Kelabit is one of the remotest languages of Borneo, on the Sarawak–Kalimantan border, and spoken by one of the smallest ethnicities in Borneo, the Kelabit people. Kelabit is notable for having “a typologically rare series of true voiced aspirates” along with modally voiced and tenuis consonants but without an accompanying series of voiceless aspirates. It is the only language known to have this phonation contrast, which has been reconstructed for Proto-Indo-European (Source: Robert Blust, 2006, “The Origin of the Kelabit Voiced Aspirates: A Historical Hypothesis Revisited”, Oceanic Linguistics 45:311).
Common Expressions in Kelabit Language
*q = represent glottal stop in Kelabit Language.
| ENGLISH | KELABIT |
| Basic Expressions | |
| Good morning | Tabiq lekedtang |
| Good afternoon | Tabiq beruhmalem |
| Good evening | Tabiq dedtem |
| Good night | Tabiq dedtem |
| How are you | Ken dooq tiko? Kapeh tiko? |
| I am fine | Dooq tuih |
| Nice to meet you | Dooq pian kuh neh petuluh ngemuh |
| Thank you | Terima kasih ngemuh/ Dooq selinuh muh |
| You are welcome | Paad-paad |
| See you later | Petulu beruh |
| Have a pleasant trip | Dooq-dooq lawey narih |
| Good bye | Dooq tudo narih/ Dooq udeng narih (to say to the person who stays – like selamat tinggal) |
| Days | |
| Monday | Edto edteh |
| Tuesday | Edto duweh |
| Wednesday | Edto teluh |
| Thursday | Edto epat |
| Friday | Edto limeh |
| Saturday | Edto enem |
| Sunday | Edto Migu |
| Numbers | |
| One | edteh |
| Two | duweh |
| Three | teluh |
| Four | epat |
| Five | limeh |
| Six | enem |
| Seven | tuduq |
| Eight | waluh |
| Nine | iwaq |
| Ten | puluq |
| Sample conversations | |
| Introduction | |
| Hello, good morning. My name is __________. | Hai. Tabiq lekedtang, ngadan kudih ________. |
| My name is _________. | Ngadan kudih _________. |
| My name is ______. Where are you from? | Ngadan kudih _________. Let ngapeh tebeyq kiko? |
| I am from _____? | Let ______ keduih. |
| Where are you staying in Bario? | Mudeng ngapeh iko ngi Bario? |
| I am staying at ______. | Mudeng ngi ________ uih. |
| I hope you enjoy your stay in Bario. | Repet ngemuh dooq udeng ngi Bario. |
| I am staying at ______. | |
| I hope you enjoy your stay in Bario. | |
| Thank You | Terima kasih ngemuh |
| It’s nice meeting you. | Dooq pian kuh neh petulu ngemuh |
| It’s nice meeting you too. | Uih peh dooq pian kuh neh petulu ngen kiko. |
| Excuse me. Is there a shop near here? | Mutuh dooq. Ken inan kedai muneng inih? |
| Yes. There’s one near here. | Inan kedai muneng inih. |
| Can you tell me how to get there? | Ken kereb ko mala kapeh uih mey nangey? |
| Take the first left and go straight on. It’s on the left. | Ma’ih mey lipa kabing suk pu’un ih. Pengeh neh ngesu neh. Lipa pekabing neh nidih. |
| Is it far? | Ken mado dih? |
| It’s only about 5 minutes walk from her. | Limeh minit tupu teh let nginih |
| Thank you. | Terimas kasih ngemuh. |
| You are welcome | Paad-paad. |
| Ordering a Meal | |
| Hi. How are you doing this afternoon? | Ken dooq tiko beruhmalem kinih? |
| Fine, thank you. Can I see a menu, please? | Mo, dooq tuih. Laq tebeyq uih ni’er menu muyuh dih? |
| Certainly, here you are. | Mo, nih idih. |
| Thank you. What’s today’s special? | Terima kasih ngemuh. Enun suk leng dooq main edto kinih? |
| Chicken porridge | Kikid la’al. |
| That sounds good. I’ll have that. | Dooq mayu ain dih terun. Laq keduih ngen idih. |
| Would you like something to drink? | Enun laq rupen muh? |
| Yes, coffee please. | Laq mirup kupi keduih. |
| The food was delicious. I’d like bill, please. | Leng leng dooq main teh nuk kenen ih. Tudaq berey kuh belih dih? |
| Thank you. That’ll be RM5. | Limeh rigit tupu. |
| Here you are. | |
| Thank you and have a good day. | Terima kasih ngemuh. Repet ngemuh dooq udeng edto kinih. |
| Thanks, bye. | Terima kasih. Petulu beruh. |
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| Travelling to airport | |
| What time does your plane leave? | Pukul tudaq kapal mudih nalan? |
| It leaves at 10.00am. | Pukul puluq lekedtang. |
| By what time do you want to be at the airport? | Pukul tudaq iko laq medting ngi padang? |
| At least two hours before departure time. | Duweh jam na’am teh kapal ih medting. |
| That means we have to leave the lodge by 7.15am. | Rengaq kineh ih nalan neh tauh let nginih pukul 7.15 lekedtang. |
| I agree. I will be ready by 7.15am. | Tu’uh tineh. Teminaq uih pukul 7.15 lekedtang. |
| Alright. See you tomorrow at 7.15am. | Mo, dooq teh. Petulu edto riak pukul 7.15 lekedtang. |
Some Kelabit words:
to come – marih
to cook – nanek
to eat – kuman
to say – mala
to stand – mudu
to sit – tudo
to sleep – rudap
to smell – muen