Ij Io̧kwe Ļo̧k Aelōn̄ Eo Aō

Ij Io̧kwe Ļo̧k Aelōn̄ Eo Aō, also known more simply as Ij Io̧kwe Ļo̧k, is the former national anthem of the Marshall Islands. It became the anthem from 1979 when it was separated from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and it remained the national anthem when the Republic of the Marshall Islands gained its independence in 1986, until 1991 when Forever Marshall Islands became the new national anthem.

The music was composed by Samuel Langrine, and the Marshallese lyrics are of unknown origin.^[1]^[2]

Lyrics

Marshallese

New orthography

Ij io̧kwe ļo̧k aelōn̄ eo aō, ijo iaar ļotak ie,

Meļan ko ie, im iaļ ko ie, im iiāio ko ie.

Ij jāmin ilo̧k jāne, bwe ijo jikū em̧ool.

Im aō ļām̧oran indeeo. Em̧m̧an 'ļan̄n̄e inaaj mej ie.

Old orthography

Ij yokwe lok ailin̄ eo aō, ijo iar lotak ie,

Melan ko ie, im ial ko ie, im iāieo ko ie.

Ij jāmin ilok jāne, bwe ijo jikū emol,

Im aō lemoron indreo. Emon lok n̄e inaj mij ie.

Pronunciation

i̯itʲ i̯æ͡ɒ.ɡʷɔ͡ɛɛ̯ ɫɑ͡ɒkʷ ɑ̯ɑ͡æe̯.lʲe͡ɤŋ ɛ̯ɛ͡ɔɔ̯ ɑ̯ɑ.ɤ̯ɤɤ̯ i̯i.zʲɛ͡ɔɔ̯ i̯æ͡ɑːrˠ ɫʷɔ͡ʌ.dˠɑk i̯ɛɛ̯

mʲɛ͡ʌ.ɫɑ͡ænʲ kʌ͡ɔɔ̯ i̯ɛɛ̯ i̯imʲ i̯i.i̯æ͡ɑɫ kʌ͡ɔɔ̯ i̯ɛɛ̯ i̯imʲ i̯i.i̯æ.i̯e͡oo̯ kʌ͡ɔɔ̯ i̯ɛɛ̯

i̯itʲ tʲæ.mʲinʲ i̯i.lʲæ͡ɒkʷ tʲæ.nʲɛɛ̯ pˠʌ͡ɛɛ̯ i̯i.zʲɛ͡ɔɔ̯ tʲi͡ɯ.ɡɯɯ̯ ɛ̯ɛ͡ʌ.mˠʌ͡ɔː͡ɛlʲ

i̯imʲ ɑ̯ɑɤ̯ ɫɑ͡ææ̯.mˠʌ͡ɔ.rʷɒ͡ænʲ i̯inʲ.r̪ʲee̯.ɛ̯ɛ͡ɔɔ̯ ɛ̯ɛ͡ʌmˠ.mˠɑ͡ænʲ ɫɑŋ.ŋʌ͡ɛɛ̯ i̯i.nʲæ͡ɑː͡ætʲ mʲetʲ i̯ɛɛ̯

English translation

I love the islands where I was born.

The surroundings, the paths, and the gatherings.

I cannot leave here because this is my rightful place.

My family heritage is forever here. It is best for me to die here.