Kadazandusun terms of endearment

Terms of endearment in Kadazandusun, a North Bornean language spoken in the state of Sabah in Borneo in Malaysia.

Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, m = said by males, f = said by females, >m = said to males, >f = said to females.

Endearments for friends, children and lovers

• Oi = dear
• Gaman, amai, aman (>m) = uncle, a person who is older than you
• Inai, inan (>f) = aunty, a person who is older than you
• Oi yaki (frm, >m) = dear grandpa
• Oi yodu (frm, >f) = dear grandma
• Obpinai, ompinai, tobpinai = friend, buddy, cousin, brother/sister
• Oi koruhang ku = my dear friend, my dear buddy, my companion, my ally
• Ambalut = friend, buddy
• Tambalut ku = my friend
• Mandak (>f) = female friend, female lover, baby
• Sumandak (>f) = female friend, female lover
• Asi, Gasi (m>m) = male friend, brother
• Along, Galong (f>f) = sister-in-law
• Ipag = brother-in-law, sister-in-law
• Oi yanak = dear child
• Onong (inf) = little child
• Ondu (>m) = child, kid, boy
• Ugou (>f) = child, kid, girl

Endearments for lovers

• Arud = darling, honey (for spouse only)
• Karud ku = my darling, my honey (lit: my female pig; for spouse only)
• Sawo ku = my dear husband/ my dear wife (for spouse only)
• Koupusan, kolisihan = love, beloved
• Ginawo ku = my heart
• Koginawaan = beloved (for family members only)
• Kusai ku (>m) = my man
• Oi tanakwagu ku (>m) = my dear boyfriend
• Sumandak ku (>f) = my girlfriend, my girl

Information provided by Lesley Housten C Kibat

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Terms of endearment

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