When You Meet a Kadazan_ Songian Koso'omo Ko do Kadazan

Greetings! Kopivosian!

Good morning. Kopivosian Doungosuab (kosuabon). Although good in Kadazan is 'avasi', it does not sound right if one were to say, "Avasi dungosuab". Kopivosian (Kopivasian) comes from 'avasi' (good).

Good afternoon. Kopivosian tahib-tangaadau.

Good evening. Kopivosian kosodopon.

Good night. Kopivosian do sodop.

How are you? Ingkuo ko no?

Fine. Avasi.

Fine, thank you. Avasi. Kotohuadan.

I'm fine. Avasi zou. Preferable to say, "Avasi bo."

'avasi' also means good. The antonym of 'avasi' is 'alaat', bad or evil. You don't say, "Alaat zou," if you mean you are not fine. You say, "Au zou ohidas," "I'm not well." When you say, "Alaat tuhun diho", what you mean is, "That man is evil (bad)."

What's your name? Isai ngaan nu? 'What' in Kadazan is 'nunu' but you don't say, "Nunu ngaan nu?" But you can say, "Nunu ngaan pihion nu?" (What name do you choose?)

One can say, "Nunu ko?" but this is to ask for the race of the person or what type of character a person has. When asking for a person's name, you can also say, "Isai ko?" which means 'Who are you?'

It is unusual for a Kadazan to say, "Ngaan ku nopo nga ii John / Mary" which translates to "My name is John / Mary" although this can be accepted in writing. The preferred option is "John / Mary zou." I'm John / Mary, or "John /.Mary ngaan ku."

To ask politely, say, "Isai ko gia dii?" Some Kadazan may take take offence when one asks, "Isai ko?" because it sounds rude. The word 'gia' makes it polite. It is equivalent to "May I know your name?"

Where do you live? Nombo ko poingizon?

I live at ... Poingizon zou doiho ....

How far is it from here? Songkuo sinodu dii mantad doiti?

Very far. It's over the mountain. O'osodu. Hu sampaping do nuhu.

May I follow you? Kavasa zou tumanud diau?

Okay, let's go. Ba, kano no (mugad).

'kano' denotes at least two people. If there are more than two people, use 'kanou.'