Traveling with Kids

1. わらびんちゃー、あしばびら

   Wa-ra-bin-chaa, a-shi-ba-bi-ra

   Children, let's play!

   Usage

   Used to call children to come and play together

   Grammar Note

   "Warabinchaa" = "warabi" (child) + "n" (plural marker) + "chaa" (group suffix). Okinawan makes plurals with "-nchaa". This is a warm, casual address to a group of children

2. なーや ぬーやいびーが？

   naa-ya nuu-ya-i-bii-ga

   What is your name?

   Usage

   A polite way to ask a child their name

   Grammar Note

   "Naa" = name in Okinawan; "-ya" marks the topic, and "nuu yaibii-ga" is the polite "what is it?" (a question word, so it ends in "-ga"). The pattern is "naa-ya nuu-yaibii-ga". Children in traditional Okinawa have a "warabinaa" (childhood name) distinct from their formal name

3. わらび かなさん どー

   Wa-ra-bi ka-na-san doo

   The child is so cute

   Usage

   Used to compliment a child to their parent in a warm, friendly way

   Grammar Note

   "Warabi" is Okinawan for "child" (cf. Japanese "warabe"); do not lengthen it to "warabii", which is a different word ("straw fire"). "Cute/lovable" is kanasjaN. Churasan is the word for うつくしい (beautiful), not かわいい

4. がんじゅー やいびーみ？

   gan-juu ya-i-bii-mi

   Are you healthy / in good spirits?

   Usage

   A polite way to ask a child how they are doing

   Grammar Note

   "Ganjuu" means healthy/energetic in Okinawan, possibly sharing roots with Japanese "ganjo" (sturdy). "Ganjuu yaibii-mi?" is a common Okinawan greeting

5. うちなーぐち ならーびれー

   u-chi-naa-gu-chi na-raa-bi-ree

   Please learn Okinawan

   Usage

   Used to encourage children to learn and preserve the Okinawan language

   Grammar Note

   Uchinaguchi is listed as an endangered language by UNESCO. Teaching it to the young is critical. Okinawa Prefecture is gradually promoting Uchinaguchi education in schools

6. てぃーぬ いびー なーびれー

   tii-nu i-bii naa-bi-ree

   Try counting on your fingers

   Usage

   Used when teaching children to count in Okinawan using fingers

   Grammar Note

   "Tii" is hand ("chiburu" is head). Okinawan numerals: tiichi (1), taachi (2), miichi (3), yuuchi (4), ichichi (5). "Ibii" (finger) is distinct from Japanese "yubi" — an example of unique Uchinaguchi vocabulary

7. わらびんちゃーぬ うたー いっぺーちゅらさん

   wa-ra-bin-chaa-nu u-taa ip-pee-chu-ra-san

   The children's songs are very beautiful

   Usage

   Used to compliment children's singing or traditional Okinawan children's songs

   Grammar Note

   "Utaa" = "uta" (song) + "-a" (attributive/possessive marker). "Ippee churasan" (very beautiful) is one of the most used compliment combinations in Uchinaguchi

8. うみかい いかんな

   u-mi-kai i-kan-na

   Let's go to the sea

   Usage

   A casual invitation to go to the beach, especially fun for children

   Grammar Note

   "-kai" is the Okinawan directional particle "to/toward". "Ikanna" = casual "let's go". The sea is central to Okinawan childhood — crystal-clear water and rich coral reefs

9. ちゅーや いっぺーあちさん、うみかい いかな

   chuu-ya ip-pee a-chi-san u-mi-kai i-ka-na

   It's very hot today, let's go to the sea

   Usage

   Used on a hot summer day to invite children to cool off at the beach

   Grammar Note

   "Achisan" = hot (adjective) in Okinawan. The "-san" ending for adjectives is characteristic of Uchinaguchi. "Samusan" (cold), "amasan" (sweet) follow the same pattern

10. くゎっちーさびたん、にふぇーでーびる

    kwa-t-chii sa-bi-tan ni-fee-dee-bi-ru

    Thank you for the meal, it was delicious

    Usage

    A polite post-meal expression of gratitude, ideal for teaching children manners

    Grammar Note

    "Kwacchii" = feast/delicious food in Okinawan. "Kwacchii sabira" (let's eat/itadakimasu) and "kwacchii sabitan" (thank you for the meal) are essential Okinawan dining manners

Browse all TravelPhrases languages