Mills Basic Vocabulary

This wordlist was originally devised by Roger Mills for comparative research in Indonesia. Any questions may be addressed to Roger by email.

It was digitalized by Benct Philip Jonsson. Questions about the English-only version should be addressed to him.

A plaintext version is here.

If you want a more modern vocabulary you may want to have a look at the Longman Defining Vocabulary.

Table of contents

I. Numbers

II. Body parts

III. Kinship terms

IV. Animals

V. Nature

VI. Everyday life

VII. Verbs

VIII. Adjectives

IX. Pronouns etc.

The Vocabulary

I. Numbers

1. one

2. two

3. three

4. four

5. five

6. six

7. seven

8. eight

9. nine

10. ten

11. eleven

12. twelve

13. twenty

14. thirty

15. forty

16. fifty

17. sixty

18. seventy

19. eighty

20. ninety

21. one hundred

22. two hundred

23. one thousand

24. two thousand

25. ten thousand

26. first

27. second

28. third

29. once

30. twice

31. single

32. many

33. few

34. big

35. little

36. more

37. less

38. each

39. every

40. half

41. middle

42. all

43. some

44. several

45. another

46. enough

47. even

48. odd

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II. Body parts

49. skull

50. head

51. brain

52. hair

53. bald

54. grey-haired

55. forehead

56. eye

57. eyebrow

58. nose

59. ear

60. cheek

61. mouth

62. lips

63. chin

64. tongue

65. tooth

66. beard

67. voice

68. neck

69. shoulder

70. chest

71. breast

72. waist

73. stomach

74. navel

75. ribs

76. arm

77. hand

78. left (hand)

79. right (hand)

80. fathom

81. fist

82. elbow

83. finger

84. fingernail

85. palm of hand

86. leg

87. foot

88. thigh

89. knee

90. calf

91. back

92. buttocks

93. body

94. skin

95. naked

96. body-hair

97. bone

98. lap

99. heart

100. guts

101. liver

102. gall

103. bile

104. womb

105. blood

106. vein

107. excrement

108. urine

109. corpse

110. soul

111. breath

112. life

113. ghost

114. pain (head or body)

115. dirt on the skin

116. fester

117. sore

118. boil

119. wound

120. pus

121. sprain

122. swollen

123. dropsy

124. bruise

125. penis

126. scrotum

127. vulva

128. circumcized

129. uncircumcized

130. flatulence

131. dysentery

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III. Kinship terms

132. person

133. man

134. husband

135. woman

136. wife

137. father

138. mother

139. name

140. child

141. son

142. daughter

143. uncle

144. aunt

145. cousin

146. nephew

147. niece

148. grandfather

149. grandmother

150. grandchild

151. brother

152. sister

153. younger brother

154. older brother

155. young girl

156. virgin

157. family

158. friend

159. associate

160. partner

161. enemy

162. twins

163. widow

164. parents-in-law

165. son-in-law

166. brother-in-law

167. king

168. nobility

169. common people

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IV. Animals

170. animal

171. horse

172. pig

173. cow

174. buffalo

175. goat

176. deer

177. hide

178. horn

179. snout

180. tail

181. dog

182. cat

183. mouse

184. rat

185. bird

186. chicken

187. wing

188. cockfight

189. cock's spur

190. feather

191. rice-bird

192. sparrow

193. pigeon

194. dove

195. duck

196. fish

197. scales

198. oyster

199. shrimp

200. octopus

201. squid

202. crab. kepiting

203. shark

204. ray

205. crocodile

206. bat

207. small lizzard

208. snake

209. sea-turtle

210. land-turtle

211. insect

212. ant

213. termite

214. wasp

215. bee

216. worm

217. snail

218. millipede

219. butterfly

220. spider

221. louse

222. fly

223. mosquito

224. firefly

225. plant

226. rice

227. seed-rice

228. ear (of grain)

229. grain

230. hulled rice

231. rice-straw

232. tree

233. wood kayu

234. sap

235. leaf

236. branch

237. tree-trunk

238. root

239. bare

240. stick

241. plank

242. board

243. shell

244. coconut

245. banyan tree

246. ficus

247. sago palm

248. pandanus

249. sago

250. palm-wine

251. bamboo

252. grass

253. moss

254. thorn

255. nettle

256. fish poison

257. poison

258. banana

259. bunch (of fruits)

260. onion

261. cucumber

262. tuber

263. fruit

264. sugarcane

265. pineapple

266. eggplant

267. pumpkin

268. corn

269. flower

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V. Nature

270. land

271. water

272. fire

273. wind

274. mud

275. dust

276. stone

277. mountain

278. cave

279. hill

280. inland

281. interior

282. surface

283. flat

284. plain

285. field

286. ditch

287. garden

288. earthquake

289. wet ricefield

290. dry ricefield

291. desert

292. woods

293. clearing in the forest

294. village

295. gold

296. silver

297. iron

298. copper

299. sea

300. shore

301. beach

302. sand

303. gravel

304. wave

305. foam

306. fluid

307. liquid

308. straits

309. cape

310. tip

311. island

312. coral

313. bay

314. river mouth

315. lake

316. river

317. stream

318. channel saluran

319. irrigation canal

320. flood

321. current

322. north

323. south

324. east

325. west

326. smoke

327. flame

328. glowing coals

329. spark

330. ashes

331. charcoal

332. sky

333. sun

334. light

335. moon

336. star

337. full moon

338. shadow

339. shade

340. cloud

341. rain

342. drizzle

343. thunder

344. noise

345. sound

346. lightning

347. storm

348. tempest

349. fog

350. mist

351. haze

352. dew

353. whirlwind

354. typhoon

355. year

356. day

357. morning

358. midday

359. afternoon

360. dusk

361. night

362. late night

363. yesterday

364. yesterday -1

365. tomorrow

366. tomorrow +1

367. today

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VI. Everyday life

368. village

369. road

370. bridge

371. crossroads

372. house

373. wall

374. a hole in the wall

375. ceiling

376. floor

377. window

378. glass

379. door

380. hinge

381. hook

382. ladder (to the house)

383. ladder (in general)

384. roof

385. thatch

386. split bamboo

387. fence

388. stable

389. room

390. bed

391. toilet

392. garbage heap

393. kitchen

394. stove

395. pan

396. pot

397. (water)jar

398. (cooking)pot

399. cooking vessel

400. rice-pounder

401. rice-mortar

402. basket

403. spoon

404. scoop

405. ladle

406. knife

407. funnel

408. plate

409. cup

410. bowl

411. dipper

412. scissors

413. needle

414. thread

415. color

416. shirt

417. shoes

418. sarong

419. loincloth

420. fringe

421. scarf

422. plant fiber

423. cotton

424. bark cloth

425. loom

426. loom part

427. the woof

428. the warp

429. ring

430. bracelet

431. umbrella

432. earring

433. ornament

434. brush

435. comb

436. table

437. chair

438. pillow

439. blanket

440. mosquito net

441. curtain

442. rafters

443. house-poles

444. roof-peak

445. leak

446. whitewash

447. morter

448. chalk

449. paint

450. lamp

451. torch

452. wick

453. oil

454. coconut oil

455. egg

456. meat

457. sauce

458. gravy

459. spices

460. side-dishes

461. porrige

462. mush

463. salt

464. dregs

465. remains

466. smell

467. honey

468. sugar

469. vinegar

470. pepper

471. red pepper

472. bamboo shot

473. heart-of-palm

474. caraway

475. cumin

476. ginger

477. turmeric

478. sesame

479. boat

480. canoe

481. paddle

482. oar

483. mast

484. sail

485. rudder

486. outrigger

487. fishing net

488. fish-trap

489. fish-hook

490. keris

491. dagger

492. machete

493. gun

494. archer's bow

495. arrow

496. hunting net

497. sharp bamboo stakes

498. saw

499. hammer

500. nail

501. peg

502. axe

503. hatchet

504. wedge

505. chisel

506. carpenter's plane

507. rope

508. string

509. skewer

510. wire

511. chain

512. solder

513. lathe

514. hoe

515. bucket

516. work

517. job

518. extra work

519. second job

520. profit

521. loss

522. edge

523. space between

524. interval

525. side

526. line

527. sheath

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VII. Verbs

528. be born

529. die

530. live

531. kill

532. grow

533. inherit

534. hit

535. fight

536. kick

537. stab

538. jerk

539. jump

540. rub

541. massage

542. scratch

543. rasp

544. scrape

545. drill

546. file

547. sharpen

548. cut

549. chop

550. cut open

551. cut into

552. prune

553. trim

554. cut off

555. amputate

556. rip

557. tear

558. break off

559. slice

560. hack

561. cut unevenly

562. cut up

563. shave

564. slash

565. split

566. carve

567. inlay

568. move

569. change

570. substitute

571. exchange

572. move something

573. walk

574. run

575. go

576. come

577. arrive

578. approach

579. depart

580. enter

581. go out

582. return

583. return something

584. turn around

585. return home

586. trip

587. step in a hole

588. sink in the mud

589. push

590. pull

591. point

592. accuse

593. throw

594. meet

595. pick up

596. appear

597. disappear

598. stop by

599. visit

600. move something away

601. move something closer

602. to face

603. send

604. receive

605. swim

606. dive

607. sink

608. drown

609. shake

610. drift

611. float

612. flow

613. go sail along the coast

614. think

615. know

616. know (a person)

617. feel

618. suffer

619. regret

620. say

621. speak

622. sing

623. chant

624. recite

625. laugh

626. shout

627. cry out

628. call

629. teach

630. study

631. learn

632. praise

633. inform

634. communicate

635. tell

636. narrate

637. read

638. write

639. compose

640. arrange

641. hear

642. see

643. wink

644. blink

645. look up

646. look at

647. stare

648. feel something

649. touch

650. handle

651. taste

652. drink

653. sip

654. suck

655. suckle

656. bite (into something)

657. bite (of animals)

658. chew

659. swallow

660. eat

661. feed

662. lick

663. hiccough

664. cry

665. cry over

666. lament

667. cough

668. sneeze

0 smell

669. smell something

670. breathe

671. gasp

672. pant

673. wheeze

674. hold the breath

675. to blow

676. squeeze

677. press

678. press out

679. choke (on food)

680. vomit

681. spit

682. love

683. hate

684. kiss

685. leer

686. ogle

687. have sexual intercourse

688. mate

689. itch

690. kill by squashing

691. embrace

692. dance

693. sleep

694. close the eyes

695. deny

696. remember

697. forget

698. help

699. pity

700. console

701. promise

702. endure

703. trust

704. believe

705. ask

706. answer

707. repay

708. requite

709. order

710. command

711. like

712. tell a lie

713. win

714. defeat

715. defeated

716. hope

717. make

718. dig

719. scatter

720. sow

721. build

722. clear land

723. hunt

724. chase

725. shoot a gun

726. peel

727. flay

728. strip (leaves)

729. slaughter

730. plow

731. harrow

732. pull out

733. uproot

734. draw a sword

735. side by side

736. next to

737. in a row/line

738. lean on

739. lean something against

740. sit with legs crossed

741. squat

742. sit with legs stretched out

743. stretch out

744. fall down

745. collapse

746. break

747. break open

748. burst

749. to pry

750. gouge

751. mix

752. assemble

753. poke

754. gather (things) together

755. measure

756. knock

757. heat

758. cook

759. fry

760. roast

761. bake

762. burn

763. boil

764. steam

765. spatter

766. settle

767. stir

768. remove pot from the fire

769. divide into portions

770. drip

771. winnow

772. filter

773. weigh

774. pour

775. spill

776. polish. mengupam

777. chop fine

778. knead

779. wash

780. wash clothes ... mis.pakaian

781. wash dishes ... mis.piring2

782. bathe

783. spray

784. rinse

785. wipe

786. sweep

787. cross

788. deviate

789. go to the side

790. turn

791. "tack"

792. sail into the wind

793. rotate

794. revolve

795. twist

796. wind/roll up

797. wrap

798. tie

799. make nets

800. splice

801. stretch

802. extend

803. tighten

804. wind up

805. bandage

806. wrap (a corpse)

807. sway

808. unsteady

809. place

810. bet

811. carry

812. bring

813. hang

814. take

815. steal

816. use

817. wear

818. deliver

819. carry on the shoulder

820. buy

821. sell

822. rent

823. give

824. borrow

825. lend

826. owe

827. pay

828. bargain

829. choose

830. get

831. obtain

832. restore

833. there is

834. there is not

835. have

836. want

837. wish

838. will

839. not yet

840. already

841. all gone

842. yes

843. no

844. do not...

845. be ...ing

846. be

847. become

848. have to

849. must

850. can

851. may

852. permit

853. allow

854. forbid

855. forbidden

856. ever

857. never

858. formerly

859. before

860. happen

861. cause

862. count

863. add

864. divide

865. reduce

866. increase

867. make smaller

868. sew

869. weave

870. decorate

871. embroider

872. repair

873. fade

874. dream

875. daydream

876. wake up

877. get up (from bed)

878. sit

879. get up (from sitting)

880. rise (sun)

881. sit side by side

882. sit next to

883. stand

884. kneel

885. fall

886. rise up

887. go up

888. raise

889. climb

890. climb a mountain

891. stay

892. descend

893. lower

894. let down (rope)

895. pay out rope

896. recede

897. open

898. bloom

899. cover

900. spread out

901. separate

902. pile up

903. close

904. hide

905. hold

906. shelter

907. slip

908. slide

909. carry - hand. menjinjing

910. carry - head

911. carry - hip

912. play

913. bark (dog)

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VIII. Adjectives

914. white

915. black

916. red

917. yellow

918. green

919. blue

920. grey

921. spotted

922. tall

923. short

924. long

925. high

926. low

927. great

928. small

929. round

930. smooth

931. jagged

932. hard (especially of wood)

933. hard

934. soft

935. ripe

936. unripe

937. hot

938. cold

939. sharp

940. dull

941. sweet

942. sour

943. bitter

944. salty

945. spicy hot

946. tasteless

947. old

948. young

949. new

950. heavy

951. light

952. bright

953. shiny

954. glittering

955. dark

956. clear

957. vague

958. narrow

959. wide

960. full

961. empty

962. tight

963. loose

964. sleepy

965. tired

966. deep

967. shallow

968. wet

969. dry

970. far

971. near

972. downstream

973. upstream

974. good

975. bad

976. true

977. false

978. certain

979. beautiful

980. ugly

981. good tasting

982. bad tasting

983. fresh

984. rotten

985. difficult. susah

986. easy

987. expensive

988. cheap

989. coarse

990. fine

991. invulnerable

992. rich

993. poor

994. stingy

995. greedy

996. thin

997. thick

998. fat

999. viscous

1000. sick

1001. well

1002. hungry

1003. sated

1004. thirsty

1005. pregnant

1006. barren

1007. strong

1008. weak

1009. brave

1010. afraid

1011. ashamed

1012. painful

1013. smarting

1014. dirty

1015. mouldy

1016. muddy

1017. clean

1018. straight

1019. direct

1020. askew

1021. curving

1022. sloping

1023. athwart

1024. transverse

1025. across

1026. curly (hair)

1027. urine smell

1028. rancid smell

1029. burnt smell

1030. fragrant

1031. noisy

1032. quiet

1033. lonely

1034. peaceful

1035. calm (water)

1036. clear (water)

1037. wild

1038. tame

1039. free

1040. loud

1041. hard (blow)

1042. hoarse

1043. crazy

1044. confused

1045. dizzy

1046. nervous

1047. angry

1048. happy

1049. sad

1050. disappointed

1051. crippled

1052. blind

1053. deaf

1054. stupid

1055. clever

1056. capable

1057. willing

1058. fast

1059. slow

1060. broken

1061. damaged

1062. torn

1063. perfect

1064. very

1065. rare

1066. usual

1067. common

1068. everyday

1069. popular

1070. slippery

1071. sticky

1072. excessively decorated

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IX. PRONOUNS ETC.

1073. me - I

1074. you sg. (thou)

1075. he

1076. she

1077. we excl.

1078. we incl.

1079. you pl.

1080. they

1081. my

1082. your (thy)

1083. his

1084. her

1085. our excl.

1086. our incl.

1087. your

1088. their

1089. mine

1090. yours

1091. his

1092. ours

1093. theirs

1094. who? siapa

1095. what? apa

1096. how much/many? berapa

1097. when? kapan

1098. which? yg.mana

1099. where? dimana

1100. why?

1101. self (reflexive)

1102. -self (intensifier)

1103. each other

1104. respectively

1105. thing

1106. indefinite

1107. any

1108. goods

1109. this

1110. that (nearby)

1111. that (far)

1112. here

1113. there (near)

1114. there (far)

1115. now

1116. often

1117. just in case

1118. at

1119. in

1120. from

1121. to

1122. inside

1123. on top

1124. under

1125. outside

1126. with

1127. by means of

1128. and

1129. or

1130. but

1131. if

1132. when

1133. because

1134. perhaps

1135. although

1136. before

1137. after

1138. during

1139. since

1140. in vain

1141. pretending

1142. in front

1143. in back

1144. how?