neaseno

Gode Bodewadmik ngotek

GODE BODÉWADMIK

Peoples’ of the Three Fires—-Nswé Énaskwenéjek Bémadsejek..

Ode ggéte yajmownenan Bodéwadmi éajmegwset gapinténdek ode kiywonan mine

zhechkéwen—

madmowen, mishkwoswen mine édbanawat jak she gégo bémadsimgek ga wje

zhabwiwat gwij Bodéwadminanek mine ga wje mno majishkawat…

Bodéwadmik.

Bnewi shna Bodéwadmik byé she kgéndagwsik ékewabdemwat i shkwedé.

Kgish mingomen ode éwi épaméndmego mine éwi kewabdemgo énakwnek i shkwedé.

Mégwétsek shna ébmosémgek bmadsewen ode gbyé zhechkémen.

Kgi wij msénmomen géga she nasap zhechkéwen, ézheshmowen mine géte yajmownen

Gode gé winwa Wjibwék mine Odawak. Isha gode ga she nswabéwsewat, Nswé

Énaskwenéjek Bémadsejek.

Oje Bodéwadmi gimanye éwi kewabdek i shkwedé. Gode gé winwa Odawak éwi

Kewabdemwat ode shna ashtongen. O wje Wjibwé éwi kewabdemwat ode géte

Zhechkéwen gi she minaye.

The Great Migration.

Ode Bodéwadmi naké Neshnabé ga wje kche bmosét.

Ode Géte Bodéwadmi ina Bémadzeniyek,

Our great Potawatomi Nation,

Mine ni ina wémowen

And our National Language.

Bnewi shna gi Bodéwadmik gi manék ngoji na nishwabtek shech nyanen segos gi yawik.

Ngoji na nswéo wabtek midaswak kiwések ode Ki ga je ték gde odanmenanen shi kche

Mbesen éje ték.

Nenwék ménsabek shna gishe kgénmegomen.

Énibek pi i 1632-1634 gnebech Neshnabék gi wabmewan Jean Nicolet, o ngot

Wémtegoshi, éje wi o gipa ndene’an wa je ashtongéwat gode Wémtegoshik shi

Wéj bgeshmok wje igwan she kche Mbesnak.

Ije géwi ode pi Neshnabék nekmek égi pabmadsewat mine égi wépnshonadégwsewat.

Jak shna békanek gi ne yawen.

Égi widokwawat node Kchemokmanen wa je ashtonmadwat na gégo.

Éje shna gégpi égi ne panmotwaygo gi Kchemokmanek jayék shna ode she ashtongen.

Kgi wij ga botwémen émigatéwat.

Ije na mina winwa éne mno majishkawat égi bgej wébnegoygo.

Iw je égi wéb nshonajkeseygo.

Nekmek shna gishenashagomen.

I yé i ga wje byéwat ibe Kche gaminak gode Neshnabék.

Hau, Mégwa ode Kche bmoséwen ga je zhechkéwat gode Neshnabék.

O wje Neshnabé gi bsedwawan o wse gapayajmot égi wjektémwat ni

wde odanmewan ga tégen shi kche gmik. Wéjmokék wjeyigwan ode

gdekimnan. Ije shna wébawnetwat wej bgeshmok wjeyigwan.

Éndenemowat na wa je dawat. Ije gi Bodéwadmik, Odawak, mine Wjebwék

Wéjbgeshmok égi she nodegwséwat. Ije mine Wéjgzhaték wika she shi é i dogma i

Lake Michigan (Kche Mishigami) ga je wshegéwat gi wje Bémadsejek shi éje ték

Ni kche mbesen, bnewi shna byé nwatotmonawa iw se ga byé ishwé bsewat shi égi

byé nodegwséwat. Jak she ngemownen, yajmowen mine mesnebyégatek gi yapjech

gadé ode éyaj jegaték.

Onwé she gagish bgemodégwseyak, pené shna ngoji ngi pamadsemen.

Éje mno giwséwnegék ngi zhyamen mine noj Wéj gzgaték wjeyigwan

Bgwejbsheke éndowabmeget.

Wasé she bmeséwen….

1600 égi yawek Bodéwadmik gidneswek Wéjksenyak wjeyigwan ode Mishigami

(Michigan). Gode je Ontario (Wgemakwékiwen) Neshnabék, wadokwajek ni

Wémtegoshiyen gi ndo mkemgomen gde odananen. 1630 ewéb yawek égi wéb

wjektemgo gadnesgo. Ashi je she anjimen Wéjbgeshmok wjeyigwan i Lake Michigan,

(Kche Mishigami) nash sheshi Wéjksenyak Wisconsin. (Oshekanseng)

1665 égi yawek, jayék Bodéwadmik gidawék shi Wisconsins’ Door Peninsula,

(Oshekanseng Wékamigawen), Wéjmokék wjeyigwan shi Bojikwek (Green Bay) éje ték.

Weyeshi ga je dnesgo nash she 1685 éne yawek. Iw je pi gode Wémtegoshik mine Kche

Mbesiniyek (Algonquin) égi ne shewébnawét ni Iroquoisiyen néyap she shi New York.

1760 égi yawek ibe Wéjksenyak Indiana mine nanawi i Illinois gashe majishgaygo.

1807 Kchemokmanek égi wép mkemgoygo node gdekimnanen. Ije shna nishwabdek

nshech nyanoponéyawek égi ne apje gajnéwak i ke tso gaj dnesgo. Nsewi i 1834 mine

1842 Bodéwadmik égishowjegaswat ibe Wéjbgeshmok wjeyigwan i Mississippi Zibe

éshenekadék. Shkwedéniyek mine gi Ksenyaniyek éshigé winwa Council Bluffs

Wéjgzhaték mine Wéjbgeshmok shi Iowa. Gi wje mtegwaki Bodéwadmik éshi

gishowjegaswik Wéjmokék wje yigwan i Kansas.

Ngom wi gode Shishibéniyek Wéjgzhaték i Oklahoma édawat, winwa shna gimje

Gishpnedonawa i wdekimwa. Gode géwinwa Ksenyaniyek Wisconsin édneswat, mine

gode Shkwedéniyek Kansas gi shkwiwek. Mine shna anet Bodéwadmik jo gimajsik.

Éshi shna ni kche mbesen éje temgek dneswek mine shi Indiana. Éshi shna Wéjksenyak

Michigan dneswek géwinwa gi Hannahville Bodéwadmik. Ibe je Wéjksenyak Ontario,

Canada édnesjek éshi shna gi dgwe bi gaswek Walpole Island, Stoney Point First

Nations ésh nekaswat.

Mégwa she ode dpenéwen myéwés….

Éshke wépsek ni 1800’s, Bodéwadmik wde kimwa égi nénmewawat ni United States

government. Gagish je gadék i 1833 treaty moshek she gi Bodéwadmik ibe

gishenashkegaswik Wéjmokék wjeyigwan i Mssissippi.

Gi manék gi gambojek kchetene she égi bmodégwse’awat Wéjbgeshmok wjeyigwan.

Ije ode éshe gkénjegadék i Tpenéwen Myéwés. Manék Bodéwadmik gi gambowék

ét tso gishgek. Ode gésha yajmowen étownangek, gode gde msabemnanek

gitkwébjegaswék she dabyanek. Jo gi shemgosiwan mine jo mbish gi mnekwésinawa

bama she mine wane je gbeshwat.

Anet géwinwa gi shagwénmowek ngoji éwi she nodegwséwat, ishna égi swébwèwat éwi

bwa njegaswat. Anet Wéjksenyak wje yigwan gi nodegwsik Canada éshe nekadék.

Mine ge anet Mexico gi she nodegwséwék. Gode Shishibéniyek weyéni

wdenwémagnewan gi Mshkwedéniyek gi widokwawat…..

Nation to Nation…….

**Mégwétso shna gode Neshnabék mine ode United States government treaties wdetonawa.

Bodéwadmik je wshe mamo manétowat ni treaties. Jo wi ode state mine édnesgo

governments da je yajbiméwat.

Ode je 1883 treaty shegagonak, ngoji ga je shebyémego ni gdekimnanen Wéjmokék

wjeyigwan i Mississippi gatégen. 1807 je wishe pi ga wép wébnemgo nigdekimnanen.

Ije shna gapij wébnemgo gabmesémek i nishwatso nsech nyanopon. (25) Babgéji I

gdekimnan égi mkemgoygo.

Wgi dapnanawa gode gnigansimnanek mégwé tso node treaties. Iw je ganéndmowat

bwamshe jak nge toygo ode éshe bmatséygo. Nangotgen gé weye gi nigansikase.

Jo weye wéwéne gi nsetsin na tso ga she nshonatseygoygo.

Mégwa shote gdiymen…….

Ode ngom sovereign nations éyawgoyak, mamo nétem she waje mnobmadseygo,

wa je mishkwesyak mine wa je mnowiyak ébodéwadmiyak. Natso node wa je

wjitmagwsewat gode debéndagwsejek wé je majishkak ode tadiwen mine anet gégo

shna wa je shonyakeygo. Iw géshe jayék étoygo wa je mikjéwiwat gode bémadsejek

ode shkongenek mine weye wa je mikjéwit……

Ngom wi Bodéwadmik kche majishkané ni wde odanmowan. Témget gé wa je

wénpeshtowat na éwi mno bmadsewat, wa je na adsewat mine wabtawan wa je

bménjegadék ibe Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health and Wellness Center. Wéngwéndek

égi yawek gi gishjegadéwat. Ishe géwi i Penojéwgemek mine i Penojéwskongemek, ibe

penojéyek éje kewabdemwat shi. Nomye égi wzhegéwat i kche tadiwgemek ibe kche

myéwen, route 40 éshe nekadék.

Wa je mno majishkawat weshkgejek mine shna mikjéwiwen. Kékyajek éje bmengaswat

témget mine shna weshkgejek wa je mikjéwiwat mine wa je mno majishkawat. Shech

kadénon wigwamen Firelake Wellness Center wa je wjitmowygo bémadsejek.

Mine ni ina wémowen…..

And a National Language…..

Bémadsejek émsanmowat zheshmowen……

Anwe she nangotgen jo gdébwétatsimen anet kedownen éshe gigtok,

Zheshmowen je wishe témget mesénmowat Bodéwadmik, Algonquian zheshmowen

yawen géga she Wjebwémwen mine Wdawak éntakwék.

Mine gode anet Algonquian mowen éshe giktojek Gadnesjek she Wéjbgeshmok

wjeyigwan she ni Kche mbesen éje ték Menomnik, Kigaboyek, Meskwakieniyek,

Mine gi Miamniyek. Gode je gi debéndagwsejek shi nswéskwéte mine gi anet

nanawigwan Algonquianiyek shenkaswek, wa je pkangabowat gi Wéjmokék

wjeyigwan édnesjek shi kchegmik. Ji gi i ni mbesen gode anet shi gidneswek,

Wéjgzhaték wjeyigwan ga nadwésimjek Wimbyégok mjik i Wisconsin éyawek.

Mine Wéjmokék wje yigwan égi ga iroquomejek Huron Wéjksenyak wjeyigwan i

Georgian Bay gi dneswek (Mbesiniyek).

Neshnabék Wnago….

Bnewi shna égi yawek…

Wigwamen shna ngi damen, giwseyak mine shna éktegéyak shi nde odanmenanen.

Mdamnek, kwésmanen, mine séma ngi kteganamen énibek.

Édgwagék ngi giwsémen, seksi wiyas émawjetoyak. Bijbonagnen ngi yomen

égwdemojgéyak émnomek. Kwéwék gi ktegéwek épij giwséwat gi nenwek mine shna

émikanawat mig neshnabén.

Pené wi she byé kchenéndagwsik mesodanek mine shna meshomsek, jayék sheshe ode

nagotwen Gshekwsénanek, gsheshémnanek kitawsenanek,

jayék shna gi dbandik. Bojgena weye éweshayet éshe géwi nasap ga néndagwset.

Gode gé penojéyek ékenomagwsewat, Jo wi she ni wmesodanwan gi gnemakwsiwan,

jayék she shi debandagwsejek gi wdetanjegéwek….

Neshnabék Ngom…….

Ngom éshe bmadsiygo…..

Bodéwadmik dneswek shi Potawatomie County, Shawnee, Oklahoma mine jak shna

ngoji. Éskonowéjek gdeshe mikjéwimen, businesses, tadiwen mine jak shna gégo.

Manék shna makjéwitmowat wa je mno majishkaygo mine wa je mno bmadsewat

Bodéwadmik.

Wéwéne shna wigwamen ngom gde damen, dabyan gda bje’amen épamadsiygo.

Basksenen gde yowmen égiwséygo, jo wi mégwa o mtegwab. Manék shna gawséjek

mine gwedmojgéjek, jo je wishe apje éwi yojgaték i Neshnabé jiman.

Nomye shna énadagwek jo bidek gitasnon mbish mine jo kitosimen mnedo shkwedé.

Éshkem she ne wéndon éje daygo, éshna épij wshegawat…..

Anwe she gégo washe wénpenek gdetomen, abtek shna gwi nagwdomen ode gashe

Bgetnegoygo. Éwi wdetandemgo ode gashe mingoygo mine gode mnedok.

In Potawatomi, you can take a noun and turn it into a “locative.” The meaning of the “locative” form can range from “at the ____”, “in the ____”, “on the ___”,”near the ___”, “by the _____”, etc. There are other words that give specific locations.

Noun Locative

Dopwen (table) Dopwenek

Wawabmowen (mirror) Wawabmonek

Mbagen (bed) Mbagnek

Wigwam (house) Wigwamek

Dabyan (car) Dabyanek

Waséjgen (window) Waséjgenek

Taswen (closet or cabinet) Taswenek

Shkemot (bag) Shkemotek

Gokbenagen (basket) Gokbenagnek

Shkwadém (door) Shkwadémek

Mbes (lake) Mbesek

Zibi (river) Zibik

Mtegwaki (forest) Mtegwakik

Shkwengen (reservation) Shkwengenek

Odan (town) Odanek

Tkep (spring) Tkepik

Gtegan (garden) Gteganek

Negatives

Some words to express “no” in Potawatomi are:

No Cho

No way Cho wi

Impossible Chomamda

Not yet Chomshe

Never Cho wika

Nothing Cho gégo

No one Cho weye

Nowhere (anywhere) Cho ngoji

When using this word with verbs, use a “si” with the verb if the verb itself is negative (to express don’t or not).

Examples:

Cho ngi wisnesi No, I didn’t eat

Chomshe ngi wisnesi No, I didn’t eat yet

Chomamda nwi byasi ngom I can’t come today (it’s impossible)

Cho gégo ngi zhechkési I didn’t do anything

Cho weye gi nibwesi ibe No one stood there

Cho ngoji ngi zhyasi I didn’t go anywhere

For verbs that have a suffix (we, y’all, and they), the “si” goes before the suffix.

Cho ngi wisnesimen No, we (-) didn’t eat

Chomshe ngi majisimen We (-) haven’t left yet

Chomamda gwi nim’edisimen We (+) can’t dance (it’s impossible)

Chomamda gwi bmadgésim You all can’t swim (it’s impossible)

Cho wika migadisik They never fight

Types of Verbs

Animate Action Verbs – Independent Indicative

Simply put, this is the one subject, one verb sentence. I go, I walk, I run. This basic pattern is one that you will need to recognize as we go forward.

Independent Indicative Verbs – The Short Form

Nin (I) N + verb

Gin (you) G + verb

Win (he/she) verb

Ninan (we – ) N + verb + men

Ginan (we + ) G + verb + men

Ginwa (you pl.) G + verb + m

Winwa (they) verb + k

Verbs that end in “é” are the most common and the easiest to work with:

Ngiwé I go home

Ggiwé You go home

Giwé He/she goes home

Ngiwémen We (-) go home

Ggiwémen We (+) go home

Ggiwém You (pl.) go home

Giwék They go home

“I” verbs are formed in this example:

Nmikchéwi I work

Gmikchéwi You work

Mikchéwi He/she works

Nmikchéwimen We (-) work

Gmikchéwimen We (+) work

Gmikchéwim You (pl.) work

Mikchéwik They work

“O” verbs are formed as in this example:

Nked I say

Gked You say

Kedo He/she says

Nkedmen We (-) say

Gkedmen We (+) say

Gkedom You say (pl)

Kedwik They say

Here are some irregular verbs:

Nzhya I go

Gzhya You go

Zhyé He/she goes

Nzhyamen We (-) go

Gzhyamen We (+) go

Gzhyam You (pl.) go

Zhyék They go

Nbya I come

Gbya You come

Byé He/she comes

Nbyamen We (-) come

Gbyamen We (+) come

Gbyam You (pl) come

Byék They come

Ndodma I smoke

Gdodma You smoke

Wdemé He/she smokes

Ndodmamen We (-) smoke

Gdodmamen We (+) smoke

Gdodmam You (pl.) smoke

Wdemék They smoke

Nwisen I eat

Gwisen You eat

Wisne He/she eats

Nwisnemen We (-) eat

Gwisnemen We (+) eat

Gwisnem You (pl.) eat

Wisnik They eat

Njibtep I sit

Gjibtep You sit

Jibtebe He/she sits

Njibtebmen We (-) sit

Gjibtebmen We (+) sit

Gjibtebem You (pl) sit

Jibtebwak They sit

Nnibwe I stand

Gnibwe You stand

Nibwe He/she stands

Nnibwemen We (-) stand

Gnibwemen We (+) stand

Gnibwem You (pl.) stand

Nibwek They stand

Nbos I ride

Gbos You ride

Bose He/she rides

Nbosmen We (-) ride

Gbosmen We (+) ride

Gbosem You (pl.) ride

Boswik They ride

Additional suffixes…

-wak, -wek, and –wik often appear at the end of Win and Winwa verb forms.

Animate Descriptive Verbs

These are often a surprise to learners, because most of these verbs would be considered adjectives in English. They are verbs of being in a state of something. Here are some examples of Verbs that describe the state of being of an Animate Subject:

Bkedé To be Hungry
Gashknabagwé To be Thirsty
Mbiwé To be Wet
Kébigwé To be Blind
Dépseni To be Full (of food)
Bigéje To be Cold
Wizhge To be Strong (physical)
Mgegeno To be Large
Gachiye To be Small
Békadze To be Calm/Patient
Zegze To be Afraid
Yabyétze To be Lazy
Bmadze To be Alive
Zhewébze To happen to someone
Gkadze To be Rich
Gdemagze To be Poor
Ninoze To be Weak
Mishkweze To be Strong (emotional/spiritual)
Minwewze To be Ambitious/Hardworking
Mamkaze To be Surprised
Kyébatze To be Naughty/Foolish
Ntagze To be Sad
Shkadze To be Angry
Nodagwze To be Noisy
Akwadze To be Anxious

Verbs 1 – 9 are formed more like Animate Action Verbs, while verbs 10-25, ending with –ze, have their own unique conjugation pattern.

Nbekté I am hungry

Gbekté You are hungry

Bkedé He/she is hungry

Nbektémen We (-) are hungry

Gbektémen We (+) are hungry

Gbektém You all are hungry

Bkedék They are hungry

Ngashknabagwé I am thirsty

Ggashknabagwé You are thirsty

Gashknabagwé He/she is thirsty

Ngashknabagwémen We (-) are thirsty

Ggashknabagwémen We (+) are thirsty

Ggashknabagwém You all are thirsty

Gashknabagwék They are thirsty

Nbigéj I am cold

Gbigéj You are cold

Bigéje He/she is cold

Nbigéjmen We (-) are cold

Gbigéjmen We (+) are cold

Gbigéjem You all are cold

Bigéjek They are cold

Ngachi I am small

Ggachi You are small

Gachiye He/she is small

Ngachimen We (-) are small

Ggachimen We (+) are small

Ggachim You all are small

Gachiyek They are small

-ze Verb Conjugation

When the first sound in a double consonant is muted, that means that they are blended together so the second sound is prominent. If a word ending with a vowel comes before that word, you hear both sounds clearly.

Nbmades I am alive

Gbmades You are alive

Bmadze He/she is alive

Nbmadsemen We (-) are alive

Gbmadsemen We (+) are alive

Gbmadsim You all are alive

Gbmadzik They are alive

Nshkades I am angry

Gshkades You are angry

Shkadze He/she is angry

Nshkadsemen We (-) are angry

Gshkadsemen We (+) are angry

Gshkadsim You all are angry

Shkadzik They are angry

Ntages I am sad

Gtages You are sad

Tagze He/she is sad

Ntagsemen We (-) are sad

Gtagsemen We (+) are sad

Gtagsim You all are sad

Gtagzik They are sad

Ngedmages I am poor

Gedmages You are poor

Gdemagze He/she is poor

Ngedmagsemen We (-) are poor

Ggedmagsemen We (+) are poor

Ggedmagsim You all are poor

Gdemagzik They are poor

Other orders…

Negatives

Cho ntagzesi I’m not sad

Cho nshkadzesi I’m not angry

Cho she yabyétzesi o He/she is really not lazy

Cho ngekadzesimen We (-) are not rich

Cho gi kyébatzesik gnijansek Your children were not naughty

Participles

Bémadzet The living one

Bémadsejek The living ones (people)

Békadzet The calm one

Békadsejek The calm ones

Békdét The hungry one

Békdéjek The hungry ones

Kyébatzet The naughty ones

Kyébatsejek The naughty ones

Conjuncts

Gi migadiwik gi bémadsejek égi nshkadsewat

Those people were fighting that were angry

Gi nshkadzik gi bémadsejek égi migadiwat

Those people were angry who were fighting

Odanek nwi zhyamen éwi kyébatsiygo

We (-) will go to town to be naughty

Bmadgé o gigabé égmegishek éwi wizhget

That boy swims everyday to be strong (physically)

Text Box: N + verb
G + verb
Verb
N + verb + men
G + verb + men
G + verb + m
Verb + k Conjugation of verbs ending in -wé and yé

Giwé – to go home

Wébiwé – to run away

Mnekwé – to drink

Giskonyé – to get undressed

Biskonyé – to get dressed

Ngiwé N + giwé I go home

Ggiwé G + giwé You go home

Giwé Giwé He/she goes home

Ngiwémen N + giwé + men We– go home

Ggiwémen G + giwé + men We+ go home

Ggiwém G + giwé + m Y’all go home

Giwék giwé + k They go home

Nwébiwé N + wébiwé I run away

Gwébiwé G + wébiwé You run away

Wébiwé Wébiwé He/she runs away

Nwébiwémen N + webiwé + men We- run away

Gwébiwémen G + wébiwé + men We+ run away

Gwébiwém G + wébiwé + m Y’all run away

Wébiwék wébiwé + k They run away

Ngiskonyé N + giskonyé I get dressed

Ggiskonyé G + giskonyé You get dressed

Giskonyé giskonyé He/she gets dressed

Ngiskonyémen N + giskonyé + men We- get dressed

Ggiskonyémen G + giskonyé + men We+ get dressed

Ggiskonyém G + giskonyé + m Y’all get dressed

Giskonyék giskonyé + k They get dressed

What do these mean?

Nmnekwé

Biskonyék

Nwébiwémen

Ggiskonyémen

Ggiwém ne?

Mnekwék

Gbiskonyé ne?

Nmnekwémen

Wébiwék gi nemoshek

Gmnekwé ne?

Ggiwémen

Answers:

Nmnekwé I am drinking/I drink

Biskonyék They are getting dressed/they get dressed

Nwébiwémen We- are running away/we- run away

Ggiskonyémen We+ are getting undressed/we+ get dressed

Ggiwém ne? Are y’all going home?/do y’all go home?

Mnekwék They are drinking/they drink

Gbiskonyé ne? Are you getting dressed?/do you get dressed?

Nmnekwémen We- are drinking/we- drink

Wébiwék gi nemoshek Those dogs are running away

Those dogs run away

Gmnekwé ne? Are you drinking?/do you drink?

Ggiwémen We+ are going home/we+ go home

Understood?

Wne ste tan He/she understands it

(what is being said)

Gne ste tan ne? Do you understand it?

Wne stotwan He/she understands him/her

Gne sto to ne? Do you understand me?

Gne sto twa ne? Do you understand him/her?

Gne sto twak ne? Do you understand them?

Gne sto ta gwnan ne? Does he/she understand us?

Gne sto ta gwnanek ne? Do they understand us?

Jo gne ste tos non I don’t understand you.

Gne sto tan ne i?

Do you understand that?

Gne sto tam ne i?

Do you people understand that?

Ahau, nse tem ok ode

Ok, understand this!

Ne sto tan

I understand!

Ne sto tamen

We understand! (excl.)

Gne sto tamen

We understand! (incl.)

Gne sto tamen ne?

Do we understand? (incl.)

Jo, gne ste to snon

I don’t understand you.

Gne sto twa ne?

Do you understand him/her?

Gne sto towem ne?

Do you people understand me?

Gne sto twen

I understand you.

Nse ta gwse

He/she is understandable!

Gne ste townem

I understand you people.

Jo, gne ste to wso nem.

I don’t understand you guys.

Gi gne ste tam ne ga wje yajmoawat gi kékyajek wnago

Did you understand what those elders told the people yesterday?

Gne sto twam ne ga wje kedyan

Do you all understand what I said?

Gne sto tam ne i nga ket?

Do you people understand what I said?

Ahau, gse tem ok jayék éktot ode kewézi

Ok, understand everything this old man says!

Bsetmok

Listen (all of you)

Ahau, bsetmok jayék éktowat gi nakéndemwajek mine gsetemok jayék i ézhyayen ibe émawjeshnowat gi neshnabék.

Ok, listen (all of you) to everything these wise ones say to you all and understand all they say when you go over there where those Indians have gathered!

Bno wi pi égi penojéwiyak pené she gi yajmowat ibyé nebgeshmok gi kékyajek.

Long ago when we were children always those elders spoke to us when evening came.

Bama she pi gwi byé na wat ni kenomagewnen bwamshe ebyat o gatikno.

They will bring those teachings back before this spotted eagle returns!

Mano gwi zhe wébet mine!

It will happen again!

Gwi gne sto twak jayék gin wa i byé zhe wébek i

They will all understand when it happens!

Verbs, verbs and more verbs

mkedewa VII black it is

ptak wshka run into

manedon a lot of it

manek a lot of people

namma VTA accuse s.o./blame

wijewe acommpany

datsuknan add a room

pabwe VAI add s.t. to a pot

dgosek VII added/put with s.t.

wesha adopt him/her

gwesa VTA afraid of him/her

kwe’taje afraid(meek for no reason)

bmadze alive he is

nshikewze alone

nkwetan VTI answer it

Nkwetwa answer s.o.

gke’wa appoint s.o.

kkandwe VAI argue start Simmeral and Rhodes

mzhengazo arrested

dgweshen arrive

bgumboze arrive by car

bgumse arrive by foot

bgum bto arrive running

me’nshema ashamed make s.o.(by word

menshe ze ashamed/embarrassed

ndedmo ask for s.o.

natage ask questions

natowa ask s.o.

ninda an asks him/her to bring

kwabnoje babysitting

gzhadawso babysitting (N)

myanek VII bad

myane’ndem bad feeling

dasbdon bandaging

mgo/ mgowak barking

gzhibigzhe bath he is taking

bgeze bath/swim

bigshka be broken/wore out

dkaboya be cold a liquid

bige’btot VAI Be exhausted from running

gzhadze VAI be glad/lively

ye be in a place animate

te be in a place inanimate

yawe be s.o.

bdegde’k VII be somewhere

mdomneske bead

dadokmebe behave

gishde’ewa belief from the heart

debwetan believe it

debwetwa believe s.o.

mgugno VAI big he is

mshamget VII big it is

zgubwe bite

tekwa bite s.o. simmeral

wisken bitter it is

mkedewze VAI black he/she is

namedtwa VTA blame

shwendagze blessing

bashktene blew up/exploded it did

gibingwe blind

zan boil

skugmeze boiling out water from pot

dbeshka born literally dropped out

muhznemowa VTA borrow from s.o.

nizgikwa bother s.o.

kadenge braiding(hair)

wedase brave he/she is

pkwesgen ke bread making

bokshka broke

bokjanegnama VTA broke his/her nose

bokjaneshen broke my nose

gziyabdeo brush teeth

zhege build a home

jagakte burned all up

jagakso burned up he is

jagzan burning it

webakwne burning starting

jagde burnt it is

jagzo burnt it is animate

mengji burp

ngowa bury s.o.

Ngo’wa bury s.o.

ggengowa bury s.o. with something

moshtobot bushy

mishte’be bushy head

dmze busy ndotmes- I am busy

gishpnedon buy it

gishpnetwa VTA buy it for him/her

shegnona call on phone

zhenkaso VTI called he/she is

nedma VTA calls him/her

bgesh camp

bye-wiwzhet carry a pack

bmowdon carry it

gwdemodon Catch it(fish??)

notkwewe catting around

mjenwa VTA Challenge s.o.

atkezne change shoes

askonye changing clothes

dajton changing it

bumnashkowa chase s.o.

zhnashkowa VTA chase/send

zagdenashka chased outside

wyeshma VTA cheat him/her/ make a fool

dbabma VTA check on him/her

dbabdan VTI Check on it

shashagwe chew

gishkme chewing snuff

penojewi child to be

gke’wa choose s.o.

binchege VAI clean

dwakweya VII clear, clearing

kwedazi climb a tree

gbakwne close it

kapike coffee make

bige’je cold he is

wigbishke’ collect bark

nazo color he is

nade color it is

nsekwewa VTA comb his/her hair

na an kwe we combing/fixing hair

mone’wa come after to do harm

bye’gwashek VAI come ashore,nbye’gwashen-I

wje bya come from

bye’ comes

neshnade’ndem confused I am

jibakwe cook

wjanda VAI cook

gbaton VTI cook it

kisan cook it (PBP)

gbashma VTA cook it animate

kiswa cook it animate(PBP)

tkeze cool he is

tkeyamget II cool it is

negde cost it

negzo cost it does animate

sostem cough

dbaknege’t VAI council hold it

gedaso count

shagetaa coward simmerall

tkenagneke cradle board making

dapka debso cramp in leg

bmode crawl

giwnadze crazy/insane

yakwatze crazy/insane

mo crying

gishkwe o cut off head

gishgzhan cut the (meat)

Nimedi VAI dance

gish kpo’kwnyamget II dark it is

gipshe’ deaf

nakwnege decide

penmotwa VTA depend on s.o.

nshonajdot VTI destroy s.t.

nshonajdage’ VAI destroy things

Mbo die

giwne die in the throws of

zne’get difficult it is

wanke dig

wankadan dig it

win zhe dirty body(dirty skin)

win kwuhnye dirty clothes s.o. has on

wini ngwe dirty face

win zede dirty foot

winenji dirty hand

winze VAI dirty he/she is

win dbe dirty head

winagwet dirty it is

nkabawe’k VII dissolve

gogi dive

dodan VTI do s.t.

zhech ke do s.t.

dodma VTA do s.t. to s.o.

gishde mget done cooking it is

mzenbyean drawing

yabwe’ dream

yapwadan dream of it

yabwana dream of s.o.

biskonye dressed

mnopso VAI dressed up

Paso dried, creek bed

mnekwe drink

sakge drive deer

zgabyebge driving

Wenbisa VII drizzle/light rain

webna VTA Dropp him/her

mizajo drsssing up fancy

dewege drum, pound on things

be’gwede dry it is

gizhagde’ VII dry to be

wisne eat

wmenashknot VAI eat a feast

mijen eat it

mwa VTA eat it animate

widopma VTA eat with s.o.

mensheze embarrassed/ashamed

mokshka emerges

bidge’ VAI enter

pe’at VTA escape from s.o.

bige’yekwze VAI exhausted be

meskedemget expensive it is

meskezo expensive it is animate

zammeskedemget expensive too it is

wapsegamget faded it is

nisat VAI to go down as in lower oneself

pukshen fall down

bbamgwak VAI fall out of bed sleeping

nshiwboze fast driving

gzhye’ka fast he/she is

nshiwbode fast it is going

gzhe’kat VAI fast,running

gizhgamo fat/large he is

mgabewze fat/large he is

wik’kwge feast invite to

wik’ma feast invite to

shema VTA feed s.o.

Mosha VTI feel him/her

moshton VTI feel it

menshegojen fell and were embarrassed

tkobise fell in the water

naden fetch/get it

migadi VAI fight

migadwa VTA fight with one another

mosh ke na a fill it up animate

mkan find it

mkowa VTA Find s.o.

zhabshkan finsh accomplish s.t.

bodwe’ fire build

nakezhege fire stoking

gwedemojge fish also gigoke

gigo ke fish also gwedemojge

na I kan fix it

wawnesek VII fixed wrong

na an kwe we fixing hair/combin

psakwne mget II flaming/burning it is

nsewa’ket VAI fletch arrows

bmese’ VAI fly

bmise flyby

bmashi fly/soar on wind

nagdon VTI follow it

nagna follow s.o

kyebadze foolish

agwadze foolish even more

zhewenma VTA forgive s.o., have pity on

zaskokwe VAI fry

zaskokwa fry s.o. animate

depsenye full

mojkane VAI Full

moshkene full it is

tadi gamble

mawdon gathers it

widokwa get along,

nana get him/her

bose get in

wdenan get it

koga get out

wdetmek VTI get s.t.

debna gets it

debnege gets it

mina VTA Give s.o.

migwe’ VTI give things away

zhya VAI go

bme-zhya VAI go by

giwe goes home

wenek VII good,be (wenet)

skebgeze VAI green/blue he/she is

skebgya VII green/blue it is

majigen growing it is

nikmo growl

bgwe jina gut animate

mozho haircut

dew nenji hand hurts

nemowa VTA hand to him

gnengadek handheld s.t.

godon hanging it

gojege hanging it

godemget hanging it is

gojgade hanging it is (by someone)

mankago hangover or ill from food

bdeknan hangs over fire/puts

bye’-nomgek VII happen

nchiwenmo happy/excited

wizhgyak VII hard it is

zhiptem hardheaded

zhigenma VTA hate/doesn’t like s.o.

awdon haul it

ggeshkek VTI have s.t.

sa have s.t. animate

dewkwe headache ndewkwe-I have

nodan VTI hear it

notage hear it

gzhavgezwa VTA heat s.t. (animate)

gzhabosek VTI heat s.t. liquid

gze ze’kwe heating up food

gzhagmezan heating water

bze’gwen heavy it is

nishokmowa VTA help him/her

wjitemowa VTA help him/her

kanan hide

kazo VAI hide

katon hide it

gnonat VTA hide something(animate)

seke hide work on

na zhi ke ge hide work on soften/scrape

shpeyaze VAI high he/she is

shpya VII high it is

nisake hill go down

kwedake hill go up

nokazhwe’ VAI hire people

nokana VTA hire s.o.

nokana hire s.o.

wepodago hit I was

gbes gwe hoarse

gnenowso hold a baby

gnenan hold it

tekwenawse holding a baby

gbegwe’zet VAI hollow be

nchiwnagwze homely/ugly

bgosenjege hope for

bodewze horney

gzhate’k VII hot be (weather)

gshatemget II hot it is

gzhabote hot liquid

gzhede’k VII hot to the touch

gzhezot VAI hot to the touch

Waone howl also whipperwhill

bkede hungry

giwse hunts

wiskebna VTA hurt by pinching or grapping

dew nenji hurt hand

wishkeshen hurt I was

gzhibi ichy

gzhibzede ichy foot

gzhibedbe ichy head

mankago ill from food or hangover

bidek VII Inside

wik’ma invite to feast

zhoshkwegan ironing it

zhewebze it happed

yawen it is

gzhawenjge jealous

gzhawenma VTA jealous of s.o.

yayengajmo joke, tell funng story

gwashkseo jumps

dgeshkan kick

dekshkowa kick s.o.

nsa VTA kill

ntawe kill usually deer

tbuhgnandan knock it through s.t.

kkenma VTA know him/her

me’shenma VTA know him/her well

kkendan VTI know it

pegze laid out, passed out

metseshen late really

wikayo late, nwi wi kayo- I will be

yayeno laugh also bapi

bapi VAI laugh also yayeno

yabyetse lazy

niganit VAI lead,go first

tkobiso leap water

kkendaso learn it

bone’nma leave him/her alone

wjektan leave it behind

wjekna leave s.o. behind

maji leaves

bgejwe’bna VTA let go of s.o.

noskwa VTA Lick s.o.

gwijek VAI lie in the water

zhgeshek VAI lie somewher

sekeswa light up

megwendan like it

menwendan like it

menwenma like s.o.

bzendage listen in

bsedon listen to it

dat live he does

boztase load it on a vehicle

bozton load it/ mail it

shkapke en lock

ntagze lonely/sad

gnwa long it is

ggan’gadat VAI long legged

nedwabma looking for him

nedwabdan looking for it

meskwabdan looks good

mno wabmenagwze looks good

zhenagwze looks like/ comparision

bbekwe’sek VII loose it is

ngeton lose it

nike’ lose s.t.

nge’at VTA lose s.t. animate

giwani lost

ngeshen lost

gigiwze lost both parents

geso lost s.t. he did

debana love him/her/treasure

debadan love/treasure it

dbesze VAI low he/she is

dbesya VII low it is

kenweske lying he/she is

shkadze mad

zhabwi made it through

bozton mail it

wshton make it, ndo shton-I make it

gizhendem makes up mind h/s

gkebye’at VTA mark s.t. animate

wichewe married

widege married

mawjeshno meet

nkweshkwadwa VAI meet on another

nkweshkwa VTA meet s.o.

nkebye’shek VAI melt away nkebye’shen

nge demget II melting it is

yabjede’ma VTA mind on s.o.

niskadendem mixed up thoughts

mkezne’ke moccasin making

gwagnesek VII moldy it is

gziskege mop

wawina VTA name him/her

nshotatse’ naughty

menezo needs he does

waswa night shining/hunting

newe’we’gek VII noise make it

newe’we’gze VAI noise make it

nonawso nursing

babamitawa VTA obey

pitse old am so many years

doskaba open eyes his/hers

bakwne open it

sakwne open it

dawni?? VAI Open mouth Martin W

mneschege order put things

wzamgwak VAI oversleep

dbendan own it

wzhobyege paint

mawnjiwe party

dbe an pay for it

dbuhge pay he

zhikwa pays back/squares up

bumwa VTA pays him/her

egwanze peaceful

shishig pee

inendagze permited

bmenat VTA pet have one,nbemna

dapna pick it up animate

pkuhb’jige pick s.t.

minke’ picking blueberries

kwa gwdze?? pile wood

bebgeshek VAI pitch and fall nbebgeshen

mawdonge pitch in

ton place it somewhere

Gtege plant

dnekmegze play (N)

bakjege play ball

pekwakwto’we play ball

widokwa play nice

zheno point at s.t.

mizi poop

gdemagze poor,pitiful

zignen pour it

madmo pray

ndodaske pray in beseeching way

nijanse pregnant/ going to have

peshkweji pregnant/fat

wenze VAI pretty he/she is

Wikbdon Pull it

neshkwebzo pulling off/ turning off car

posmwendik Pure Love

nbegdena put down

bitakojge put down an offerering sema

bidapkowebna put in the pot

gwidot VTI put in water ngwidon

ge’zbnan put it away

bitogwshe’ put on a another cover

gwabge put on s.t. ladle s.t.

bitkezne put on shoes

tot VTI put s.t. somewhere, ton

gmowek VII raining it is

ptak wshka ge ran into s.o.

pkebze?? ran off the road

jibna reach around for s.o.

wawichge read

wawijge VAI read he/she does

wshitan ready

wzhita ready

mskoze VAI red he/she is

mskwa VII red it is

nangoma VTA related to s.o.

nwema o related to s.o.

mikwendan VTI remember it

mikwenma VTA remember s.o.

nweshmo resting

ggagze VAI rich to be

boze ride

bmomgo ride a horse

giwta’omgot VAI ride around horseback

pamboze riding around

gziyabawdon rinse dishes

gziyabawjege rinse s.t.

bitobinan rinsing it

ddek VII ripe it is

dde’k also VII ripe it is

neshke rise from bed

bjizhge roast food

bidge’je’ek VTI roll inside s.t.

dedbeje’we’bna VTA roll s.t. animate

dedbeje’we’bnek VTI roll s.t. inanimate

pukwe roofing

wawyeya mget VII round it is

bnachton ruins it

bbambetot VAI run around s.t.

giwtabtot VAI run around s.t.

gwabtot VAI run ashore

webiwe run away

we’biwe VAI run away

we’bi at VTA run away from s.o.

giwe’btot VAI run back/home

gwe’bmebtot VAI run by

gzhe kat VAI run fast

pe we t VAI run somewhere

gadzekmi run, take off

bonpeto VAI Running quit

majibede running/working it is

bmepto runs by

giwadze sad

ntagze sad/lonely

z geknan saves it

gishkpodze?? saw wood

kedo VAI Say s.t.

zhewe t VAI say s.t./ tell s.t.

na VTA say to s.o. nde na

ginmagdenen?? saying to you I am

yajdan saying/telling s.t.

gakashkewa scale

ze gze scared

bdegwnuk scared in dream

gwesa VTA scared/afraid of him

kwe taje VTA scared/afraid/meek

skono school go to

gzhibekne nat VTA scratch s.o. back

wabma VTA see him/her

wabdan VTI see it

nap see it/look

dawe VAI sell

dama VTA sell s.t. to s.o.

nita we VAI send for people

nita at VTA send for s.o.

nadastot VTI send for s.t.

zhnashkowa VTA send/chase

shkwegwaso sewing(by hand)

wjegwaso sewing(by maching)

wiwdiywa VAI sex with one another

wasot VAI shine nwases

pastemget VII Shinning/Sunny (PBP)

baskswa VTA Shoot him/her lit:explosion

pta pken mowa shoot wild

tko ze short he is

dkwa short it is

dkwa VII short it is

jigbegwe ge shovel snow

yakwnoge sick

ngemo VAI sing

wawiswa singe him animal

jiptebe sit

pbedyebe sit on s.t. (N)

jajiptebe VAI sitting continue

pshin ge skinning

gachabewze skinny

psedetegenama slapped him/her

zhoshko sledding

Mbe’ sleep

Wipema Sleep with/by slang for sex

bbamgwak VAI sleepwalk or fall out of

zhoshkze VAI slick to be

zhoshkwamget II slippery

gajbeze slow drive slow

bej bozo slow going

bej bede slow it is going

gachiye VAI small he is

gachiye small he/she is

gach nwa small it is

gachinwa VII small it is

mbwaka smart

mno magwze smell good he does

mno magwe smell good it does

bijmama VTA smell him/her

bijmandan smell it

shomigwe smile

wdema smoke

bkwenemget smokey it is

jachamo sneeze

mdwejane ngwam snoring

agmose’ snow shoe

pamponget VII snow, flurring

bindawbawdon soak s.t. to clean

bijdase socks putting on

nokya soft it is

zhemagneshiwe soldier he is

kikijwze sore all over/achey

kikijpekwen sore back

gikidze sore he is

kikijndebe sore head

kikijdamken sore jaw

kikij jane sore nose

notagze sound

ziwek VII sour to be

majmo speak in a spiritual way

zigme’ge’t VAI spear things

bnachton spends it

bimskwe webnan spin

mnedoke spirtiual doing

skowe spit

biskean splitting it

bzegwe stand

nibwe stand stay standing

webta start

dneze stay/live/hang around

Gmochke steal

kwansegze stingy

nkewena stop pick him/her up

ngashmiye stopped being

ngashka stopping

ngabzo stopping in a car

yatsoke story telling sacred stories

mignagwze strange he/she looks

myagze stranger he/she is

mishkweze strength/fortitude/spiritual

gzhe’wa VTA strike s.t. lightly

pozaboya VII Strong drink

wizhgeze VAI strong to be

mjemoshek VAI struck to be

na bin gade strung

zhiptem stuborn

kbakde’be stupid

mamkadendem surprised

gwdan swallow it

mzewegwdon swallow it whole

bwe’zo sweating

jemozo sweating he/she is

mdodo sweating in a sweatlodge?

jigedege sweep

bmatga swim

bbamadgat VAI swim around

wishgadga swim strong

bgeze swim/bath

we’bakwit VAI swing an axe

wewebso swing, sway

gnewanwe tail long

zhona VTA take him/her somewhere

majidon VTI Take it away

gitkezne take off shoes

majidage’ VAI take things

kikto VAI talk

neshnabemo talk indian

genona VTA talk to him/her

gnoze tall he is

bichbdan VTI taste it

gwjeptan taste it

bichbwa VTA Taste s.t. animate

ti ke tea make it

kenomage teaching

widmowa VTA tell s.o.

widmo tell s.t.

debwe tell truth

gweje a VTA test s.o.

gjitwa VTA test s.o. animate

gibade’ndem thining foolishly

nendem think

zhede a think

gashknabegwe thirsty

pegdon Throw it

Zagjewebna throw it out

pegdok VTI throw it pegdon

niswe’bnemwa VTA throw s.t. down to s.o.

we’bakwit VAI throw s.t. or swing an axe

dkobjege’t VAI tie things

dkobde’k VII tied be

bapsabinen tighten it up

yekwze tired

zhgekshen tired of lying down

menepwa tobacco fix

se’make VAI tobacco make

dagna VTA touch him/her

dagnan VTI touch it

odanke town go to

bmekashek VAI tracks make

yashtonmatwa VTI trade with some another

ashtonge trade,exchange

nagna trail s.o.

pamadze travel

debana treasure/love him/her

debadan treasure/love it

gshketon try it

gshkton try it

gwekpo’we turn and run

gwe’knewi turn around

gwekbezo turn around driving

myanek VII ugly

nchiwnagwze ugly/homely

wjeshek VAI underneath to be

nestotwa understand him/her

nestetan understand it

dab’an untying it

abumwa untying it for s.o.???

abjeton use it

minwe’wze useful he/she is

nbwachewe visit

nbwacha VTA visit him/her

babwichge wait

doki wake up

mejwebna wake up (by shaking)

pitse’t VAI walk a certain amount of time

bmose walks by

giwne’t VAI wallow around

nedwendan VTI Want it

nedwabma VTA want it animate

mnowadke’t VAI war dance hold one

gezhezo warm he is

gnemowa VTA warn s.o.

gzibinan wash it

gzibinge VAI washing

gzi ngwe washing face

gzinji washing hands

gzibi gdbe washing head

gzibinan washing it

gzibina washing s.o.

gwijek VAI water lie it it

biskan wear it

monshkwe weed

gwzekoze weighed

pitnuhgwze weighs

gishktuwayo whip Lorenzo

gasknezo whisper

bodajge whistle,blow

wabshkeze VAI white he/she is

wabshkya VII white it is

pkenage win

ngedzhewe’t VAI win a race,nnegdezhwe’-I won

nodek VII windy it is

wishtkanmet VII windy very

mikchewi work

mikchewitage’t VAI work for people

mikchewitwa VTA work for someone

dzhikan work on it

nki?? working on s.t.

myannowa VTA wound s.o.

myan na ge wounded s.t.

nebyege write

majibitmo an write to him

yanzo yawning he/she is ?? Lorenzo

weshkowa yell loud

wzawze VAI yellow he/she is

wzawa VII yellow it is

bapton VTI laugh at it

bapa VTA laugh at s.o.

nana VTA pick up s.o.

majishke’ start it/growing

dbema VTA pay s.o.

Some handy verbs to know

A List of Common Action Verbs…

Zhechké To Do
Giwé To Go Home
Giwsé To Hunt
Ktegé To plant (h/s plants)
Bidgé To Enter
Zagjesé To Go Outside
Mnekwé To Drink
Wanké To Dig
Wénkwéngé To Drive
Zgabyenge To steer, to drive
Binjegé To Clean
Gwdemojgé To Fish
Déwé’gé To Drum
Gemo To sing (h/s sings)
Bmadgé To Swim
Minké To Gather Berries
Biskonyé To Get Dressed
Giskonyé To get undressed
Kewabnojé To watch children (babysitting)
Gzhadawso Another babysitting
Migadi To Fight
Mikchéwi To Work
Anoki To work for hire
Maji To Leave/Go
Bsegwi To Get Up/Rise
Nim’edi To Dance
Chikaso To Play
Bkeso To Bathe/to swim (h/s bathes0
Kedo To Say
Neshnabémo To Speak Indian Language
Zhya/zhyé To Go
Bya/byé To Come/Arrive
Wdema To Smoke
Wdemé Another way to say to smoke
Wisne To Eat
Jibtebe To Sit
Nibwe To Stand
Bose To Ride
Ye To be in a certain place
Yawe State of being (h/s is)
Mzhena To seize, lay hold of
Mawdo To gather
Pkebna To pick, to reach up
Dapna To pick, to reach down
Dkobjegé To close a circle, to end things
Débnek Reach for s.t.
Bgedna to put down s.t., to lay s.t. down
Mdomneké To bead
Gokpenagé To make baskets
Zisbakdoké To make sugar
Msenagseké To go to the movies, to make pictures
Wjanda To cook
Gigéno To cook
Bmose To walk
Bmepto To run
Tkemsé To cross over
Bebamsé To walk around, to walk about
Zhonyamké To have money
Odanké To shop, to go to town
Msenegé to charge things, as in credit
We’e, We’uh To loan, to give credit
Dbegé To pay s.t.
Dawé To buy and sell
Gishnena To buy as in commercial buying
Gishpnedo To buy, to shop
Kigdo To speak, talk
Néndek To think a certain way
Nénmat To think a certain way about s.o.
Néndem To think
Nagdewénmat To think of s.o.
Nagdewéndek To think of s.t.
Gchenénmat To think a lot of s.o.
Mba/mbé To sleep
Nwéshmo To rest
Ensestek To understand
Enseto To reason
Nbwaka To reason
Bsegwi To rise
Doki To awake
Bkezo To bathe, shower
Gzingé To wash up
Binchegé To clean
Binakchegé To clean
Wawida To read
Wawijgé To read
Wab To see
Wabma To see s.o.
Wabdan To see s.t.
Mina To give
Mingo To receive
Shema To feed
Shemgo To be fed
Gzinwnagé To wash dishes
Bgedna To allow s.o. to do s.t.
Bgednon To allow s.t.
Binakwe’o To comb hair
Gziyabde’o To brush teeth
Mneschegé To put things in order, housework
Doma To call s.o.
Gishkmé to chew tobacco or plug tobacco
Skowé to spit as in saliva

Things we shall study next

Exercise 4: -i verbs

These are also very easy verbs to use, and they don’t do much changing.

Maji To leave

Mikjéwi To work

Tadi To gamble/play cards

Kwédasi To climb

Migadi To fight

Nim’edi To dance

Gogi To dive

Ngi maji N + gi + maji I left.

Ggi maji G + gi + maji You left.

Gi maji Gi + maji He or she left.

Ngi majimen N + gi + maji + men We- left.

Ggi majimen G + gi + maji + men We+ left.

Ggi majim G + gi + maji + m Y’all left.

Gi majik Gi + maji + k They left.

Nwi nim’edi N + wi + nim’edi I will dance

Gwi nim’edi G + wi + nim’edi You will dance

Wi nim’edi Wi + nim’edi He/she will dance

Nwi nim’edimen N + wi + nim’edi + men We- will dance

Gwi nim’edimen G + wi + nim’edi + men We+ will dance

Gwi nim’edim G + wi + nim’edi + m Y’all will dance

Wi nim’edik Wi + nim’edi + k They will dance

Nge tadi N + ge + tadi I’m about to gamble

Gge tadi G + ge + tadi You are about to gamble

Ge tadi ge + tadiwak He/she is about to gamble

Nge tadimen N + ge + tadi + men We- are about to gamble

Ge tadimen g + Ge + tadi + men We+ are about to gamble

Gge tadim G + ge + tadi + m Y’all are about to gamble

Ge tadik Ge + tadi + k They are about to gamble

Command Forms:

Majin leave Gégo majiken Don’t leave

Mikjéwin work Gégo mikjéwiken Don’t work

Tadin play cards Gégo tadiken Don’t gamble

Kwédasin climb Gégo kwédasiken Don’t climb

Migadin fight Gégo migadiken Don’t fight

Nim’edin dance Gégo nim’ediken Don’t dance

Gogin dive Gégo gogiken Don’t dive

Cho nwi majisi Cho + n + wi + maji + si I won’t leave

Cho gwi mikjéwisi Cho + g + wi + mikjéwi + si You won’t work

Cho wi tadisi Cho + wi + tadi + si He/she won’t gamble

Cho nwi kwédasesimen Cho + n + wi + kwédasi + si + men

We- won’t climb

Cho gwi migadisimen Cho + g + wi + migadi + si + men

We+ won’t fight

Cho gwi nim’edisim Cho + g + wi + nim’edi + si + m

Y’all won’t dance

Cho wi gogisik Cho + wi + gogi + si + k

They won’t dive

Practice with negatives, questions, and commands.

Gégpi ne ggi giwé
Cho ne ggi gapikési
Gwi gtegankém ne ode niben
Kwédakik ne gwi kwédasim
Mégwa ne gwi nim’edi
Chomamda nwi wankésimen
Chomshe ne ggi zhechkésim
Nangodgen gminkémen
Gégo tadiken shote
Gégo gogikék shote
Cho ne mbishkik gi giwsési
Gégo mnekwéken ode mbish
Abdek gwi biskonyém
Cho ne gda majisi
Jak ngoji ngi pamsé
Gégo wébiwéken
Gégo giskonyéken shote!
Ézhi tkemsén
Nomye gi bmisé o bnéshi
Gégo migadikék bidek
Ggi gish dé’menkém ne
Mégwa ne ggikitsé
Nda gapiké ne
Nétem nwi maji
Gawa ngi mikchéwimen
Namsek gwi tadimen
O biskonyén
Abdek ne gwi biskonyési
Ge migadimen
Chomamda nwi nim’edisi ngom
Nsheké ngi tkemsé
Gégpi ne ggi biskonyé
Gwi giwémen wabek
Bama nagech gwi tadimen
Gégo kwédasiken o mteg
Ngi gish tiké
Abdek nwi zisbaktokémen
Mégwa ne gwi mnekwé
Nagech nwi mikchéwimen
Nda bmosé ngoji
Nomye nge maji
Cho nde nim’edisimen
Cho nde migadisimen
Kiwédnon ge giwsémen
Chomamda gwi gapikésimen
Chomshe ne ggi minkésimen
Nsheké ngi minké wnago
Cho ngoji ngi gogisi
Cho gégo ngi zhechkési

Gégpi ne ggi giwé Did you finally go home?
Cho ne ggi gapikési Didn’t you make coffee?
Gwi gtegankém ne ode niben Will y’all do a garden this summer?
Kwédakik ne gwi kwédasim Will y’all climb the hill?
Mégwa ne gwi nim’edi Will you still dance?/Will you dance more?
Chomamda nwi wankésimen It’s impossible for us- to dig a hole
Chomshe ne ggi zhechkésim Haven’t y’all done it yet?
Nangodgen gminkémen Sometimes we+ pick berries
Gégo tadiken shote Don’t gamble here
Gégo gogikék shote Don’t dive here, y’all
Cho ne mbishkik gi giwsési Didn’t he/she hunt at the marsh?
Gégo mnekwéken ode mbish Don’t drink this water
Abdek gwi biskonyém Y’all need to get dressed.
Cho ne gda majisi Shouldn’t you leave?
Jak ngoji ngi pamsé I walked everywhere
Gégo wébiwéken Don’t run away
Gégo giskonyéken shote! Don’t get undressed here!
Ézhi tkemsén Walk across over there
Nomye gi bmisé o bnéshi That bird flew a little while ago
Gégo migadikék bidek Don’t fight inside, y’all
Ggi gish dé’menkém ne Did y’all already pick strawberries?

Have y’all finished picking strawberries?

Mégwa ne ggikitsé Are you still limping?
Nda gapiké ne Should I make coffee?
Nétem nwi maji I will leave first
Gawa ngi mikchéwimen We- hardly worked
Namsek gwi tadimen We+ will gamble downstairs
O biskonyén Go get dressed
Abdek ne gwi biskonyési Don’t you have to get dressed
Ge migadimen Let’s fight
Chomamda nwi nim’edisi ngom It’s impossible for me to dance today
Nsheké ngi tkemsé I walked across alone
Gégpi ne ggi biskonyé Did you finally get dressed
Gwi giwémen wabek We+ will go home tomorrow
Bama nagech gwi tadimen We+ will gamble later
Gégo kwédasiken o mteg Don’t climb that tree
Ngi gish tiké I already made tea/I finished making tea
Abdek nwi zisbaktokémen We- must make maple sugar
Mégwa ne gwi mnekwé Will you drink more?
Nagech nwi mikchéwimen We- will work later
Nda bmosé ngoji I should walk somewhere
Nomye nge maji I’m about to leave in a little while
Cho nde nim’edisimen We- are not dancing
Cho nde migadisimen We- are not fighting
Kiwédnon ge giwsémen Let’s go hunting up north
Chomamda gwi gapikésimen It’s impossible for us+ to make coffee
Chomshe ne ggi minkésimen Didn’t we pick berries yet?
Nsheké ngi minké wnago I picked berries alone yesterday
Cho ngoji ngi gogisi I didn’t dive anywhere
Cho gégo ngi zhechkési I didn’t do anything

Exercise 5: – o verbs that don’t drop

Kigdo to talk

Madmo to pray

Bmepto to run **irregular like bmosé

Yajmo to speak

Najdo to ask

Najmo to say

Nbémbeto N + bmepto becomes N + bémbeto

Gbémbeto G + bmepto becomes G + bémbeto

Bmeptowak Bmepto + wak

Nbémbetomen N + bmepto + men becomes N + bémbeto + men

Gbémbetomen G + bmepto + men becomes G + bémbeto + men

Gbémbetom G + bmepto + m becomes G + bémbeto + m

Bmeptok Bmepto + k

Ngi bmepto N + gi + bmepto I ran

Ggi bmepto G + gi + bmepto You ran

Gi bmepto Gi + bmepto He/she ran

Ngi bmeptomen N + gi + bmepto + men We- ran

Ggi bmeptomen G + gi + bmepto + men We+ ran

Ggi bmeptom G + gi + bmepto + m Y’all ran

Gi bmeptok Gi + bmepto + k They ran

Nwi madmo N + wi + madmo I will pray

Gwi madmo G + wi + madmo You will pray

Wi madmo Wi + madmo He/she will pray

Nwi madmomen N + wi + madmo + men We- will pray

Gwi madmomen G + wi + madmo + men We+ will pray

Gwi madmom G + wi + madmo + m Y’all will pray

Wi madmok Wi + madmo + k They prayed

Cho ngi najdosi Cho + n + gi + najdo + si I didn’t ask

Cho ggi najdosi Cho + g + gi + najdo + si You didn’t ask

Cho gi najdosi Cho + gi + najdo + si He/she didn’t ask

Cho ngi najdosimen Cho + n + gi + najdo + si + men We- didn’t ask

Cho ggi najdosimen Cho + g + gi + najdo + si + men We+ didn’t ask

Cho ggi najdosim Cho + g + gi + najdo + si + m Y’all didn’t ask

Cho gi najdosik Cho + gi + najdo + si + k They didn’t ask

Nda kigdo ne? Should I talk?

Gwi kigdo ne? Will you talk?

Gi kigdo ne o? Did he/she talk?

Nge kigdomen ne? Are we- about to talk?

Gde kigdomen ne? Are we+ talking?

Abdek ne gkigdom? Do y’all need to talk?

Gégpi ne gi kigdok? Did they finally talk?

Nda kigdosi ne?

Gwi kigdosi ne?

Gi kigdosi ne o?

Nge kigdosimen ne?

Gde kigdosimen ne?

Abdek ne gkigdosim?

Gégpi ne gi kigdosik?

Gégo kigdoken

Gégo madmoken

Gégo bmeptoken

Gégo yajmoken

Gégo najdoken

Gégo najmoken

Plural commands: Use the Context of the situation to determine if you are talking about multiple persons doing something (winwa), or commanding multiple persons to do something (ginwa)

Kigdon! Kigdok!

Madmon! Madmok!

Bmepton! Bmeptok!

Yajmon! Yajmok!

Najdon! Najdok!

Najmon! Najmok!

Answers

Nda kigdosi ne? Shouldn’t I talk?

Gwi kigdosi ne? Won’t you talk?

Gi kigdosi ne o? Didn’t he/she talk?

Nge kigdosimen ne? Aren’t we- about to talk?

Gde kigdosimen ne? Aren’t we+ talking?

Abdek ne gkigdosim? Don’t y’all need to talk?

Gégpi ne gi kigdosik? Didn’t they finally talk?

Gégo kigdoken Don’t talk

Gégo madmoken Don’t pray

Gégo bmeptoken Don’t run

Gégo yajmoken Don’t speak

Gégo najdoken Don’t ask

Gégo najmoken Don’t say

Kigdon! Talk! Kigdok! Talk!

Madmon! Pray! Madmok! Pray!

Bmepton! Run! Bmeptok! Run!

Yajmon! Speak! Yajmok! Speak!

Najdon! Ask! Najdok! Ask!

Najmon! Say! Najmok! Say!

Intro to Conjuncts using -yan, -yen, and -yék

There are many reasons to use conjuncts, in songs, stories, questions, and explanations. We will spread this out over several lessons to help you absorb.

The key to learning the conjunct endings is the VOWEL SOUND. Go back over the “vowel pronunciation chart” and really pay attention to vowel sounds that you hear and speak.

To make a conjunct that refers back to I/me, use a -yan ending

To make a conjunct that refers back to you singular, use a -yen ending.

Those 2 vowel sounds are key: for -yan, use the vowel Ah

and for -yen…… think of that -yen ending as the sound in the word Onion. Un-yen.

Égiwéyan I go home Égiwéyen you go home

Émnekwéyan I drink Émnekwéyen you drink

Ébmoséyan I walk Ébmoséyen you walk

Étkemséyan I walk across Étkemséyen you walk across

Ézhechkéyan I do Ézhechkéyen you do

Éminkéyan I pick berries Éminkéyen you pick berries

Égtegankéyan I garden Égtegankéyen you garden

Éwankéyan I dig a hole Éwankéyen you dig a hole

Émajiyan I leave Émajiyen you leave

Émikchéwiyan I work Émikchéwiyen you work

Ébmeptoyan I run Ébmeptoyen you run

Ékigdoyan I talk Ékigdoyen you talk

Émadmoyan I pray Émadmoyen you pray

Énajdoyan I ask Énajdoyen you ask

The “É” is a factive, and it comes in the front of many conjuncts. Sometimes it can take a tense, like égi or éwi. It connects the conjunct to something else, either in the same sentence or in the same conversation.

You use conjuncts when you are seeking information in a question, so let’s use them in context and practice questions.

Ni je = What Ni pi je = Where Ni je pi = When

Ni je égi zhechkéyen? Ni pi je égi zhechkéyen Ni je pi égi zhechkéyen

What did you do where did you do it when did you do it

Ni je éwi kigdoyen Ni pi je éwi kigdoyen Ni je pi éwi kigdoyen

What will you talk about where will you talk when will you talk

Ni je émnekwéyen Ni pi je émnekwéyen Ni je pi émnekwéyen

What are you drinking where are you drinking when are you drinking

Of course not every verb makes sense with each question. When asked a question in conjunct, you may answer in conjunct, or not, it’s up to the speaker’s preference.

Here are some examples of conjunct answers:

Ode se égi zhechkéyan Shote égi zhechkéyan Nomye égi zhechkéyan

This is what I did I did it here I did it a little while ago

Ode se éwi kigdoyan Ézhi éwi kigdoyan Wabek éwi kigdoyan

This is what I will talk about I will talk over there I will talk tomorrow

Mbish émnekwéyan Zagech émnekwéyan Nagech émnekwéyan

I am drinking water I am drinking outside I am drinking later

You can also use conjuncts to connect 2 or more verbs in a sentence.

Nwi giwé éwi tikéyan I will go home and make tea

Kwédakik nwi pamsé éminkéyan I will walk up the hill and pick berries

As we learn more verbs we will put more phrases together like this.

One more ending…. Ginwa, Plural You, there is a different ending to use.

Égiwéyen you go home Égiwéyék y’all go home

Émnekwéyen you are drinking Émnekwéyék y’all are drinking

Ébmoséyen you are walking Ébmoséyék y’all are walking

Étkemséyen you walk across Étkemséyék y’all are walking across

Ézhechkéyen you are doing Ézhechkéyék y’all are doing

Éminkéyen you pick berries Éminkéyék y’all pick berries

Égtegankéyen you garden Égtegankéyék y’all garden

Éwankéyen you dig a hole Éwankéyék y’all are digging a hole

Émajiyen you are leaving Émajiyék y’all are leaving

Émikchéwiyen you are working Émikchéwiyék y’all are working

Ébmeptoyen you are running Ébmeptoyék y’all are running

Ékigdoyen you are talking Ékigdoyék y’all are talking

Émadmoyen you are praying Émadmoyék y’all are praying

Énajdoyen you are asking Énajdoyék y’all are asking

Again, pay close attention to the vowel sounds on the end!

Ni je énajdoyen? What are you asking

Ni pi je éwankéyék? where did y’all dig that hole

Ni je pi éwi majiyen? when are you leaving

Ni je ézhechkéyék? what are y’all doing

Ni pi je ébmeptoyék? where are you running

Ni je émnekwéyen? what are you drinking

Exercise 6: -o verbs that drop.

Chikaso – to play

Zhenkaso – to be called

Gédaso – to count

Yayéno – to laugh

Jechamo – to sneeze

Neshnabémo – to speak Indian

Kedo – to say something

Nde chikas N + de + chikaso – o I am playing

Gde chikas G + de + chikaso – o you are playing

Chikasowak Chikaso + wak he/she is playing

Nde chikasmen N + de + chikaso – o + men we- are playing

Gde chikasmen G + de + chikaso – o + men we+ are playing

Gde chikasom G + de + chikaso + m y’all are playing

Chikaswik Chikaso – o + wik They are playing

Ngi jecham N + gi + jechamo – o I sneezed

Ggi jecham G + gi + jechamo – o you sneezed

Gi jechamo Gi + jechamo he/she sneezed

Ngi jechamen N + gi + jechamo – o + men we- sneezed

Ggi jechamen G + gi + jechamo – o + men we+ sneezed

Ggi jechamom G + gi + jechamo + m y’all sneezed

Gi jechamwik Gi + jechamo – o + wik they sneezed

Ndezhnekas N + de + zhenkaso – o I am called

Gdezhnekas G + de + zhenkaso – o you are called

Zhenkaso Zhenkaso he/she is called

Ndezhnekasmen N + de + zhenkaso – o + men we- are called

Gdezhnekasmen G + de + zhenkaso – o + men we+ are called

Gdezhnekasom G + de + zhenkaso + m y’all are called

Zhenkaswik Zhenkaso – o + wik they are called

Ngi ked N + gi + ked – o I said

Ggi ked G + gi + ked – o you said

Kedo Kedo he/she said

Ngi kedmen N + gi + kedo – o + men we- said

Ggi kedmen G + gi + kedo – o + men we+ said

Ggi kedom G + gi + kedo + m y’all said

Gi kedwik Gi kedo – o + wik they said

Cho ngi yayénsi Cho + n + gi + yayéno – o + si I didn’t laugh

Cho ggi yayénsi Cho + g + gi + yayéno – o + si you didn’t laugh

Cho gi yayénosi Cho + gi + yayéno + si he/she didn’t laugh

Cho ngi yayénsimen Cho + n + gi + yayéno – o + si + men

we- didn’t laugh

Cho ggi yayénsimen Cho + g + gi + yayéno – o + si + men

we+ didn’t laugh

Cho ggi yayénosim Cho + g + gi + yayéno + si + m y’all didn’t laugh

Cho gi yayénosik Cho + gi + yayéno + si + k they didn’t laugh

Ni je da kedyan?

Ni je ga kedyen?

Ni je ezhnekasyen?

Ni je ezhnekasyék?

Ni pi je ga chikasyan?

Ni pi je ga chikasyen?

Ni pi je ga chikasyék?

Neshnabémo Bodéwadmimo

Gneshnabém ne? Gbodéwadmim ne?

Abdek nneshnabémmen Abdek nbodéwadmimen

Gégpi ne gneshnabémom? Gégpi ne gbodéwadmimom?

Cho nneshnabémsi Cho nbodéwadmimsi

Nangodgen gwi neshnabémmen Nangodgen gwi bodéwadmimmen

Answers

Ni je da kedyan? What should I say?

Ni je ga kedyen? What did you say?

Ni je ezhnekasyen? What are you called?

Ni je ezhnekasyék? What are y’all called?

Ni pi je ga chikasyan? Where did I play?

Ni pi je ga chikasyen? Where did you play?

Ni pi je ga chikasyék? Where did y’all play?

Neshnabémon Speak Indian

Bodéwadmimon Speak Potawatomi

Gneshnabém ne? Do you speak Indian?

Gbodéwadmim ne? Do you speak Potawatomi?

Abdek nneshnabémmen We must speak Indian

Abdek nbodéwadmimen We must speak Potawatomi

Gégpi ne gneshnabémom? Do y’all finally speak Indian

Gégpi ne gbodéwadmimom? Do y’all finally speak Potawatomi

Cho nneshnabémsi I don’t speak Indian

Cho nbodéwadmimsi I don’t speak Potawatomi

Nangodgen gwi neshnabémmen Sometimes we+ will speak Indian

Nangodgen gwi bodéwadmimmen Once in a while we+ will speak Potawatomi

On conversational phrases

Conversation Script

A: Gwi zhya ne ge gi, ibe medatso bi nag?

Are you going to Washington, too?

B: Ehe, nwi zhya.

Yes, I am going.

A: Génin nwi zhya ibe. We gwni je wa je zhya yen?

I’m going there too. What are you going there for?

B: Nwi o widokage. Gin je?

I’m going there to participate. You?

A: Nin je wi o nim edi.

I’m going there to dance.

B: Ni jo pi, wa ne ma ji yen?

When are you leaving?

A: Eshke ge sot, ode nmebne gizes nwi maji.

I’m leaving on the first of March.

B: Ni jo pi je neyap wa bme byayen?

When are you coming back?

A: Ngot wadso gishek, ode nmebne gizes pi neyab wa bme byayan.

I’ll be back on the sixth of March.

B: Nin se wi zhe ode zisbaktokégizes eshkegesot nwi maji, mine demengizes neyap wa bme byayan

As for me, I’m leaving the first of April, and I’ll be back in June.

Negative Phrase Conversation

A: Njeshek ne gi bya? Did you just arrive?

B: Cho, zagech ngi nibwe égi wdeméyan

No, I was standing outside smoking

A: Hau, Mani ne gi wabma zagech ? Oh, did you see Mani outside ?

B : Cho weye ngi wabmasi zagech I didn’t see anyone outside

A: Hau? Cho ne gi wabmasi o Mani? Oh? Didn’t you see Mani?

B: Cho she Mani ngi wabmasi, cho she weye ngi wabmasi zagech

No, I really didn’t see Mani, I really didn’t see anyone outside

A: Hau? Ni pi je éyéyet o Mani? Oh, where is Mani ?

Mani : Hau, bozho Oh, helllo

B : Hau, gin negwne. Oh, so it’s you

A : Cho zagech ne gi zhyasi ? Didn’t you go outside ?

Mani : Cho zagech ngi zhyasi. No, I didn’t go outside.

Ngi sakem. I went to the bathroom.

A: Gi yapjemaji o Mani ngi shedé’a gé nin

I thought that Mary had left for good/implication here is to run off.

Mani: Cho gi yapje majisi ngoji weye

No I didn’t run off anywhere.

Zamjesh éshede’ayék gé ginwa ézhechkéyan shna

You people are thinking way too much of what I do.

Participle Practice Phrases

Ni je pi wa wisnewat gi békdéjek?

When are those hungry ones going to eat?

Widmo gi badgéjek éwi madmoyan

Tell those who are going in I will pray for them

Ngi wabmak gi yayénojek ibe

I saw those ones who are laughing over there

Widmo o éjabdebet zagech ébidgét shote

Tell that one sitting outside to come in here

Nwi shema ode ébékdét

I’m going to feed this hungry one.

Ni pi je ézhyéwat gi wédmajek égi jibtebwat zagech?

Where did those smokers go who were sitting outside?

Gi jagé ne o égi wasnet?

Did that one who was eating consume everything ?

Kchemikchéwiwat gi gagénojek

They are working hard those cookers

Kchemikchéwiwat gi kwék égigénowat

They are working hard those women who are cooking

Nenmo anet mijem o émajit

Give some food to that one who is leaving

Widmo o shkenwé énébat odo pi énawkwék!

Tell that young man who is sleeping that it’s noon!

Wigézen gi gawséjek gishpen mtegwakik gwi zhya

Watch out for those hunters if you go into the woods

Seksi gi nsa o égi gawsét

That one who was hunting killed a deer

Ngi wabmak gi bamséjek odanek

I saw those ones walking in town

Kyébadzik égishkwébyéwat gi ménkwéjek

They are naughty when they get drunk those drinkers

Mbusen wi neboswik gi gawéjek

Those who are going home are going by bus

Nin se égi bamsét ibe

I am the one who was walking over there.

Gin se mteno éwasnet or Gin se mteno éwisneyen

You are the only one who is eating or You are the only one eating

Ginwa ne se égi wédmajek zagech?

Are you all the ones who were smoking outside ?

Nétawasnet o

He/she is the one who is always eating.

Wégwéndek ézhechkét o éjabdebet pené zhi.

I wonder what he does that one who is always sitting there

Wégwéndek éshedé’at o éyayénot

I wonder what he is thinking that one who is laughing

Neshkama o ébambetot bidek

Get after/bawl out that one who is running inside

Ni pi je ézhyéwat gi majijek?

Where are they going those that left?

Ni je enendemyek eje kendasyek ode seshmowen?

What do ya all think of how you’re learning this language?

Ngot kedwen se ije pi anake mjesh kedwenen?

One word at a time or many words/phrases?

On understanding

Wne ste tan He/she understands it

(what is being said)

Gne ste tan ne? Do you understand it?

Wne stotwan He/she understands him/her

Gne sto to ne? Do you understand me?

Gne sto twa ne? Do you understand him/her?

Gne sto twak ne? Do you understand them?

Gne sto ta gwnan ne? Does he/she understand us?

Gne sto ta gwnanek ne? Do they understand us?

Jo gne ste tos non I don’t understand you.

Gne sto tan ne i?

Do you understand that?

Gne sto tam ne i?

Do you people understand that?

Ahau, nse tem ok ode

Ok, understand this!

Ne sto tan

I understand!

Ne sto tamen

We understand! (excl.)

Gne sto tamen

We understand! (incl.)

Gne sto tamen ne?

Do we understand? (incl.)

Jo, gne ste to snon

I don’t understand you.

Gne sto twa ne?

Do you understand him/her?

Gne sto towem ne?

Do you people understand me?

Gne sto twen

I understand you.

Nse ta gwse

He/she is understandable!

Gne ste townem

I understand you people.

Jo, gne ste to wso nem.

I don’t understand you guys.

Gi gne ste tam ne ga wje yajmoawat gi kékyajek wnago

Did you understand what those elders told the people yesterday?

Gne sto twam ne ga wje kedyan

Do you all understand what I said?

Gne sto tam ne i nga ket?

Do you people understand what I said?

Ahau, gse tem ok jayék éktot ode kewézi

Ok, understand everything this old man says!

Bsetmok

Listen (all of you)

Ahau, bsetmok jayék éktowat gi nakéndemwajek mine gsetemok jayék i ézhyayen ibe émawjeshnowat gi neshnabék.

Ok, listen (all of you) to everything these wise ones say to you all and understand all they say when you go over there where those Indians have gathered!

Bno wi pi égi penojéwiyak pené she gi yajmowat ibyé nebgeshmok gi kékyajek.

Long ago when we were children always those elders spoke to us when evening came.

Bama she pi gwi byé na wat ni kenomagewnen bwamshe ebyat o gatikno.

They will bring those teachings back before this spotted eagle returns!

Mano gwi zhe wébet mine!

It will happen again!

Gwi gne sto twak jayék gin wa i byé zhe wébek i

They will all understand when it happens!

Words for enrichment

Assorted words for vocabulary enrichment

Bonye wit – finished/es, he/she (needs prefix)

Bon gizh – to finish s.t.

Gizh – finish.

Gizhi – finished.

Zhabshkan – h/s finishes, accomplishes s.t.

Bonshkat – h/s finished s.t.

Gizhita – to finish s.t.

Gizhitat – h/s finishes s.t.

Gizhtot – h/s finishes s.t.

Gizhton – to finish s.t. (inan.)

Zheto – to make s.t.

Neto – to try s.t./try/attempt.

Shketo – to make an attempt.

Ewdadset – h/s who was born.

Gi wdaze – that one was born.

Egi nigyan – I was born.

Egi mashkayan – I flew.

Egi pabmashkayan – I flew all over or I flew all around.

Egi wdadsiyan – when I was born.

Egi nigyan – when I was born.

Kyendesen – hurry.

Wewendesen – hurry.

Wjandan kyenep – cook quickly s.t. (inan.)

Zhishjegen/jigtegen – broom.

Also jishtegen – broom.

Zhibawaseya – transparent (inan.)

Zhibawasezi – transparent (anim.)

Zhabwatezigwa – ice (referring to the opaque quality)

Zhibawase mjedasnen – sheer stockings.

Zhabwate’egen mjedas – sheer nylon stocking.

Bkwakwet – ball.

Wizhgebkwakwet – hard ball.

Wagjaya bkwade – curve ball.

Nisaj bkwade – sinker ball.

Gzyeka bkwade – fast ball.

Nenjis bkwade – knuckle ball.

Bgeshnem bkwade – drop ball.

Azhtoge bkwade – change up ball.

Giwshkwe bkwade – corkscrew ball.

Bimskwem bkwade – corkscrew ball.

Gonaken bkwade – knuckle ball.

Medagwegwet I kigdowen – that’s an interesting subject.

Medagwegwet I – that’s interesting!

Emedagwegwat – they’re having an interesting time….

Mkedewkonye – priest or black robe.

Msenagkesget – secretary.

Msenazget – photographer.

Wzhobyewmsenazget – artist or painter.

Msenabiget – artist.

Various Neshnabe Games.

Mamkeznewen – moccasin game (man’s game)

Bnekwe – woma’s bowl game.

Epeskewewen – another word for woman’s bowl game….

Associated with a form of lacrosse game with it….

Egsegkewat – they are playing the women’s dice game/bowl game.

Ksekenek – old style word for bowl and dice (belonging to the women)

Epeski’a – another word for woman’s ball game.

Pegnegwen – Lacrosse.

Pagishenak – racket.

Sheshawinitjiken – cup and pin game.

Mzekwage – the icicle/could also be used to describe a fluttering bird,

usually an eagle, how they seem to hang in one spot while fluttering.

Nizgikdadwa – bother s.o.

Nizgakdadwat – bother each other.

Nizgikwat – they bother s.o.

Nnigiskwa – I bother s.o.

Nnizgikdadmen – we – you bother s.o.

Gnizgikdadmen – we + you bother s.o.

Mskogat – yarn belt.

Mskogaden – plural.

Meme – piliated woodpecker.

Memeyek – plural.

Mikjewitaget – work for s.o. (people).

Anokagiget – a worker for hire.

Nokana – to hire s.o.

Nwi nokanage – I will hire s.o.

Pepij – once in awhile.

Mbish nwi wzan – I’m going to boil water.

Gwi ndo mbes – are you going to take a bath?

Neskwe – brush hair.

Gzi yabde – he/she brushes his/her teeth.

Nwi gzi yabde – I will brush my teeth.

Gzi yab deon – brush your teeth!

Ga bme je bgeshyen – where you camp.

Ga bme je bgeshyek – where you folks camp.

Ga bme je bgeshyan – where I camp.

Bakwiyangemek – tent.

Bebkoyangemek – cloth tent.

Nso’egan – wigwam/teepee, a tripod house….

referring to the tripod needed to support the dwellings they used to make and cover with whatever…

negekgemek – bark house.

Shkwadem – door.

Gashkika’on – threshold.

Wasejgen – window. (literally, s.t. you can see light through).

Waskonenjegas – small lamp.

Waskonenjegen – light.

Nibwaskonenjegen – floor lamp.

Naken – rug.

Aneskewes – small throw rug.

Pegwen – mat, as in cat tail.

Beshmonkojgen – large rug.

Dopwen – table.

Jibtebwenen – chairs.

Jibtebwen – chair.

Pedyebwen – s.t. to sit on.

Pedyebwenen – plural.

Mbagen (en) – bed/beds.

Waboyan (en) – blanket/blankets.

Bakweshmowen (en) – pillow/pillows.

Wnagen (en) – dish/dishes.

Bdekjigen (en) – fork/forks.

Taswen – cupboard/closet.

Gzhabkezgen – stove.

Deschegen – shelf; also desk or a low table.

Atsek – room.

Datseknan – add a room.

Pakwan – roof.

Shpemsegen – ceiling.

Atsekwnegadek – a specific room.

Koman – knife.

Wagakoman – curved blade knife.

Zhadi – arrow.

Pekwe (yen) – arrow (referring to the straight shaft of the arrow).

they were very straight, like the cat tails shafts….

Nwib – arrow (referring to the sharpened projectile point).

Mtegwab – bow.

Megos – awl.

Jishkwajgen – scraper.

Megeshkan – hook.

Biwabkon – flint.

Biwabken – iron striker.

Shiwgnabek – flint

Bodwe – make a fire.

Shkwede – fire.

Msen – firewood.

Biskean – split wood

Emkan (en) – spoon/spoons.

Mtegemkwan (en) – wooden spoon (s).

Kwabgen – cup or dipper.

Kwabegas – small cup or small dipper.

Mnekwajgen – s.t. to drink from, usually a cup.

Begwedemget – it is dry.

Begwedejgadek – dryer.

Ksinjegadek – washer.

Wnagenksinjegadek – dish washer.

Zhoshkwe’en – iron.

Zhoshkwe’an – to iron s.t.

Itsge – dye.

Itsgeke – to dye s.t.

Begwedege – drying s.t.

Gepisege – parching s.t.

Pegejis segat – threshing s.t.

Noshketon – winnowing.

Seshjegen – set the table.

Sesh che gen – another spelling.

Mneschegen – straighten things, put things in order.

Nazhikege – scrape, as in a hide.

Pshinge – to skin, as in an animal.

Jizhikwaige – scrape-stretch a hide.

Zhi shibwaige – stretch a hide over a frame.

Gazhko – shave or scrape off with a sharp knife.

Gazhke’a o – to scrape or shave s.o.

Penejegewen – persistense.

Awanjegewen – perserverance.

Zhiptem – stubborn.

Kwtegwe – stubborn.

Mishkwes – diligent.

Minwewes – hard working/enterprising.

Mamwe je pi – most of the time.

Odo pi – at this time.

Ode zhe pi – right now!

Iw pi – then.

Iw pi je – when.

Iw she pi – at that time.

Nanagech – often

Mjeshak – another often

Megwe pi – long time ago/or a long way off.

Mno wi pi – long time ago.

Ibe pi – over there.

Iw je pi – it was then.

Zhote zhi – over here.

Ezhi – over there.

Wesibe – way over there.

Wa gin negwne – oh, so it’s you!

Wi pe – to lay with s.o.

Ndo wi pe – to go lay with s.o.

Ndo wi pe ma’a o nde kweyom pkonyak – I will lye with my wife tonight.

Wi pe mesh – lye with me.

Moshkabwadan – add liquid to a pot or kettle.

Pabwe – add s.t. to soup or a pot.

Pabwewiyanabo – stew.

Nmoshkabwadan – I add liquid to a pot or kettle.

Kwech – yet!

Wasemajishkamowen – electricity.

Wasemowen – another form of electricity.

Shpemwnagendapnewen – satellite.

Bemisiwnagewen – another satellite.

Mawandonan – weld.

Mawandojege – welder.

Winkeshage – carver/one who carves.

Nnaikwat – to fix s.t.

Dabyankewnene – mechanic.

Wasemownene – electrician.

Psakwnemownene – another electrician.

Psakwnemowen – electricity.

Inanemowen – air/oxygen.

Nese – breathe.

Anemo – breathe.

Nemwin – breath

Nemo

Namwin

Nesewen

Namog

Anemowen – s.o.’s breath.

Mbeknam – breathless.

A little lesson on negatives

Practice with Negatives

Note: Cho is often written as Jo. They are the same thing, spelled different ways.

One shall find many different spellings of numerous words in Potawatomi if one studies the language long enough.

Practice your 7 Who’s:

Cho n gi zhyasi

Cho (g) gi zhyasi

Cho gi zhyési

Cho n gi zhyasimen

Cho (g) gi zhyasimen

Cho (g) gi zhyasim

Cho gi zhyésik

Cho n gi mnekwési

Cho (g) gi mnekwési

Cho gi mnekwési

Cho n gi mnekwésimen

Cho (g) gi mnekwésimen

Cho (g) gi mnekwésim

Cho gi mnekwésik

Cho n gi mikchéwisi

Cho (g) gi mikchéwisi

Cho gi mikchéwisi

Cho n gi mikchéwisimen

Cho (g) gi mikchéwisimen

Cho (g) gi mikchéwisim

Cho gi mikchéwisik

What’s the difference?

Cho n gi zhyasi ibe

Cho, n gi zhya ibe

Cho n gi mikchéwisi wnago

Cho, n gi mikchéwi wnago

Cho n wi mnekwési

Cho, n wi mnekwé

G gi giwsé ne?

Cho g gi giwsési ne?

G gi wjanda ne?

Cho g gi wjandasi ne?

G gi maji ne?

Cho g gi majisi ne?

Inanimate Transitives…

Cho n detosin i biskewagen

Cho n detosin i kwabegas

Cho n gi wzhetosin i mjegodé

Cho n gi bmowdosin i gokbenagen

Cho n gi nodasin i tetagen

Cho g detosin ne i biskewagen?

Cho g detosin ne i wiwkwan?

What’s the difference?

Cho ndetosin i

Cho, nde ton ngot ode

Cho gégo étoyan

Cho ngi tosin wnago

Cho nwi tosin wabek

Cho, ma shna nwi ton ngot wabek

Cho, ma shna étot ngot o Ruby

Animate Transitives…

Cho n gi wabmasi o mko

Cho n gi nodwasi o nene

Cho n gi gbashmasik gi penik

Cho n gi zaskokwanasik gi shegagoshek

Cho n gi kewabmasik gi penojék

Cho g gi wabmasi ne o kwé?

Cho g gi nodwasi ne o bnési?

What’s the difference…

Cho zabénma o

Cho ngi byénasi nnikan

Cho, ngi byéna o

Cho ngi wabmasi o

Cho, wnago ngi wabma

Cho ngi zaskokwanasik penyék

Cho, penyék ngi zaskokwanak

Other negatives…

Cho wi / Cho she = emphasized

Cho wika = never, or really emphasized

Chomshe = not yet

Chomamda = not possible

Cho weye = no one

Cho ngoji = nowhere

Cho gégo = nothing

Cho she n gi zhyasi ibe

Cho wi she n gi zhyasi ibe

Chomshe n gi zhyasi ibe

Chomshe dawéwgemek n gi zhyasi

Chomshe n gi wéwébtasimen

Chomshe n gi bidgésimen

Chomshe n gi gbashmasik gi penik

Chomshe n gi gishpnedosin i dabyan

Chomshe n gi pe’egwadosin i mjegodé

Chomamda n wi gishpnedosin i dabyan

Chomamda n wi gbatosin ode mbop

Chomamda n wi gapikési

Chomamda g wi wéwébtasimen

Chomamda g wi bidgésimen

Chomamda g wi nim’edisimen

Chomamda n wi giwsési ngom

Cho weye gi zhyési ibe.

Cho weye gi nim’edisi

Cho weye gi mnekwési

Cho weye gi mikchéwisi shote

Cho weye gi wjandasin gégo

Cho weye gi wisnesin gégo

Cho weye gi bmosési shote

Cho ngoji n gi zhyasi

Cho ngoji gi chikazsik

Cho ngoji gi giwsési weye

Cho ngoji n gi nim’edisimen

Cho ngoji n gi mnekwésimen

Cho ngoji n gi gishkwébyésimen

Cho ngoji n gi kyébadsimen

Cho ngoji wi ksenyasi wabek

Cho gégo n gi gishpnedosin

Cho gégo ndestotosin

Cho gégo n gi wisnesin

Cho gégo n gi gbatosin

Cho gégo n gi wabdasin

Cho gégo n gi wabdasimen

Cho gégo n gi nodasimen

Author: neaseno