Gilbertese

== English == === Etymology === From Gilbert +‎ -ese. See Gilbertese language § Name on Wikipedia. === Pronunciation === === Proper noun === Gilbertese An Austronesian language spoken in Kiribati. ==== Synonyms ==== Kiribati ==== Translations ==== === Noun === Gilbertese (plural Gilbertese) (chiefly in the plural) A person from the Gilbert Islands in Kiribati. Synonym: Kiribatian ==== Usage notes ==== As with other terms for people formed with -ese, the countable singular noun in reference to a person (as in "I am a Gilbertese", "writing about Gilbertese cuisine as a Gilbertese") is now uncommon and often taken as grammatically incorrect. In its place, the adjective is used, by itself (as in "I am Gilbertese") or before a noun like person, man, or woman ("writing about Gilbertese cuisine as a Gilbertese person"). See also -ish, which is similarly only primarily used as an adjective or as a plural noun. === Further reading === Ethnologue entry for Gilbertese, gil ⁠ “Gilbertese”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.