Mini Igorot Dictionary

Mini Igorot Dictionary: Sagada Dialect (Kankanaey)

This mini Igorot dictionary primarily focuses on the Sagada people’s dialect, Kankanaey. While the words listed here are rooted in the Sagada variant of Kankanaey, they can also be understood in other areas. However, it is important to note that this dialect is distinct from those spoken in neighboring places like Bontok, Kalinga, Ifugao, and Ibaloi.

The Sagada dialect, Kankanaey, is also spoken in Kapangan, Buguias, and among the Bago tribes of the Ilocos region, though there are differences in intonation and the meanings of some words. Despite these variations, it remains sufficient for basic communication with speakers in these regions.

Many Sagada words have been borrowed from Ilokano, a language of the lowlands, making them relatively easy to understand for those familiar with Ilokano. The goal of this dictionary is twofold:

1. To enrich your visit to Sagada by encouraging the use of the local dialect.
2. To contribute to the preservation of Kankanaey, which faces the threat of extinction due to the increasing influence of foreign languages and dialects.

This dictionary will be updated periodically as more words are added.

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Guide to Pronunciation:

• Ay – Similar to the "I" or "uy" in buy.
• A – Similar to the "a" in guava or "uy" in buy.
• E – Similar to the "e" in mother.
• I – Similar to the "i" in bit or kit, or the "ee" in feet.
• O – Similar to the "oo" in boot.
• U – Similar to the "oo" in noodle or boot.

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Letters in the Kankanaey Alphabet:

A B C D E G H I K L M N O P (R) S T U W Y

• The Letter R:
  The letter R was incorporated into the Kankanaey alphabet in the latter part of the 20th century, following the influence of Ilocano and English. Originally, words with an "R" sound were pronounced using the letter L.
  For example:
• Garden was pronounced as Galdin.
• Over time, the pronunciation shifted to Gardin due to Ilocano influence.
  Even today, many elders continue to use "L" instead of "R."

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Pronunciation Notes:

• Only the vowels A, E, I, O, U differ in pronunciation from English.
• All other letters are pronounced the same as in English.

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This guide serves as a resource to help you appreciate and engage with the Sagada dialect while preserving its unique cultural heritage.

Quick Conversational Phrases in Sagada Kankanaey

Common Phrases:

·        Do you want?
Laydem? / Ay laydem?

·        No, I don’t want.
Adi, adik layden.

·        Here I go.
Na’y umeyak!

·        How are you?
Kumusta? / Kumusta pay?

·        What is your name?
Sino nan ngagan mo? / Sino san ayagmo’s di?

·        Where is the way?
Into nan daan?

Asking Directions:

·        Where is the way to Sumaguing Cave?
Into nan daan ay umey ed/ad Sumaguing Cave?

·        Is there anyone to show the way?
Ay, wada nan mangitdo isnan daan?

Asking About Prices:

·        How much does it cost?
Kaat nan bayadna? / Kaat nan bayad?

·        How much is the price?
Kaat nan lako na? / Kaatna?

·        How much is the price of your vegetable?
Kaat nan lakon di natengmo?

·        How much is your cabbage?
Kaat nan lakon di lipolyom?

·        How much is the fare to Sagada?
Kaat nan piliti ay umey ed Sagada?

Dictionary

A 
Afternoon - Masdem(N)     Good afternoon – Gawis ay masdem

Again    -  Kasin
Anger - Liget
Angered - V. Nakaliget; Linmiget; limmiget
  In its superlative form: Kaliliget; Linmigeliget; Limmige-liget
Arm - Takiag (N) – Arm
Armpit - N. Bagay
Aroma - Bango; (of a burnt flesh) - Angilit
Attitude - Ugali

B
Baby - Adj. Engnga
Bachelor – (man)Bab-alo; Babbalo; (Woman) Balasang
Back (v) – Tauli
    Going back – Tumauli
Bad - Madi; Ngawi
Bad smell - Naangiso; Naagob
     Very bad smell - Men-angiso; Men-agob
Banana - N. Baat
Beard - omeng
Beautiful - Adv. Gawis
Best - Adv. Kagagawisan
Big - Adj.Dakdake
Bigger - Adj. Dakdakdake
Biggest - (Adj)Dakedake; Kadadake-an
Black - N. Ngitit
Blown - Adj. Indagem; Intayaw
Body  -  N.  Awak
Bottle – (N)Botilya; Boti
Bring -  Iyali
Bring down (a thing) - Ilayog
Bus - n. Bus; Bass
Buttock - N. Tip-oy
Buy - verb. Lumako


C
Calf - Bidkin(Antadaw/Tetep-an); Puspusso(Central Sagada)
Call - Ayagan (V)
Called - Naayagan; Called by - Inayagan
Car - N. Lugan
Carpenter – Kalapintilo
Cave - N.  Liang
Cloud – N. Libuo
Coffin - N. Koong
Cold - N. Tedek; Sekaw; Adj. Natedek
   Very cold - Adj. Mentedek; Mensekaw
   Feeling cold - Adj. Masmaskaw; Mamaskaw
   Felt cold - Adj. Naskaw
Companion - Gait
Come - V. Umali
Come here - V. Umali (ka) isna

D
Dance - N. Tayaw; V. Mentayaw Dangerous – Adj. Kaeegyat
Dawn - Adj. Tan-o (Refers to the darkness after 12am until when the sun starts to rise. When sun is up, it’s 

                          called ‘wakgat.’   

Day     - Agew (Noun);   'Agew' also refers to the Sun
Dead - Adj. Natey
Deep - Adj.  Adaem

Delay    - Itantan; Iyaw-awni; Taktaken

Did    - Inikkan
Die - V. Matey
Dig  -  V. Kaoban
Direct - V. Itdo; Isulo Do - V. Ikkan
Do  -  V.  Ikkan
Dog - N. Aso
Doing - V. Ik-ikkan
Door - N. Segpan
Dying - Adj. Matmatey; Makamkamatey

E
Ear - N. Inga
Earth - N. Batawa; Lubong
Enough - Kedeng
Enraged - Adj. Nakaliget
Enter - V. Sumgep
Entered - V. Sinumgep
Entrance - Sumgepan

Evening  - Gisbet, Nagisbet(Refer to the time when dark starts overcoming the light).  But when greeting somebody use the word 'Labi'  Ex.  Good evening   - Gawis ay labi
Exit - Balaan
Eye – N. Mata

F
Face - N. Angas; V. Sagangen
Facing - Adj. Sinasagang; Sasagangen
Father - N. Ama    (Pronounce the letter 'A' longer if used to call your father)
Fear – Adj. Egyat
Fearful - Adj. Umeegyat
Find - V. Das-an; Edasan; Inapen; Men-inap
Finger - Gumot (N) (Plural – Gumgumot)

Name of each finger:

1.  Thumb - Pagpag-ama
2.  Forefinger - Padukyaw
3.  Middle finger - Pagawa
4.  Ring-finger - Sened
5.  Little finger - Pagpag-iking

Finish - V.  Kombosen; Pakombosen; Ikwas;  Makwas
Fire - Apoy
Fireplace (place to cook food usually made up of three stones and firewood is use) – Dalican
Flow - N. Ayus; V. Men-ayus; Umayus
Flowed - N. Nen-ayus
Flowing - V. Men-ay-ayus
Foot - Siki (N) - Foot

Forest - Kabakilan

Forgetfulness - Kalido 

Forgot - Nakalidoan;  Nakalingkingan
Found - V. Dinas-an; inedasan; Ininapan; Inanapan; nadas-an
Freeze - V. Ipaskaw; Ipasekaw
Frightening – Adj. Kaeegyat
Front neck - N. Tenged
   Back of neck - Bagang

Front of foot(under) - Tapag


G
Garden - Galdin
Ghost - N. Anito
Give – V. Agtan
Giver - N. Men-at-ated
Giving - V. Men-at-ated
Glad - Adj. Nalagsak
Go - Umey
God - N. Kabunyan
Good – Gawis
     Very good (Adverb) – Gawi-gawis
        Umey ka! - You go!
        Umeyak – I go; I am going.
Going back - Tumauli
Go out - Bumala;
    Went out - P.Tense.  Bimmala
Grass – lugam; luot
Guide - N. Mangipangpango; Mangit-itdo

H
Hair – N. Buok
Hammer - N. Mantilyo
Hand – N. Ledeng
Happy - Adj. Nalagsak; Malagsakan
Happiness - Gasing
Head - N. O-o
Heat – N. Poos

Heel - Mukod  
Hello – Kumusta
Here - Adv. Isna
Hotel - Pante-e-an (N)

How - Kasano?
     How are you? – Kumusta ka?(Referring to a single person)

     How are you? – Kumusta kayo? (Refers to Two or more person) 

House - Ba-ey; Kampo (N)
Home – Ba-ey; Kampo
Hunger - N. Uwat; V. Mauwat
Hungered - V. Nauwat
Hungry - Adj. Nauwat


I
I    - pron.  Sak-en 

Impossible - Adj. Kam-anoy
Inayan (Adverb) - Slang word which has no exact English term. However it means something like a prohibition to do something that is not “morally” good.   Ex. “ Inayan” to steal. (It is not good to steal.)
Is - Ay; Nan (Linking verb)
          Gawis AY agew – Beautiful day (to you)

          Gawis NAN agew – The day is beautiful 

J
Jar – Banga
Jaw – Padanga


K
Knee – Puweg
Know - Gintek; Ammo
Kick - Dayday


L
Laugh - N. Ammeng
Laughing - V. Men-am-ammeng
Left behind - Nataynan
Leg - Gulo (N)
Lie - N. Kampot; 

Lip(s) – Subil
Look - V.  Ilan(To see);   Anapen, Inapen(To find)

M
Made - Sinapo; Inset/Ineset
Make - Sumapo; Umeset
Man - N. Lalaki

Massage - Kappos; Teme  

Me    -  Sak-en
Mine(Possession; Ownership) – U’kak
Middle - Adj. Tenga
Morning - N. Wakgat     Good morning - Gawis ay agsapa
Mother - N. Ina;   (Pronounce the I longer if used to call your mother)

Mountain - Bilig
Mouth - N. Tupek
Mud - N. Pitek

N
Name – Ayag; Ngadan (N)
Nape – Bagang
Never - Adv. Pulos
Night - Labi (N)
Nipa hut – Kalapaw; Kalkalapaw
None/Nothing – maid or mid
Noon - N. Kag-aw
Nose - N. E-eng
Now - Adv. Idwani

O
Old - Adj. Naeteng

    Old man - N. Am-ama;  Naam-ama(Became an old man )

    Old Lady - N. In-ina;      Nain-ina (Became old lady)
On top - Adj. Labaw
Over - Adj. Labaw


P
Pathway - Daan (N)
Person - Ipugaw (N) (Plural – Kaipu-ipugaw)
Pine tree - N. Saeng
Pity - N. Asi
Pitiful - Adj. Kaasi
Plant - N. Muwa; V. Men-esek    (Mula - in ilocano)
Planted - pt.  Naimuwa; Nai-esek
Planting - V. Men-es-esek
Punch - Suntok; Disnog
      You punch - Sumuntok ka

R
Rain - N. Udan 

Rained - Umudan

Ran    - Timmagtag  
Red - Adj. Gadangdang
Rest - Elleng; Inana
Reach - V. (To reach using one's hand)Gaw-aten; (To reach a destination) Umdan
Reached - V. (by the used of a hand) Ginaw-at; (Arriving at a destination) Inumdan
Refrigerator - N. Paskawan

Repeat    - Kasin        (Repeat the process - Kasin mo ikkan san inikkam)
Rice – N. Pagey; Bagas
Rice field - N. Kapageyan
River - N. Ginawang
Road - N. Kalsa
Run – V. Tumagtag
          Running – Tumagtagtag
          You run! - Tumagtag ka!

S
Said - Nakwani; Kinwani
Said by - Kinwanin
Saw - Inila;  Naila

Scalp - Kullop
Scapula - N. Bakbakkong
School - N. Oskilaan
Seen - inila; Naila

Shoulder - Puke  
Sleep - N. Seyep; V. Maseyep
Sleeping - V. Maseseyep
Small - Adj. Aptik
Smaller - Adj. Ap-aptik
Smallest - Adj. Kaa-aptikan; Kaaatikan
Smile - N. Ngis-il
Soil – N. Luta
Spine - N. Dulig;  Tigtigi
Stone - N. Bato
Stonewall - N. Tuping
Street - N. Kalsa
Student - N. Oskila
T
Talk - Kali’ (Noun)
Talking with - Makitoytoya; Makikalkali
Thank - V. Men-iyaman
Thank - N. Iyaman
Thank you - Exclamation Sing. Iyaman kenka; Plural Iyaman kadakayo
Teach - V. Itdo; Isulo
Teacher – N. Men-isulsulo
  Female teacher – Mistala
  Male teacher - Mistolo
Technique - Pamuspusan
Thigh - Upo
There is - Wada
There – Isdi
Tired - Adj. Nabbay
Tooth/Teeth - N. Bab-a
Tree – N. Ka-iw
To be angry - V. Makaliget
To buy - Lumako
To die - Matey
To laugh - V. Men-ammeng
To leave behind - Taynan
To go - Umey
To laugh (V)- Men-ammeng
To kick v - daydayan
To rest - Umelleng, Men-inana
To see - Ilaen
To smile - Menngis-il (Verb)
To speak with - Makitoya
To talk - Menkali (Verb)
To visit - Pasyalen
To walk - Mendaan (V)

U
Ugly - As-asi
Umbrella - Payong
Under - Adv. Silok

Underarm - Bagay  


V
very good - Gawi-gawis (Adverb
    To greet someone using the word gawis(Addressing one particular person): 

     Gawis ay agew mo/ken sik-a. - Beautiful day to you;  

     Gawi-gawis ay agew mo - A very beautiful day to you.
Very ugly - Asi-asi
Visitor – N. Bisita
Visitors – N. Bibisita; Ado ay bisita
Visit – V. Pasyalen; N. Pasyal


W
Wait - V. Awni;
Wait longer - Aw-awni
Waste - Basula; Basura
Water - Danum (N)
Way – Daan; Pamuspusan
What – Sino?
    What is that? - Sino sa?

    What is/was it? - Sino di?
We  -  Datako
Wedding – Boda; Dawak; Kasal
When – Tungo?; Tungo na?; Tungon di?
Where - Into
Where is the way?– Into nan daan?
White - Pulaw; Very white - Menpulaw
Who – Sino?
Wind - N. Dagem
Wood – sunglod
Woods - Kabakilan

Y
You – Pronoun Singular Sik-a; Plural Dakayo
You look - Sing.  Ilaem; Ilam; Plural Ilaenyo; Ilanyo
Young - Adj. Unga; (-er) Ung-unga;
Yours - Singular Ukam; Plural Ukayo