Parks Australia

Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru

Learning about country | Photo by Steve Strike

Pitjantjatjara words - 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

 

A language of Uluru traditional owners

Anangu word: Yankunytjatjara

Sounds like: Young-kun-jarrah

 

Aboriginal people of the western desert

Anangu word: Anangu

Sounds like: Arn-ang-oo

 

Children

Anangu word: Tjitji

Sounds like: Chee-chee

 

Man

Anangu word: Wati

Sounds like: Wottie

 

Non-Aboriginal people

Literally means 'white'

Anangu word: Piranpa

Sounds like: Peer-an-pa

 

Senior man

Anangu word: Tjilpi

Sounds like: Jil-pee

 

Traditional owner

Anangu word: Nguraritja

Sounds like: Ngoo-rrar-i-ja

 

Traditional war party

Anangu word: Warmala

Sounds like: Wah-marl-a

 

Woman

Anangu word: Minyma

Sounds like: Min-ma

 

Young woman

Anangu word: Kungka

Sounds like: Koong-ka

 

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