By Justin Neely, CPN Language Department Director
Take the opportunity to work on the language during our quarantine time. Take part in one of the many online language-learning opportunities we offer. Find more information at potawatomi.org/language.
This month, check out some fun phrases that I got from Jim Thunder, one of our last first language speakers from Wisconsin. Enjoy!
- Gégo bye bidgekén. Gde bogtheshkwewzede! Don’t come in. Your feet are muddy!
- Pegdowshen i pkwakwet. Throw the ball to me.
- Pegdow i pkwakwet. Throw him/her the ball.
- Bokdonenwi o ndanes. My daughter is pouting.
- Megwetsownekeni – Octopus
- Wgi thagzedzo o ngwes dbekok. My son burned himself last night.
- Nekwsegwzedejen. I have a splinter in my foot.
- Wdenwan ni wdedeymen. He takes after his dad.
- Wdenwan ni wneneymen. She takes after her mom.
- Mikwnebwamshen. Remind me.
- Wdapkadebzo. He/she is having a Charlie horse.
- Ngi-mikwnebwama. I reminded him/her.
- Anmikwa – to take someone to task for something
- Cho ngeshktosin ewi mbayan. I am unable to sleep.
- Nbakwnemak – he/she opens it for me
- Kenandep – skull/bonehead (Some use this jokingly to say “bonehead.”)
- Ni je etsegongezet o penojes? How many days old is that baby?
- Boniken! Leave it alone. (singular)
- Bonikmok! You all leave it alone. (plural)
- Ngi-bonikan. I left it alone.
- Dapneshen. Pick me up.
- Mbagnek shgeshem o penoje. Put the baby on the bed.
- Ngi-pamse’a o ndeish. I am walking the dog.
- Mbemse shi myewesek. I am walking on the path.
- I shna ewi jakgishgewat nnijansek wpi nishwabdekpbomgek. In 20 years, my kids will be all grown up.
- Gégo jinewsekén. Don’t be greedy.
- Gégo kwansegsekén. Don’t be stingy!
- Anodze – another word for greedy
- Metawgak – sandy area
- Ngi-nkweshkak. He met me.
- Nmokjane. I have a pimple on my nose.