Like most cultures, ri-Majol (Marshallese people) love it if you at least try to wrap your mouth around their language, so below are a few words and phrases to get you going. The voice you will hear belongs to former Majuro Hospital employee Smithy Briand, who was happily ‘kidnapped’ from the Marshall Islands by Australian volunteer Virginia and now lives in New South Wales.
Check out my basic Marshallese-English dictionary: Language Dictionary • Marshall Islands Guide
Hello: Yokwe
Yes: Aet
No: Jaab
Thank you: Kommol
Thank you very much: Kommoltata
One, two, three, four, five, six: Juon, ruo, jilu, emen, lalim, jiljino
Please give me: Jouj im leitok
How much?: Jete wonan
It’s good: Emman
It’s no good: Enana
It’s not bad: Ejab nana
Again: Bar
One more: Bar juon
Two more: Bar ruo
Good looking woman: Likatu
Good looking man: Lakatu
(In a taxi/bus) Please stop here: (Ilowaanjuon taxi/bus) Jouj im bwij rakijin
How old are you?: Jete am iio?
Afternoon: Raelep
Evening: Jota
Morning: Jibon
See you tomorrow: Bar lo yok ilju
See you tomorrow morning: Bar lo yok ilju jibon
Do you have any drinking coconuts?: Elon ke limom ni?
Is this water okay to drink?: Emmon ke dren in non idaak?
Do you have a bathroom I can use?: Elon ke am imon kobojak imaronin kojerbale?
May we walk around your island?: Jemaron ke etetal ion ene in eneem?
What is your name?: Etan et eo etam?
My name is …: Eta in …
