3. Of the Age

Familiar phrases

to facilitate conversation in the Indian language.

(Wikwemikong, 1872)

3. Of the age.

[Modern Southwestern Ojibwe variant is shown in green brackets]

1. How old are you?

Anin endasso-bibonagissiian?

[Aaniin endaso-biboonagiziyan?]

2. I am twenty years old.

Nijtana nin dasso-bibonagis.

[Niizhtana nindaso-biboonagiz.]

3. How old is your father?

Anin endasso-bibonagissid kos?

[Aaniin endaso-biboonagizid goos?]

4. I do not know his age, he is already old.

Kawin nin kikenimassi endasso-bibonagissigwen, jaigwa kitchi anishinabewi.

[Gaawiin ningikenimaasii endaso-biboonagizigwen, azhigwa gichi-anishinaabewi.]

5. He (she) is young, he is a child.

Oshki nigi, abinodjiiwi.

[Oshkiniigi, abinoojiiwi.]

6. He is a young man.

Oshkinawewi.

[Oshkinawewi.]

7. She is a young woman.

Oshkinigikwewi.

[Oshkiniigikwewi.]

8. He is a man. She is a woman.

Aniniwi. Akwewi.

[Ininiwi. Ikwewi.]

9. He is an old man.

Akiwessiwi.

[Akiwenziiyiwi.]

10. She is an old woman.

Midimoieiwi.

[Mindimooyenyiwi.]

11. He is very old, extremely old.

Gika, apitchi gika.

[Gikaa, aapiji gikaa.]

12. He returned to childhood.

Neiab abinodjiiwi.

[Neyaab abinoojiiwi.]

13. You are active yet, although very old.

Keiabi ki kijijawis ano gikaian.

[Geyaabi giginzhizhawiz ano-gikaayan.]

14. I thank the Lord who gives me good health in my age.

Migwetch nind ina Debendjiged midjid mino-bimadisiwin epitissiian.

[Miigwech nindinaa Debenjiged miizhid mino-bimaadiziwin epiitiziyaan.]

15. I am the oldest.

Nin nin sasikis.

[Niin ninzaziikiz.]

16. I am the youngest.

Ondass nind ondadis.

[Ondaas nindoondaadiz.]

17. Are you of my age?

Epitissiian na kid apitis?

[Epiitiziyaan na gidapiitiz?]

18. Who is the oldest person in this village?

Awenen maiamawi sasikisid oma odenang?

[Awenen maamawi zaziikizid omaa oodenaang?]

19. Who is the oldest of you two?

Awenen sesikisid kinawa nijiiek?

[Awenen zeziikizid giinawaa niizhiweg?]

20. How many brothers have you?

Anin endashiwad kisaieiag?

[Aaniin edazhiwaad gisayenyag?]

21. How many sisters have you?

Anin endashiwad kimisseiag?

[Aaniin edazhiwaad gimisenyag?]

22. I have three older brothers and two younger sisters.

Nissiwag nissaieiag nijiwag dash nishimeiag ikwesensag.

[Nisiwag nisayenyag niizhiwag dash nishiimeyag ikwezensag.]

23. How old is the oldest of your brothers? (sisters)

Anin endasso-bibonagisid sesikisid kisaie (kimisse)?

[Aaniin endaso-biboonagizid zeziikizid gisayenh (gimisenh)?]

24. How old is the youngest of your brothers?

Anin endasso-bibonagisid egatchiid kishime kwiwisens?

[Aaniin endaso-biboonagizid egaashiinyid gishiime gwiiwizens?]

25. You are very tall for your age.

Ki kitchi ginos epitisiian.

[Gigichi-ginooz epiitiziyan.]

26. Is not Paul older than William?

Kawin na Paul awashime sasikisissi, William dash?

[Gaawiin na Paul awashime zaziikizisii William dash?]

27. No, he is younger.

Kawin, ondass win ondadissi.

[Gaawiin, ondaas wiin ondaadizi.]

28. How old may this young woman be?

Anin endasso-bibonagisigwen aw oshkinigikwe?

[Aaniin endaso-biboonagizigwen a'aw oshkiniigikwe?]

29. She is young yet, but she is tall.

Oshkinigi keiabi, anawi dash ginosi.

[Oshkiniigi geyaabi, aanawi dash ginoozi.]

My cousin is grown up.

Gi nitawigi nitawis.

[Gii-nitaawigi niitaawis.]

30. My nieces are not yet grown up.

Kawin mashi nitawigissiwag nishimissag.

[Gaawiin mashi nitaawigisiiwag nishimisag.]

31. Very seldom a person now lives to the age of a hundred years.

Kitchi wika awiia nongom ningotwak dasso bibon bimadisi.

[Gichi-wiikaa awiiya noongom ningodwaak daso-biboon bimaadizi.]