NEWS

October 4, 2025

LOCAL DHARUG LANGUAGE

LOCAL DHARUG LANGUAGE

The Dharug people are the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters of Penrith, NSW, Australia. Indigenous peoples have always had a strong connection to water and have been paddling Nuway (canoes) for many thousands of years.

We thank local expert, Brad Moore, Senior Land Services Officer Aboriginal Communities, at the Local Land Services Agency for giving the following insights into some local Dharag words associated with water and canoeing.

Nuway  (pronounced NO-why) - a canoe

Ngaraawang (pronounced NGUR-ah-wung) - a paddle / oar probably call this as it is mostly flat, because Ngaraawan means something flat. In Dharug Country these were described as looking like a pudding stirrer and were made of bark or other specific wood.

Bardhuu (pronounced BAR-dhoo) - fresh water (not salt water as this has a different name)

Dharraabang (pronounced DHUR-rah–bung) - a river, any freshwater river and probably also used for a creek (conceptually a small river).

Kiibaa (pronounced KEE-bah) - a stone, or rock (probably small or smallish rock)

Marray kiibaa (pronounced MUR-ray KEE-bah) - rocks (large), literally ‘big stones’

Marray nuway (pronounced MUR-ray NO-why) - boat, which is literally a ‘Big Canoe’.

Stream is the same as a Creek or small river. Also the some streams or creeks may have an identity like Bardhuu ngarraang (pronounced BAR-dhoo NGAR-rahng) which is the name of a creek in the Hawkesbury but probably used to describe any smaller freshwater creeks

Muuruu (pronouncedMOO-roo) - any pathway or track

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