This is something each of us ought to be doing for all of our given areas to bring back the knowledge of the plant medicines. These people are setting an example and we have the capability of teaching the same knowledge right here in the Great Lakes area where we live.
Most of us associate the holiday with happy Pilgrims and Indians sitting down to a big feast. And that did happen – once.
The story began in 1614 when a band of English explorers sailed home to England with a ship full of Patuxet Indians bound for slavery. They left behind smallpox which virtually wiped out those who had escaped. By the time the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts Bay they found only one living Patuxet Indian, a man named Squanto who had survived slavery in England and knew their language. He taught them to grow corn and to fish, and negotiated a peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Nation. At the end of their first year, the Pilgrims held a great feast honoring Squanto and the Wampanoags.
But as word spread in England about the paradise to be found in the new world, religious zealots called Puritans began arriving by the boat load. Finding no fences around the land, they considered it to be in the public domain. Joined by other British settlers, they seized land, capturing strong young Natives for slaves and killing the rest. But the Pequot Nation had not agreed to the peace treaty Squanto had negotiated and they fought back. The Pequot War was one of the bloodiest Indian wars ever fought.
In 1637 near present day Groton, Connecticut, over 700 men, women and children of the Pequot Tribe had gathered for their annual Green Corn Festival which is our Thanksgiving celebration. In the predawn hours the sleeping Indians were surrounded by English and Dutch mercenaries who ordered them to come outside. Those who came out were shot or clubbed to death while the terrified women and children who huddled inside the longhouse were burned alive. The next day the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony declared “A Day Of Thanksgiving” because 700 unarmed men, women and children had been murdered.
Cheered by their “victory”, the brave colonists and their Indian allies attacked village after village. Women and children over 14 were sold into slavery while the rest were murdered. Boats loaded with a many as 500 slaves regularly left the ports of New England. Bounties were paid for Indian scalps to encourage as many deaths as possible.
Following an especially successful raid against the Pequot in what is now Stamford, Connecticut, the churches announced a second day of “thanksgiving” to celebrate victory over the heathen savages. During the feasting, the hacked off heads of Natives were kicked through the streets like soccer balls. Even the friendly Wampanoag did not escape the madness. Their chief was beheaded, and his head impaled on a pole in Plymouth, Massachusetts — where it remained on display for 24 years.
The killings became more and more frenzied, with days of thanksgiving feasts being held after each successful massacre. George Washington finally suggested that only one day of Thanksgiving per year be set aside instead of celebrating each and every massacre. Later Abraham Lincoln decreed Thanksgiving Day to be a legal national holiday during the Civil War — on the same day he ordered troops to march against the starving Sioux in Minnesota.
This story doesn’t have quite the same fuzzy feelings associated with it as the one where the Indians and Pilgrims are all sitting down together at the big feast. But we need to learn our true history so it won’t ever be repeated. Next Thanksgiving, when you gather with your loved ones to Thank God for all your blessings, think about those people who only wanted to live their lives and raise their families. They, also took time out to say “thank you” to Creator for all their blessings.
Growing up in a traditional community, I did not go to school to learn my language. I learned it at home. I was surrounded by it from my mother’s womb. I learned to speak naturally as a toddler, listening to the baby talk and colloquialisms of the day. I was able to converse in 5 Neshnabék languages by the time I was six. Multilingualism was the norm of day, when everyone spoke each other’s language and could understand what was said in one language while responding in another. Mutual communication and respect of each other’s differences was inherent among us.
I first learned English at the age of 6…at school. I did not just take English lessons. I was immersed in it. Every communication I had with my teachers, my peers, the bus drivers, the lunch ladies, the aides and custodians, all had to be in the target language: English. So I learned quickly, not because I had a set of 12 easy lessons, but because it was required for my survival.
I remember with some sadness the first time I met Neshnabék people who did not speak their language. As a young man, I approached a group of people who clearly looked “Indian” to me, only to find with much dismay that they could not understand any of the languages that I spoke. They only understood English. That first experience led to many, and I have witnessed first hand the decline and near disappearance of the languages of my childhood.
I have been steadfastly working with anyone who will take the time to learn the Potawatomi language for most of my life, from that first group of Neshnabék who asked me to translate what I had said to them, until this very moment of publishing this particular manual. Having observed all of this, I have this statement to make:
This language must be returned to the home.
It was only by survival that it was permitted to go into language classrooms and departments and classes and lessons. That had to be, temporarily, because it was so far gone, it needed to be pulled out of the fire, so to speak. But the time has come to return it to the home. This manual is intended to be used AT HOME, by families who are dedicated to learning, remembering, and using this language.
Nin means I, Me, My, or Mine, depending on how you use it. This is a really great place to start, because:
Potawatomi is not English.
Words, and Particles (which are pieces of words), do not work the same way in Potawatomi as they do in English. So Nin, and it’s particle “n”, does the same work as the English words I, Me, My, or Mine.
Nin ashtek
My turn
Nin ma i waboyan
That’s my blanket
Nin gézhe
Me too
Ngi doki
I woke up
Ngi neshka
I shook myself awake/became aware
Ngi bsegwi
I got up
Nétem nwi madmo
First I will pray
Shote nde jibdeb
I’m sitting here
Ndo mbagen
My bed
Ndo mbagen nwi mneschegé
I will straighten my bed
Mbagnek nde jibdeb
I am sitting on the bed
Megwa mbagnek nde yé
I am still in bed
Let’s glean from these phrases:
Nouns
Verbs
“Nin” uses
Other Words
Waboyan – blanket
Doki – wake up/awaken
Nin – I, me, my, mine
Gézhe – too, also, or and.
Mbagen – bed
Neshka – come to an awarenesss, fully awaken
Ngi – N+gi. Particles that mean “I” did something in the past.
Shote – Here
Bsegwi – get up/arise
Nde – N+de. Particles that mean “I” am presently doing something.
Mbagnek – Bed Locative
Madmo – pray
Ndo – N+do. Particles that mean “my.”
Nétem – First
Jibdebe – sit (jibdeb is the nin form)
Nwi – N+wi. Particles that mean “I” will do something in the future.
Mégwa – still, again, more
Mneschegé – straighten, put in order
Ma – a connecting particle
Yé – location verb – be in a place
Ashtek – a turn
I – that
From our gleaning, we should have the following discussion about this language:
There are more verbs than nouns in Potawatomi. Many beginner students will often ask “What is the word for…….”, and we encourage you to ask “how do I say” or “how do I use” rather than “what is the word for.” Potawatomi is action oriented. Many noun words are actually verb participles describing what the thing does. Many adjectives and other concepts are verbs in Potawatomi.
Examine carefully how Nin is used. The actual word Nin only appears in certain phrases. When using it with verbs, the particle “n” is used for Nin.
Mbagen and Mbagnek – Potawatomi is not English. English uses a lot of prepositions. Potawatomi does not use prepositions the same way. Mbagnek is a form of Mbagen that is called a Locative. It means the location of the bed, and could be translated as “on the bed” or “at the bed.”
Mégwa has three listed meanings. Please do not get stuck on one-word definitions or assume that each word has one meaning. Consider words in English that have more than one meaning; the same thing exists in every language, so be flexible in your mind. Mégwa is not “the word for” again, there are other words that can mean “again.”
Ma is a connecting particle. It does not have its own meaning; it takes its meaning from the words around it. You will see this particle again.
I is listed as “that,” but it is not the only word for “that.” The word “O” can also mean that. These two tiny words will launch us into a discussion of animacy and inanimacy.
Potawatomi grammar divides the world into two categories: That which is alive, and that which is not alive.
ANIMATE: That which is alive, that which moves independently, that which grows, that which is connected to its source of life, that which is capable of moving or growing.
INANIMATE: That which is not alive, that which does not move, that which cannot move independently, that which does not grow, that which has been disconnected from its source of life. Note: Something that is “dead” is not necessarily inanimate. Inanimate is Not Alive, “dead” is not a proper explanation of this state.
NOUNS CAN CHANGE ANIMATE STATES: Many objects change animate states depending on how they are used. In particular, plant foods and spiritual objects can take on animate or inanimate characteristics depending on the context. For example, pipes, drums, clouds, most fruits, dance bustles, snowshoes, shawls, feathers, vehicles, and thrown objects can change states of animacy. Whether or not a noun is animate or inanimate in the moment depends on the action surrounding it.
Now that you know that, let’s look at this word, Mbagen, an inanimate word.
Mbagen
Bed
Mbagen yawen
It is a bed
Mbagen ode yawen
This is a bed
Mbagen i yawen
That is a bed
Ode mbagen
This bed
I mbagen
That bed
Ndo mbagen
My bed
Nin ma ode mbagen
This is my bed
Nin ndebendan i mbagen
I own that bed
In another lesson we will learn how to describe something animate.
An idiom is a word or phrase in a language that makes sense in that language but doesn’t translate well into other languages. English is full of them. We make a lot of stuff in English. We make coffee, we make toys, we make tables and chairs, we make the bed, we make up our minds, we make sense, we make a fuss over something, we make messes, we make war, we make peace, we make music. Each of these phrases makes sense in English, but they do not translate out well in Potawatomi.
Let’s look at these two:
Gapi ngi wzheton
I made coffee
Mbagen ngi mneschegé
I made the bed
Gapi nwi o wzheton
I will go make coffee
Mbagen nwi o mneschegé
I will go make the bed
Wzheton
A verb of physically making something
Mneschegé
A verb of straightening up or putting things in order
Finally, here are some traditional morning words for you to enjoy and use:
Bgozhgezhép
Really early morning, the “wild” time of the morning, morning star time, around 3-4 in the morning.
Gezhép
Early morning but still pre-dawn
Mokék
Dawn – when the dark lightens and the colors begin to appear
Waséyabek
Sunrise – When the sunlight breaks through
Gzhéba
Early morning after sunrise
Waben
Full Morning, no more darkness, all is visible
Let’s see what you have learned! Try to figure out these phrases based on what we just studied.
Let’s look at another pretty basic Potawatomi word:
Gin.
Gin means you or your, again, depending on how you use it. Gin is used when “you” is one person. We will learn more about plural pronouns later. Most often when we use “you” in a sentence, we are either asking you a question, or telling you to do something. Let’s talk about simple questions and commands.
Gin je?
And you?
Gin ashtek
Your turn
Gzinjin
Wash your hands
Gwi o bkes ne?
Will you go take a shower?
Ggi gziyabdé ne?
Did you brush your teeth?
Gmbiwé ne?
Are you wet?
Gin ma ne ode gziyabdenatek?
Is this your toothbrush?
Gdo gzinjé’wen
Your towel
Gdo gzinjéwgas
Your washcloth
Babwijkén éje gzinjik
Wait at the sink
Bkeson
Take a shower/bath
Gzigwén
Wash your face
Noskwetson
Comb your hair
Gwinsesén kadéngén
Braid your hair
Let’s glean from these phrases:
Nouns
Verbs
“Gin” Uses
Other words
Gziyabdenatek – toothbrush
Gzinjin – wash your hands
Gin – you, your
Je – a connecting particle
Gzinjé’wen – towel
Bkeso – Bathe, take a shower, take a bath
Gwi – G+wi. Particles that mean you will do something in the future
Ne – a Yes/no question mark
Gwinsesén – your hair
Gziyabdé – Brush teeth
Ggi – G+gi. Particles that mean you did something in the past.
Ma – connecting particle
Mbiwé – to be wet
G- attached to a verb means you are doing something in the present.
Ashtek – a turn
Gzigwé – Wash your face
G- attached to a noun is a short way of saying something is yours.
Ode – this
Babwijké – wait
Gdo – G+do. Particles that mean something is yours
O – that, or go do something
Noskwetso –comb, style, or fix one’s hair
Éje gzinjik – a participle meaning sink
Kadéngé – Braid
From our gleanings, we shall have the following discussions about Potawatomi:
Like Nin, Gin appears by itself rarely, and is most often a particle “g.” When giving a command or instruction (imperative form), the “g” isn’t used at all, and is implied in the form.
Potawatomi is not English. We don’t have a sink, we go to the place we wash our hands. Éje gsinjik is a Participle, which means it is a verb that acts like a noun in a sentence.
Potawatomi is not English. Many adjectives like Mbiwé are verbs in Potawatomi.
The tiny word “o” has more than one use. When used with an animate noun, it means “that.” But when placed between a pronoun/tense marker and a verb, it means someone is going to “go” do that thing.
There are two kinds of questions. When using the particle “ne,” you are asking a question that can be answered by a simple yes or no. There are more complicated questions that ask for information, which we will learn later.
Body parts make for interesting grammar. Let’s explore this in more detail.
In Potawatomi grammar, most body parts are considered inanimate. This is because the body, which is animate, is the sum total of its parts, and individual body parts do not function on their own without the rest of the body.
Body parts are also considered “inalienably possessed,” which has nothing to do with aliens, but means simply that they cannot be given away. This means you will very rarely see words for body parts on their own without referencing WHO the body part belongs to.
When using body parts in conversations, there are construct forms of body parts. When using these, the construct forms often form body-based verbs.
Body Part
Construct Form
Sample Verb
Command Form
Nibden – My teeth
Yabdé – teeth
Gziyabdé – Brush teeth
Gziyabdé’on
Nenji – my hand
Nejé – hand
Gzinjé – wash hands
Gzinjin
Nzet – my foot
Zedé – foot
Gzinzedé – wash feet
Gzinzedén
Njash – my nose
Jané – nose
Gzinjané – wipe nose
Gzinjanén
Ndon – my mouth
Doné – mouth
Gzindoné – wipe mouth
Gzindonén
While there are many obvious patterns in Potawatomi, there are also exceptions. Not every body part falls into this pattern. The word for My Heart, Ndéh, is considered animate.
Let’s break down these phrases and see what we have:
Nouns
Verb
Pronoun Uses
Other words
Biskewagen – a shirt, jacket, or coat
Biskonyé – get dressed
Command forms have “you” implied
Ode – This
Wiwkwan – cap
Giskonyé – Get undressed
Ngi – N+gi. Particles that mean “I” did something in the past.
I – That (inanimate)
Mjegodé – Dress
Bisken – put something on
Nde – N+de. Particles that mean “I” am presently doing something.
Ne – a Yes/no question mark
Zenba – ribbon
Gisken – take something off
Ndo – N+do. Particles that mean “my.”
Ma – connecting particle
Mishatsowen – regalia or fancy clothing
Askonyén – change clothing
Nwi – N+wi. Particles that mean “I” will do something in the future.
O – that, or go do something
Mkesnen – shoes
Asken – Change a specific article of clothing. Askon is the command form.
Gwi – G+wi. Particles that mean you will do something in the future
Node = These (inanimate things)
Moshwé – Shawl
Biskem – wear something
Ggi – G+gi. Particles that mean you did something in the past.
Badoshkgadék – Underwear. This is a participle.
Séchken – woman’s traditional blouse
Wzheto – To make something
G- attached to a verb means you are doing something in the present.
Mjedasnen – leggings
N- or G- attached to a noun is a short way of saying something is mine or yours.
Gbediyen – pants
Gdo – G+do. Particles that mean “your”
Gokmedasnen – socks
From our gleaning, we have the following lessons to learn:
Plenty of nouns to work with this time, eh? There are nouns in this language, there are just more verbs, so we started with verbs.
Much of this lesson is a review of concepts we have already learned. We are just putting the pronouns into new contexts.
Most articles of clothing are considered inanimate, especially in the context of getting dressed or undressed. However, be aware that many dance articles and special accoutrements can be animate when in use, such as shawls, bustles, snowshoes, and gloves.
Badoshkgadék is a participle, which is a verb that is functioning as a noun in a sentence. Badoshkgadék, translated as underwear, means That which is worn between you and your clothes.
There is a difference in the verbs when we get dressed or undressed generally, and we when we interact with specific articles of clothing. When we do something with a specific article of clothing, it is called “transitive” because the action transfers from the person to the object.
There are clothing items that are singular and clothing items that are plural. Most of the time when you make something inanimate plural, an extra “n” sound is added. Let’s explore this further:
Ninan means we, us, or ours. Ginan means we, us, or ours. They are used in different contexts 0depending on who is talking and who is listening. Ninan is used when the speaker wants to exclude someone from the statement, usually whoever is considered “you.” Ginan is used when the speaker wants to include everyone in the statement.
Wawnon ngi zaskokwadanen
I fried eggs
Wawnon ngi zaskokwadamen
We- fried eggs
Penyek nwi zaskokwanak
I will fry potatoes
Penyek nwi zaskokwanamen
We- will fry eggs
Gapi gde wzheton
You are making coffee
Gapi gde wzhetomen
We+ are making coffee
Gwi gapiké ne?
Will you make coffee?
Gwi gapikémen ne?
Will we+ make coffee?
Negshisen nde gisnen
I am cooking sausages
Negshisen nde gisamen
We- are cooking sausages
Bidi nde giswa
I am cooking chicken
Bidi nde giswamen
We- are cooking chicken
Wawnon nde wisen
I am eating eggs
Wawnon nde wisnemen
We- are eating eggs
Wawnon nde mijen
I am eating eggs
Wawnon nde mijnemen
We- are eating eggs
Wawnon gde mijnemen
We+ are eating eggs
Ge wisnemen
Let’s eat
Penyek nde mwa
I am eating potatoes
Penyek nde mwamen
We- are eating potatoes
Penyek gde mwamen
We+ are eating potatoes
From these phrases let’s glean the following:
Nouns
Verbs
Ninan/Ginan uses
Other words
Wawnon – eggs
Zaskokwadan – fry something inanimate
N+gi+verb+men means we- did something
Ne – yes/no question mark
Penyek – Potatoes
Zaskokwana – fry something animate
N+wi+verb+men means we- will do something
Negshisen – sausages
Wzheton – make something
G+de+verb+men means we+ are doing something
Gapi – coffee
Gapiké – make coffee
G+wi+verb+men means we+ will do something
Mkekwabo – another word for coffee
Gisen – Cook something inanimate
Ge+verb+men means Let’s do something
Giswa – Cook something animate
Wisen – Eat
Mijen – Eat something inanimate
Mwa – Eat something animate
There are 2 major themes in these phrases:
How to use “we” with verbs
The difference between animate and inanimate nouns and verbs
There is a pattern for expressing “we” with verbs: n(or g) + tense particle + verb + men. You probably were not expecting math, but when you learn patterns, you don’t have to memorize long lists of phrases. If you know your verb, and you know your pronouns, then you can quickly make conversation, just like you do in the language you use daily.
Use Ninan when you want to exclude your listener from what you are doing. For example: wawnon ngi zaskokwadamen would mean We fried eggs but not you, just us, you didn’t do it. Use Ginan when you want to include your listener. For example: wawnon gde mijnemen would mean we are all eating eggs including you. When you use something like “Ge wisnemen,” meaning “Let’s eat,” this is a Ginan form, everyone is included.
When something animate becomes plural, a -k sound is attached to the end. Do not assume that all nouns that end in -k are animate plurals. Some are locatives, and some are participles.
When you interact with things in Potawatomi, grammar requires you to consider whether they are alive or not.
Wawen nde zaskokwadan
I am frying an egg
Inanimate
Wawnon nde zaskokwadanen
I am frying eggs
Inanimate plural
Wawnon nde zaskokwadamen
We are frying eggs
Inanimate plural – the verb is more worried about the people being plural than the eggs
Pen nde zaskokwana
I am frying a potato
Animate
Penik nde zaskokwanak
I am frying potatoes
Animate plural
Penik nde zaskokwanamen
We are frying potatoes
Animate plural – the verb is more worried about the people being plural than the potatoes
It is very easy to memorize words and phrases, but this is not how you learn to speak a language. When we were babies, first born into this world, our incredible minds that we were given were like empty sponges. They soaked up all the sound and meanings and nuances all around us. As little toddlers, we pretty much understood everything that was spoken to us, and as we grew and stood on two legs, we suddenly began making noises and those noises had meaning, and then one day, we surprised our parents by shouting out something we heard them say. We might not have known the full meaning, but we knew that it meant something by the reaction we got! And we kept talking and kept talking, until language was fully formed in our brains, and meaning and symbolism settled in.
Learning a second language is going through this process all over again, except our minds are not empty sponges waiting to soak something up, they are full and overloaded sponges that can only take so much more at a time. In order to truly learn a second language, we do not just memorize words and compare them to our first language, we must learn the patterns of the second language (called grammar), the meaning of the words (vocabulary), and the symbolism of the language (culture).
We should not be satisfied with a one word definition of a word in the language. Each of these words mean so much more than their simple English definition, and they can have multiple meanings based on the context. We should not be satisfied with learning one phrase, but we should be able to pull apart the pieces of that phrase and use it to create more phrases that have meaning and context.
Here are some phrases that are missing a piece. Make as many phrases as you can out of these building blocks. Look on the next page for some ideas for words…or use ones you already know.
Hé! Nasana! ______________________ nde zaskokwadamen shote!
Hey! Be careful! We are frying ____________ here!
(make sure that whatever you are frying is inanimate)
Hé! Nasana! _______________________ nde zaskokwanamen shote!
Hey! Be careful! We are frying ______________ here!
(make sure that whatever you are frying is animate)
Mbekté ne? __________________ ngi gisamen
Are you hungry? We cooked ___________________.
(something inanimate)
Mbekté ne? __________________ ngi giswamen
Are you hungry? We cooked ___________________.
(something animate)
Cho ____________ ngi wisnesi
I didn’t eat ________________ (inanimate)
Cho ____________ ngi mwasi
I didn’t eat ________________ (animate)
____________________ ngi mijnemen
We ate ___________________________ (inanimate)
____________________ ngi mwamen
We are ________________________ (animate)
Some Animate and Inanimate foods for use in the exercise:
ANIMATE
INANIMATE
Bidi – chicken
Bidi wiyasen – pieces of chicken
Gigo – fish
Mshimnen – apples, processed or not so fresh
Gokosh – pig
Gokosh wiyasen – pieces of pork, can be ham
Dé’menek – fresh strawberries
Dé’menen – not so fresh strawberries, or processed strawberries (cut, frozen, mashed, etc)
Seksi – deer
Bashkmen – jam
Penik – potatoes
Pkwéshgen – bread
Shegagoshek – onions
Seksi wiyas – pieces of venison
Kojések – beans (whole)
Mbop – soup
Msesé – turkey
Peniwabo – potato soup
Bné – turkey (another word)
Bidi mbop – chicken soup
Mshimnek – fresh apples
Mshimnabo – apple juice
Mdamnek – Corn
Kojésen – mashed or fried beans
Participle foods: treat these like inanimate singular nouns
Pronounced Weeen. It means someone else. It can mean He, She, Him, Her, It, His, or Hers. There is no gender attached to it. It is simply a third person in the conversation. Nin, Gin, Win. Me, You, someone else. That someone else can be a person, an animal, or any animate being.
Mikchéwi
He/She is working
MIkchéwit
He/she is working OR the one who is working
Gi mikchéwi
He/she worked
Wnago gi mikchéwi
He/she worked yesterday
Wi mikchéwi
He/she will work
Wabek wi mikchéwi
Tomorrow he/she will work
Nétem wi mikchéwi
First, he/she will work
Shote wi mikchéwi
He/she will work here
Mégwa wi mikchéwi
He/she is still working
Gi gish mikchéwi
He/she has finished working
Ibe gi mikchéwi
He/she worked there
Mikchéwi o n’os ngom
My father is working today
Mikchéwi o ngyé ngom
My mother is working today
Égmegishek émikchéwit o nmeshomes
My grandfather works every day
Gbégishek gi mikchéwi o nokmes
My grandmother worked all day
Gméyamget
It is raining
Bonimget
It is snowing
Mnogishget
It is a nice day
Ngwankwet
It is cloudy
Gi gméyamget
It rained
Wi bonimget
It will snow
Let’s break these phrases apart in detail:
Nouns
Verbs
Win uses
Other words
N’os – my father
Mikchéwi – working
The verb alone is in we form.
Wnago – Yesterday
Ngyé – my mother
Gméyamget – it is raining
A -t at the end of a verb may be used
Wabek – tomorrow
Nmeshomes – my grandfather
Bonimget – It is raining
Ngom – Today
Nokmes – my grandmother
Mnogishget – It is a nice day
Egmegishek – every day
Ngwankwet – it is cloudy
Gbégishek – All day
Ibe – There
REVIEW: Find the words shote, nétem, mégwa, gish, o, gi, wi in previous lessons.
We can learn the following from that breakdown
Terms for our relatives are relative. Just like our body parts always belong to us, so do our relatives.
N’os
My father
G’os
Your father
W’osen
His/her father
N’osnan
Our father (not yours)
G’osnan
Our father (all of ours)
G’oswa
Y’all’s father (we will learn ginwa in the next lesson)
W’oswan
Their father (we will learn winwa in the next lesson)
This is a pattern that will be repeated, and we will practice it.
Unlike the other pronouns thus far, you don’t do much to a verb when He/she is doing something. Sometimes you add a -t. Sometimes you add a -wak.
The verbs listed for weather are not animate, and Win has nothing to do with them, even though they end in -t. Many weather verbs are considered inanimate, and they describe a condition of the atmosphere, not what someone or something is doing.
We have 5 important new words in this lesson, which you will need going forward:
Wnago
Yesterday
Ngom
Today
Wabek
Tomorrow
Egmegishek
Everyday
Gbégishek
All day
These words can easily be practiced with the verbs and the tenses.
Most time words fall into the category of Locative. They mark a location in time. This helps us know how to use them. Here are some simple review phrases, which can help us review what we have learned so far:
Nyanno dbegenék ngi doki
I woke up at 5:00
Géshep gi doki o n’os
My father woke up before dawn
Wi gméyamget gizhnawkwék
It will rain in the afternoon
Nin gézhe ngi doki gezhép
Me too I woke up before dawn
Nawkwék ngi gish mikchéwi
I finished working at noon
Zhak dbegenék wi mikchéwi o ngyé
My mother will work at 9:00
Ge wisnemen bgeshmok
Let’s eat at sundown
Another fill in the blank exercise…How many phrases can you make out of these statements?
Ginwa is the plural “you.” It is often translated as y’all for convenience. Winwa is They, Them, or Their. Like Win, it has no attached gender.
The difference between Gin and Ginwa:
Ggi bkes ne?
Did you take a shower?
Ggi bkesom ne?
Did y’all take a shower?
Gwi mikchéwi ne?
Will you work?
Gwi mikchéwim ne?
Will y’all work?
Wawnon ne gwi gisen?
Will you cook eggs?
Wawnon ne gwi gisam?
Will y’all fry eggs?
Dokin!
Wake up!
Dokik!
Wake up y’all!
Gégo bsegwiken
Don’t get up
Gégo bsegwikék
Don’t get up y’all
What do we notice here?
When talking about Ginwa, an extra -m appears at the end of most of the verbs. This happens in most simple verbs, and when interacting with an inanimate object.
When giving a command, instead of ending with an -n, the imperative verb ends with a -k when a command is given to more than one person
Gégo! Spoken sharply means “stop” or “don’t.” It is an idiom. In other phrases, the word “gégo” can mean “something.” But for purposes of telling someone NOT to do something, Gégo+verb+ken for one person, and Gégo+verb+kék for more than one person.
The difference between Win and Winwa:
Gi mikchéwi o nene
That man worked
Gi mikchéwik gi nenwik
Those men worked
Gi wisnet o kwé
That woman ate
GI wisnek gi kwék
Those women ate
Gi doki o gigabé
That boy woke up
Gi dokik gi gigabék
Those boys woke up
Gi bsegwi o gigaygo
That girl got up
Gi bsegwik gi gigyagoyek
Those girls got up
Mjegodé gi wzheton o ngyé
My mother made a dress
Mjegodé gi wzhetonawa gi n’okmesek
My grandmothers made a dress
What do we notice here?
When He/she becomes They, an extra k is added to the end of the verb. It seems that certain endings are used in multiple ways and contexts. That means the listener needs to pay attention to the context of what is being said.
When there is an inanimate object in the sentence, the verb ending changes to -awa if “they” are interacting with it.
The best way to learn about asking questions involving information is to see it in conversation.
There is a difference between asking for affirmation and asking for information. If you can answer the question with a yes or a no, it’s asking for affirmation. If you have to supply a who, what, when, where, or why, then it’s asking for information.
When asking a simple yes/no question, just pop a “ne” in the sentence. Try, if possible, not to end the sentence with a “ne.” Also, do not slip a “ne” between the tense and the verb. If you do, you have changed the verb to mean you are starting to do something.
When asking an information question, a completely different kind of verb pattern is used. This pattern is called Conjunct or Subordinate. It means that it can’t stand alone, it has to be used in certain situations or be connected to another verb or phrase.
If you were to walk into a room full of people, and with no prompting or context, suddenly announce: “To buy milk,” it wouldn’t make sense. But if you said, “I’m going to buy some milk,” that would make sense.
If someone asked you, “Where are you going?” and you answered, “to buy milk,” it would make sense in the conversation, although randomly announcing “to buy milk” would not.
Nwi zhya – I will go
Ézhyayan – to go (me) Éwi zhyayan Égi zhyayan
Gwi zhya – You will go
Ézhyayen – to go (you)
Wi zhyéwak – He/she will go
Ézhyat – to go (he/she)
Nwi zhyamen – We- will go
Ézhyayak – to go (us but not you)
Gwi zhyamen – We+ will go
Ézhyaygo – to go (we including you)
Gwi zhyam – Y’all will go
Ézhyayék – to go (y’all)
Wi zhyék – They will go
Ézhyawat – to go (they)
The question words Who What When and Where in English are created in Potawatomi by particles. Here are particle combinations that are used to ask information questions:
Wégni je
What?
Wéni je?
Who?
Ni je?
What or Who?
Ni je na?
Why or How? Also an idiom for How are you
NI pi je?
Where?
Ni je pi ?
When?
NI je tso?
How many?
Ni je étse?
How much?
Ni je wi zhe
Why?
Here are some information questions. Answer them in Potawatomi with appropriate information:
Ni pi je ézhyayen? Where are you going?
Ni pi je ézhyat o g’oswa? Where is y’all’s father going?
Ni je ézhechkéyen? What are you doing?
Ni je émikchéwit shote ngom? Who is working here today?
Ni je pi ébyayen? When are you coming?
Ni je pi ébkezoyék? When are y’all gonna bathe?
Ni je wi she ézhechkéyen ode? Why are you doing this?
Ni je pi éwisneygo? When do we eat?
Ni je tso yawek? How many is it? Or What time is it?
Ni je étse dbegenék? How much on the clock? Or What time is it?
Ni je na ginwa? How are you all?
Ni pi je wéj byayen? Where did you come from?
Ni je ézhyat zhi? Who is going there?
Ni je pi ga dokiyen? When did you wake up?
Ni je émadmoyen? What are you praying?
Ni je ézhewébek zagech? What is happening outside? Or What is the weather?
Ni je ga zhechkéyen éskonoyen? What did you do at school?
Ni pi je ga wje ngetoyen gwiwkwan? Where did you lose your cap?
Ni pi je ga wje mkanayen ndo wiwkwan? Where did you find my cap?
There is a verb in Potawatomi that means “to return home”: Giwé. It is used very simply like this:
Nde giwé
I am returning home
Ngi giwé
I returned home
Ngi giwémen
We- came home
Gwi giwémen
We+ will return home
Gda giwém
Y’all should go home
Nge giwé
I am about to go home
Wi giwét o penojé
That boy will return home
Da giwét o gnikan
Your friend should go home
Gi giwéwat nmeshomes mine n’okmes
My grandfather and grandmother went home
Ni je pi égiwéyen?
When will you go/come/return home?
Ni je pi égiwéyék
When will y’all go/come/return home?
Ni je na égiwéyen?
How will you go home?
Ni je wi she égiwéyen?
Why are you going home?
Wéni je ga giwét?
Who went home?
Wéni je wa giwéwat?
Who will go home? (plural)
Wéni je ode gawet?
Who is this one who went home? (participle)
Now let’s try something new. We will make a compound question:
Ni je wa zhechkéyen éje giwéyen?
What will you do when you go home?
Notice that we used 2 conjunct verbs, and connected them with particles. This is not hard to do, but does require a bit of thinking, because you have to consider who is doing each part of the action.
Ni je wa zhechkéyen wa je giwét o gyéyom?
What will you do when your mother gets home?
Wgwesen: Ahau, nin se nde giwé!
Son: Oh, I’m home!
Wgyéyen: Gidkesnen! Ni pi je gshimés?
Mom: Get out of your shoes! Where is your younger sibling
Wgwesen: Wika she wi byéwak. Wi bosego égiwét ngi ndenek
Son: She is coming late. She told me she has a ride home
Wgyéyen: Oh? Ni je ébosegot?
Mom: Oh? Who is giving her a ride?
Wgwesen: Nemetsena
Son: I don’t know
W’osen: Ahau, shote éyéyan!
Dad: Ok, here I am!
Wgyéyen: Oh, byéjémshen
Mom: Oh, come kiss me
W’osen: Ngwes nde wabma. Ni pi je o ndanes?
Dad: I see my son. Where is my daughter?
Wgwesen: Wika she wi byéwak. Wi bosego weye ngi ndenek
Son: She is coming late. She told me she has a ride from someone
Mom: Ok, I’m done cooking, I made corn soup and frybread
W’osen mine wgwesen: OH, MBEKTÉMEN
Dad and son: Oh, WE ARE HUNGRY
Wgyéyen: Kyétnam ne?
Mom: Really?
W’osen: Gdansénan ne gda babwi’amen?
Dad: Should we wait for our daughter?
Wdansen: Ahau, wika she nde giwé! Shote nde yé
Daughter: Ok, I’m home late! I’m here!
W’osen: Ni pi je ga wje éyéyen?
Dad: Where have you been?
Wdansen: Igwan o wadokwet ngi bosego, dawéwgemek égi zhyayak éje gishpnedoyak zenba wa je wzhetoyak mjegodéyen
Daughter: My best friend gave me a ride, we went to the store to get ribbon to make dresses
Wgyéyen: Gda ndenen bwamshe ézhechkéyen gégo
Mom: You should tell me before doing something
Wdansen: Ahau, I yé i nwi zhechké
Daughter: ok, I will do
W’osen: Ahau, ge wisnemen.
Dad: Ok, let’s eat
We can glean a lot of vocabulary from this exchange:
Nouns
Verbs
Other Words
Particles
Wgwesen: His/her son
Giwé – to go/come home
Ahau – greeting, acknowledgement
Se – connecting particle
Wgyéyen – His/Her mother
Gidkesnen – Get out of your shoes
Nin – I, Me, My, Mine
Nde – Nin is presently doing something
Gshimés – Your younger sibling
Byéwak – he/she is coming or arriving
Wika – late
Ni pi je – combination asks Where?
W’osen – his/her father
Bosego – receive a ride, from “bos” to ride
Nemetsena – I don’t know, an Idiom.
Wi – something will happen in the future
Ngwes – My son
Ndenek – be told something by someone
Shote – here
She – connecting particle
Ndanes – my daughter
Yé – To be in a place
Weye – someone
Ngi – Nin did something in the past
Mdamnabo – corn soup
Byéjémshen – come kiss me. Jéma – to kiss someone
Wégwéndek – Whatever, I wonder, expression of curiosity, an idiom.
Ni je – combination asks Who or What?
Zaskokwaték – fry bread (participle)
Wabma – See someone
Gish – finish, or already done something
O – That when that thing/person is animate
Gdansénan – our daughter
Gisen – cook something
Mine – and, again, also
Ne – yes/no question particle
Wadokwet – Best friend (participle of widoko)
Wzheton – make something
Kyétnam – really, very, of a surety
Gda – You or we should do something (check verb ending)
Dawéwgemek – store
Mbektémen – We are hungry, from bkedé – be hungry
Igwan – idiom used when one wants to be particular about explaining something
Ga wje – a purpose or direction in the past
Zenba – ribbon
Babwi’a – Wait for someone
Bwamshe – before
Wa je – a purpose or direction in the future
Mjegodé – dress
Zhya – go
Gégo – something
Nwi – nin is doing something in the future
Gishpnedo – buy something
I yé i – idiom meaning that’s it or it what it is
Ge – something will happen in the immediate future
Ndena – tell someone something
Éje – purpose or direction in the present
Zhechké – do something
Wisne – to eat
There are a couple of participles in this exchange:
Zaskokwaték – that which is fried, used for frybread. The full word for frybread is Zaskokwaték pkwéshgen, but who says all that?
Wadokwet – one who is Widoko
Widoko is a verb that cannot be defined with simply one word. It means to communicate and interact meaningfully with one another in a culturally appropriate setting and with good feelings all around. From this word we derive the word Widoktadwen: Community, which means so much more than just “community.”
There are many idioms in this exchange, which are all marked. Idioms are expressions in one language that make perfect sense in that language but are difficult to translate, explain, or use in another language.
Many adjectives in English are verbs in Potawatomi, and that means that many words we use to express our character traits, feelings, or emotions are verbs in Potawatomi. Many, but NOT ALL, of these verbs end with a -ze. When using these verbs, most of them do this:
Nminwéwes
I am ambitious
Gminwéwes
You are ambitious
Minwéwze
He/she is ambitious
Nminwéwzemen
We- are ambitious
Gminwéwzemen
We+ are ambitious
Gminwéwzem
Y’all are ambitious
Minwéwzik
They are ambitious
Here are some more verbs you can practice with:
Békadze
Be calm or patient
Zégze
Be afraid
Yabyétze
Be lazy
Gkadze
Be rich
Gdemagze
Be poor or pitiful
Ninoze
Be weak
Mishkweze
Be strong
Nodagwze
Be noisy
Adkwadze
Be anxious
Ménsheze
Be shy or embarrassed
Kyébadze
Be naughty or mischievous
Mamkaze
Be surprising
Kiwadze
Be lonely
Mnowabmenagwze
Be good looking
Nchiwnagwze
Be fierce or ugly looking
First, a review exercise: What do these mean?
Ni je wi she énshkadziyen?
Ni je wi she énshkadziyan?
Ni je wi she énshkadzet?
NI je wi she énshkadziyak?
Ni je wi she énshkadziygo?
NI je wi she énshkadziyék?
NI je wi she énshkadzewat?
Now a thinking exercise: Answer these questions with an appropriate Potawatomi response?
To help you have a family dinner, here are the words for some of your family members:
N’os
My dad
Noshé
My aunt (mom’s sister)
Dédé
Dad/Daddy
Nzheshé
My uncle
Ngyé
My mom
Nshegwes
My aunt (dad’s sister)
Néné
Mom/Mommy
Nitawes
My cousin
N’okmis
My grandmother
Nshimé
My little brother/sister
Goko
Grandma
Nshi
My lil’ bro/sis
Nmeshomes
My grandfather
Nidgeko
My sister
Mesho
Grandpa
Nmesé
My big sister
Ndewéma
My older brother (for girls)
Nikan
My brother/friend
Ndanes
My daughter
Ngwes
My son
Nsezé
My older brother (for boys)
Nijanes
My child
Nosemé
My grandchild
Nosemés
My little grandchild
To make these words mean “your”, you must insert a “G” sound to stand for “Gin” which means “You.” G’os=Your dad, Gdédé=Your daddy, G’oko=Your grandma, Gnoshé=Your aunt, Gnitawes=Your cousin.
N’os, mishen gi penik (My Dad, give me the potatoes)
Goko, nénmoshen i mbedé (Grandma, hand me the butter)
Nidgeko, byénenmoshen i waskek (My Sister, pass me the pepper)
Néné, nénmoshen i ziwtagen (Mommy, hand me the salt)
Mesho, byédweshen anet mbish (Grandpa, bring me some water)
Nshimé, mishen i kcheémkwan (My little sibling, give me the big spoon)
Ndanes, byédweshen anet gapi (My daughter, bring me some coffee)
Nitawes, nénmoshen ni zawjisésen (My cousin, hand me the carrots)
Ngwes, mina i nonagnabo se o gshimé (My son, give the milk to your little brother/sister)
Nijanes, nénmo i mbop se o gnitawes (My child, hand the soup to your cousin)
Our vocabulary matrix:
Nouns
Verbs
Other words
Particles
Penik – potatoes
Mishen – give me
Anet – some
Gi – Those in front of an animate noun, past tense in front of a verb
Mbedé – Butter
Nénmoshen – hand me
I – That (when “that” is inanimate)
Waskek – Pepper
Byénenmoshen – Pass me
Ni – Those in front of an inanimate plural noun, also an interrogative
Ziwtagen – salt
Byédweshen – bring me
O – That in front of an animate noun, Go do something in front of a verb
Mbish – water
Mina – give something to someone
Kcheémwakn – big spoon
Gapi – coffee
Zawjisésen – carrots
Nonagnabo – milk
Mbop – soup
When verbs end with -shen, they can mean it’s an action that reverts back to me (give me, hand me, pass me), or they can have to do with lying down (zhashgeshen – lay down, weshen – rest, pekshen – fall down).
Here are some practice phrases for eating and drinking:
Zéschegén
Set the table
Gbekté ne?
Are you hungry?
Cho gbektési ne?
Aren’t you hungry?
Mbekté
I’m hungry
Kyét nam she mbekté
I’m really hungry
Cho mbektési
I’m not hungry
Gbektém ne?
Are you all hungry?
Mbektémen
We are hungry
Gbektémen
We all are hungry
Cho mbektésimen
We are not hungry
Bkedé ne o?
Is he/she hungry?
Bkedéwak ne gé winwa?
Are they hungry?
Gashknabagwé ne?
Are you thirsty?
Éhe ngashknabagwé
Yes I’m thirsty
Cho ngashknabagwési
I’m not thirsty
Gashknabagwém ne?
Are you all thirsty?
Ngashknabagwémen
We are thirsty
Gashknabagwémen
We all are thirsty
Cho ngashknabagwésimen
We are not thirsty
Gashknabagwé ne o?
Is he/she thirsty?
Gwi mnekwé ne?
Do you want a drink?
Gwi mnekwém ne?
Do you all want a drink?
Wégni je émnekwéyen?
What are you drinking?
Wégni je émnekwéyék?
What are you all drinking?
Ménkwén ode
Drink this
Gnedwéndan ne ode mijem?
Do you want this food?
Mégwa ne?
Want more?
Mégwa ne gapi?
Want more coffee?
Mégwa ne mbish?
Want more water?
Mishen émkwan
Give me a spoon
Byédweshen bkedjigen
Bring me a fork
Ni pi je i koman?
Where is that knife?
Byénenmoshen i kwabegen
Pass me the dipper/serving spoon
Nénmoshen ziwtagen
Hand me the salt
Here is a review of Wisne, Mwa and Mijen.
Wégni je émijyen?
What are you eating?
Ode pen nwi mwa
I will eat this potato
Penyék ne gwi mwak?
You want to eat some potatoes?
Peniwabo ne gwi mijen?
You want to eat some potato soup?
Mshimenek gwi mwak
You will eat apples
Mshimenek nde mwak
I’m eating apples
Bidi nde mwa
I’m eating chicken
Wiyas nde mijen
I’m eating meat
Wégni je émijyak pkonyak?
What are we eating tonight?
Mdamnabo émijyak pkonyak
We are eating corn soup tonight
Gokosh wiyasen émijyak pkonyak
We are eating pork chops tonight
Wégni je éwisneyak pkonyak?
What are we eating tonight?
Zaskokwadék gwi wisnemen pkonyak
We will eat frybread tonight
Mnejimnen mine zawjisésen éwisneyak pkonyak
We will eat peas and carrots tonight
Hau, nge wisen
Ok, I’m going to eat
Hau, nge wisnemen
Ok, we (not you) are going to eat
Hau, Ge wisnemen
Ok, Let’s eat (all of us)
Gwi wisen ne?
Will you eat?
Gwi wisnem ne?
Will you all eat?
Gi wisen ne?
Did you eat?
Gi wisnem ne?
Did you all eat?
Ndépsenyé
I’m full.
Ngi gish wisen
I’ve finished eating/I’ve already eaten
Ngi gish wisnemen
We already ate
Ngi gish wisnemen bwamshe ébyaygo shote
We ate before we came here (exclusive, not you)
Nde mijnenjiganjegé
I’m eating with fingers
Gégo mijnenjiganjegéken
Don’t eat with your fingers
Nwi widopangémen pkonyak
We will eat with others tonight (company)
Gwi widopangémen pkonyak
We all will eat with others tonight
Ndanes nwi widopma
I will eat with my daughter
Ndenim nwi widopma
I will eat with my husband
Ndekwéyom nwi widopma
I will eat with my wife
Your assignment for this lesson is to have dinner! Use as much of the language as possible while eating with your family or your friends.
Gégo pamséken shote njeshek ngi gzizgengén i mchik
Don’t walk around here I just scrubbed the floor
Gégo pamsékék shote njeshek ngi gzizgengén I mchik
Don’t walk around here (to more than one person) I just scrubbed the floor
Mamgenen ni mkekwen
Recycle those boxes (reuse those boxes)
Gégo ngetoken ode wizaw mkekwen
Don’t lose this yellow box
Mamgenen ni skebygamodésen
Recycle those green bottles (reuse those bottles)
Taswenek ézhiwton ni zhabwémodésen
Put those see through bottles in the cabinet
Ggi gish gzinwnagé ne?
Are you finished with the dishes?
Ahau, ge o nwéshmomen
Ok, Let’s go rest.
Our vocabulary matrix from these phrases:
Nouns
Verbs
Other words
Particles
Dopwen – table
Binjegé – to clean
Ahau – ok, greeting, acknowledgement
Ge – something will happen in the near future
Mbop – soup
Mnéschegé – to straighten up, put in order
I – “that” when that is inanimate
Mskwé – red
Mkwemitaswen – fridge
Byédon – bring a thing
Mkwemitaswenek – locative for fridge
Zaw – brown
Taswen – a closet, cabinet, or cupboard
Byédonen – bring more than one thing. Not used for commands.
Taswenek – locative for taswen
Wizaw – yellow
Wnagnen – dishes
Ton – put it
Zhi – there
Ni pi je – particles meaning “where”
Zaskokwadék – frybread (participle)
To – have it or put it
Shote – here
Ga wje – past purpose or direction
Ziwtagen – salt
Té – to be in a place if it is inanimate
Dopwenek – at/on the table
Ga – something that happened
Waskek – pepper (participle)
Ézhiwton – put something away
Ni – those, if those are inanimate
Ndo – my
Ga shotmego – leftovers (participle – what we didn’t eat)
Zagjewébdon – throw something outside, toss something out
Wabshkya – white
Zaw- brown
Gzidon’egnen – napkins, face cloths
Zigwébdon – discard something, pour something out, throw away
Zagech – Outside
Ngi – Nin did something in the past
Gzinwnagjegas – dishrag
Majipton – start something mechanical
Bwamshe – before
Ode – wizaw
Zigwébnekek – garbage can
Zhishchegé – sweep
Gégo – stop, don’t
Zhabwé – something is clear or see-throughg
Mamgengéwkek – Recycling bin
Gzizgengé – scrub
Njeshek – just happened
Ggi – Gin did something in the past
Wnagagzinjegéwen – dishwasher
Bindon – clean something
Skebgya – green
Ne – yes/no question marker
Mchik – floor, ground, horizon
Gzinwnagé – wash dishes
Gish – finished, already happened
O – in front of a verb, it means go do something
Éjegzinjik – sink (participle – where we was our hands)
Pamsé – walk around
Mkekwen – boxes
Mamgengé – recycle
Modés – bottle
Ngeto – lose something
Nwéshmo – Rest
What we can learn from these phrases:
Mamgengé is a verb meaning to pick up something discarded to reuse it. This is an old concept to Potawatomi folk, and is now used as a verb for “recycling.”
Most commands listed here are for one person. When assigning a chore to more than one person, be sure to use the plural form.
“To” is a unique verb in that it can mean “to have” or “to put.” It is a relative of the verb “té,” which is the inanimate form of “to be in a place.”
Ton zhi is a command form – put something there
Ndeton means I have it
Ézhiwton is a command form – put something “away” (put it away is an idiom in English and is hard to translate into Potawatomi)
Ni pi je ga wje toyen – Where did you put it?
Étémget – it is in a place
Éték – it is in a place (a variant form)
Notice the color prefixes. There are two ways to express colors in Potawatomi, by prefix or by verb. Yes, colors are verbs in Potawatomi. Let’s explore this in further detail:
This lesson shall discuss other miscellaneous household activities
Wabnotakjegen gde wabdamen
We are looking at the TV
Wabnotakjegen gde kewabdamen
We are watching the TV
Wabnotakjegen gde kanabdamen
We are staring at the TV
Notakjegen gde bsedomen
We are listening to the radio
Msenegen nde nebyégé’an
I am writing a letter
Msenegen nde wawidan
I am reading a letter or a book
Msenaksegen nde kewabdamen
We- are watching a movie
Gda mbwach’ewémen nomek
We should visit a while
Byéwidbemshen émbwach’ewéygo
Come sit by me and we will visit
Nishwabtek dbégasnen nwi wawjigé
I will read for 20 minutes
Ni je wa zhewébek gojek wabek?
What will it be like outdoors tomorrow? (weather)
Kewabdan ode wa je zhewébzewen
Watch the news
Wi gméyamget wabek
It will rain tomorrow
Wi bonimget wabek
It will snow tomorrow
Wi ngwanket wabek
It will be cloudy tomorrow
Wi ksenyamget wabek
It will be cold tomorrow
Wi gshatémget wabek
It will be hot tomorrow
Ni je ga byédot o bébamodot?
What did the mail carrier bring?
Gégo ne byédot o bebamodojgét?
Did the mail carrier bring anything?
Mkekwen gi byédot o bébamodot
The mail carrier brought this box
Gda bodwanashen
You should make a fire for me
Byéwidbemshen jig-shkwewdé
Come sit with me by the fire
Gojek gda o chikasom
Y’all should go play outside
Wawatesiyek nde wabmamen épabmiséwat
We see fireflies flying about
Negosek nde kanabmak
I am staring at the stars (star gazing)
Skonozhechkéwen ngi gizhton
I finished my homework
Here is miscellaneous vocabulary to go with our miscellaneous activities
Nouns
Verbs
Other words
Particles
Wabnotakjegen – tv, device that makes noise that you look at
Wabdan – see/look at something
Nomek – for a while
Gde – you or we are doing something, check verb ending
Notakjegen – Radio, device that makes noise, can be a speaker or cd player
Kewabdan – watch something
Nishwabtek – 20
Gda – you or we should do something, check verb ending
Msenegen – paper, book, letter, bill, magazine, etc.
Kanabdan – stare at something, study it
Gojek – outdoors
Nwi – I or we will do something, check verb ending
Msenaksegen – movie, moving picture, tv show, video
Bsedon – listen to something
Wabek – tomorrow
Ni je – combination asking who or what
Dbégasen – minute
Nebyégé – to write
Ode – this
Wa je – future purpose or direction
Zhewébzewen – news, happenings
Wawidan – read something
Gégo – something
Wi – something will happen in the future
Bébamodot – mail carrier, delivery person
Mbwach’ewé – visit
O – “that” if it’s animate, go do something if in front of a verb
Ga – past purpose or direction
Bébamodojgét – mail carrier, delivery person
Byéwidbemshen – come sit by me
Jig – by, near, next to
Mkekwen – box
Wawijgé – to read
Ngi – I or we did something in the past, check verb ending
Shkwewdé – fire
Zhewébek – to happen, an inanimate form
Wawatesiyek – fireflies
Zhewébze – to be a certain way, personal happenings, an animate form
Negosek – stars
Gméyamget – it is raining
Skonozhechkéwen – homework
Bonimget – it is snowing
Ngwankwet – it is cloudy
Ksenyamget – it is cold
Gshatémget – it is hot
Byédot – bring something
Bodwana – make a fire for someone
Chikaso – play
Kanabma – stare at someone
Gizhton – finish something
Let’s take a closer look at these phrases:
Modern day events are difficult to describe in an ancient language, but it can be done.
A radio is a device that makes noise, so notakjegen
A TV is a device that makes noise that we watch, so wabnotakjegen
Skonozhechkéwen does not literally mean homework, it refers to “school doings.” Whatever was assigned at school that needs doing.
A mail carrier or delivery person is someone who walks around carrying a load. Hence Bébamodot or Bébamodojegét.
Msén is wood. We make paper from wood. Msenegen is pretty much anything made from paper, including books, bills, letters, paper, magazines, newspaper, etc. We can get specific if we want, for example, Gizo-msenegen would be a calendar, or a “moon-paper.” But we don’t have to.
Msenatsegen is a moving picture. Pulling from the books and the pictures, all on paper, now brought to life on the screen, it’s a moving story on screen. As it has evolved, it can now refer to a video in any form.
The “seeing” verbs can be in animate or inanimate form, depending on what you see. Wabma is seeing someone, Wabdan is seeing something. Kewabma is watching someone, Kewabdan is watching something. Kanabma is staring at or studying someone, Kanabdan is staring at or studying something.
Zhewébze and Zhewébek are idiomatic verbs. They refer to things that are happening.
Potawatomi verbs do not function the same way English verbs do, and sentences in Potawatomi are not formed the same way they are in English. Instead of using the order of the words to show who is doing what, we use the verb itself.
Msenegen nwabdan
I see a paper
Mko nwabma
I see a bear
Mko nwabmek
A bear sees me
Msenegen nde kewabdan
I am watching a paper
Mko nde kewabma
I am watching a bear
Mko nde kewabmek
A bear is watching me
Msenegen nde kanabdan
I am staring at/studying a paper
Mko nde kanabma
I am staring at/studying a bear
Mko nde kanabmek
A bear is staring at/studying me
Msenegen nde dbabdan
I am checking on a paper
Mko nde dbabma
I am checking on a bear
Mko nde dbabmek
A bear is checking on me
Tetagen nnodan
I hear a bell
Mko nnodwa
I hear a bear
Mko nnodwek
A bear hears me
Tetagen nde bsedon
I am listening to a bell
Mko nde bsedwa
I am listening to a bear
Mko nde bsedwek
A bear is listening to me
Assignment:
Shema (feed someone) and Shemgo (be fed) are similar to Wabma and Wabmek. Try using them in phrases and sentences.
O – “that” with an animate noun, “go do” in front of a verb
Ne – question particle
Gigabyéyek – boys
Zhashkegwé – to vomit
Gi – “those” with animate plural noun, “past” with a verb
Ngi – I “did” something, or we “did”, check verb
Ngwes – my son
Zhapkawze – have diarrhea
Nomek – in a little while
Nde – I or we are “doing something”
Gigyago – girl
Dewkwé – have a headache
Nwi – I or we “will do” something
Gigabé – boy
Dewkweze – be tired
Nge – I or we are “about to do” something
Ndenim – my husband
Kikibgosh – be sleepy
Nmeset – my stomach
Yakmetem – a body part is sore
Njosh – my nose
Zostep – to cough (very irregular verb)
Jané – nose construct
Jechamo – to sneeze
Wibtané – teeth construct
Wépodago – to get hit
Nibet – my tooth
Knéshkak – rendered unconscious
Kadé – leg construct
Gikij – a body part is sore *requires body part construct form
Neké – arm construct
Bok – a body part is broken *requires body part construct form
Togé – ear construct
Meskwiw – a body part is bleeding *requires body part construct form
Mshkekiwnene – doctor
Wabma – see someone
Mshkekiwgemek – clinic/hospital
Zhya – go
What can we learn?
Yaknogé is irregular. Because it begins with a Y, the “de” tense makes a contraction. This often happens with verbs that start with Y or W. A related verb, Yakmetem, which is specific to the body part that is sick or hurt, does the same, and becomes Ndakmetem.
Many sickness verbs are irregular. Zostep is a verb of coughing, but to say I am coughing, you say “nde zostem.” Jechamo is a verb that drops the “o” at the end, so Nde jecham means I am sneezing. Zhapkawze changes the ending to Nzhapkawes if you want to say “I have diarrhea.”
There are other words for sickness, such as Napnewen or Pené’éwen. These words for sickness describes a long-term chronic illness. Yaknogéwen is a short term acute illness.
Knowing how to use and recognize body part construct forms is important when describing various conditions. Let’s look at this in detail:
To Review: In Potawatomi grammar, most body parts are considered inanimate. This is because the body, which is animate, is the sum total of its parts, and individual body parts do not function on their own without the rest of the body.
Body parts are also considered “inalienably possessed,” which has nothing to do with aliens, but means simply that they cannot be given away. This means you will very rarely see words for body parts on their own without referencing WHO the body part belongs to. To get around this in conversations, there are construct forms of body parts. When using these, the construct forms often form body-based verbs.
Body Part
Construct Form
Nibden – My teeth
Yabdé – teeth
Nenji – my hand
Nejé – hand
Nzet – my foot
Zedé – foot
Njash – my nose
Jané – nose
Ndon – my mouth
Doné – mouth
Let’s look at body part constructs vs. descriptive verbs:
Ngikijdebé
My head is sore
Ndakmetem ndep/nshtegwan
I have a sore head
Ngikijjané
My nose is sore
Ndakmetem njash
I have a sore nose
Ngikijneké
My arm is sore
Ndakmetem nek
I have a sore arm
Ngikijkadé
My leg is sore
Ndakmetem nkat
I have a sore leg
Ngikijdoné
My mouth is sore
Ndakmetem ndon
I have a sore mouth
Ngikijyabdé
My teeth are sore
Ndakmetem nibden
I have sore teeth
Ngikijzeté
My foot is sore
Ndakmetem nzet
I have a sore foot
Let’s use this opportunity to highlight some of these unique verbs:
Ngi jecham
I sneezed
Ngi zostem
I coughed
Ggi jecham ne?
Did you sneeze?
Ggi zostem ne?
Did you cough?
Gi jechamo
He/she sneezed
Gi zostep
He/she coughed
Ngi jechamen
We- sneezed
Ngi zostepmen
We- coughed
Ggi jechamen
We+ sneezed
Ggi zostepmen
We+ coughed
Ggi jechamom ne?
Did y’all sneeze?
Ggi zostebem ne?
Did y’all cough?
Gi jechamok
They sneezed
Gi zostemwik
They coughed
Ngi zhashkegwé
I threw up
Ngi zhapkawes
I had diarrhea
Ggi zhashkegwé ne?
Did you throw up?
Ggi zhapkawes ne?
Did you have diarrhea?
Gi zhashkegwé
He/she threw up
Gi zhapkawze
He/she had diarrhea
Ngi zhashkegwémen
We- threw up
Ngi zhapkawzemen
We- had diarrhea
Ggi zhashkegwémen
We+ threw up
Ggi zhapkawzemen
We+ had diarrhea
Ggi zhashkegwém ne?
Did y’all throw up?
Ggi zhapkawzem ne?
Did y’all have diarrhea?
Gi zhashkegwék
They threw up
Gi zhapkawzik
They had diarrhea
Ndaknoga
I am sick
Ndewkwé
I have a headache
Gdaknoga ne?
Are you sick?
Gdewkwé ne?
Do you have a headache?
Yaknogé
He/she is sick
Dewkwé
He/she has a headache
Ndaknogamen
We- are sick
Ndewkwémen
We- have a headache
Gdaknogamen
We+ are sick
Gdewkwémen
We+ have a headache
Gdaknogam ne?
Are y’all sick?
Gdewkwém ne?
Do y’all have a headache?
Yaknogék
They are sick
Dewkwék
They have a headache
One more: To say I caught a cold, you say “Ngi tkech.” This is an idiom.
Assignment: Use these phrases to describe the last time you or a family member were sick.
Notice the way certain particles change when used in different situations.
“ne” is a question mark when used in a sentence, making it a yes/no question. But when you put “ne” between the subject and the verb, this changes the verb to make it mean “start doing something.” Wi ne mban means Go to sleep, because one does not fall asleep instantly, this is a command to start the process of falling asleep.
“o” is a demonstrative meaning “that” when used with an animate noun. But when you put “o” between the subject and the verb, this changes the verb to make it mean “go do something.” Nwi o mba means I will go sleep, implying I am going to go somewhere else to do it.
“gi” is a demonstrative meaning “those” when used with an animate plural noun. But when you add it to a verb and a pronoun, this changes the verb to put it into past tense. Ngi mba means I slept.
In English, we say “I see you.” In Potawatomi, we say “You I see.” This is because “you” are more important than “me,” so “you” get to be first in the sentence. Because “you” should come first, we use inverse verbs to keep “you” in the front.
This is set to the melody of Brahm’s Lullaby, which can be found on the internet. The words are simple, but because they are in imperative form, there is a difference if you are singing to one child or more than one child.
To one child
More than one child
Wi ne mban
Go to sleep
Wi ne mbak
Go to sleep
Wi ne mban
Go to sleep
Wi ne mbak
Go to sleep
Gaga she éwi mbayen
Soon you will be sleeping
Gaga she éwi mbayék
Soon you will be sleeping
Wi ne mban
Go to sleep
Wi ne mbak
Go to sleep
Wi ne mban
Go to sleep
Wi ne mbak
Go to sleep
Éwi mno apwéyen
And you will dream well
Éwi mno apwéyék
And you will dream well
Wi ne mban
Go to sleep
Wi ne mbak
Go to sleep
Wi ne mban
Go to sleep
Wi ne mbak
Go to sleep
Gaga she éwi mbayen
Soon you will be sleeping
Gaga she éwi mbayék
Soon you will be sleeping
Wi ne mban
Go to sleep
Wi ne mbak
Go to sleep
Wi ne mban
Go to sleep
Wi ne mbak
Go to sleep
Éwi mno apwéyen
And you will dream well
Éwi mno apwéyék
And you will dream well
This concludes these 12 lessons on daily activities. It is our hope that you will be able to incorporate these lessons into your home and your daily life. In order to revitalize our language, we must bring the language out of the classroom and into our homes. The language should not be compartmentalized, used only in certain situations, but we should come to enjoy using it in every aspect of our daily life.
Begin to walk Maajiigaadese Maajiigaadesewok Maajiigaadesedaa To walk Mase Masewok Masedaa To walk slow Bejigaadese Bejigaadesewok Bejigaadesedaa To walk about Pogadase Pogadasewok Pogadasedaa Walk towards you Biidaasmase Biidaasmasewok Walk away from you Nimse Nimsewok To walk out Zaagijigaadese Zaagijigaadesewok Zaagijigaadesedaa To walk in Biindigegaadese Biindigegaadesewok Biindigegaadesedaa To walk in circle Biimskwase Biimskwasewok Biimskwasedaa To walk around something Giiwtase Giiwtasewok Giiwtasedaa To walk then turn Waanase Waanasewok Waanasedaa To walk fast Gizhiigaadese Gizhiigaadesewok Gizhiigaadesedaa To walk fast & hard Kwataangaadese Kwtaangaadesewok Kwataangaadesedaa To walk across Tkamse Tkamsewok Tkamsedaa To stop walking Boongaadese Boongaadesewok Boongaadesedaa To walk backwards Zhewse Zhewsewok Zhewsedaa
To walk in snow Maagwane Maagwanewok Maagwanedaa In snow towards you Biidaagwane Biidaagwanewok In snow away from you Nimaagwane Nimaagwanewok Across from you Tkamaagwane Tkamaagwanewok Tkamaagwanedaa
To walk in water Maadagaa Maadagaawok Maadagaadaa Towards you Biidaadagaa Biidaadagaawok Away from you Nimaadagaa Nimaadagaawok Across from you Tkamaadagaa Tkamaadagaawok Tkamaadagaadaa
