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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Parks and heritage
  3. National Parks
  4. Welcome to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
  5. Culture and history
  6. Anangu language

Sidebar first - EN - National parks

  • Culture and history
    • Tjukurpa
    • History of the park
    • Anangu language
    • Rock art

Anangu language

Inma, sunrise at Tallinguru Nyakunytjaku

Learn Pitjantjatjara

Approximate distribution of languages and dialects associated with Uluru

Anangu mainly speak Pitjantjatjara (pronounced as pigeon-jarrah) and Yankunytjatjara (pronounced as young-kun-jarrah) but can speak up to six different Aboriginal languages.

  • Pitjantjatjara literally means the people who use 'pitjantja' when they say 'coming'.
  • Yankunytjatjara are the people who use 'yankunytja' to say 'going'.
  • Anangu means 'people' in both Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara.

Western Desert languages

Both Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara are part of the Western Desert Language group that includes about 4,000 speakers, stretching northwest to Balgo, west to Port Headland, south to Kalgoorlie, Yalata and northeast to Alice Springs.

The languages are very different from English. There are 17 consonants, some of which non-Pitjantjatjara speakers find difficult. There are three vowels, a, i and u, each of which may sound long or short. Sounds such as s, z, v, sh or th do not exist. Some English words such as 'mutuka' for 'motor car' have been adopted.

Some words

[ Show all | Hide all ]

Beliefs

Tjukurpa katutja ngarantja - Tjukurpa above everything else

Tjukurpa provides Anangu with a system of beliefs and morality by which we can judge right and wrong. It establishes the rules we use to govern society and manage land. Tjukurpa guides our daily life through a series of symbolic stories and metaphors. The stories represent complex explanations of the origins and structure of the universe.

Tjukurpa dictates correct procedures for dealing with problems and penalties for breaking the law. Since the coming of non-Aboriginal people we have had to modify some of the penalties under traditional law. We have also adapted non-Aboriginal law to help enforce Tjukurpa. For example our sacred sites are protected under Commonwealth and Northern Territory legislation and our hunting and foraging rights are protected under the legislation and lease agreement with Parks Australia.

Tjurkurpa is taught and remembered through specific verse of inma (songs and ritual dances) and rock art. The iwara (ancestral paths) are recalled as a long list of important sites.

Ceremony

Anangu word: Inma | Sounds like: In-ma
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

 

Creation time

This word has complex meaning - also means law, way of life, story
Anangu word: Tjukurpa | Sounds like: Chook-orr-pa
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

 

Devil dog

The monster of the Mala story
Anangu word: Kurpany | Sounds like: Core-pan
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

 

Name used instead of the name of a deceased person

Anangu word: Kunmanara | Sounds like: Koon-man-arr-a
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

 

The physical evidence of Tjukurpa

Anangu word: Tjukuritja | Sounds like: Chook-orr-icha
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

 

Watersnake

A wanampi lives in a waterhole and guards it against strangers. When approaching a waterhole traditionally you would alert the wanampi by making noise or lighting a small fire and announcing who you are. This is considered appropriate and necessary behaviour when not in your own country. Mutitjulu waterhole has a resident wanampi.
Anangu word: Wanampi | Sounds like: Wahr-nahm-pee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Words for country

When Anangu look at the landscape we pay close attention to landforms, soils, plants, animals, water supply and fire history. We understand the country. We know how to use plants and can read the tracks of animals. We understand the significance of weather changes. Our knowledge and our responsibility to care for the country and its wildlife come from Tjukurpa.

Creek lines

Anangu word: Karu | Sounds like: Car-oo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Cave

Anangu word: Kulpi | Sounds like: Cool-pee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Home, camp, place, land

Anangu word: Ngura | Sounds like: Ngoo-rra
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Spinifex plains

Anangu word: Pila | Sounds like: Pill-ar
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Rocky areas

Anangu word: Puli | Sounds like: Poo-lee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Scrubland

Anangu word: Puti | Sounds like: Poo-tea
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Sand dunes

Anangu word: Tali | Sounds like: Tar-lee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Wind

Anangu word: Walpa | Sounds like: Wharl-pa
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Warm wind

Anangu word: Walpa waru | Sounds like: Wharl-pa whar-oo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Shade, shelter

Anangu word: Wiltja | Sounds like: Wil-jar
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Shelter from wind

Anangu word: Yuu | Sounds like: You
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Many heads

Name of rock outcrop
Anangu word: Kata Tjuta | Sounds like: Kar-ta choo-ta
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Name of waterhole at base of Uluru

Also the name of local Aboriginal community
Anangu word: Mutitjulu | Sounds like: Moot-it-joo-loo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Burnt or regenerating areas

Anangu word: Nyaru | Sounds like: Nyah-roo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Place of learning

Anangu word: Nyintiringkupai | Sounds like: Nin-tire-ring-coo-pee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Name of monolith

Anangu word: Uluru | Sounds like: Ool-or-roo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Common words

These are common words you might use every day - like hello and goodbye. When speaking Pitjantjatjara the first syllable of the word is always stressed. The letters t, n, l and r can be written with a line underneath, called a retroflex. A retroflex on an n, l or t tells us to curl our tongue back slightly in the mouth before pronouncing the letter. This produces a sound similar to an r sound. A retroflex on an r tells us this is pronounced like a normal English r sound. An r without a retroflex is pronounced like a rolled 'rrrr' sound - like some European languages. The 'oo' sound is the same as in the English word look.

 

All of us

Anangu word: Nganana | Sounds like: Ngan-arn-a
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Cold

Anangu word: Wari | Sounds like: Wah-ree
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Foot or tracks

Anangu word: Tjina | Sounds like: Gin-ar
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Hello

Also means goodbye, thank you, finish
Anangu word: Palya | Sounds like: Pul (like cull)-ya
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Hot, fire, firewood

Anangu word: Waru | Sounds like: Whar-oo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Listen

Anangu word: Kulini | Sounds like: Kool (like wool)-in-nee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Maybe

Anangu word: Tjinguru | Sounds like: Jingaroo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

No or don't

Anangu word: Wiya | Sounds like: Wee-ya
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Ours (many people including the speaker)

Anangu word: Nganampa | Sounds like: Ngan-am-pa
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Short

Anangu word: Mutumutu | Sounds like: Moo-too-moo-too
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Sit, be sitting

Anangu word: Nyinanyi | Sounds like: Nin-an-yee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Tall

Anangu word: Wara | Sounds like: Worrah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

True or really

Anangu word: Mulapa | Sounds like: Mool (like wool)-up-ar
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Yes

Anangu word: Uwa | Sounds like: u-wa
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Other words

Kapi (cuppy) Water
Kuli (koo-lee) Hot weather, summer
Pulka (pool-kah) Big
Tjuta (joo-tah) Many
Wiru (wi-roo) Beautiful

Common phrases

These are some common phrases that you might hear or see while visiting Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Some like Talinguru Nyakunytjaku (place to look from the sand dune) are the names of particular places within the park, while others are the names of important concepts like joint management - Tjunguringkula waakaripai (working together).

Black people

Literally maru = black, ku = for. It is also the name of the arts and crafts shop located at the Cultural Centre
Anangu word: Maruku | Sounds like: Mar-oo-ku
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Looking after the land

Anangu word: Ngura atunymankuntjaku | Sounds like: Ngoo-rra ar-toon-mun-koon-jark-oo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Understanding the country

Anangu word: Ngura kulintjaku | Sounds like: Ngo-rra kool-un-juk-ku
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

You are on Aboriginal land

Anangu word: Nyuntu Anangu maruku ngurangka ngaranyi | Sounds like: Newn-to ar-nan-goo mar-roo-koo noo-rang-car nar-an-yee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Welcome to Anangu land

Anangu word: Pukulpa pitjama Ananguku ngurakutu | Sounds like: Pook-al-pah pit-jamah ar-nan-goo-koo noo-rah-koo-too
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Place to look from the sand dune

Anangu word: Talinguru Nyakunytjaku | Sounds like: Tah-ling-uru Nyuk-un-juk-ku
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Just the way it is

Anangu word: Tjaka | Sounds like: Jukka
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Working together

Anangu word: Tjunguringkula waakaripai | Sounds like: Choong-orr-ing-koola wark-karr-i-pay
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Having marks

Literally walka = marks, tjara = having
Anangu word: Walkatjara | Sounds like: Warl-ka-jar-ra
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

 

People

Anangu culture has always existed at Uluru and Kata Tjuta. We are the direct descendants of ancestral beings, who created all living species and features of the desert landscape you see today. We mainly speak Pitjantjatjara (pronounced as pigeon-jarrah) and Yankunytjatjara (pronounced as young-kun-jarrah). Some of us speak up to six Aboriginal languages. The words you are learning below are Pitjantjatjara.

A language of Uluru traditional owners

Anangu word: Pitjantjatjara | Sounds like: Pigeon-jarrah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

A language of Uluru traditional owners

Anangu word: Yankunytjatjara | Sounds like: Young-kun-jarrah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Aboriginal people of the western desert

Anangu word: Anangu | Sounds like: Arn-ang-oo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Children

Anangu word: Tjitji | Sounds like: Chee-chee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Man

Anangu word: Wati | Sounds like: Wottie
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Non-Aboriginal people

Literally means 'white'
Anangu word: Piranpa | Sounds like: Peer-an-pa
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Senior man

Anangu word: Tjilpi | Sounds like: Jil-pee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Traditional owner

Anangu word: Nguraritja | Sounds like: Ngoo-rrar-i-ja
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Traditional war party

Anangu word: Warmala | Sounds like: Wah-marl-a
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Woman

Anangu word: Minyma | Sounds like: Min-ma
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Young woman

Anangu word: Kungka | Sounds like: Koong-ka
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Other family words

Tjitji (chee-chee) Child
Ngunytju Mother
Mama (mah-mah) Father
Kami (kah-mee) Grandmother
Tjamu (jah-moo) Grandfather
Kangkuru (kan-kooroo) Big Sister
Kuta (koo-tah) Big Brother
Kuntili (koo-tu-lee) Auntie
Kamuru (kum-moo-roo) Uncle

 

Bushfoods

Since the time of Tjukurpa, hunting and gathering has linked us Anangu traditional owners with our land. Gathering food expresses and reaffirms our knowledge and ownership of the land.

Women and men perform specific tasks to collect bush foods that benefit the whole community. Anangu women were traditionally responsible for gathering mai (vegetables, fruits and seeds), tjuratja (sweet foods such as nectar or honey ants), maku (edible grubs like witchetty grubs) and some kuka (meat such as goanna).

Men can and do dig for honey ants or collect fruit, but generally they are more likely to be hunting kuka (meat).

 

Bush plum

Anangu word: Arnguli | Sounds like: Ah-noo-lee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Bush tomato

Anangu word: Tjantu | Sounds like: Jarn-too
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Dead finish

Anangu word: Walka puka | Sounds like: Wharl-ka-booker
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Desert raisin

Anangu word: Kampurarpa | Sounds like: Come-poor-rah-pah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Fruit and vegetable food

Anangu word: Mai | Sounds like: May
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Honey ants

Anangu word: Tjala | Sounds like: Jah-lah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Meat or meat animal

Anangu word: Kuka | Sounds like: Kooka
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Native fig

Anangu word: Ili | Sounds like: Ear-lee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Seed cake

Anangu word: Nyuma | Sounds like: New-mah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Witchetty grub

Anangu word: Maku | Sounds like: Mah-koo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Tools

Anangu men and women use different types of tools. Women use three types of bowls. A wira is the smallest of the three bowls and is also used as a digging tool. Kanilpa is used primarily for cleaning seeds and piti, the largest dish is shaped for carrying water. A head ring, manguri, is used to carry dishes on top of the head and a wana (digging stick) is used to loosen the earth to find bush foods. A tjungari (large grindstone) is used to process seed and the ground seed is then made into nyuma (seed cake).

Men use a kulata (spear) with the help of a miru (spear thrower) to hunt malu (red kangaroo), kanyala (euro) and kalaya (emu). Today a kulata is often replaced by a rifle.

Children play an important role in hunting and gathering. They travel with their parents or other adults on hunting and gathering trips, and while playing, learn the skills and knowledge they'll need.

Adhesive gum

Made from the resin of spinifex
Anangu word: Kiti | Sounds like: Kee-dee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Boomerang

Anangu word: Kali | Sounds like: Carl-lee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Bowl scoop

Anangu word: Wira | Sounds like: Wi-rah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Club

Anangu word: Tjutinypa | Sounds like: Choon-tin-pa
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Lower flat grindstone

Anangu word: Tjiwa | Sounds like: Gee-wah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Round grinding stone

Anangu word: Tjungari | Sounds like: Joong-ar-ee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Spear

Anangu word: Kulata | Sounds like: Coorl-ah-tah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Spear thrower

Anangu word: Miru | Sounds like: Mi-roo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Women's digging stick

Anangu word: Wana | Sounds like: Wan-na
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Women's head ring

Anangu word: Manguri | Sounds like: Mung-ah-ree
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Wooden bowl

Anangu word: Piti | Sounds like: Pi-tea
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

 

Animals

Animals play an important role in Anangu Tjukurpa. One of our main ancestors, the Mala (rufous-hare wallaby) people, travelled to Uluru from the north and subsequently fled to the south and southeast (towards South Australia) to escape from kurpany, an evil dog like creature created and sent from Kikingkura (near the Western Australia border).

Actions of ancestral beings such as the mala and itjaritjari (marsupial mole) have important roles in forming the physical features of Uluru.

Blue-tongued lizard

An ancestral being | Anangu word: Lungkata | Sounds like: Loong-cart-ah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Dog/dingo

Anangu word: Papa | Sounds like: Pah-pah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Emu

The feathers and meat are used by Anangu
Anangu word: Kalaya | Sounds like: Kal-lay-a
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Marsupial mole

An ancestral creature yet rarely seen as it lives almost entirely underground.
Anangu word: Itjaritjari | Sounds like: It-cha-ree-cha-ree
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Perentie

The largest monitor lizard, a good food source.
Anangu word: Ngintaka | Sounds like: Nin-tar-ka
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Poisonous snake

Western brown or king brown snake, highly venomous and not eaten, also an important ancestral being.
Anangu word: Liru | Sounds like: Leer-oo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Rabbit

Anangu word: Rappita | Sounds like: Rap-ee-ta
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Red-backed kingfisher

Anangu word: Luunpa | Sounds like: Loon-pa
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Red kangaroo

An important food and material source (rear leg sinew used as binding for spears)
Anangu word: Malu | Sounds like: Mar-loo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Rufous hare-wallaby

A small wallaby with big ears and ginger fur. Mala are one of the most important ancestral creatures associated with Uluru
Anangu word: Mala | Sounds like: Mahr-la
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Sand goanna

Anangu word: Tinka | Sounds like: Tin-kah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Spinifex hopping mouse

A small nocturnal marsupial
Anangu word: Mingkiri | Sounds like: Ming-keer-ree
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Thorny devil

Anangu word: Ngiyari | Sounds like: Nee-ah-ree
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Woma python

Woma python is a non-venomous, edible snake that is an important ancestral being
Anangu word: Kuniya | Sounds like: Koon-i-ya
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Plants

Plants at Uluru are perfectly adapted to harsh desert conditions, their growth and reproduction relies on irregular rainfall. Some plants are able to survive fire while others are dependent on it to reproduce.

Plants are an important part of Anangu Tjukurpa. We have ceremonies for each of the major plant foods and many are associated with our ancestral beings. Today we continue to collect plants for food and other purposes like medicine and tools.

 

Desert fuchsia

A bush medicine
Anangu word: Irmangka-irmangka | Sounds like: Air-a-monger-air-a-monger
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Honey grevillea

Anangu word: Kaliny-kalinypa | Sounds like: Cull-in-cull-in-pah
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Naked woolybutt grass

Anangu word: Wangunu | Sounds like: Wong-gar-noo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Native millet

Anangu word: Kaltu-kaltu | Sounds like: Cull-to-cull-to
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Quandong tree

Anangu word: Mangata | Sounds like: Mung-gar-ta
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Rats tail grass

Anangu word: Kalpari | Sounds like: Kal-par-ee
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Red bean of the bean tree

Often used in making necklaces and other decorations. It is also the name of the café at the Cultural Centre.
Anangu word: Ininti | Sounds like: In-nin-tea
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Tree or shrub or implements made from wood

Anangu word: Punu | Sounds like: Poo-noo
Hear the word on soundcloud.com

Want to learn more?

Anangu and non-Anangu linguists have produced a Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara to English Dictionary. It is available from Yulara Newsagency, some online bookshops and in several bookshops in Alice Springs.

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Last updated: 19 October 2021

© Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.