Makassar phrasebook

Makassar (known natively as Basa Mangkasaraʼ, ) or sometimes also identified as Makassarese or Makasar is the main Makassaric language of South Sulawesi spoken predominantly by the Makassar ethnic group, native to Makassar and its adjacent regions in southern Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Writing
Makassar language has its own native writing system called Hurupuʼ Mangkasaraʼ (lit. 'Makasar script', or colloquially also known as the Jangang-jangang script), it is the native script of Makassar closely related to the Lontaraʼ script used by the Bugis people for Bugis language. Though still used in native documents, and sometimes seen side by side with Latin script in street signs and the names of public buildings, it has been almost totally replaced by the Latin alphabet. In addition to Makasar script, nowadays the Makassar language sometimes also written in Lontaraʼ due to Bugis influence and Arabic-based script due to Islamic religiousity factor. However, a traveller will almost never have to read Makasar script to get information. Makes an awesome tattoo, though.

Vowels
 A (a)       as in father

 E (e)       as in grey

 I (i)       as in machine

 O (o)       as in open

 U (u)       as in rule

 ai          as in Thailand

 ui          as in Louie

Consonants

 * b : like 'b' in "bed"
 * c : like 'ch' in "chain"
 * d : like 'd' in "dog"
 * f : like 'ph' in "phone"
 * g : like 'g' in "go"
 * h : like 'h' in "helmet"
 * j : like 'dg' in "jack"
 * k : like 'kh' in "kebab"
 * l : like 'l' in "love"
 * m : like 'm' in "mother"
 * n : like 'n' in "nice"
 * p : like 'p' in "pig"
 * q : like 'q' in "quest"
 * r : like 'r' in "row"
 * s : like 'ss' in "hiss"
 * t : like 't' in "top"
 * v : like 'v' in "victory"
 * w : like 'w' in "weight"
 * x : like 'ks' in "kicks"
 * y : like 'y' in "yes"
 * z : like 'z' in "zebra"

Common digraphs

 * ay : like 'ay' in "aye"
 * ai : like 'i' in "twice"
 * au : like 'awe'


 * bb : like 'bb' in "dabble"


 * cc : like 'cc' in "ocha"


 * dd : like 'dd' in "udder"


 * ei : like 'ay' in "say"
 * ey : like 'ay' in "say"


 * gg : like 'gg' in "aggrieve"


 * jj : like 'jj' in ""


 * kk : like 'kk' in ""


 * ll : like 'll' in "willing"


 * mm : like 'mm' in "mummy"


 * nn : like 'nn' in "granny"


 * oi : like 'oi' in "oil"
 * ow : like 'ow' in "owed"
 * oy : like 'oy' in "oyster"


 * pp : like 'pp' in "appeal"


 * rr : like 'rr' in "barrage"


 * ss : like 'ss' in "kissing"


 * tt : like 'tt' in "attach"


 * ww : like 'ww' in ""


 * zz : like 'zz' in ""

Basics

 * Hello. : Assalamu alaikum!
 * How are you? : Apa antu mae kabaratta?
 * Fine, thank you. : Ìeʼ, Tarimakasi.
 * What is your name? : Nài arènta?
 * My name is ______ . : Arèngku ______.
 * Nice to meet you. : Rannu paʼmaikku na kisibùntulukiʼ.
 * Thank you. : Tarimakàsi.
 * Yes. (honorific, polite): Ìeʼ.
 * Yes. (familiar) : Ìo.
 * No/Nothing. : Tèna/Taèna.
 * No (isn't that, it's not, do not).: Teài.
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Tàbeʼ.
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Tabe', Pammoppòrangaʼ.
 * I'm sorry. : Pammoppòrangaʼ/Kipammoppòranga'.
 * Goodbye (informal) : Salamakkiʼ.
 * I can't speak Makassar [well]. : Tena kuisseng aʼbicara Mangkasara'.
 * Do you speak English? : Kiissenji aʼbicara Anggarisiʼ?
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Niaʼ tau anrinni anngisseng aʼbicara Anggarisiʼ?
 * Help! : Appalaʼ Tùlungaʼ!
 * Look out! : Cinìki!
 * I don't understand. : Tena kuisseng nakke.
 * Where is the toilet? : Kemae toileka? / Kere mae paʼjambanganga?

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : Bokoimaʼ akkale-kale.
 * Don't touch me! : Teako beroiaʼ
 * I'll call the police. : Erok kutalipongi pulisia.
 * Police! : Pulisi!
 * Stop! Thief! : Ammariko! Palukkaʼ!
 * I need your help. : Erokaʼ ri pannulunta.
 * It's an emergency. : Daruraki anne.
 * I'm lost. : Lannyakaʼ/Linguaʼ
 * I lost my bag. : Lannyaki tasakku.
 * I lost my wallet. : Lannyaki dompekku.
 * I'm sick. : Garringaʼ.
 * I've been injured. : Niaʼ lokokku.
 * I need a doctor. : Dottoroʼ kuparalluang.
 * May I use your phone? : Maʼring kuinrang taliponta?

Numbers

 * 1 : seʼre
 * 2 : rua
 * 3 : tallu
 * 4 : appaʼ
 * 5 : lima
 * 6 : annang
 * 7 : tuju
 * 8 : sagantuju
 * 9 : salapang
 * 10 : sampulo
 * 11 : sampulo asseʼre
 * 12 : sampulo anrua
 * 13 : sampulo antallu
 * 14 : sampulo anngappaʼ
 * 15 : sampulo allima
 * 16 : sampulo anngannang
 * 17 : sampulo antuju
 * 18 : sampulo assagantuju
 * 19 : sampulo assalapang
 * 20 : ruang pulo
 * 21 : ruang pulo
 * 22 : ruang pulo asseʼre
 * 23 : ruang pulo antallu
 * 30 : tallung pulo
 * 40 : patang pulo
 * 50 : limang pulo
 * 60 : annang pulo
 * 70 : tujung pulo
 * 80 : sagantujung pulo
 * 90 : salapang pulo
 * 100 : sibilanngang
 * 200 : ruang bilanngang
 * 300 : tallung bilanngang
 * 1000 : sisaʼbu
 * 2000 : rua ssaʼbu
 * 1,000,000 : sijuta
 * 1,000,000,000 : similiaraʼ
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : sitiriliung
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : lomoroʼ _____ (kareta pepek, bisik, maraengna.)
 * half : sitangnga
 * less : kurang
 * more : laʼbi

Time

 * now : kamma-kamma anne / kammanne / anne kamma
 * later : sinampeʼ / sinampereʼ
 * before : riolongang / riolo
 * morning : bariʼbasaʼ
 * midday, noon : tanngallo
 * afternoon : karueng
 * evening : mangngaribi/pattang
 * night : bangngi
 * midnight : lantang banngi

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : tetteʼ seʼre bangngi
 * two o'clock AM : tetteʼ rua bangngi
 * one o'clock PM : tetteʼ seʼre tanngallo
 * two o'clock PM : tetteʼ rua bangngi

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : _____ maniʼ
 * _____ hour(s) : _____ jang
 * _____ day(s) : _____ allo
 * _____ week(s) : _____ minggu
 * _____ month(s) : _____ bulang
 * _____ year(s) : _____ taung

Days

 * today : anne alloa / annelloa
 * yesterday : subanngi
 * tomorrow : ammuko / mmuko
 * this week : anne diminggu / anne jumaʼ
 * last week : diminggu laloa / jumaʼ laloa
 * next week : minggu pole / jumaʼ pole
 * next year : taung pole / tampole


 * Sunday : Ahaʼ / Diminggu
 * Monday : Sanneng
 * Tuesday : Salasa
 * Wednesday : Araba
 * Thursday : Kammisiʼ
 * Friday : Jumaʼ
 * Saturday : Sattu

Months

 * January : Janiari
 * February : Pebiriwari
 * March : Marasaʼ
 * April : Apareleʼ
 * May : Mai
 * June : Juni
 * July : Juli
 * August : Aguttusuʼ
 * September : Sitembereʼ
 * October : Katobereʼ
 * November : Noembereʼ
 * December : Desembereʼ

Colors

 * black : leʼleng
 * white : keboʼ
 * gray : abu-abu
 * red : eja
 * blue : bulo / kondo-kondo (ocean blue) / gauʼ (dark blue)
 * yellow : kunyiʼ / didi
 * green : moncongbulo
 * orange : lango-lango
 * purple : pico (dark purple) / kamummuʼ (purple on animals)
 * brown : sikolàʼ / lacciʼ-lacciʼ

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : Siapa ballinna anne tikeka lamange ri _____?
 * One ticket to _____, please. : Tabe', se're rodong tikeka lamange ri _____.
 * Where does this train/bus go? : Kere mae lampana anne terènga/otobusuka?
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Lannyengkaji anne terènga/otobusuka ri _____?
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : Siapayya anne terènga/otobusuka lamange ri ____ a'lampa?
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Siapayya anne terènga/otobusuka battu ri _______?

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : Antekamma bateku lamange ri _____?
 * ...the train station? : ... pammantanganna terènga?
 * ...the bus station? : ...pammantanganna otobusuka?
 * ...the airport? : ...bandarayya?
 * ...downtown? : ...tangnga kotayya?
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ...hotele' _____a?
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ...kadutaang Amerika/Kanada/Sutaralia/Anggarrisiʼ?
 * Where are there a lot of... : Kemae anjo na jai ...
 * ...hotels? : ...hote'-hotele'?
 * ...restaurants? : ...tampaʼ pannganreang?
 * ...bars? : ...tampa' pannginung-nginung?
 * ...sites to see? : ...paʼtampaʼ pattoakkang?
 * Can you show me on the map? : Kulle kicinikanga' ri pattaya?
 * street : agang
 * Turn left. : Lekko mange ri kairi.
 * Turn right. : ekko mange ri kanang.
 * left : kairi
 * right : kanang
 * straight ahead : tulusu'
 * towards the _____ : angngolo _____
 * past the _____ : allalo _____
 * before the _____ : ri olona _____
 * in front of the _____ : ri dallekanna _____
 * behind the _____ : ri bokona _____
 * Watch for the _____. : Pakatutui _____.
 * intersection : pammengkàng
 * inside : ilalang / lalang
 * outside : pantarang
 * north : iwara'
 * south : itimboroʼ
 * east : iraya
 * west : ilauʼ
 * uphill : panaikang
 * downhill : panaungang

Taxi

 * Taxi! : Tassi!
 * Take me to _____, please. : Eranga' rodong mange ri ________, tabe'.
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : Siapa ballinna punna lamange ri _____?
 * Take me there, please. : Erannganga' mae antureng, tabe'.

Learning more

 * Learning Makassar at Wikibooks