Zhewébze and Zhewébek
Zhewébze and Zhewébek are animate/inanimate counterparts that are highlyidiomatic. Idiomatic means they are difficult to translate into English, for their meanings are culturally specific. Roughly speaking, Zhewé means “to happen.”
MNO is a prefix meaning “good” or “well”. It only has this meaning when attached to a word – it cannot stand alone!
Mno zhewébze To go well, happen in a good way
Mno bmadze To have good life/health
gMno bmades ne? Are you living well? Are you healthy?
gMno zhewébes ne? Are things going well for you?
Ni je ézhwébziyen? What’s the matter with you?
Ni je ézhwébziyék? What’s the matter with you all?
Ni je ézhewébek shote? What’s happening here?
Ni je gaw je zhewébek? What happened?
Ni je wa je zhewébek? What will happen?
I yé i ézhewébek That’s what’s happening
I yé i gaw zhewébek That’s what happened
I yé i wa je zhewébek That’s what will happen
Ggi mno zhewébes ne ibe? Did it go well for you over there?
I yé i égi zhewébzet o That’s what happened to him/her
Ni pi je gaw je zhewébek i ? Where did that happen?
Ni je pi gaw je zhewébek i ? When did that happen?
Hau, nMno zhewébes Oh, it’s going well for me
Hau, nMno bmades Oh, I’m in good health
Gégo wdemaken éwi mno zhewébziyen éwi mno bmadziyen
Don’t smoke so it will go well for you and you will be healthy
Walking
Mbe bamse I am walking around.
Pa msewak he/she is walking around.
Gbe bamse you are walking around.
Pa msewek they are walking around.
Wi pamse he/she is going for a walk.
Nwi pamse I am going for a walk.
Nwi pamsemen we are going for a walk/exlc.
Gwi pamsemen we are going for a walk/incl.
Ke pamsemen let us go for a walk.
Bebamset one who walks/sing.
Bebamsejek those that walk–also all the/plural.
Bmose or bmosewak walking or walking by
Bmosek walking or walking by/plural
Egi shke wepset when h/s first started walking.
Ni je pi ga ne wepset when did h/s start out walking?
Ni je pi wa ne wepseyen when are you going to start out walking?
Boston
Ggi boston ne? Did you load it ? (Mail it?)
Wgi boston ne? Did he/she load it? (Mail it?)
Wgi boston a we ne? Did they Load it? (Mail it?)
Gi bosjegadé ne? Was it loaded? (Mailed?)
Gi bos we bnegadé ne? Was it thrown on? (Loaded?)
Gi boswa bna na wa ne? Did you guys throw it on? (Load it?)
Gi bose ne? Did he get on? (Vehicle)
Gwi bos ne? Do you want to get on? ( A vehicle)
Bosen Get in (A vehicle)
Gi boswek ne? Did they get on? (A vehicle)
Ggi bose ne? Did you give him a ride?
Ggi bos aye ne? Was he given a ride?
Gi bos eywik ne? Where they given a ride?
Gwi bos ego men ne? Are we getting a ride?
Ggi bos ne? Did you ride?
Ne mbo se He’s going the other direction
Bi jbose He’s coming this way
Inside and Outside
Zagech Outside
Bidek Inside
Bidgé To Enter (go inside)
Zagjesé To Exit (go outside)
Bidgedon bring it or take it inside
Bidgedon I bring it or take it inside (sing.)
Bidgedon ni bring those or take those inside (pl.)
Bidgebton run inside
Bidgebowen run inside (from something) (sing.)
Mbidgebowemen we’re running inside (from s.t.) (pl.)
Bidgebewek you guys run inside
Zagdowton take it outside
Zagjowton I take that outside (sing.)
Zagjowton ni take those outside (pl.)
Zagjebowen run outside (from s.t.) (sing.)
Nzagjebowemen we’re running outside (from s.t.) (pl.)
Zagjepton run outside (from s.t?)
Zagjebowek you guys run outside (from s.t?)
Zagjeptok you guys run outside (from s.t.) (pl.)
Bidgewdon ni msen haul the firewood in
Bidgensén haul the firewood inside
Bidgenesh let h/h in
Bidgeyawnedwek they are marching inside
Bidgeyawnedek you guys file inside
Zagjowdon take it outside
Zagdenesh let h/h out
Zagdawnedwik they are filing out
Zagdawnedek you guys file out
Bidgenashko chase h/h inside
Bidgenashko gi chase them inside
Zagdenashko chase h/h out
Zagdenashko gi chase them out
