by Rick Revelle
Baawitigong
Sault Ste. Marie
Bikwak (be-kwak)
Arrow
Dagwaagin (dag-waa-kin)
Autumn
Diindiisi (tchin-dees)
Blue jay
E-bangishimog
Spirit of the West Wind
Gaagaagiwigwani-ziibi
Crow Wing River
Gichi Bizhiins (gich-e be-zeans)
Big Cat
Gichigami-ziibi (gich-e-gam-e-zee-bee)
Great Lake River, present-day St. Louis River
Gichi-Manidoo
Great Spirit
Gichi-ziibi (gich-e-zee-bee)
Mississippi River
Giizhizekwe Ikwe (key-zee-zay-kway e-kway)
She Cooks Woman
Ginoozhe (kin-nose-hay)
Pike (fish)
Gizhiibatoo Inini (giz-e-baa-too in-in-e)
Run Fast Man
Ininishib (eh-nay-nish-hip)
Mallard
Ininwewing-gichigami
Lake Michigan
Iskigamizige-giizis (is-ki-gamo-azing-a-gee-zas)
April (Sugar-Bushing Moon)
Jiimaan (g-mawn)
Canoe
Jooweshk
Killdeer
Kababikodaawangag Saaga’igan
Lake of Sand Dunes (Lake of the Woods)
Kagawong-ziibi (kag-a-wong-zee-bee)
Kagawong River
Keewaynan (kee-wi-wai-non-ing)
Keewaynan Peninsula, Lake Superior
Ma’iingan (ma-een-gun)
Wolf
Makadewaagami-ziibi (mak-a-day-eh-wa-gami-zee-bee)
Blackwater River
Makadewigwan (mak-a-day-eh-we-gwan)
Black Feather
Makizin Ataagewin (mak-e-zin a-tash-win)
Moccasin game
Makwa (muck-wa)
Black Bear
Manidoowaaling Minisi (mana-do-wah-ling men-eh-si)
Cave of the Spirit (Manitoulin Island)
Manoomin (man-oo-men)
Wild rice
Manoominike-giizis (man-oom-inik-gee-zas)
August (Ricing Moon)
Mashkode-bizhiki (mush-ko-dee-bish-eh-ka)
Buffalo
Mayagi-bine (my-a-gay-bee-neh)
Pheasant
Mishaabooz
Great Rabbit
Misi-ziibi
Great River (Mississippi River)
Misko
Red
Misko Zhiishiib
(mis-ko zhe-sheep)
Red Duck
Miskwaabik (miss-kwa-bic)
Copper
Mitaawangaagamaa
Big Sandy Lake
Mooningwanekaaing
Madeline Island
Mooz (moans)
Moose
Naadawe
Huron
Naadowewi-gichigami
Lake Huron
Nadowessioux
Snake (Lakȟóta)
Negawi-ziibi
Sandy River
Nenaandawi’iwed (ni-na-an-da-wi-e-wed)
Healer
Nitaage Niibiwa
(ni-ta-gay knee-be-wa)
Kill Many
Odaabaan (ou-da-bah)
Sled
Odishkwaagamii
Algonquin and/or Nipissing
Ogichidaa-nagamon (oh-each-e-da-na-ga-mon)
Warrior Song
Omashkiigoo (oh-mush-key-go)
Cree
Omashkooz (oh-mush-goes)
Elk
Ozaawaa-memengwaa (o-zaa-wah-me-mean-gwa)
Yellow Swallowtail
Ozhaashigob (ooh-sosh-eh-ga-a)
Slippery elm
Waa-miigisagoo
Wampum
Wajiwan (wa-chew-wan)
Mountains
Wanagekogamigoon (wan-a-gay-ko-ga-me-goon)
Lodges
Wiikwandiwin (wick-wan-de-wan)
Seasonal ceremony
Wiininwaa
Nourishment
Zaagibagaa-giiziz (zaa-gi-ba-ga-gee-sus)
May (Budding Moon)
Zhashagi (sha-sha-gee)
Blue Heron
Zhiishiib (zhe-sheep)
Duck
Zhiiwaagamizigan (zhe-wa-ga-miss-e-gan)
Maple syrup
Ziibiins (see-peace)
Creek
Anishinaabe/Ojibwe Pronunciation Guide
See also http://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/about-ojibwe-language.
Sounds and Orthography
Double Vowels
The Ojibwe People’s Dictionary uses the double-vowel system to write Ojibwe words. This alphabet has become the standard writing system for Ojibwe in the United States and in some parts of Canada. Users unfamiliar with spelling in the double-vowel alphabet should consult the Search Tips page of the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary for help in getting the best search results. The Ojibwe alphabet is as follows: a, aa, b, ch, d, e, g, h, ’, i, ii, j, k, m, n, o, oo, p, s, sh, t, w, y, z, zh. Note that the double vowels are treated as standing for unit sounds and are alphabetized after the corresponding single vowels. The character ’ represents a glottal stop, which is a significant speech sound in Ojibwe. The doubled consonants (ch, sh, zh) are also treated as a single-letter unit. This is important to remember when browsing alphabetically. Each vowel is given below along with a phonetic transcription, Ojibwe words containing it, and one or more English words containing roughly equivalent sounds. The letters standing for the sounds focused on are in bold.
Ojibwe Letter
Phonetic
Ojibwe Examples
English Equivalents
a
[ə]~[^]
agim: “count someone!”
about
namadabi: “sits down”
baashkizigan: “gun”
aa
[a:]
aagim: “snowshoe”
father
maajaa: “goes away”
e
[e:]~[ɛ:]
emikwaan: spoon
café
awenen: who
anishinaabe: “person,” “Indian,” “Ojibwe”
i
[I]
inini: “man”
pin
mawi: “cries”
ii
[i:]
niin: “I”
seen
googii: “drives”
o
[o]~[U]
ozid: “someone’s foot”
obey, book
anokii: “works”
nibo: “dies,” “is dead”
oo
[o:]~[u:]
oodena: “town”
boat, boot
anookii: “hires”
goon: “snow”
bimibatoo: “runs along”
Nasal Vowels
These are indicated by writing the appropriate basic vowel followed by nh. Before a y or a glottal stop ’, the h may be omitted in writing. There are no direct English equivalents.
Ojibwe Letter
Phonetic
Ojibwe Examples
aanh
[ã:]
banajaanh: “nestling”
enh
[ẽ:]~[ε:]
nisayenh: “my older brother”
iinh
[ĩ:]
awesiinh: “wild animal; agaashiinyi,
agaashiinhyi: “[someone] is small”
oonh
[õ:]~[ũ:]
giigoonh: “fish”
Nasalized Vowels
Vowels are nasalized before ns, nz, and nzh. The n is then omitted in pronunciation. A few examples are: gaawiin ingikendanziin: “I don’t know it”; jiimaanens: “small boat”; and oshkanshiin: “someone’s fingernail(s).” Long vowels after a nasal consonant m or n are often nasalized, especially before s, sh, z, or zh. It is often difficult to decide whether to write these as nasalized vowels or not. For example, while we write the word for moose without indicating the phonetic nasalization, many prefer to write it with an n — mooz or moonz: “moose.”
Huron/Ouendat Glossary
For a Huron Talking Dictionary, see www.firstvoices.com/en/Huronne-Wendat-EN/word-query-form.
Achie
White Ash
Anue
Bear
Attigouatan
Georgian Bay
A-yagh-kee
I go to war
Ohskënonton’ (o-ski-non-ton’)
Deer
Öndawa
Black Ash
Önenha’
Corn
Otawindeht (o-ta-win-dat)
Otter
Ouentironk
Beautiful Water (Lake Simcoe)
Skenhchio (sken-shoe)
Red Fox
Tindee
Two
Tsou’tayi (sou-ta-he)
Beaver
Waughshe Anue
Bad Bear
Yatie’ (sha-tip)
Bird
Lakhˇóta Glossary
The second Lakȟóta word is from the Lakȟóta Dictionary of John P. Williamson.
For a Lakȟóta Talking Dictionary, please see www.bearhawk.net/pages/wordsearch.html.
Aíčhimani
Journey
Akíčita (ah-kee-chee-tah)
Camp guards and/or warrior society responsible for hunting and war parties
Čhaŋkáškapi (chon-kos’kay)
Fence
Chaŋku Wašte
(chan-koo wash-tay)
Good Path
Čhaŋnúŋpa Wakȟán (chah-nuen-pah wah-kahn)
Sacred pipe
Čhaŋpȟásapa wí (can-pa’-sa-pa wi)
July (Moon of Cherries Blackening)
Čhiyé Tȟáŋka
(chee’-ay ton’-kah)
Big Elder Brother
Ȟaȟátȟuŋwaŋ (ha-ha-ton-wan)
Anishinaabe, Ojibwe, or Chippewa
Ȟaŋté Čhaŋȟlóǧaŋ
Yarrow
Hokšíčala (oke-shee-chah’-lah)
Baby
Húčhiŋška (hue-chin-ska)
Milkweed
Hupák’iŋ (hoo-pock-een)
Travois, pole sled
Íȟoka (ee-hoh-ka)
Badger Society
Itázipčho (ee-dah-zeeb-koh)
Sans Arc: Lakȟóta sub-tribe translated as “No Markings” or the French name for them Sans Arc (“No Bows”)
Kȟaŋǧí Ȟupáhu Wakpá (kohn’-gay hoo’-pah wah-koh’-pah)
Crow Wing River
Kȟaŋǧi Wakpá (kohn’gay wa-pa)
Crow Creek
Kȟaŋǧí Yuhá (kohn-gay yue-hah)
Crow Owners’ Society
K’tay (kat’á)
Kill
Matȟóȟota (mah’-toh-ho-ta)
Grizzly bear
Mawátani (mee-wah-deeh-nee)
Owl Headdress Society
Mnišá Wakpá (mnee-shah wah-koh’-pah)
Red River, also known as Wine River to the Lakȟóta
Mníšoše Wakpá (mini-so-se wa-pa)
Missouri River
Nážiŋ Išnála (nah-
zhee is-na-la)
Stand Alone
Ogleče Kutepi (oh-glay-say kue-day-pe)
Arrow shooting
Ógleiglúzašá (oga-lee-sha)
Wears a Red Shirt
Oȟʼáŋkȟo Nape (oh-hon’-koh nah’pah)
Swift Hand
Óta Heȟáka (oh’-tay he-ha-ka)