Phrases › Iban
Phrases
Early draft: There was little reliable source material for this language, so some lines may be wrong. Check with a speaker before relying on them.
In Iban, hello is Tabi' and thank you is Terima kasih. Here are 14 everyday Iban phrases with pronunciation, for travel and a first conversation.
How to say hello in Iban · How to say thank you in Iban · How to say goodbye in Iban · How to say please in Iban · How to say sorry in Iban
| English | Iban |
|---|---|
| Hello | Tabi' General greeting, confirmed in dictionary word lists; also used simply as 'greetings'. |
| Goodbye | Selamat jalai Literally 'safe travels'; a very common way to say goodbye. |
| Please | meh Iban has no single word for 'please'; add the softening particle 'meh' after a request, e.g. 'Duduk meh' (please sit). (a polite particle placed after a request, e.g. "Tulung aku meh") |
| Thank you | Terima kasih |
| Yes | Aok Ndak is a variant seen for 'no' in some sources; 'nemu' can mean 'yes, I can/know' in answer to a can-you question. |
| No | Enda General negator placed before a verb/adjective; also seen written 'ndak' in some phrasebooks. |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Minta ampun Literally 'I ask forgiveness'; also just 'Ampun'. |
| Do you speak English? | Nemu jaku bahasa inggeris? |
| I don't understand | Aku enda mereti |
| Please speak slowly | Ulih nuan jako belubah? Literally 'Can you speak slowly?' - the polite way to ask this. |
| How much is it? | Berapa rega tu? 'Brapa rega tu?' is a common casual spelling of the same phrase. |
| Where is the bathroom? | Dini endor jamban? 'Bilik mandi' is also used for bathroom/washroom. |
| Where is …? | Dini …? 'Dini' is 'where'; put the place name after it, e.g. 'Dini rumah nuan?' (Where is your house?). |
| Help! | Tulung! |
Flashcards, verb tables and a textbook for four levels, from Basic to Advanced. Free, no account needed, no ads.