- Babai – (pronounced Buh-bai) The sole root crop in Kiribati, Babai must be grown in freshwater pits.
- Botaki – A party, either at a family’s house or a community mwaneaba.  Most botakis have emcees.  Botakis typically begin with an
introduction followed by a feast.  Guests provide the majority of the food.  Eating is followed by greetings and speeches by the guests. 
Many hours of dancing will follow the speeches.  Botakis are either afternoon or evening events, which often last until 2 or 3am.
- Buia – (pronounced Bu-ya)  A thatch-covered, raised platform made entirely of plant materials.  Pandanus leaves, coconut palm trunks,
spines, are routinely used in construction.  Many families own one ore more buias, which serve as living, dining and bedrooms.
- Causeway – Causeways are built by filling in the areas between two islets with sand, gravel, and coral pieces.  A road is built on top of the
mound. Causeways connect all of the islets of South Tarawa with one channel for water flow between Bairiki and Betio.
- Copra – Dried coconut meat.  Exported to be used in a multitude of products, bought from I-Kiribati for around $26 USD a sack.
- I-Kiribati – Citizen of Kiribati, used as an adjective and as a noun.
- Kia Kia – A smaller, portable version of a buia.  Families have multiple kia kias, which can be moved by several people.
- Mwaneaba – (pronounced maneaba)  A pavilion-style structure with low hanging thatch or tin roof and cement floor.   It acts as a community center and as well as a general meeting area.
- Unimwane – (pronounced unimane)  Male elder, usually over the age of 60.  Unimwane are an important local governing body holding several meetings throughout the year.  On the outer islands, their opinion can outweigh governmental decree.  Unimwane are highly respected and are honorable guests atany botaki.