History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan / A Grammar of Their Language, and Personal and Family History of the Author

by Andrew J. Blackbird

Father, Os-se-maw, pl. g. Mother, O-gaw-shi-maw, pl. g.
Brother, We-kaw-ne-se-maw. Sister, O-me-say-e-maw.
Grandfather, O-me-shaw-mes-e-maw. Grandmother, O-ko-mes-se-maw.
Cousin, male, We-taw-wis-e-maw. Cousin, female, We-ne-mo-shay-e-maw.
Uncle, O-me-shaw-may-e-maw. Aunt, O-nou-shay-e-maw.
Boy, Que-we-zayns, pl. og. Girl, Quay-zayns, pl. og.
Man, Au-ne-ne, pl. wog. Woman, Au-quay, pl. wog.
Old man, Au-ke-wa-ze, pl. yog. Old woman, Me-de-mo-yay, pl. yog.

Ae, yes. Kau, no. Nau-go, now.
Ka-ge-te, truly so. Kau-win, no (emphatic). Au-zhon-daw, here.
Pe-nau! hark! Ka-go, don't. E-wo-te, there.
Pa-kau, stop. Kaw-ga-go, none. Ne-gon, before.

Aush-kwe-yong, behind. Ne-se-wo-yaw-ing, between.
Pe-tchi-naw-go, yesterday. Wau-bung, to-morrow.
Pe-tchi-nog, just now. Wau-e-baw, soon.
Au-no-maw-yaw, lately. Way-wib, quickly.
Au-gaw-won, hardly. Naw-a-gotch, slowly.
Au-pe-tchi, very. O-je-daw, purposely.
Kay-gaw, almost. Saw-kou, for example.
Mou-zhawg, always. Me-naw-gay-kaw! to be sure!
Ne-sawb, alike. Kaw-maw-me-daw, can't.
Pin-dig, inside. Pin-di-gayn, come in.

We-yaw, The Body. Pe-nay-shen, Bird.
(Pl. yog)
O-dib, Head. Wing-ge-zee, Eagle.
O-te-gwan, Face. Pe-nay-se, Hawk.
O-don, Mouth. Mong, Loon.
Osh-ke-zheg, Eye. Me-zhe-say, Turkey.
O-no-wau-e, Cheek. She-sheb, Duck.
(P. og; others an.)
Otch-awsh, Nose. Kaw-yawshk, Gull.
O-daw-me-kon, Jaw. Tchin-dees, Bluejay.
O-da-naw-naw, Tongue. May-may, Woodcock.
We-bid, Tooth. Pe-nay, Partridge.
We-ne-zes, Hair. Au-dje-djawk, Crane.
O-kaw-tig, Forehead. O-me-me, Pigeon.
O-maw-maw, Eyebrow. Au-pe-tchi, Robin.
Kaw-gaw-ge, Palate. Awn-dayg, Crow.
(P. og; others an.)
O-kaw-gun, Neck. Au-nawk, Thrasher.
O-do-daw-gun, Throat. Paw-paw-say, Woodpecker.
O pe-kwawn, Back. Ke-wo-nee, Prairie hen.
O-pe-gay-gun, Rib. Maw-kwa, Bear.
O-me-gawt, Stomach. Mooz, Moose.
O-naw-gish, Bowel. Me-shay-wog, Elk.
Osh-kawt, Belly. Maw-in-gawn, Wolf.
O-kwan, Liver. Au-mick, Beaver.
O-kun, Bone. Maw-boos, Rabbit.
O-nenj, Hand. Pe-zhen, Lynx.
O-neek, Arm. Au-ni-moosh, Dog.
O-dos-kwon, Elbow. Au-ni-mouns, Puppy.
O-kawd, Leg. Au-zhawshk, Muskrat.
O-ge-dig, Knee. Wau-goosh, Fox.
(P. og; others an.)
O bwom, Thigh. Shaw-gway-she, Mink.
O-zeet, Foot. A-se-bou, Raccoon.
O-don-dim, Heel. Me-she-be-zhe, Panther.
(eg; others wog, og, g.)
O-ge-tchi-zeet, Big toe. She-gos-se, Weasel.
O-ge-tchi-nenj, Thumb. Au-saw-naw-go, Squirrel.
Ke-gon, Fish. Maw-ne-tons, insect.
(Pl. yog)
Ke-gons (dim.), minnow. O-jee, house fly.
(Pl. sog)
Naw-me-gons, trout. Me-ze-zawk, horse fly.
Maw-zhaw-me-gons, brook trout. Au-mon, bumblebee.
Maw-may, sturgeon. Au-moans (dim.), bee, hornet.
O-gaw, pickerel. May-may-gwan, butterfly.
(Pl. yog)
She-gwaw-meg, dog fish. Au-kou-jeah, louse.
Au-saw-way, perch. Paw-big, flea.
O-kay-yaw-wis, herring. O-ze-gog, woodtick.
Au-she-gun, black bass. A-naw-go, ant.
Au-de-kaw-meg, whitefish. A-a-big, spider.
Ke-no-zhay, pike. Saw-ge-may, mosquito.
Paw-zhe-toua, sheep head. Mo-say, cut worm.
(Pl. yog)
Maw-maw-bin, sucker. O-quay, maggot.

Paw-gawn, nut; (dim. paw-gaw-nays, hazelnut or other small nut)
Au-zhaw-way-mish, pl. eg; beech tree.
Au-zhaw-way-min, pl. on; beech nut.
Me-te-gwaw-bawk, pl. og; hickory tree.
Me-gwaw-baw-ko paw-gon, pl. on; hickory nut.
Paw-gaw-naw-ko paw-gon, pl. on; walnut.
Me-she-me-naw-gaw-wosh, pl. eg; apple tree.
Me-she-min, pl. og; apple.
Shaw-bo-me-naw-gaw-wosh, pl. eg; gooseberry bush.
Shaw-bo-min, pl. og; gooseberry.
Paw-gay-saw-ne-mish, pl. eg; plum tree.
Paw-gay-son, pl. og; plum.
Aw-nib, pl. eg; elm. Aw-doup, pl. eg; willow.
Shin-gwawk, pl. wog; pine. Ke-zhek, pl. og; cedar.
Au-bo-yawk, pl. wog; ash. We-aaw-gawk, pl. og; black ash.
Me-daw-min, pl. og; corn. O-zaw-o-min, pl. og; yellow corn.
Mis-kou-min, pl. og; red raspberry.
Wau-be-mis-kou-min, pl. og; white raspberry.
Wau-kaw-tay-mis-kou-min, pl. eg; black raspberry.
AU-KEE; the world, the earth, land, country, soil.
Pay-maw-te-se-jeg au-king, the people of the world.
Taw-naw-ke-win, country or native land.
Ke-taw-kee-me-naw, our country.
Maw-kaw-te au-kee, black earth or soil.
Me-daw-keem, my land.
Au-ke-won, soiled; also applied to rich land.
Ne-besh, water; ne-be-kaw, wet land.
Wau-bawsh-ko-kee, marsh land.
An-ke-kaw-daw-go-kee, tamarack swamp.
Ke-zhe-ke-kee, cedar swamp.
Au-tay yaw-ko-kee, swamp, swampy land.
Shen-gwaw-ko-kee, pine land.
Ne-gaw-we-kee, sand; ne-gaw-we-kaw, sandy.
Kong-ke-tchi-gaw-me, the ocean.
Ke-tchi-au-gaw-ming, across the ocean.
Se-be (pl. won), river; se-be-wens (dim). (pl. an.) brook.
Ke-te-gawn (pl. on), farm; ke-te-gaw-nes (dim.), garden.
Ke-te-gay we-ne-ne, (pl. wog), farmer.
Ke-zes, sun; te-bik-ke-zes, moon; au-nong (pl. wog), star.
Ke-zhe-gut, day; te-be-kut, night.
Ne-bin, summer; pe-boon, winter.
Ne-be-nong, last summer; me-no-pe-boon, pleasant winter.
Tau-gwan-gee, fall; me-nou-kaw-me, spring.
Au-won-se-me-nou-kaw-ming, year ago last spring.
Maw-tchi taw-gwan-ge, bad or unpleasant fall.
No-din, wind; no-wau-yaw, the air.
No-de-naw-ne-mot, windy.
To-ke-sin, calm; ne-tche-wod, stormy.
Au-pe-tchi ne-tche-wod, very stormy.
Wig-wom, house; wig-wom-an, houses.
Au-sin wig-worn, stone house.
Au-naw-me-a-we-gaw-mig, a church.
Te-baw-ko-we-ga we-gaw-mig, a court house.

Me-no-say, handy. Me-no-sayg, that which is handy.
Au-no-ke, work. A-no-ket, he that is working.
Wo-be, he sees. Wau-yaw-bet, he that sees.
Pe-mo-say, he walks. Pe-mo-sayt, he that is walking.
Pe-me-bot-to, he runs. Pe-me-bot-tot, he that runs.

Get him, nawzh. Get it, naw-din.
Help him, naw-daw-maw. Help it, naw-daw-maw-don.
Call him, naw-doum. Ask for it, naw-don-don.
Go to him, naw-zhe-kow. Go to it, naw-zhe-kon.
Meet him, naw-kwesh-kow. Meet it, naw-kwesh-kon.

Ne-dje-mon, my boat. Ne-dje-may, I paddle.
Ne-dje-bawm, my soul. Ne-do-ge-mom, my master.
Ne-gwes, my son. Ne-daw-nes, my daughter.
Ne-taw-wes, my cousin. Ne-kaw-nes, my brother.
Ne-daw-kim, my land. Ne-ne-tehaw-nes, my child.

He sleeps, ne-baw. He is dead, ne-bou.
He is sleepy, au-kon-gwa-she. He died, ke-ne-bou.
He is white, wau-besh-ke-zee. He is afraid, sa-ge-ze.
He is lonely, aush-ken-dom. He is lazy, ke-te-mesk-ke.
He is killed, nes-saw. He is well, me-no-pe-maw-de-ze.

Ne-tawn, first. Ne-tawn ke-taw-gwe-shin, he came first.
Ne-gon, before. Ne-gon-ne, he goes before.
Au-ko-zee, sick. Au-ko-zi-we-gaw-mig, hospital.
Au-gaw-saw, small. O-gaw-sawg o-naw-gun pe-ton, bring small
Au-gaw-won, scarcely. Au-gaw-won ne-wob, I scarcely see.