Welcome
This page was started as a classroom resource to ensure the language will be heard by the children as they grow.
Basics
Boozhoo! – Hello!
Miigwech! – Thanks!
Giga-waabamin! – I shall see you! (Goodbye)
Eya’ (females)/En’ (males) – Yes
Gaawiin – No
Giinitam – Your turn
Giminochige! – You’re doing good! (Good job!)
Gego! – Don’t!
Bekaa! – Wait!
Wewiib! – Hurry!
Commands
Command words are used to give directions. We can modify them to tell one person or a group of two or more people to do something. We can also say let’s do it together. For example, “Namadabin!” (you sit down), “Namadabig!” (yous sit down) and “Namadabidaa!” (let’s sit down).
English | One | Two or More | All Together (Let’s) |
Read/Count | Agindaason | Agindaasog | Agindaasodaa |
Pay attention to it | Babaamendan | Babaamendamok | Babaamendandaa |
Be quiet | Bizaan-ayaan | Bizaan-ayaag | Bizaan-ayaadaa |
Come here | Bi-izhaan | Bi-izhaag | Bi-izhaadaa |
Listen | Bizindan | Bizindamok | Bizindandaa |
Walk | Bimosen | Bimoseg | Bimosedaa |
Offer asemaa | Biindaakoojigen | Biindaakoojigeg | Biindaakoojigedaa |
Come in | Biindigen | Biindigeg | Biindigedaa |
Quit it | Boonitoon | Boonitooyok | Boonitoodaa |
Sit down | Namadabin | Namadabig | Namadabidaa |
Weather
We can ask our classroom about the weather by saying:
Aaniin ezhiwebak agwajiing? What’s it doing outside?
Here are some weather terms:
- It is cloudy – Ningwaanakwad
- It is cold – Gisinaa (the weather is cold not I am cold)
- It is cool – Daki-ayaa
- It is foggy – Awan
- It is a nice day – Mino-giizhigad
- It is raining – Gimiwan
- It is snowing – Zoogipon (the action not snow on the ground)
- It is sunny – Waaseyaa
- It is warm – Aabawaa (the weather is warm not I am warm)
- It is windy – Noodin
Feelings
We can ask each other how we feel by saying:
Aaniin ezhi-ayaayan? How are you?
English | Are you______? | Yes, I am ______. | No, I’m not ______. |
Happy | Giminwendam ina? | Niminwendam | Gaawiin niminwendanziin |
Angry/Mad | Ginishkaadiz ina? | Ninishkaadiz | Gaawiin ninishkaadizisii |
Sad/Lonely | Gigashkendam ina? | Ningashkendam | Gaawiin ningashkendanziin |
Good | Gimino-ayaa ina? | Nimino-ayaa | Gaawiin nimino-ayaasii |
Hungry | Gibakade ina? | Nibakade | Gaawiin nibakadesii |
Tired | Gidayekoz ina? | Nindayekoz | Gaawiin nindayekozisii |
Hurt/In pain | Giwiisigine ina? | Niwiisagine | Gaawiin niwiisiginesii |
Cold | Gigiikaj ina? | Ningiikaj | Gaawiin ningiikajisii |
Hot | Gigizhiz ina? | Ningizhiz | Gaawiin ningizhizisii |
Sick | Gidaakoz ina? | Nindaakoz | Gaawiin nindaakozisii |