なんどぅちやいびーが?
Nanduchi yaibii ga?
What time is it?
Usage
Most basic time inquiry
Grammar Note
"yaibii ga" is the polite interrogative ending
ちゅーや なんよーびやいびーが?
Chuu ya nan yoobi yaibii ga?
What day of the week is it?
Usage
Ask about day of the week
Grammar Note
"chuu" is the Okinawan word for "today"; the names of the weekdays are borrowed from Japanese, as Okinawan has no native set
ちゅー・あちゃ・ちぬー
Chuu / acha / chinuu
Today / Tomorrow / Yesterday
Usage
Basic day vocabulary in Okinawan
Grammar Note
All three are native Okinawan vocabulary
くんしゅー・なーしゅー・にんじゅー
Kunshuu / naashuu / ninjuu
This week / Next week / Last week
Usage
Week vocabulary
Grammar Note
"shuu" is the Okinawan form of "week"
すとぅみてぃ・ふぃる・ゆさんでぃ・ゆる
Sutumiti / hwiru / yusandi / yuru
Morning / Midday / Evening / Night
Usage
Time of day vocabulary
Grammar Note
Okinawan for "night" is "yuru" — the vowel differs from Japanese "yoru", so the kana is written "ゆる"
ちゅーや なんにちやいびーが?
Chuu ya nannichi yaibii ga?
What is today's date?
Usage
Ask the date
Grammar Note
"nannichi" is also written naNnici; dates are expressed as in Japanese
なんどぅちんかい あきやびーが? なんどぅちんかい みちやびーが?
Nanduchi nkai akiyabii ga? Nanduchi nkai michiyabii ga?
At what time does it open / close?
Usage
Ask opening and closing time
Grammar Note
"To open" is akiyun (?aki=juN) and "to close" is michiyun (mici=juN "to shut a door or lid"); the pair appears in the example akitai michitai "opening and closing". Shimi (simi) means "a total" or "ink, learning", never "to close up shop". Yabiiga is the polite interrogative ending
うまんかい ちちゅるまでぃに ちゃっさ かかやびーが?
Uma nkai chichuru madini chassa kakayabii ga?
How long will it take to get there?
Usage
Ask travel duration
Grammar Note
"chassa" is the Okinawan question word for quantity, used for durations as well as prices
ふぃるまぬ さんじんかい いちゃいびら。
Hwiruma nu sanji nkai ichaibira.
Let's meet at 3 pm.
Usage
Suggest meeting time
Grammar Note
"hwiruma" is the Okinawan word for afternoon. "ichaibira" is the polite volitional of "ichayun" (to meet) — distinct from "ichabira" (let's go)
にじはん・よじよんじゅーごふん やいびーん。
Nijihan / yoji yonjuugofun yaibiin.
It's half past two / quarter to five.
Usage
Specific time expressions
Grammar Note
Japanese numerals used directly in Okinawan
しゅーまつんかい あきやびーみ?
Shuumatsu nkai akiyabiimi?
Is it open on weekends?
Usage
Ask if open on weekends
Grammar Note
"akiyabiimi" = polite "is it open?". "shuumatsu" (weekend) is a Japanese loan; Okinawan has no native equivalent
くまや ぬーぬ タイムゾーンやいびーが?
Kuma ya nuu nu taimuzoon yaibii ga?
What time zone are we in?
Usage
Check current time zone
Grammar Note
Technical loan words are used as-is. "Nuu" is the Okinawan word for "what"; the Japanese "nan" is not used
ふぇーさいびーん / にーさいびーん。
Feesaibiin / Niisaibiin.
It's too early / too late.
Usage
Express timing constraints
Grammar Note
Polite adjective ending is "-saibiin". Early is "feesan" and late is "niisan" — both differ in form from Japanese "hayai / osoi"
なんどぅちんかい はじまやびーが? なんどぅちんかい うわやびーが?
Nanduchi nkai hajimayabii ga? Nanduchi nkai uwayabii ga?
When does it start / end?
Usage
Ask event start/end time
Grammar Note
"yabiiga" = Okinawan polite question ending
[日付・時間]までぃに なんにちくらいやいびーが?
[Nichiji] madini nannichi kurai yaibii ga?
How many days until…?
Usage
Count days until an event
Grammar Note
"madi" is the Okinawan form of "until"
月曜日から 金曜日までぃ やいびーん。
Getsuyoobi kara Kinyoobi madi yaibiin.
From Monday to Friday.
Usage
Express range of days
Grammar Note
Weekdays use the same Japanese seven-day system
[日時]んかい よやく しーぶさいびーん。
[Nichiji] nkai yoyaku shiibusaibiin.
I'd like to make an appointment for [date/time].
Usage
Make an appointment
Grammar Note
Shiibusaibiin is the polite desiderative: the stem sii of sjuN "to do" plus the suffix -busjaN, in its polite -saibiin form
ちゅちち
Chuchichi
One month
Usage
Word for a duration of one month: cuCici "one month". Two months is tachichi (taCici)
ちゅとぅ
Chutu
One year
Usage
Word for a duration of one year: cutu "one year", with ichinin (?iciniN) as an alternative
月曜日
Getsuyoobi
Monday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating the day of the week
火曜日
Kayoobi
Tuesday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating the day of the week
水曜日
Suiyoobi
Wednesday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating the day of the week
木曜日
Mokuyoobi
Thursday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating the day of the week
金曜日
Kinyoobi
Friday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating the day of the week
土曜日
Doyoobi
Saturday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating the day of the week
日曜日
Nichiyoobi
Sunday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating the day of the week
ちゅー
Chuu
Today
Usage
Word to point at when indicating today
あちゃ
Acha
Tomorrow
Usage
Word to point at when indicating tomorrow
ちぬー
Chinuu
Yesterday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating yesterday
なま
Nama
Now
Usage
Word to point at when indicating "now"; nama kara is "from now"
あとぅ
Atu
Later
Usage
Word to point at when indicating "later"; ?atu "afterwards" is used adverbially, as in atu kuuwa "come later"
すとぅみてぃ
Sutumiti
Morning
Usage
Word to point at when indicating morning
ふぃる
Hwiru
Midday
Usage
Word to point at when indicating midday
ゆさんでぃ
Yusandi
Evening
Usage
Word to point at when indicating evening
ゆる
Yuru
Night
Usage
Word to point at when indicating night
くんしゅー
Kunshuu
This week
Usage
Word to point at when indicating this week
なーしゅー
Naashuu
Next week
Usage
Word to point at when indicating next week
にんじゅー
Ninjuu
Last week
Usage
Word to point at when indicating last week
週末
Shuumatsu
Weekend
Usage
Word to point at when indicating the weekend
いちぐゎち
I-chi-gwa-chi
January
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
にんぐゎち
Nin-gwa-chi
February
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
さんぐゎち
San-gwa-chi
March
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
しんぐゎち
Shin-gwa-chi
April
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
ぐんぐゎち
Gun-gwa-chi
May
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
るくぐゎち
Ru-ku-gwa-chi
June
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
しちぐゎち
Shi-chi-gwa-chi
July
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
Grammar Note
"Shichigwachi" also refers to the seventh lunar month (Obon); show it together with a date when you mean the calendar month
はちぐゎち
Ha-chi-gwa-chi
August
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
くんぐゎち
Kun-gwa-chi
September
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
じゅーぐゎち
Juu-gwa-chi
October
Usage
Point at the month to confirm a date or a booking
More Ryukyuan (Okinawan) phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences