Makassar phrasebook
Makassar phrasebook
Makassar (known natively as Basa Mangkasaraʼ, 
) or sometimes also identified as Makassarese or Makasar is the main Makassaric language of South Sulawesi spoken predominantly by the Makassar ethnic group, native to Makassar and its adjacent regions in southern Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Writing
Makassar language has its own native writing system called Hurupuʼ Mangkasaraʼ (lit. 'Makasar script', or colloquially also known as the Jangang-jangang script), it is the native script of Makassar closely related to the Lontaraʼ script used by the Bugis people for Bugis language.
Though still used in native documents, and sometimes seen side by side with Latin script in street signs and the names of public buildings, it has been almost totally replaced by the Latin alphabet. In addition to Makasar script, nowadays the Makassar language sometimes also written in Lontaraʼ due to Bugis influence and Arabic-based script due to Islamic religiousity factor. However, a traveller will almost never have to read Makasar script to get information. Makes an awesome tattoo, though.
Understand
Pronunciation guide
Vowels
A (a) as in father
E (e) as in grey
I (i) as in machine
O (o) as in open
U (u) as in rule
ai as in Thailand
ui as in Louie
Consonants
; b : like 'b' in "bed" ; c : like 'ch' in "chain" ; d : like 'd' in "dog" ; f : like 'ph' in "phone" ; g : like 'g' in "go" ; h : like 'h' in "helmet" ; j : like 'dg' in "jack" ; k : like 'kh' in "kebab" ; l : like 'l' in "love" ; m : like 'm' in "mother" ; n : like 'n' in "nice" ; p : like 'p' in "pig" ; q : like 'q' in "quest" ; r : like 'r' in "row" ; s : like 'ss' in "hiss" ; t : like 't' in "top" ; v : like 'v' in "victory" ; w : like 'w' in "weight" ; x : like 'ks' in "kicks" ; y : like 'y' in "yes" ; z : like 'z' in "zebra"
Common digraphs
; ay : like 'ay' in "aye" ; ai : like 'i' in "twice" ; au : like 'awe'
; bb : like 'bb' in "dabble"
; cc : like 'cc' in "ocha"
; dd : like 'dd' in "udder"
; ei : like 'ay' in "say" ; ey : like 'ay' in "say"
; gg : like 'gg' in "aggrieve"
; jj : like 'jj' in ""
; kk : like 'kk' in ""
; ll : like 'll' in "willing"
; mm : like 'mm' in "mummy"
; nn : like 'nn' in "granny"
; oi : like 'oi' in "oil" ; ow : like 'ow' in "owed" ; oy : like 'oy' in "oyster"
; pp : like 'pp' in "appeal"
; rr : like 'rr' in "barrage"
; ss : like 'ss' in "kissing"
; tt : like 'tt' in "attach"
; ww : like 'ww' in ""
; zz : like 'zz' in ""
Phrase list
Basics
Common signs
; OPEN : Sungke ; CLOSED : Aʼtongkoʼ ; ENTRANCE : Antama ; EXIT : Suluʼ ; PUSH : Buccuʼ ; PULL : Anruiʼ ; TOILET : Paʼcengkeang ; MEN : Buraʼne ; WOMEN : Baine ; FORBIDDEN : Nilarang
; Hello. : Arragada. ; How are you? : ...? ; Fine, thank you. : Io, ... ; What is your name? : Naiki antu arengnu? ; My name is ______ . : Areng nakke ______ . ; Nice to meet you. : Sullaʼ ruppai keʼnang. ; Please. : Saaʼ. / Sai. ; Thank you. : ... ; You're welcome. : ... ; Yes. : Ieʼ. / Io. ; No. : Teai. ; Excuse me. (getting attention) : Palaʼ. ; Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Aʼpammopporang. ; I'm sorry. : Napammoporangi nakke. ; Goodbye (informal) : Palaʼkana. ; I can't speak Makassar [well]. : Nakke taʼkulle [lancaraki] aʼpau Mangkasaraʼna. ; Do you speak English? : Maka aʼpau Anggarisiʼ? ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : Niaʼ tau aʼpau Anggarisiʼ anrinni? ; Help! : Tulung! ; Look out! : Tutu! ; Good morning. : Baribbasaʼ. ; Good evening. : Karueng. ; Good night (to sleep) : Bangngi. ; I don't understand. : Anreʼ pahang nakke. ; Where is the toilet? : Keremae paʼcengkeangna?
Problems
; Leave me alone. : Annanro nakke kale-kale. ; Don't touch me! : Teako beroii/seroi nakke! ; I'll call the police. : Laʼjajja/laʼkioʼ pulisi nakke. ; Police! : Pulisi! ; Stop! Thief! : Ariang! Paellaʼ/rampoʼ! ; I need your help. : Parallukiʼ pannuluangna nakke. ; It's an emergency. : ... ; I'm lost. : Lippuna nakke. ; I lost my bag. : Kalanyakkanna karongku. ; I lost my wallet. : Kalanyakkanna kampuliʼku. ; I'm sick. : Sannaki paʼrisiʼna batang kaleku. ; I've been injured. : Loko/bokkaʼna nakke. ; I need a doctor. : Dottoroʼ parraluku. ; May I use your phone? : Aʼkulleikiʼ nakke painrangkiʼ pata henpong?
Numbers
; 1 : seʼre / si / sa
; 2 : rua / ruang
; 3 : tallu / tallung
; 4 : appaʼ / patang
; 5 : lima / limang
; 6 : annang
; 7 : tuju
; 8 : sagantuju
; 9 : salapang
; 10 : sampulo/pulu
; 11 :
; 12 :
; 13 :
; 14 :
; 15 :
; 16 :
; 17 :
; 18 :
; 19 :
; 20 :
; 21 :
; 22 :
; 23 :
; 30 :
; 40 :
; 50 :
; 60 :
; 70 :
; 80 :
; 90 :
; 100 : sibilangang
; 200 :
; 300 :
; 1000 : sisabbu
; 2000 :
; 1,000,000 : sijuta
; 1,000,000,000 :
; 1,000,000,000,000 :
; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : nomoroʼ _____ (kareta, bis, maraengna.)
; half : sitangnga
; less : kurang
; more : labbi / lebe
Time
; now : nampa / kamma-kamma anne / anne ; later : lebbaʼ-lebbaʼ / salang / siʼraka ; before : riolongang / riolo ; morning : baribbasaʼ ; afternoon : karueng ; evening : mangngaribi ; night : bangngi
Clock time
; one o'clock AM : tetteʼ seʼre bangngi ; two o'clock AM : tetteʼ rua bangngi ; noon : tangngallo ; one o'clock PM : tetteʼ seʼre tangngallo ; two o'clock PM : tetteʼ rua bangngi ; midnight : tangnga bangngi
Duration
; _____ minute(s) : _____ maniʼ ; _____ hour(s) : _____ jang ; _____ day(s) : _____ allo ; _____ week(s) : _____ minggu ; _____ month(s) : _____ bulang ; _____ year(s) : _____ taung
Days
; today : allo anne ; yesterday : subangngi ; tomorrow : ammuko / muko ; this week : minggu anne ; last week : suminggu ; next week : minggu pole ; next year : tampole
; Sunday : Minggu ; Monday : Sanneng ; Tuesday : Salasa ; Wednesday : Araba ; Thursday : Kammisiʼ ; Friday : Jumaʼ ; Saturday : Sattu
Months
; January : Alepu ; February : Sapparaʼ ; March : ; April : ; May : ; June : Jumadeleʼ ; July : Rajjaʼ ; August : Sabang ; September : Rumallanga ; October : Sauwalaʼ ; November : Sulukaedda ; December : Salohajji
Colors
; black : leʼleng ; white : keboʼ ; gray : au-au / au ; red : eja ; blue : bulo / kondo-kondo (ocean blue) / gauʼ (dark blue) ; yellow : kunyiʼ / didi ; green : moncongbulo ; orange : lango-lango ; purple : pico (dark purple) / kamummuʼ (purple on animals) ; brown : lacciʼ-lacciʼ
Transportation
Bus and train
; How much is a ticket to _____? : Siapa anggaʼna karracissiʼ allampai _____? ; One ticket to _____, please. : Sai seʼre karracissiʼ allampai ______. ; Where does this train/bus go? : Kere mae/kemae laʼlampa kareta/bis anne? ; Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Bis/kareta anne sengka/mene _____? ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : Angngapapi kareta/bis poro _____ aʼlampa? ; When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Angngapapi kareta/bis anne anrapiʼ ri _____?
Directions
; How do I get to _____ ? : Antekamma batenaku aʼlampai _____ ? ; ...the train station? : ... stasiun kareta? ; ...the bus station? : ...stasiun bis? ; ...the airport? : ...bandara/labuanging? ; ...downtown? : ...alung-alung / tangnga kota? ; ...the _____ hotel? : ...hotel _____? ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ...kadutaang Ammirika/Kannada/Austaralia/Anggarisiʼ? ; Where are there a lot of... : Kere mae/kemae jai/loe... ; ...hotels? : ...hotel-hotel? ; ...restaurants? : ...rasturrang-rasturrang? / tampaʼ kanre? ; ...bars? : ...bar-bar? ; ...sites to see? : ...paʼtampaʼ liburang? ; Can you show me on the map? : Sai paʼpiciningkangmi ri patta henpong/gugel mep? ; street : agang ; Turn left. : Biluʼki/Aʼbiluʼ ri kiri. ; Turn right. : Biluʼki/Aʼbiluʼ ri kanang. ; left : kiri ; right : kanang ; straight ahead : jurusuʼ ; towards the _____ : angngolo _____ ; past the _____ : allalo _____ ; before the _____ : rolona _____ ; in front of the _____ : riolona _____ ; behind the _____ : ri bokona _____ ; Watch for the _____. : Tikaʼ/tutu _____. ; intersection : pammengkaang ; inside : ilalang / lalang ; outside : pantarang ; north : awaraʼ ; south : timboroʼ ; east : raiʼ / raya ; west : waraʼ ; uphill : tanjaʼan ; downhill : naungan
Taxi
; Taxi! : Taksi! ; Take me to _____, please. : Sai antaraʼku alampai _____. ; How much does it cost to get to _____? : Siapa anggaʼna alampai _____? ; Take me there, please. : Sai antaraʼku antureng.
Learning more
Related Wikipedia article: Makassar language