ret, retpela

English: ‘red’.

Many languages in Papua New Guinea have red and black as the two basic colours, after which green, blue, brown, yellow etc are distinguished by reference to leaf colour, the sky and so on.

Consequently, ret and blak in Tok Pisin have extended meanings compared to the corresponding words in English. In particular, ret also means anything light in colour (but not actually red, and not white either).

See original Mihalic entry.

Modifier forms

  1. Colour: red
    retpela kumul the Raggiana bird of paradise

  1. Colour: light in colour, pale: but usually in contrast to others of the same thing that are dark or black ® wait
    ol Wahgi save laikim ol meri i gat retpela skin Wahgis favour girls with a light coloured skin

Modifier compound forms

  1. Colour: arakain ret brown ® braun

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