The Iban language is spoken by the Iban

Iban people

The Ibans are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo. In Malaysia, most Ibans are located in Sarawak, a small portion in Sabah and some in west Malaysia. They were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as Sea Dayaks. Ibans were renowned for practising headhunting and...

, a branch of the Dayak

Dayak people

The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...

 ethnic group formerly known as "Sea Dayak" who live in Sarawak

Sarawak

Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...

, the Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

n province of Kalimantan Barat and in Brunei

Brunei

Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...

. It belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian

Malayo-Polynesian languages

The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages, with approximately 385.5 million speakers. These are widely dispersed throughout the island nations of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean, with a smaller number in continental Asia...

 branch of the Austronesian language family

Austronesian languages

The Austronesian languages are a language family widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia that are spoken by about 386 million people. It is on par with Indo-European, Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic and Uralic as one of the...

, and is related to Malay

Malay language

Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...

, more closely to Sarawakian Malay. The Iban language is also a subject tested in PMR and SPM, the Malaysian public examination for Form 3 and Form 5 students respectively. Students comment that questions from these exams mostly cover the classic Iban language, making them a daunting task for many who are more fluent in the contemporary tongue. The language is mostly taught to students in rural areas with a majority Iban population, including Baleh (Kapit), Betong

Betong

Betong may refer to*Places in Sarawak, Malaysia:** Betong, Sarawak ** Betong Division*Places in Yala Province, Thailand** Betong, Betong - Thailand ** Betong District - Thailand...

, Saratok

Saratok

Saratok is a town, and the capital of the Saratok District in Betong Division, Sarawak, East Malaysia in the island of Borneo. The last recorded district population was 44,600 . It is located about 50 kilometers from Betong...

, Lubok Antu

Lubok Antu

Lubok Antu is a district in Sri Aman Division in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. It borders with Indonesia . The people here are predominantly Ibans. Most of the economical activities here are farming ....

and Pelagus (Kapit).

Sample lexicon

agi - "again" (Malay lagi)

aja - "only" (Malay saja)

aku - "I; me" (same in Malay)

amat - "truly", "true"

au - "correct; that's right"

apai - "father" (Malay bapak)

asai - "feel" (Malay rasa)

bedau/apin - "not yet"

bai - "bring"

ba - "at"

baka - "like"

sebaka - "alike"

baka selama - "same as usual"

baka nya - "like that"

baru - "new; just about to" (Malay baru means new)

bejalai - "to walk or going on a sojourn"

belanda/belawa - "to run" (but in Malay belanda means "Dutch")

dani - "wake up"

lenyau - "lost"

makai - "eat" (Malay makan)

empa - "also eat but used in a different context"

ngelusu - "lazy (sometimes burok is also used to convey this meaning)

ngirup - "to drink" (Malay hirup ["to sip"])

nuan- is the formal and refine/polite "you" since it is mostly used in writing (dek is less formal but mostly used in speaking")

nyumai/berapi - "to cook"

tindok - "to sleep" (Malay tidur)

nemu - "know"

kemari - "yesterday"

gali - "lie down"

aram - "let's go"

dini - "where"

kamah - "dirty"

kemi - "pee"

mereti - "good behaviour"

reti - "the meaning of"

sayau - "love"

sinu - "sad"

suba - "ago"

tabin - "ill"

tuyuk - "stupid"

Sample phrases

Nama brita nuan? - "How are you?"

Sapa nama nuan? - "What is your name?"

Brapa rega utai tu? - "How much is this?"

Dini alai ___? - "Where is ___?"

Ari ni penatai nuan? - "Where are you from?"

Aku datai ari ___. - "I come from ___."

Pukul brapa diatu? - "What is the time now?"

Selamat lemai! - "Good evening!"

Selamat datai! - "Welcome!"

Anang manchal! - "Don't be naughty!"

Enda ulih datai - "cannot come"

Anang guai - "hold on" "Don't spoil it"

Nadai ngawa nya/enda ngawa - "nevermind that/it does not matter"

Nyamai, wai - "nice taste"

Pulai dulu-"I'm going back"

Aram bekelala-"Let's get to know each other"

Pengerindu-"Love, Passion"

Aku rindu ka nuan-"I miss you/I am missing you"

Manah-"Good"

Jai-"Bad, damaged"

Sapa enggau nuan?-"Who came/is with you?"

Aku enggau ___-"I came / went with ___; I am with ___"

Alau dinga-"Please listen"

Anang inggar / ragak-"Silent, please"

Kini nuan?-"Where are you going?"

Mar amat! - "too expensive/difficult"

Tusah endar! - "too difficult"

Kapa nya! - "Couldn't be bothered/careless"

Selamat pagi, Pengajar. - "Good morning, Teacher."

Aku enda nemu - "I don't know"

Aram meh kitai ngirup - "Let's all drink"

Aku lelenggau ka nuan - "I miss you"

Sayau - "Love/Darling"

Aku ka mupok gawa - "I'm going to work"

Aku ka tindok - "I want to go to sleep/bed"

Sapa kitai manchal? - "Who is being naughty?"

Bajik amat nuan - "You are pretty/beautiful (for women)"

Mali - "taboo"

Sources

Anthony Richards, An Iban-English Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 1981. [Paperback reprint in the 1990s by Penerbit Fajar Bakti, Petaling Jaya.]

Otto Steinmayer, Jalai Jako' Iban, a basic grammar of the Iban language of Sarawak. Klasik Publishing House: Kuching, 1999.

Renang Anak Ansali, Jaku Iban serta basa kitai. University of London Magazine, 2002.

Omniglot: Useful Iban phrases: http://omniglot.com/language/phrases/iban.php

External links

• Ator Sambiang Mass Baru: The Holy Eucharist in Iban (1980) Anglican eucharistic liturgy digitized by Richard Mammana