FOOTNOTES:
[262] Written from the pronunciation of Major Dougherty, who understood this language perfectly. The Omáhas belong to the Dacóta linguistic group, and form with the Osages, Konzas, Ayowäs (Joways), Missouris, Otos, and Puncas, Mr. Gallatin's southern Sioux. Among the nations named there are several different dialects, of which the Osages and Konzas speak one; the Otos, Ayowäs, and Missouris another; and the Omahas and Puncas a third. On these peoples, see Gallatin (ibid., pp. 126-28). There it is noted that a vocabulary of the Ayowäs (Jówäs) is lacking; a gap which I can claim to have filled, since I was assured by Major Dougherty that the Ayowäs speak the Oto language, whose words are given below.—Maximilian.
OTO[263]
Abyss, moksché; iro-moksché, steep cliff.
Air, ta-djä̍ (j French).
All (all together), brogä̍; the whole mass (or multitude), akiwoasan (woa like voi in French; an French).
Alone, asch-nå (sch like j French).
- I myself alone, mij-nå (j French here and below).
- You (thou) alone, dij-nå.
- He alone, ij-nå.
- We alone, guj-nå.
- You alone, dij-nå.
Always, eiiåhma (ei together).
American (an), Måhi-hónn-ie (ie short; e audible); i.e., Long Knife.
Another, i-tan-dö (an French).
Answer (v), i-hä̍.
Anxiety (fear), nongguä̍ (gua short).
Approach stealthily (v; stalk), sridje-monnä̍ (j French).
Arm, asché.
Arrow, mi̍to.
Ashes, må-chudjé (ch guttural).
Awake (v, intr), uatá-nayé (run together).
Awake (v, tr), ih-ki-reh.
Axe, i̍suä (sua short).
Back (adverb), hatá.
Back (n), nåh-kan (an French).
Bad (malicious), tsichogä̍ (ch guttural).
Bald, nantó-rusch-ra (an French).
Ball (bullet), måh-seh-måh; same word as for lead.
Bathe (v), ni-uah (uah nasal).
Beard, ndä-hi (n only a fore-tone).
Beautiful, ocompih (French).
Before (ahead), på-gran (an French).
Behind (behind us), a-rúcha-gä (ch guttural).
Belly, ni-cha (ch guttural).
Beside (near), oh-kang-äh.
Best, pi-tånra, (an French).
Bird, wåe-ing-ä (e barely audible; the whole together).
Bite (v), rochtagä.
Bitter, sehko-schkunä̍; i.e., not sweet, they do not have a direct expression.
Black, seuä̍ (e and u separated).
Bladder, nächä̍ (ch guttural).
Blind, ich-tåch-hidje (j French; final e short).
Blood, wåpågä̍-oyú.
Bloom (v), pahüson (on French).
Blow (v; blow out), a-bi-chä (ch guttural).
Blue, tóh.
Blush (v), schudjö (j French).
Boil (v; cook), oh-hon (on French).
Bone (bones), uah-hi̍ (uah nasal).
Bough, nå-ing-ä (run together).
Bow, måndehi̍ (an French).
Break (v), to-ié.
Break open (v; force open), wå-gre-ue.
Breast (female), påsä (sa short).
Breast (the whole breast), mong-ä.
Breath, hi̍; same word as for mouth and tooth.
Bridge, ohä̍.
Broad, brå-ské (final syllable short).
Brook, nischna-ing-ä (run together).
Brother, song-ä̍; my brother, mi-song-ä̍.
Brown, chudje (ch guttural; e distinctly pronounced); i.e., dark, smoky, they have no word for brown.
Burn (v), todjé (j French).
Bury (v; inter), ochä (ch guttural).
Buy (v), wå-ru-mäh; same word means to trade.
Calm (n), oh-bra-gä̍.
Canoe, på-djé (j French).
Carrion (a dead animal), uå-hu-mä̍ (ua short and together).
Catch (v; capture), rusä̍.
Caught (v; captured), ua-ni-hih (u and a separated).
Cave, i̍ro-chrogä̍; i.e., a hollow rock.
Chew (v), same word as for meal, or to eat.
Child, tchitching-ä (ch like tgi, with the point of the tongue).
Choke (v; press to death, smother), o-nong-ä̍.
Clear (bright), o-haun-uäh (n French; uah nasal).
Clear (water), ni-bréjé (French); they give this name to the Mississippi.
Cloud (masses of cloud), moͣch-pih (ch guttural).
Coal, åchudjeh (ach guttural).
Coals (glowing), pedjé-sih (j French).
Cold (adj), sni̍h.
Comb (n), härusäh, i.e., louse-catcher; from hä, louse, and rusäh, catch.
Community (company, many men), manksché-gerohan (an French; ge German).
Compel (v; force), a-u-scheh-geh (run together).
Convenient (comfortable), pi̍; same word as for good.
Cough (v), hogh-pä̍.
Count (v; number), uårauä (au together).
Cowardly, same word as for lazy, or rotten.
Crooked, rutan-schkunäh (an French).
Crow (way of dressing hair), nantó (an French).
Cure (v; heal), ginih.
Curly (hair), påhi̍-riberin (in nasal, like i̍).
Cut (v), gron-tschéh (on French).
Cut down (v; fell), gron-tsché (on French).
Cut down (v; fell), grontsché (on French).
Cut into (v; incise, carve), grontsché (on French).
Dance (n), woͣtschí.
Dark, ohånsä̍ (an French).
Daughter, ih-wung-ä.
Day, han-uä (an French, the whole short and run together).
Dead, tsä̍h.
Deaf, nå-cho-dje-ning-e (j French; ch guttural; e short).
Dear (costly), tschä-chäh (ch guttural).
Deceive (v; cheat), gistoncha (ch guttural).
Decoy (v; decoy an animal), tah-sching-ä-on (sching and a pronounced together; on French).
Devastate (v), schéh-na.
Devil (evil spirit), wåhkondapisch-kunnä̍h.
Die (v), tsä̍h.
Dirty, måh-chrih (ch with the point of the tongue).
Dirty (v), måchré (ch guttural).
Dive(v), ni̍h-rotata. [MS. note in Library of Congress copy by J. O. Dorsey, says that this is not a verb but ni, water, and rótata, under.—Trans.]
Divide (v; share), ikirutan (an French).
Door, tschi-okä̍ (run together).
Double, nouä̍; same word as for two.
Drag (v; drag a load), påhi̍-on-reh (on French).
Draw (v; draw water), nih-ru-seh.
Dream (v), ombrä̍; ira-ombrá, you dreamed (plural).
Drink (v), ratan (an French).
Dry (adj), buh-sä.
Dumb, i-tiä-ru-scha-gä.
Dung, ming-grä.
Dust, månschuh-schudje (an French; likewise j; e short).
Dwelling place (hunting stand), irappä (final a between e and a umlaut).
Ear, nan-toa (French).
Ear-ornament, uåhnon-pin (non French; pin nasal, like pi).
Early, heruh-tach-tsché (ach guttural); early in the day.
Empty (adj), chroschkä (ch guttural).
Enclose (v; shut up), uå-nåssé.
Enemy, okitsché.
Englishman, Sanganasch.
Enough, kahä̍na (na short).
Entertain (v), nontutan (on and an French).
Even (equal, flat), bra-ské, or bras-ké; same word as for broad, or great.
Evening, pi̍-kuiä̍, or pi̍kuiä̍; from pi, sun, and kuiä̍, low.
Everywhere, mayon-brughä (on French); i.e., over the whole land.
Expectorate(v), grä-uä.
Eye, ichtá (ich German and not guttural; nearly the same as with the Dacota, Omahas, Osages, and Puncas).
Eyelid, ichtá-hi.
Face (sight), indéh.
Fall (v), o-chua-nä (ch guttural).
Far (distant), ha-rä.
Far (distant), hah-reh.
Fat, uå-schi.
Father, ing-koh.
Feast, same as meal, or eat; they say, give to eat; also gi-ko.
Feather, manschon (on French).
Female (of animals), ming-eh.
Festival, så-gä.
Fever, okisché-gétachran (ch guttural; an French).
Find (v), ikiré.
Finger, nau-ue (ue short).
Fire, pedjé (first e distinctly pronounced; j French).
Fish (n), hó.
Fish (v), ho-rusä̍.
Fish (v; catch fish), same word as for fish-hook.
Fish-hook, horusé.
Fist, nauä̍-sogä.
Flame (n), pedjé-takan (j and an French).
Flat (level), braskä̍.
Flee (v; escape), hå-sä.
Flesh, tåh.
Flint, ju-tsché-ogran (an French).
Flood (v; overflow), nih-ton (on French).
Flow (v), kahi̍ra (ra short).
Fog, schuschudjä (j French).
Foot, si̍.
Foot-path, nong-ä̍.
Forehead, pä̍h.
Forest, chrå-uäh (ch guttural).
Forget (v), giksuh-schkúnnä.
Freeze (v; chill), o-snih.
Freeze (v; congeal), nih-tåh.
Frenchman, Måsongkä-okannä (a umlaut, also pronounced like e).
Friend, ntará.
Full, oh-yuh.
Fully (of cooking, done), ni-djä̍ (j French).
Gall (bile), grä-ue-sih.
Gay-colored (variegated), gréjé (j French).
Go (v), monnih.
God (creator), wåhkonda.
Good, pi̍h.
Grandson, intaqúa.
Grape-vine, hå-seh-hih.
Grave, óh-chä (ch guttural).
Gray, cho-djé (j French; ch guttural).
Gray-haired, pahi-son (French).
Great (tall), grón-rä (n French).
Green, tohch-djä̍ (ch guttural; j French).
Ground (earth), måhå.
Gun, jútschä (tscha short); rifle, jútschä-ki̍h-berúh-berúh (the whole short, and run together).
Gut (intestines), schiuä̍.
Gut (v; gut an animal), nicha-gi-na-sché (ch guttural).
Hair, på-hi̍.
Half, oskisserä (e short); så-ning-ä̍, the second part.
Hand, nau-uä.
Hard, sågeh.
Hate (v), hasch-ing-äh.
Head, på.
Headache, nan-soh-nih-djä (an French; dja likewise).
Healthy, ogischegä-schkúnnä (e short).
Hear (v), nåkon (on French).
Heart, mon-tchä (on French; ch with the point of the tongue).
Heat (v; inflame), tåcherang (ch guttural); i.e., warm; they also say monschtiö (on French).
Heavy (difficult), tscháh-tan (an French).
Hide (v), nåh-chron (ch guttural; on French).
High, mock-scheh.
Hole, chro-gä̍ (ch guttural).
Hollow (adj), chro-gä̍ (ch with the point of the tongue).
Horn, hä̍h.
Horns (antlers), häh.
Horse (young horse), schangtóing-ä.
Hot, moschtä.
House (lodge), tschi̍h.
Hunger, chråni̍ (ch guttural).
Hunt (n), kinángra.
Hunt (v), kinángra.
Hunter, kinángra-uarupeh.
Hurricane (storm), tåh-såggä-uayhäh-häh (the whole run together).
I, mi̍h.
Ice, nóchä (ch guttural; a short).
Incurable, ginih-schkúnnä.
Indistinct, tahi̍-schkúnnä.
Internal (within), róhtata.
Intoxicate (v), tå-ningé (ninge nasal).
Iron, mǻ-sä (first syllable longer; first a almost like an French).
Island, rú-mi-tschi̍ (rumitschi, or rumaetschi).
Jar (vessel), däh-chä (ch guttural).
Joy (enjoyment, mirth), gi̍ro (German throughout).
Knife, måh-hi.
Know (v), ju̍a-hamg-äh.
Know (v; be acquainted with), hah-pang-äh.
Lame, uåh-hi̍ragä.
Lance (spear; sword-lance), uåh-yaueh (letters in yaueh are separated).
Land, mayón (French).
Laugh (v, or n), ick-scháh.
Lay (v; lay down), jan (an French).
Leader (chief), uong-gé-gi-hi (first syllable almost like wong; g guttural).
Leaf (of a tree), nǻchpä (nach long).
Left (direction), aratscheh.
Leg, rägä.
Lie (v; deceive), tohshäh.
Light (v; illuminate), hån-ue-on-re (an and on French; ue nasal, likewise han).
Light (v; kindle), ohan-ue (an French; u and e separated).
Lightning, wáhkonda-gron (gron French).
Like (v; be fond of), ooch-thá (ch guttural).
Lip, ih-hå.
Little, tscho-kerá.
Long, sreh-djeh (j French).
Loose (of clothes), grån-reh (an French).
Maiden, tschichmi-ing-ä (ich guttural).
Maize, wå-dud-djé (j French).
Man, uong-gä, or uong-äh; same word as for human being.
Man (human being), uong-äh.
Marry (v; of a man), grong-äh.
Marry (v; of a woman), uåruchä̍.
Meal (or to eat?), uåårudjé (j French).
Messenger, ikomónne (ne short).
Milk (n), teh-på-seh-nih (run together).
Mirror, måse-angitan (e short; an French).
Money, må-ses-kå (all syllables even); i.e., white metal.
Moon, pi̍h: they add a limiting word; the words for sun and moon are the same, but they believe the two to be distinct.
Morning, hån-uä.
Mother, ináh.
Mountain, hämokschä̍.
Mouth, hi̍.
Much (many), roh-han (an French).
Murder (v; kill), tsä̍h.
Music, uå-yanuäh (yan French).
My, mih-te-uäh.
Nail (on the feet), si̍ha-schágä.
Nail (on fingers), naue-ue-schágä.
Nail (on the hands), nombä-schágä (nom French).
Naked, tåh-huh.
Name (n), rahjä (j German).
Narrow, broͣskäsch-schkúnä (na short).
Necklace (neck ornament), wånon-peh (on French).
Needle, måh-sickan (an French).
Negro, mååk-schi-säuäh.
Night, haǻn-hä.
Noon, pi̍oh-cons-ská (cons French).
Nose, påso.
Not (no), niäkóh.
Old, isch-ágä.
Old man, uánscha (an French).
Old woman, inahak-schingä (German throughout).
Oldest, inó.
On the other side (of a river), ni̍agreck.
Once, jóng-kä.
Over, mok-schüátta (atta short).
Over (above), mååk-schäh.
Pain (n), nih-djé (j French).
Paint (v), okompé (French throughout).
Palate, räsä̍.
Pale (v; grow pale, fade), indéhska; i.e., white or pale face.
Peace, mayon-pi̍h (on French).
Pipe (tobacco), rå-no-uä̍.
Plant (v), o-yú (together); i.e., put something in the earth.
Play (v). schkåh-djé (j French).
Pluck (v; feathers), hi-snudjä (j French).
Pointed, påh-hi.
Pond (pool), same word as for swamp.
Pouch (sack), osché (e somewhat like a umlaut).
Powder (gun-powder), åh-chudjäh (ch guttural; j French).
Pray (v; to the lord of life), wahkonda-åchagä (ch guttural).
Pregnant, nichta-chontjä (ch guttural; j French).
Press (v), bri̍chä-onongä.
Press out (v; express?), sagéonang-ä (the whole run together; ge German, as in geben).
Pretty, oh-com-pih (French).
Prick (v; sting), wå-yah-uä (ua short).
Prisoner, same word as for caught, or captured.
Proud (haughty), tan-ra-gon-da (an and on French).
Pulse, ahk-kan (first a barely audible; an French).
Punish (v; whip), utschi̍.
Push (v; thrust), nih-djé (j French).
Quick, ho-che-rä (ch guttural).
Rain (n), ni-o-iu (run together).
Reconcile (v; appease), mayonpih (on French).
Red, schu-djä̍ (j French).
Resistance (self-defence), ankirragä̍ (an French).
Rib, roh-toh.
Ripe (of fruits), si̍h-da (da short).
River, nisch-nong-ä.
Rock (cliff), i̍ro.
Rot (v), obrån-pesch-kunä̍ (an French).
Rotten (lazy?), chritagä̍ (ch guttural).
Round, schnåh-schnåh.
Run (v), nong-ä.
Salt down (v; pickle, corn), nischko-oiú.
Scalp, nantó (an French).
Sea, nih-chonn-djé (dje French); the Ayowas say, nih-chon-je (je German).
Secret, nå-chron (ch palatal; on French).
See (v), uatah (u and a follow closely).
Sexual organs (female), uieh (u separated).
Sexual organs (male), reh.
Shade (shadow), oh-uan-seh (an French).
Shallow (water), nichä-uäh (ch guttural).
Sharp (pointed), på-hih.
Shave (v), chru-scherá (ch guttural).
Shoot (v; with an arrow), måhkudjeh.
Shoot (v; with a gun), jutjehkudjeh (j French).
Shore (bank), nih-må-åh.
Short, süït-tscheh.
Shout (v; call), sih-uan (uan short, like wan nasal; an French).
Shout (v; give the warhoop), graah (r with the point of the tongue).
Sick, okischegä.
Side, såh-ning-ä.
Sing (v), yan-uah (an French).
Sister, tång-äh.
Sit (v), ah-mi-nåh.
Skin (hide), hå.
Sleep (v), iyán (i and y slightly separated; an French).
Sleepy, yon-gondah (on French).
Slowly, srih-djeh (j French).
Small, ing-äh.
Smell (v; sniff at, scent), obran (an French); smell (something), obranré.
Smoke (n), scho-djä (j French).
Smoke (v; tobacco), rah-nehi.
Snow (n), påh; same word as for head and nose.
Sole (of the foot), si-ro-ta-tá (sirotata).
Son, hih-ing-äh.
Speak (v), id-djé (j French).
Spirits (distilled), pedjé-ni (j French); i.e., fire-water.
Spot (v; stain), måchré (ch guttural).
Spring (source), nih-hong-ä.
Spring (the season), päh-käh.
Spring (v; leap, jump), attåunuah (nasal; aun nasal; n French).
Spy (v; listen), ånoch-ron-no-kron (on French).
Star, piká.
Start (v; start an animal), hå-sé.
Stick, nan-ing-ä (an French).
Still (silent), echan-schkunäh (ch guttural; an French).
Stinginess, (greediness), gi-tschächä (cha palatal).
Stomach, mong-ä (a short).
Stone, i̍ro, or i̍h-roh.
Stop (v; hold fast, arrest), o-nongä (run together).
Storm (thunder-storm), tájä-soggä̍ (j French).
Straight (direct), ruh-tan (an French).
Strangle (v), gi-to-dje (j French).
Strike (v; beat), uh-tschin (tschin nasal; in like i).
Strong, brih-chäh (r with the point of the tongue; ch guttural).
Stump, påhi̍-schkunäh.
Stupid, bréjé-schkunä̍ (j French).
Summer, tohk-äh.
Sun, pi̍h.
Sunrise, pi̍h-gri̍h.
Sunset, pi̍h-hi̍h.
Swamp, tschérauä (ua short).
Sweet, skóh.
Swelling (boil), ouä̍ (short and together).
Swim (v), nih-uan (an French).
Tail (of an animal), sinn-djä (j French).
Teach (v), wå-kon-seh (on French).
Tear out (v; pull out), gi-na-sché.
Tears (n), ischtá-ni̍h; i.e. eye-water.
Teeth, ihi̍.
There (of place), tschekä̍, or kö̍ta.
Thick (large), chonje chonje (j French).
Thin, brékä.
Thumb, nau-uä-chonje (ch short); i.e., thick, or big finger.
Thunder (n), gron-gron (on French); wahkonda-gron-gron.
Tie (v; bind, fasten), ru-ski-djä (j French).
Tinder-box, pedjé-on (j and on French).
Tobacco, rah-nih.
Toe, sihasch-schángä.
Tomahawk, i-sua-ing-ä (run together).
To-morrow, härúh-tata.
Tongue, redseh.
Toothache, ihi̍-nidjeh (j French).
Trace (track of an animal), sih-grä̍ (last syllable short).
Trade, uå-ru-ma.
Trader, same word as for buy.
Trap (snare), månse-råch-tagä (ach guttural).
Tree, grå-uéh (gr guttural).
True, mikä̍.
Ugly, püsch-schkunnä.
Undress (v; strip), unaie-gistrüdje (j French).
Unmarried, ming-grong-äschkunnä; of a woman, uåruch-äschkunnä.
Unripe, sidah-schkúnnä.
Until (unto), ätchån (ch guttural; an French).
Urine, däjä̍ (j French).
Vein (artery), kán (French).
War, mayón-peschkuni̍h (on French); literally, bad land.
War-club (with the iron point), uehrutschin (tschin nasal; n French).
Warm, mosch-tschä̍.
Warmth (of weather, or water), tåh-chran (ch guttural).
Warrior (brave man), wå-schúscheh.
Wash (v), uå-ruh-jäh.
Water, ni̍h.
Wax, uagriska-minggräh.
Weep (v), cha-gä (ch guttural; ga short).
Wet (adj), tohkä.
What? how? tå-ku-rä̍.
Whistle (v; pipe), suh-dä̍.
White, skáh.
White man, må-song-kä; i.e., he works in iron.
Whole (very), brughä̍ (gh guttural).
Widow, aegran-ning-ä (an French).
Wind (n), tad-djé (j French).
Wing, ahú.
Winter, påh-nih.
Within (come in), gúh.
Woman (wife), ina-hakä (final a barely audible).
Wood, nä̍h.
Work (v), uå-on (on French).
Wound (v), òh.
Wound (v; shoot), òh.
Wrap up (v), ruberin (in like i nasal).
Year (winter), páhni (ni short).
Yellow, si̍h.
Yes, hontiö̍ (an French).
Young (not old or little), schiniä̍ (nia nasal).
Numerals
One, jon-kä̍.
Two, noh-uä.
Three, tåh-ni.
Four, toh-uä.
Five, såh-tan (an French).
Six, schåh-kuä (kua short).
Seven, schåh-cheman (second ch guttural; e short; an French).
Eight, kräh-råbbeneh (first e short).
Nine, schonkä̍.
Ten, kräh-bran (an French).
Twenty, krän-bran-noh-uä.
Thirty, kräh-bran-tåh-ni.
Forty, kräh-bran-toh-uä.
Animals
Bear (black), montchä̍ (cha almost like tia).
Bear (grizzly), måntó (an French).
Beaver, rauä̍ (a and u somewhat separated).
Buffalo, tjä̍ (j French).
Deer (common, or Virginian), tahg-tsche, or simply thá.
Dog, schonk-okännäh.
Duck, michä-iniä (ch guttural).
Elk (great deer), hóma (ma short).
Fox (black), mischnäkä-sä-uä.
Fox (gray), mischnäkä.
Fox (red), mischnäkä-schudjä (j French).
Hare, misch-tsching-gä̍ (run together).
Horse, schong-äh.
Mule, noͣn-tua-chonjä (ch guttural).
Opossum, ik-scha-mina (run together); i.e., the one which lies down, or sleeps with laughter.
Otter, tohsch-nong-ä (all syllables even).
Ox, tschehs-kah.
Skunk, mong-äh.
Snake, wå-kån (an French).
Turkey (wild), wåe-ink-chontjeh (first e barely audible; ch guttural; j French).
Turtle, keth-han (an French).
Wolf (black), schanton-sä-uä.
Wolf (gray), schanton-schkáh (anton French).
Wolf (prairie), schah-monnikassi̍h.