1. For questioning, affirming, denying, going, coming, &

Familiar phrases

to facilitate conversation in the Indian language.

(Wikwemikong, 1872)

[Modern Southwestern Ojibwe variant is shown in green brackets]

1. Who is that? What is that? - Awenen aw? Wegonen ow?

[Awenen a'aw? Wegonen o'ow?]

2. What is the matter? - Wegonen? or: Anin ejiwebak?

[Wegonen? or: Aaniin ezhiwebak? (about natural events)]

3. What is the news? - Anin enakamigak?

[Aaniin enakamigak? (about human made events)]

4. What is your name? - Anin ejinikasoian?

[Aaniin ezhinikaazoyan?]

5. What is the name of that man, woman, boy, girl? - Anin ejinikasod aw inini, ikwe, kwiwisens, ikwesens?

[Aaniin ezhinikaazod a'aw inini, ikwe, gwiiwizens, ikwezens?]

6. What is the name of this thing? - Anin ejinikadeg ow? (in.obj.) Anin ejinikasod aw? (an.obj.)

[Aaniin ezhinikaadeg o'ow? (inanimate obj.); aaniin ezhinikaazod a'aw? (animate obj.)]

7. What did you say? How? What? - Anin ekitoian? Anin? Wegonen?

[Aaniin ekidoyan? Aaniin? Wegonen?]

8. What are you doing? (sing.) - Wegonen wejitoian?

[Wegonen wezhitooyan?]

9. What are you doing? (plur.) - Wegonen wejitoieg?

[Wegonen wezhitooyeg?]

10. Have you done? - Ki gi-ishkwata na? or: ishkwatam

[Gigii-ishkwaataa na? or: gigii-ishkwaatam na?]

11. What do you want? - Wegonen wa aiaman? (you singl.); Wegonen wa aiaieg? (you pl.)

[Wegonen waa-ayaaman? (you singl.); Wegonen waa-ayaayeg? (you pl.)

(lit.: what do you want to have?)]

12. What do you come for? - Wegonen ba-onbji-ijiaian? (singl.); Wegonen ba-onbji-ijaieg? (plur.); or: Wegonen ba-onsikaian?

[wegonen bi-onji-izhaayan? (you singl.); wegonen bi-onji-izhaayeg? (you pl.)]

13. What do you mean? - Wegonen wa ikitoian? (singl.); Wegonen wa ikitoieg? (plur.)

[wegonen waa-ikidoyan? (you singl.); wegonen waa-ikidoyeg? (you pl.)]

14. What is the meaning of that? - Wegonen wa ikitomagak iwi?

[wegonen waa-ikidomagak i'iw?]

15. May I ask you? - Ki ta gagwedijimigo na? (sing); Ki ta gagwedijimigom na? (plur)

[gidaa-gagwejimin na? (you singl.); gidaa-gagwejimininim na? (you pl.);

gidaa-gagwejimigoo na? - may we (excl) ask you (singl.)?

gidaa-gagwejimigoom na? - may we (excl) ask you (pl.)?]

16. What do you want to ask me? - Wegonen wa gagwedjimiian?

[wegonen waa-gagwejimiyan?]

17. Who lives here? - Awenen oma endad?

[awenen omaa endaad?]

18. Whose house is it? - Awenen ow wewigiwamid?

[awenen o'ow wewiigiwaamid? - or: awenen o'ow owiigiwaam?]

19. Whose books are these? - Awenen onow wemasonaiganid?

[awenen onow wemazina'iganid? - or: awenen onow omazina'iganan?]

20. What have we do? - Wegonen ge dodamang?

[wegonen ge-doodamang? (we inc.)]

21. Do you know that? - Ki kikendan na iwi? (singl.); Ki kikendanawa na iwi?(plur.)

[gigikendaan ina i'iw? (singl.); gigikendaanaawaa na i'iw? (pl.)]

22. Do you hear me? - Ki nondaw na? or: ki nondawim

[ginoondaw ina?]

23. Do you remember (recollect)? - Ki mikwendan na?

[gimikwendaan ina? (inanimate obj.)]

24. Do you know me? - Ki kikenim na?

[gigikenim ina?]

25. Whom do you look for? - Awenen nendawabamad?

[awenen nendawaabamad?]

26. What do you look for? - Wegonen nendawabandaman?

[wegonen nendawaabandaman?]

27. What have you lost? - Wegonen ga wanitoian?

[wegonen gaa-wanitooyan?]

28. Why don't you answer? - Wegonen wendji nakwetansiwan?

[wegonen wenji-nakwetanziwan?

(lit.: because of what reason don't you answer it?)]

29. Would you give me? - Ka na ki da mijissi?

[gaa na gidaa-miizhisii?]

30. Would you send me? - Ka na ki da-nindaissi?

[gaa na gidaa-niindaa'isii?]

31. Would you lend me... - Ka na ki ta-awiisi?

[gaa na gidaa-awi'isii?]

32. Would you bring me... - Ka na ki-da bidawissi?

[gaa na gidaa-biidawisii?]

33. Go and fetch it. - Awi nadin (in.obj.). Awi naj (an.obj.)

[awi-naadin (inanimate obj.); awi-naazh (animate obj.)]

34. I assure you. It is the truth. - Geget. Debwewinagad.

[geget. debwewinagad.]

35. I speak the truth; believe me. - Nin debwe; debwetawishin.

[nindebwe; debwetawishin.]

36. It is not so; you tell a lie. - Kawin awansinon; ki giwanim.

[gaawiin aawanzinoon; gi-giiwanim.]

37. It is said so; everybody says it. - Ikitom sa; kakina ikitowag.

[ikidom sa. gakina ikidowag.]

38. I contradict it; I don't believe it. - Nind agonwetan; kawin nin debwetansin.

[nindaagonwetam; gaawiin nindebwetanziin.]

39. It is a false report. - Anisha dibadjimom.

[anishaa dibaajimom]

40. Don't believe it. - Kego debwetangen.

[gego debwetangen.]

41. Do you jest (joke)! - Anisha na kid ikit tchi bapiian!

[anishaa na gidikid ji-baapiyan!

(lit.: you say it just for to laugh yourself!)]

42. I believe you. I don't believe you. - Ki debweton. Kawin ki-debwetossinon.

[gidebwetoon. gaawiin gidebwetoosiinoon.]

43. You are in the right. - Ki debwe.

[gidebwe.]

44. He is in the wrong. - Kawin debwessi.

[gaawiin debwesii.]

45. I say yes. I say no. - E, nind ikit. Kawin nind ikit.

[en', nindikid. gaawiin, nindikid.]

46. What do you say? Nothing. - Wegonen kin ekitoian. Kawin gego.

[wegonen giin ikidoyan? Gaawiin gegoo.]

47. You have been imposed upon. - Ki gi-giwanimigo.

[gigii-giiwanimigoo.]

48. Don't believe immidiately everybody. - Kego pabige debwetawaken bemadisijig.

[gego baabige debwetawaaken bemaadizijig.]

49. Who has told it to you. - Awenen ga-dibadjimotok?

[awenen gaa-dibaajimotook?]

50. I intend to do it; I will do it. - Nind inendam tchi dodaman; nin wi-dodam.

[nindinendam ji-doodamaan; niwii-doodam.]

51. I consent to it; I approve it. - Nin minwendam tchi ijiwebak. nin minwabandan.

[niminwendam ji-izhiwebak. niminwaabandaan.]

52. I am against it. - Kawin nin minwedansi tchi ijiwebak iwi.

[gaawiin niminwendanzii ji-izhiwebak i'iw.]

53. For my part I say nothing. - Nin we, kawin gego nind ikitosi.

[niin waa, gaawiin gegoo nindikidosii.]

54. It would be better for me to... - Nawatch nin da minwendam tchi...

[nawaj nindaa-minwendam ji-...]

55. I had rather... - Nawatch nin da minwendam.

[nawaj nindaa-minwedam.]

56. You speak too much. - Kid osamidon.

[gidoonzaamidoon.]

57. You speak too loud. - Osam ke kijiwe.

[onzaam gigizhiiwe.]

58. Hold your tongue. - Mindjiminan ki denaniw.

[minjiminan gidenaniw.]

59. Don't say a word. - Kego ningot ikitoken.

[gego ningodikidoken.]

60. Be quiet; you make too much noise. - Bisan abig (abiiog) osam kid ombigissim.

[bizaan abig, onzaam gidoombiigizim. (you pl.)]

61. Do you know that man? - Ki kikenima na aw inini?

[gigikenimaa na a'aw inini?]

62. I saw him. - Nin gi wabama.

[ningii-waabamaa.]

63. But I never spoke to him. - Kawin dash wika nin gi ganonasi.

[gaawiin dash wiikaa ningii-ganoonaasii.]

64. I forgot his name. - Nin wanenima ejinikasod.

[niwanenimaa ezhinikaazod.]

65. I heard several reports. - Nin gi nondam anoch babamadjimowin.

[ningii-noondam anooj babaamaajimowin.]

66. It is not worth while to speak of that. - Kawin apitendagwassinon tchi dajindamingiba iwi.

[gaawiin apiitendagwasinoon ji-dazhindamingiban i'iw.]

67. I request you to make that for me. - Ke pagossenimin tchi ojitamawiian manda.

[gi-bagosenimin ji-ozhitawiyan maanda.]

68. I thank you for your kindness towards me. - Migwetch mino-dodawiian.

[miigwech mino-doodawiyan.]

69. You are too good to me. - Osam ki mino dodaw.

[Onzaam gimino-doodaw.]

70. I could never do too much for you. - Kawin wika nin da-gashkitossi osam tchi mino dodon an

[gaawiin wiikaa nindaa-gashkitoosiin onzaam ji-mino-doodoonaan.]

71. You are kind indeed. - Geget ki kitchi kijewadis.

[geget gi-gichi-gizhewaadiz.]

72. I give you too much trouble. - Osam ki kotagiin.

[Onzaam gigotagi'in (?)]

73. I give you too much work. - Osam kid anokiin.

[onzaam gidanokii'in]

74. It affords me pleasure to do that to make that for you. - Geget nin nimwendam tchi dodaman iwi. (tchi ojitonan iwi.)

[geget niminwendam ji-doodamaan i'iw (ji-ozhitooyaan i'iw.)]

75. Where are you going? - Anindi ejaian?

[aaniindi ezhaayan?]

76. Where are they gone? - Anindi ga ijawad?

[aaniindi gaa-izhaawaad?]

77. I am going home. - Nin giwe (Endaian nind ija.)

[nigiiwe. (endaayaan nindizhaa.)]

78. He is going home. - Giwe (Endad ija.)

[giiwe. (endaad izhaa.)]

79. They are going home. - Giwewag (Endawad ijawag.)

[giiwewag. (endaawaad izhaawag.)]

80. You walk too fast. - Osam kijika.

[onzaam gizhiikaa.]

81. They walk too slow. - Osam besikawag.

[onzaam bezikaawag.]

82. Are you in a great hurry? - Apitchi na ki wewibishka?

[aapiji na giwewiibishkaa?]

83. Let us go on the other side of the bay. (river) - Agaming ijada. (sibing.)

[agaaming izhaadaa. (ziibiing izhaadaa.)]

84. Let us cross the bay. (river) - Ajawaoda. (in a canoe); Ajawagakoda. (on foot on the ice)

[aazhawa'odaa (in canoe). Aazhawagaakodaa (on foot on the ice.)]

85. Let us cross the road. - Ajoadoda mikan.

[aazho'adodaa miikan.]

86. Let us go in. Let us go out. - Pindigeda. Sagaanda.

[biindigedaa. zaaga'andaa.]

87. I go up. I go down. - Nind akwandawe. Ni nissandawe.

[nindakwaandawe. niniisaandawe.]

88. Let us go this way. - Oma nakakeia ijada.

[omaa nakakeyaa izhaadaa.]

89. They go that way. - Wede nakakeia ijawag.

[iwidi nakakeyaa izhaawag.]

90. He goes to the right. - O kitchi nikamang nakakeia ija.

[ogichi-nikamaang nakakeyaa izhaa.]

91. He does not go to the left. - Kawin onamadjinikamang nakakeya ijassi.

[gaawiin onamanji-nikamaang nakakeyaa izhaasii.]

92. Go strait along. - Gwaiak ani ijan.

[gwayak ani-izhaan.]

93. Go back a little. - Ajegabawin pangi.

[azhegaabawin bangi. (lit.: stand back a little.)]

94. Go back again (return.) - Ajegiwen.

[azhegiiwen.]

95. Stay here, don't go away. - Oma aian, kego madjaken.

[omaa ayaan, gego maajaaken.]

96. Where do you come from? - Anindi wendjibaian?

[aaniindi wenjibaayan?]

97. I come from your house. - Endaian nind ondjiba.

[endaayan nindoonjibaa.]

98. I come from home. - Engaiang nind ondjiba.

[endaayaang nindoonjibaa. (from our excl. home)]

99. I come from my uncle's house. - Nijishe endad nind ondjiba.

[(n)inzhishenh endaad nindoonjibaa. ((n)inzhishenh - my cross uncle, mother's brother)]

100. Come here. - Bi ijan oma.

[bi-izhaan omaa.]

101. Come to me. Sit down with me. - Bi nasikawishin. Bi widabimishin.

[bi-naazikawishin. bi-wiidabimishin.]

102. Come along with me. - Bi widjiwishin.

[bi-wiijiiwishin.]

103. Stand here with me. - Widjigabawitawishin oma.

[wiijiigaabawishin omaa.]

104. Come near the fire and warm yourself. - Bi nasikan ishkote, bi awason.

[bi-naazikan ishkode, bi-awazon.]

105. Stop, hold on, stay still. - Beka, nogigabawin nakawe.

[bekaa, noogigaabawin nakawe.]

106. I will wait for you, wait for me. - Ki ga biin. Biishin.

[giga-bii'in. bii'ishin.]

107. Open the door, the window. - Pakakonan ishkwandem, wassetchigan.

[baakaakonan ishkwaandem, waasechigan.]

108. Let us shut the door. - Kibakwaanda ishkwandem.

[gibaakwa'andaa ishkwaandem.]

109. Let us shut the window. - Kibakwaanda wassetchigan.

[gibaakwa'andaa waasechigan.]

110. I will go home now. - Ni wi giwe nongom.

[niwii-giiwe noongom]

111. Tomorrow I will come here again. - Wabang nin ga bi-ija minawa oma.

[waabang ninga-bi-izhaa miinawaa omaa.]

112. I exhort him to go to work &. - Nin gagasoma tchi madjad tchi anokid &.

[ningagaanzomaa ji-maajaad ji-anokiid]

113. It is all the same whether he comes or not. - Mi tibishko tchi dagwishing kema gaye tchi dagwishinsig.

[mii dibishkoo ji-dagoshing gemaa gaye ji-dagoshinzig]

114. Tell me what you (pl.) think. - Windamawishig enendameg.

[wiindamawishig enendameg.]

115. He looks like a dead person. - Tibishko nebongin ijinagosi.

[dibishkoo nebongin(?) izhinaagozi.]

116. You look sick. - Aiakosigin kid ijinagos.

[ayaakozigin(?) gidizhinaagoz.]

117. One laughs and the other weeps. - Bejig bapi, bejig dash mawi.

[bezhig baapi, bezhig dash mawi.]

118. Some are rich and some are poor. - Anind daniwag, anind dash kitimagisiwag.

[aanind daniwag, aanind dash gidimaagiziwag.]

119. One or the other will come. - Bejig nijiwad ta bi ija oma.

[bezhig niizhiwaad da-bi-izhaa omaa.]

120. One of them will embark. - Bejig endatchiwad ta bosi.

[Bezhig endazhiwaad da-boozi.]

121. I have a good memory. - Nin nita-mindjimendan gego.

[ninitaa-minjimendaan gegoo.]

122. I shall not forget it soon. - Kawin nin ga wanendansin waiba

[gaawiin ninga-wanendanziin wayiiba.]

123. He is happier than you. - Nawatch win jawendagosi kin dash.

[nawaj wiin zhawendaagozi giin dash.]

124. John is wiser than Paul. - Nawatch John nibwaka Paul dash.

[nawaj John nibwaakaa Paul dash.]

125. How much have you been charged for this gun? - Anin minik ga inagindamagoian manda pashkisigan?

[aaniin minik gaa-inagindamaagooyan maanda (or: o'ow) baashkizigan?]

126. William was charged more. - Nawatch nibiwa William gi inagindamawa.

[nawaj niibowa William gii-inagindamawaa.]

127. I shall not go away before I speak to him. - Kawin nin wi madjassi tchi bwa ganonag.

[gaawiin niwii-maajaasii jibwaa-ganoonag.]

128. He is wiser than he is rich. - Nawatch nibwaka eji danid dash.

[nawaj nibwaakaa ezhi-danid dash.]

129. He is as rich as he is wise. - Epitchi nibwakad, mi epitch danid.

[epiichi-nibwaakaad, mii epiichi-danid.]

130. You are as happy as I am. - Eji jawendagosiian mi jawendagosiian gaie kin.

[ezhi-zhawendaagoziyaan mii zhawendaagoziyan gaye giin.]

131. The older he grows the deafer he is. - Eshkam gagibishe eji gikad.

[eshkam gagiibishe ezhi-gikaad.]

132. The more they are taught, the more they are ignorant. - Eshkam gagibadisiwag ano kikinoamawindwa.

[eshkam gagiibaadiziwag ano-gikinoo'amawindwaa.]

133. The more I work the better I am off. - Eshkam nin mino aia anokiian.

[eshkam nimino-ayaa anokiiyaan.]

134. As long as I shall behave well, I will be loved. - Ged apitch mino ijiwebisiian, nin ga sagiigo.

[ged-apiich-mino-izhiwebiziyaan, ninga-zaagi'igoo.]

135. I am not rich enough to buy that. - Kawin nin de danissi ge gashpinadoiamban iwi.

[gaawiin ninde-danisii ge-gaashpinadooyaambaan i'iw.]

136. You are not learned enough to be a teacher. - Kawin ki ta de kikinoamawassi.

[gaawiin gidaa-de-gikinoo'amawaasii. - you can't learn him enough.]

137. He is old enough to be his own master and to take care of himself. - De apitissi tchi dibenindisod, gaie tchi bamiidisod.

[de-apiitizi ji-dibenindizod, gaye ji-bamedizod.]

138. They arrived to day sooner than they usually do. - Nawatch nongom waiba gi dagwishinog, eji dagwishinowad ko.

[nawaj noongom wayiiba gii-dagoshinoog, ezhi-dagoshinowaad ko.]

139. John is the wisest of all my scholars. - John awashime nibwaka endatchiwad nin kikinoamaganag.

[John awashime nibwaakaa endaazhiwaad ningikinoo'amaaganag.]

140. This book is the most precious of all my books. - Manda masinaigan awashime apitendagwad endassing nin masinaiganan.

[o'ow mazina'igan awashime apiitendaagwad endasing nimazina'iganan.]

141. I am not the person to do that. - Kawin nind awissi ge dodamaban iwi.

[gaawiin nindaawisii ge-doodamaabaan i'iw.]

142. He is not capable of stealing. - Kawin o da gashkitossin tchi gimodid.

[gaawiin odaa-gashkitoosiin ji-gimoodid.]

143. I don't hate you on the contrary I love you. - Kawin ki jingenimissinon, nawatch ki sagiin.

[gaawiin gizhiingenimisiinon, nawaj gizaagi'in.]

144. You are by far not so strong as he is. - Ki mashkawis nange eji mashkawissid.

[gimashkawiz nange ezhi-mashkawizid. - you are surely as srong as he is. (???)]

145. I give him permission (leave) to go, to do that, to marry. - Nin pagidina tchi madjad, tchi ojitod iwi, tchi widiged.

[nimbagidinaa ji-maajaad, ji-ozhitood i'iw, ji-wiidiged.]