Language update: July 2020

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.