True Motu Dictionary

💬 AI-assisted grammar analysis: na functions as a relational marker introducing and anchoring a noun phrase within a clause. It commonly signals definiteness and prepares the noun for grammatical roles such as agent, location, or state. Rather than carrying a fixed meaning, na positions the noun in relation to the verb or clause structure and enables further grammatical marking. No single English equivalent; meaning depends on context.

💬 Kinship term for child or offspring. Takes possessive prefixes: "ia natuna" (his/her child, 155×). Gender specified by modifiers: "natuna mamaruanedia" (sons, 132×), "natuna hahinena" (daughter, 76×), "natuna maruanena" (son, 69×), "natuna hahinedia" (daughters, 34×). Used for animal young: "mamoe natuna" (lamb, 84×), "boromakau natuna" (calf, 61×). Common in genealogies and titles: "taunimanima natuna" (son of man, 177×), "Dirava natuna" (son of God, 67×), "natuna roboana" (firstborn, 53×).

💬 Temporal noun meaning "time" or "when". Almost always followed by locative "ai": "negana ai" (at the time when, 1756×). Forms temporal clauses: "una negana ai" (at that time, 384×), "e hebou negana ai" (when they gathered), "e mase negana ai" (when he died). Other constructions: "negana amo" (from that time, 55×), "matama negana" (beginning time, 57×). Used to set narrative context, marking when events occurred. Often pairs with demonstrative "una" for past reference.