au zou kalati
Please speak more slowly	Posonodon gia do momoboos
Please say that again	Poboos insan poh vagu
Please write it down	Posuato po iho Mai gia posuato Kavasa ko po naku monuat diho?
Do you speak English?	Koiho ko momboos do Nonggilis? Koiho ko po naku momboos do Nonggilis?
Do you speak Coastal Kadazan?	Koiho ko momboos do Kadazan? Momboos ko do Kadazan?
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?')	Oh, okudi
Do you speak a language other than Coastal Kadazan?	Koiho ko momboos do boos mantad do Kadazan? Momboos ko do boos mantad do Kadazan?
Speak to me in Coastal Kadazan	Booso zou po boos Kadazan
How do you say ... in Coastal Kadazan?	Ingkuo ko momoos dino doid Inggilis ...?
Excuse me	Siou
How much is this?	Pio horogo dino? Pio horogo diho?
Sorry	Siou Siou no
Please
Thank you	Kotohuadan
Reply to thank you	Miagal Miagal nopo
Where's the toilet / bathroom?	Nomboo o jamban? Nomboo o bilik jamban? Nomboo o jamban kokusazan? (Where's the gents?) Nomboo o jamban koonduan? (Where's the ladies?)
This gentleman will pay for everything
This lady will pay for everything
Would you like to dance with me?	Anangan ko sumazau miampai dogo (frm) Kanau sumazau (Let's dance)
Do you come here often?	Saasau koh mikot doiti?
I miss you	Hangadon zou diau (sg) Hangadon zou diozu (pl)
I love you	Guminavo zou diau
Get well soon	Ohingasan ko da do tosisikap
Go away!	Insodu po zou diau!
Leave me alone!	Pohogoso zou po songuhun!
Help!	Tuhung! Tuhungo zou! (Help me!)
Fire!	Tapui!
Stop!	Tingkod no!
Call the police!	Pohoovon pulis!
Christmas greetings	Kotobian tadau Krismas
New Year greetings	Kotobian do toun vagu
Easter greetings	Kotobian tadau do paska
Birthday greetings	Kotobian tadau kinohodian
Congratulations!	Kounsikaan!
One language is never enough
My hovercraft is full of eels

Download all the audio files (Zip format, 1.4MB)

Coastal Kadazan phrases and recordings provided by Lesley Housten C Kibat, and Dr Francis Paul

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

Information about Coastal Kadazan | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Phrases in Bornean languages

Bonggi, Central Dusun, Coastal Kadazan, Idaʼan, Tombonuwo

Phrases in other languages

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