Search the dictionary Advanced Search

How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

baby
n
baby
abinoojiinyens na a baby

biibiiyens na a baby

oshkabinoojiinh na a newborn baby, an infant

baby in a bundle
dakonaawaswaan na a baby in a bundle (to be held)

baby in a cradle board
dakobinaawaswaan na a baby in a cradle board

have a baby in a cradle board
dakobinaawaso vai s/he has a baby in a cradle board

hold a baby in arms
dakonaawaso vai s/he holds a baby

rock a baby
wewebinaawaso vai s/he rocks a baby in a cradle

See also: wewebaabiiginaawaso vai

wewebaabiigin vta swing h/ with a line (as a baby in a cradle swing); swing h/ (on a swing)

Paired with: wewebaabiiginan vti

CARRY A BABY ON BACK
carry a baby along on back
bimoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby along on h/ back

carry a baby about on back
babaamoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby around on h/ back

carry a baby away on back
animoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby away on h/ back

carry a baby from a certain place on back
ondoomaawaso vai s/he carries baby from a certain place on h/ back

carry a baby here on back
biidoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby here on h/ back

carry a baby to a certain place on back
inoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby to a certain place on h/ back

baby bottle
n
baby bottle
noobaajigan ni a baby bottle

noonaajigan ni a baby bottle

babysit
vt
babysit
gizhaadaawaso vai s/he babysits

bamoonzhe vai

bachelor
n
bachelor
moozhaabe na [ML] a bachelor, an unmarried man

bizhigwaabe na a bachelor, an unmarried man

back
[direction]
adv
go back
azhe- pv lex go back

azheshkaa vai s/he goes back, returns

Paired with: azheshkaa vii

azhetaa vai s/he goes back, returns

hand back
azhen vta return h/, take h/ back, hand h/ back

Paired with: azhenan vti

azhenan vti return it, take it back, hand it back

Paired with: azhen vta

azhenamaw vta return (it) to, take (it) back to, hand (it) back to h/

azhenige vai s/he returns things, takes things back, hands things back

look back
aabanaabam vta look back at h/

Paired with: aabanaabandan vti

aabanaabandan vti look back at it

Paired with: aabanaabam vta

aabanaabi vai s/he looks back

paddle back
azhe'o vai s/he paddles backwards

azhekwazhiwe vai s/he paddles backwards

pound back
azheda'an vti pound it back (using a stick or a stick-like tool)

Paired with: azheda' vta

azheda' vta pound h/ back (using a stick or a stick-like tool)

Paired with: azheda'an vti

pull back
azhebidoon vti2 pull it back

Paired with: azhebizh vta

azhebizh vta pull h/ back

Paired with: azhebidoon vti2

stand back
azhegaabawi vai s/he stands back

take back
azhen vta return h/, take h/ back, hand h/ back

Paired with: azhenan vti

azhenamaw vta return (it) to, take (it) back to, hand (it) back to h/

azhenan vti return it, take it back, hand it back

Paired with: azhen vta

back
[return]
adv
take back
azhen vta return h/, take h/ back, hand h/ back

Paired with: azhenan vti

azhenamaw vta return (it) to, take (it) back to, hand (it) back to h/

azhenan vti return it, take it back, hand it back

Paired with: azhen vta

hand back
azhen vta return h/, take h/ back, hand h/ back

Paired with: azhenan vti

azhenan vti return it, take it back, hand it back

Paired with: azhen vta

azhenamaw vta return (it) to, take (it) back to, hand (it) back to h/

azhenige vai s/he returns things, takes things back, hands things back

back
[body]
n
Reference to the back of the body is made in verbs with the medial /-aawigan-/. Verbs for carrying or lifting a load on the back contain a vti final /-oond/ or a vta final /-oom/. Verbs for carrying or lifting a baby on the back contain the vta final /-oom/ followed by the vai final /-aawaso/.
back
nipikwan nid my back

gipikwan nid your back

opikwan nid h/ back

back itches
gizhiibaawigan vai [S] h/ back itches

gizhiibaawigane vai h/ back itches

See also: gizhiibaawigan vai [S]

break back
bookwaawigane vai s/he has a broken back, breaks h/ back, is hunchbacked

bookwaawiganeshin vai s/he falls and break h/ back

bookwaawiganebizh vta break h/ back (with hands)

broken back
bookwaawigane vai s/he has a broken back, breaks h/ back, is hunchbacked

fall and break back
bookwaawiganeshin vai s/he falls and break h/ back

hairy back
miishaawigane vai [N] s/he has a hairy back

middle of the back
naawaawigan adv loc in the middle of someone's back

scar on back
ojiishaawigane vai s/he has a scar on h/ back

scratch back
jiichiigawiganebizh vta scratch h/ back

small of the back
nizhiigan nid the small of my back; (the upper part of) my rump, rear end

gizhiigan nid the small of your back; (the upper part of) your rump, rear end

ozhiigan nid the small of h/ back; (the upper part of) h/ rump, rear end; its croup (top of the rump of an animal)

sore back
gaagiidaawigan vai [S] s/he has a sore back

See also: gaagiidaawigane vai [N]

gaagiidaawigane vai [N] s/he has a sore back

See also: gaagiidaawigane vai [N]

warm back
abaawiganezo vai s/he warms h/ (own) back

CARRY ON BACK
arrive carrying on back
bagamoom vta arrive carrying h/ on back

bagamoondan vti arrive carrying it on back

Paired with: bagamoom vta

bring on back
biidoondan vti bring it on back

Paired with: biidoom vta

biidoom vta bring h/ on back

Paired with: biidoondan vti

carry about on back
babaamoom vta carry h/ about on h/ back

Paired with: babaamoondan vti

babaamoondan vti carry it about on h/ back

Paired with: babaamoom vta

carry along on back
bimoom vta carry h/ along on one's back

Paired with: bimoondan vti

bimoondan vti carry it along on one's back

Paired with: bimoom vta

carry ashore on back
agwaayoom vta carry, take h/ shore on the back

Paired with: agwaayoondan vti

agwaayoondan vti carry, take it ashore on the back

Paired with: agwaayoom vta

carry away on back
animoom vta carry h/ away on the back

Paired with: animoondan vti

animoondan vti carry it away on the back

Paired with: animoom vta

carry from a certain place on back
ondoom vta carry h/ on back from a certain place

Paired with: ondoondan vti

ondoondan vti carry it on back from a certain place

Paired with: ondoom vta

carry off on back
maadoom vta carry h/ off on h/ back

Paired with: maadoondan vti

maadoondan vti carry it off on h/ back

Paired with: maadoom vta

carry to a certain place on back
inoom vta carry h/ to a certain place on h/ back

Paired with: inoondan vti

inoondan vti carry it to a certain place on h/ back

Paired with: inoom vta

CARRY A BABY ON BACK
carry a baby about on back
babaamoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby around on h/ back

carry a baby along on back
bimoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby along on h/ back

carry a baby away on back
animoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby away on h/ back

carry a baby from a certain place on back
ondoomaawaso vai s/he carries baby from a certain place on h/ back

carry a baby here on back
biidoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby here on h/ back

carry a baby to a certain place on back
inoomaawaso vai s/he carries a baby to a certain place on h/ back

back
[the past]
adv
back
ishkweyaang adv loc behind, at the back, in the rear; back (in time), in the past; in the back

back
[behind]
n
in the back
ishkweyaang adv loc behind, at the back, in the rear; back (in time), in the past; in the back

back
[as before]
adv
back
neyaab adv man as before; back to previous place or condition

back
[reply]
adv
write back
nakwebii'amaw vta write (it) back to h/

nakwebii'amaadiwag vai they write (it) back to each other

back up
phrv
back up a vehicle
azhebizo vai s/he backs up a vehicle

Paired with: azhebide vii

backache
n
backache
dewaawigan vai [C] s/he has a backache

See also: dewaawigane vai [N]

dewaawigane vai [N] s/he has a back ache

dewipikwan vai [C] s/he has a backache

See also: dewipikwane vai

dewipikwane vai s/he has a backache

See also: dewipikwan vai [C]

backpack
n
backpack
bimiwanaan ni a pack; a backpack

bacon
n
bacon
giikanaabate-gookoosh na bacon

giikanaamozigan na bacon

giikanaabasigan na bacon

bacon grease
n
bacon grease
gookooshi-bimide ni lard; bacon grease

See also: gookooshiwi-bimide ni [BL]

gookooshiwi-bimide ni [BL] bacon grease

See also: gookooshi-bimide ni

bad
adj
bad
maazhi- pv lex bad; ill-formed

maji- pv lex bad

bad breath
maazhimaagwanaamo vai s/he has bad breath

bad day
maazhi-giizhigad vii it is a bad day

bad dream
giiwanaadingwaam vai s/he has a bad dream, had a nightmare

bad fall
aapijishin vai s/he has a serious fall or accident, has a fatal fall or accident

bad life
maazhi-bimaadizi vai s/he behaves badly; s/he leads a bad life

bad luck
maazhise vai s/he has things go wrong, has bad luck

bad road or trail
maanadamon vii [S] it (road or trail) is bad, is poor

maanamon vii it (road or trail) is bad, is poor

bad shot
maana'e vai s/he takes a bad shot

bad voice
maanowe vai s/he is hoarse, has a bad voice

bad weather
niiskaadad vii it is bad weather

do something bad
maazhichige vai s/he does something wrong, does something bad

bad
adv
think bad
maanendan vti think or consider it bad, poor, or disagreeable

Paired with: maanenim vta

maanenim vta think or consider h/ bad, poor, or disagreeable

Paired with: maanendan vti

maanendaagozi vai s/he is thought bad, is thought poor, is thought disagreeable

Paired with: maanendaagwad vii

maanendaagwad vii it is thought bad, is thought poor, is thought disagreeable

Paired with: maanendaagozi vai

feel bad
maanamanji'o vai s/he is in a bad state of mind: feels bad, depressed, sad, or out of sorts; s/he is in poor health, is ill

look bad
majinaagwad vii it looks bad, looks poor, looks inadequate

Paired with: majinaagozi vai

majinaagozi vai s/he looks bad, looks poor, looks inadequate

Paired with: majinaagwad vii

smell bad
maazhimaagozi vai s/he smells bad

Paired with: maazhimaagwad vii

maazhimaagwad vii it smells bad

Paired with: maazhimaagozi vai

maazhimaam vta find the smell of h/ bad

Paired with: maazhimaandan vti

maazhimaandan vti find it smells bad

Paired with: maazhimaam vta

smell bad burning or cooking
maazhimaaso vai s/he has a bad aroma, smells bad burning or cooking

Paired with: maazhimaate vii

maazhimaate vii it has a bad aroma, smells bad burning or cooking

Paired with: maazhimaaso vai

sound bad
maanitaagozi vai s/he sounds bad, doesn't sound right

Paired with: maanitaagwad vii

maanitaagwad vii it sounds bad, doesn't sound right

Paired with: maanitaagozi vai

maanitaw vta dislike what h/ says or sounds like; find what h/ says or sounds like disagreeable

Paired with: maanitan vti

maanitan vti it sounds bad to h/, doesn't sound right to h/

Paired with: maanitaw vta

taste bad
maazhipogozi vai s/he tastes bad

Paired with: maazhipogwad vii

maazhipogwad vii it tastes bad

Paired with: maazhipogozi vai

maanaagamin vii it (a liquid) tastes bad

maanaagamipidan vti find that it (liquid) tastes bad

bad medicine
n
bad medicine
maji-mashkiki ni poison; bad medicine: a remedy or spell having or intended to have negative results

bad-off
adj
bad-off
maazhi-ayaa vai s/he is bad-off; s/he is in poor health, is ill

badger
n
badger
misakakojiish na [S] a badger

[
American badger
; 
Taxisea taxus
]

See also: mitanask na [N]

mitanask na [N] a badger

[
American badger
; 
Taxisea taxus
]

See also: misakakojiish na [S]

badly
adv
badly
debinaak adv man badly; carelessly; any old way

bag
n
bag
mashkimod ni a bag, a sack

bag with closeable top
gashkibidaagan na a bag with closeable top: a tobacco bag, a pipe bag, a satchel; [ML] a bandolier bag

gashkibidaagan ni a bag that can be pulled closed: a pouch, a tobacco bag, a pipe bag, a bundle, a satchel

See also: gashkibidaagan na

bandolier bag
aazhooningwa'on ni a bandolier bag

cloth bag
bagiwayaaneshkimod ni a cloth bag

have bag
omashkimodaa vai s/he has a bag or bags, has a sack or sacks

take along bag
niimashkimode vai s/he takes along a bag or bags

make bag
mashkimodeke vai s/he makes a bag, makes a sack

medicine bag
midewayaan na a Mide medicine bag

paper bag
mazina'igani-mashkimodens ni a paper sack, a paper bag

rice bag
manoomini-mashkimod ni a bag or sack for wild rice

manoominiwazh ni a bag or sack for wild rice; a bag or sack filled with wild rice

shell bag
biindasinaan ni a bag for ammunition: a shell bag, a shot pouch

bag
[unit]
n
certain number of bags
dasooshkimod qnt num a certain number of bags

dasooshkin qnt num certain number of bags; so many bags

so many bags
dasooshkin qnt num certain number of bags; so many bags

half a bag
aabitooshkin qnt num half a bag

one bag
ingodooshkin qnt num one bag

See also: ningodooshkin qnt num

two bags
niizhooshkimod qnt num two bags

niizhooshkin qnt num two bags

three bags
nisooshkimod qnt num three bags

nisooshkin qnt num three bags

four bags
niiwooshkin qnt num four bags

See also: niiyooshkin qnt num

niiyooshkimod qnt num four bags

niiyooshkin qnt num four bags

five bags
naanooshkimod qnt num five bags

naanooshkin qnt num five bags

six bags
ingodwaasooshkin qnt num six bags

See also: ningodwaasooshkin qnt num

ningodwaasooshkin qnt num six bags

See also: ingodwaasooshkin qnt num

seven bags
niizhwaasooshkimod qnt num seven bagfuls; seven bags

niizhwaasooshkin qnt num seven bags

eight bags
nishwaasooshkin qnt num eight bags

See also: ishwaasooshkin qnt num

ishwaasooshkin qnt num eight bags

See also: nishwaasooshkin qnt num

nine bags
zhaangasooshkimod qnt num nine bags

zhaangasooshkin qnt num nine bags

ten bags
midaasooshkimod qnt num ten bags

midaasooshkin qnt num ten bags

bail
[remove water]
vi
bail
iska'ibii vai s/he bails

bail out
[pay for]
phrv
bail out
diba' vta pay for h/ or it (animate); bail h/ out

Paired with: diba'an vti See also: diba'wi vta [NI]

bait
vt
bait
miijimikanjige vai [S] s/he baits things

miijimikandan vti [S] bait it

gokeyawikaadan vti [N] bait it

bait
n
bait
miijimikanjigan ni [S] bait

gokeyaw ni [N] bait

ogokeyawin vai + o [N] have or use it/it (animate) as bait

bake
vi
bake
biindaabika'an vti [BL] bake, roast it in the oven

Paired with: biindaabika' vta [BL]

giboz vta cook it (animate) in the oven, bake it (animate)

Paired with: gibozan vti

gibozan vti cook it in the oven; bake it

Paired with: giboz vta

gibozige vai s/he bakes things; s/he roasts things in the oven

biindaabika' vta [BL] bake h/ in an oven

Paired with: biindaabika'an vti [BL]

baker
n
baker
bakwezhiganikewikwe na a baker (female)

bakwezhiganikewinini na a baker

bakery
n
bakery
bakwezhiganikewigamig ni a bakery

baking powder
n
baking powder
ombisijigaans ni baking powder

baking soda
n
baking soda
ombizigan ni baking soda

bald
adj
bald
mitaskindibe vai [BL] s/he is bald

waabizhagindibe vai s/he is bald

bald eagle
n
bald eagle
migizi na a bald eagle

[
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
]

bald eagle feather
migiziwigwan na a bald eagle feather

bald eagle nest
migiziwazison ni [BL] a bald eagle's nest

ball
n
ball
bikwaakwad ni a ball

ball of twine or yarn
bikoojaan ni a ball of twine or yarn

bowling ball
gichi-nemaab na [RL] a bowling ball

lie formed into a ball
bikwaakwadosin vii it lies formed into a ball

Paired with: bikwaakwadoshin vai

bikwaakwadoshin vai s/he or it (animate) lies formed into a ball

Paired with: bikwaakwadosin vii

pool ball
nemaab na a pool ball; a marble

Ball Club
place
Ball Club
Baaga'adowaaning name place Ball Club, Minnesota

ball-headed club
n
ball-headed club
bikwaakwado-bagamaagan ni a ball-headed club

balm of gilead tree
n
balm of gilead tree
maanazaadi na a Balm of Gilead tree; a balsam poplar

[
balsam poplar
; 
Populus balsamifera
]

balsam fir
n
balsam fir
zhingob na a balsam fir; {BL] a bough of any evergreen tree; a christmas tree

[
Balsam Fir
; 
Abies balsamea
]

balsam poplar
n
balsam poplar
maanazaadi na a Balm of Gilead tree; a balsam poplar

[
balsam poplar
; 
Populus balsamifera
]

banana
n
banana
akandamoo na a banana; root of water plant sp.

wewaagijiizid ni-v a banana

gaa-waagijiiyaag ni-v [BL] a banana

bandage
n
bandage
ziinzoopizon ni a bandage

ziinzoopizo vai s/he wears a bandage or dressing

ziinzoopizh vta tie h/ with bandage

bandolier bag
n
bandolier bag
aazhooningwa'on ni a bandolier bag

bank
[steep side]
n
steep bank
giishkadinaa vii it is a cliff, is a steep bank

snow bank
giishkaagone'igan ni a snow bank made by a plow

bank
[money]
n
bank
zhooniyaawigamig ni a bank

bannock
n
Bannock is a flat quick bread cooked in the over or over a fire by Canadian Anishinaabe. Berries, fish eggs, or wild rice can be added. The terms bakwezhigan and bakwezhiganikaan can be used for bannock in the Border Lakes region. There and elsewhere, gibozigan is often used for a loaf of bread baked in an oven. 
bannock
bakwezhigan na
  1. bread, bannock
  2. flour

bakwezhiganikaan na [BL] bannock

make bannock
bakwezhiganike vai s/he makes bread, [N] makes bannock

bannock-making
bakwezhiganikewin ni bannock-making, bread-making

blueberry bannock
miini-bakwezhigan na blueberry bannock

cranberry bannock
mashkiigimini-bakwezhigan na cranberry bannock

fish egg bannock
waakoonsiwi-bakwezhigan na fish-egg bread

raisin bannock
zhoominensiwi-bakwezhigan na [BL] raisin bannock

strawberry bannock
ode'imini-bakwezhigan na [BL] strawberry bannock

wild rice bannock
manoomini-bakwezhigan na wild rice bannock

baptize
vt
baptize
ziiga'andaw vta
  1. pour liquid on h/; splash h/
  2. baptize h/

Paired with: ziiga'andan vti

bar
vt
bar
gashkaakonan vti bar, lock it (as something stick- or wood-like)

bar
[place to drink]
n
bar
minikwewigamig ni a tavern, a bar

ziiginigewigamig ni a tavern, a bar

barber
n
barber
baapaagokozhiwewinini na [ML] a barber; a (male) hairdresser

baapaagokozhiwewikwe na [ML] a hairdresser (female)

giishkikozhiwewinini na a barber

giishkikozhiwewikwe na a barber (female)

barber shop
n
barber shop
baapaagokozhiwewigamig ni a barber shop; a beauty parlor, a hair dressing salon

bare
adj
bare ice
michizigwaa vii there is bare ice

bare of boughs
bashkwaandagizi vai it (animate) is bare of boughs

bashkwaandagaa vii it is bare of boughs

Paired with: bashkwaandagizi vai

on a bare surface
michayi'ii adv loc on the floor; on the ground

See also: michaya'ii adv loc [N]

on bare ground
mitakamig adv loc on bare ground

bare-chested
adj
bare-chested
mitaakigane vai s/he is bare-chested, is bare-breasted

bare-headed
adj
bare-headed
mitaakondibe vai s/he is bare-headed

barefoot
adj
barefoot
zhaashaaginizide vai s/he is barefoot

run barefoot
zhaashaaginizidebatoo vai s/he runs barefoot

barely
adv
barely
agaawaa adv deg barely; hardly

See also: agaawaa adv deg

barge
n
barge
nabagi-jiimaan ni a flat-bottomed boat, a barge

bark
vi
bark
migi vai s/he barks

migidan vti bark at it

Paired with: migizh vta

migizh vta bark at h/

Paired with: migidan vti

bark
n
bark
wanagek na bark (of a tree); a piece of bark

basswood bark
wiigob ni inner bark of basswood

birch bark
wiigwaas ni birch bark; piece of birch bark

black bark
makadewanagekozi vai it (animate) has dark bark

Paired with: makadewanagekwad vii

black spruce bark
zesegaandagwanagek na black spruce bark

brown bark
ozaawanagekozi vai it (animate) has brown or yellow bark

Paired with: ozaawanagekwad vii

ozaawanagekwad vii it has brown or yellow bark

Paired with: ozaawanagekozi vai

bumpy bark
babigwanagekozi vai it (animate) has rough bunpy bark

Paired with: babigwanagekwad vii

babigwanagekwad vii it has rough bumpy bark

Paired with: babigwanagekozi vai

dark bark
makadewanagekozi vai it (animate) has dark bark

Paired with: makadewanagekwad vii

makadewanagekwad vii it has dark bark

Paired with: makadewanagekozi vai

edible inner bark (cambium)
oziban ni cambium: sweet edible inner bark of certain trees

ozibanaakozi vai it (animate; stick-like) has sappy inner bark (cambium)

Paired with: ozibanaakwad vii

ozibanaakwad vii it (stick-like) has sappy inner bark (cambium)

Paired with: ozibanaakozi vai

inner bark (cambium)
oziban ni cambium: sweet edible inner bark of certain trees

ozibanaakozi vai it (animate; stick-like) has sappy inner bark (cambium)

Paired with: ozibanaakwad vii

ozibanaakwad vii it (stick-like) has sappy inner bark (cambium)

Paired with: ozibanaakozi vai

inner bark of basswood
wiigob ni inner bark of basswood

jack pine bark
okikaandagwanagek na jack pine bark

light bark
waabanagekozi vai it (animate) has light colored bark

Paired with: waabanagekwad vii

waabanagekwad vii it has light colored bark

Paired with: waabanagekozi vai

red bark
miskwanagekozi vai it (animate) has red bark

Paired with: miskwanagekwad vii

miskwanagekwad vii it has red bark

Paired with: miskwanagekozi vai

rough bark
babigwanagekozi vai it (animate) has rough bunpy bark

Paired with: babigwanagekwad vii

babigwanagekwad vii it has rough bumpy bark

Paired with: babigwanagekozi vai

scaly bark
giipanagekozi vai it (animate) has scaly bark

smooth bark
zhooshkwanagekozi vai it (animate) has smooth bark

soft birch bark
nookashkweyaa vii it is soft birch bark

spotted bark
gidaganagekozi vai s/he (a tree) has spotted bark

thick bark
gipaganagekozi vai it (animate) has thick bark

Paired with: gipaganagekwad vti

gipaganagekwad vti it has thick bark

Paired with: gipaganagekozi vai

thin bark
bibaganagekozi vai it (animate) has thin bark

bibaganagekwad vii it has thin bark

Paired with: bibaganagekozi vai

yellow bark
ozaawanagekozi vai it (animate) has brown or yellow bark

Paired with: ozaawanagekwad vii

ozaawanagekwad vii it has brown or yellow bark

Paired with: ozaawanagekozi vai

white bark
waabishkanagekozi vai it (animate); a tree) has white bark

white spruce bark
mina'igwanagek na white spruce bark

bark lodge
n
bark lodge
wanagekogamig ni a bark lodge

bark torch
n
bark torch
biimashkwemaginigan ni a bark torch

barmaid
n
barmaid
ziiginigewikwe na a bartender (female), a barmaid

barn
n
barn
awakaanigamig ni a barn

cattle barn
bizhikiiwigamig ni cattle barn

hog barn
gookooshiwigamig ni a hog barn; a pig sty

horse barn
bebezhigooganzhiiwigamig ni a horse barn

barrel
n
barrel
makakosag ni a large rigid containter: a tub. a barrel, a carton

barrel or tub used in threshing wild rice
mimigoshkamwaagan ni a barrel or tub used in threshing wild rice

bartender
n
bartender
ziiginigewinini na a bartender

ziiginigewikwe na a bartender (female), a barmaid

baseball
n
baseball
bakitejii'igewin ni the game of baseball, playing baseball

play baseball
bakitejii'ige vai s/he plays baseball

See also: bagitejii'ige vai [N]

bagitejii'ige vai [N] s/he plays baseball

See also: bakitejii'ige vai

bikwaakwadoonsike vai [BL] s/he plays baseball

baseball bat
n
baseball bat
bakitejii'iganaak ni a baseball bat

baseball cap
adj
baseball cap
bakitejii'igewi-wiiwakwaan ni [BL] a baseball cap

bagitejii'ige-wiiwakwaan ni [N] a baseball cap

baseball player
n
baseball player
bakitejii'igewinini na a baseball player; a batter

See also: bagitejii'igewinini na [N]

bagitejii'igewinini na [N] a baseball player; a batter

See also: bakitejii'igewinini na

basement
n
in the basement
anaamisag adv loc under the floor, in the basement

anaamisagong adv loc under the floor, in the basement

bash
vt
bash
aabiindaganaam vta pummel, bash h/

bashful
adj
bashful
agaji vai s/he is ashamed, is shy, is bashful

basin
n
basin
gichi-onaagan ni a large dish or shallow pan: a basin, a dish pan

wash basin
giziibiigiingwewinaagan ni a wash basin

giziininjaagan ni a sink; a wash basin

giziibiiwinaagan ni a washbasin

bask
vi
bask
abaasandeke vai s/he basks in the sun

basket
n
basket
makak ni a semi-rigid or rigid container: a basket (especially one of birch bark), a box

birch bark basket
makak ni a semi-rigid or rigid container: a basket (especially one of birch bark), a box

wiigwaasinaagan ni a birch bark dish

biskitenaagan ni a sap bucket of folded birch bark; [BL] a birch bark basket

ziinzibaakwado-makak ni a birch bark basket for maple sugar

spruce root basket
wadabii-makak ni a spruce root basket

willow basket
oziisigobimizhii-makak ni a willow basket

bass
[fish]
n
largemouth bass
ashigan na a fish of the sunfish family; locally applied to rock bass, crappie, and largemouth bass in NW Ontario

rock bass
ashigan na a fish of the sunfish family; locally applied to rock bass, crappie, and largemouth bass in NW Ontario

smallmouth bass
noosa'owesi na a smallmouth bass

odazhegomoo na rock bass

basswood
n
basswood
wiigob na a basswood

[
American basswood
; 
Tillia americana
]

wiigobaatig na a basswood

[
American basswood
; 
Tillia americana
]

wiigobimizh na a basswood

[
American basswood
; 
Tillia americana
]

wiigobiiwaatig na [BL] a basswood

many basswood trees
wiigobiikaa vii there are (a lot of) basswood trees

wiigobaatigokaa vii there are (many) basswood trees

basswood bark
n
inner bark of basswood
wiigob ni inner bark of basswood

peel basswood bark
bisha'igobii vai s/he peels basswood bark

basswood bark fiber
n
basswood bark fiber
asigobaan ni processed basswood bark fiber

doll of processed basswood bark fiber
asigobaani-mazinichigan na a doll of processed basswood bark fiber

basswood leaf
n
basswood leaf
wiigobiibag ni a basswood leaf

bat
[animal]
n
bat
apakwaanaajiinh na a bat

See also: bapakwaanaajiinh na

apikwaanaanjii na [RL] a bat

bapakwaanaajiinh na a bat

See also: apakwaanaajiinh na

bat
[baseball]
n
baseball bat
bakitejii'iganaak ni a baseball bat

bath
n
take a bath
giziibiigazhe vai s/he washes up, takes a bath, bathes

bathe
vi
bathe
bagizo vai s/he bathes, goes swimming

bathroom
n
bathroom
bagizoowigamig ni a bathroom (a room for bathing)

miiziiwigamig ni a toilet, a bathroom, an outhouse, a privy

See also: zaaga'amoowigamig ni

zaaga'amoowigamig ni a toilet, a bathroom, an outhouse, a privy

See also: miiziiwigamig ni

bathtub
n
bathtub
bagizowin ni a bathtub, a swimming pool

giziibiigazhe-makak ni a bathtub, a swimming pool

batter
[baseball]
n
batter
bagitejii'igewinini na [N] a baseball player; a batter

See also: bakitejii'igewinini na

bakitejii'igewinini na a baseball player; a batter

See also: bagitejii'igewinini na [N]

battery
n
battery
ishkode-makakoons ni a battery

automobile battery
waasigani-makakoons ni [BL] an automobile battery; a boat battery

boat battery
waasigani-makakoons ni [BL] an automobile battery; a boat battery

battle
n
battle
miigaadiwin ni a battle, a war

bay
n
bay
wiikwed ni bay

wiikwegamaa vii it is a bay

be
vi
be a certain thing
aawan vii it is a certain thing

Paired with: aawi vai

aawi vai s/he is a certain thing or being

Paired with: aawan vii

be a certain thing or being
aawi vai s/he is a certain thing or being

Paired with: aawan vii

be in a certain place
ate vii it is in a certain place

Paired with: abi vai

ayaa vii
  1. it is (in a certain place)
  2. [with a lexical preverb] it is in a certain state or condition
  3. [with a preverb] it moves a certain way

Paired with: ayaa vai

come to be
bagami-ayaa vii
  1. it arrives
  2. it comes to be

Paired with: bagami-ayaa vai

be in
biinde vii it is in (something)

Paired with: biinzo vai

biinzo vai s/he or it (animate) is in (something)

Paired with: biinde vii

beach
n
cool beach
dakadaawangaa vii there is cool sand, is a cool beach

dry beach
bengwadaawangaa vii there is dry sand, is a dry beach

long stretch of sand beach
ginoodaawangaa vii it is a long stretch of sand beach

sandy beach
mitaawangaa vii it is a sandy beach

bead
n
bead
manidoominens na a bead

bead
vt
bead
mazinigwaaso vai s/he embroiders, beads something

mazinigwaadan vti embroider, bead it

Paired with: mazinigwaazh vta

mazinigwaazh vta embroider, bead h/

Paired with: mazinigwaadan vti

bead correctly
gwayakwaabidoo'an vti thread it correctly, bead it correctly (on a bead loom)

gwayakwaabidoo'ige vai s/he beads things correctly (on a loom)

bead on a loom
mazinaabidoo'an vti bead it on a loom

mazinaabidoo'ige vai s/he beads things on a loom

make a mistake beading
wanaabidoo'an vti make a mistake beading it on a loom

wanaabidoo'ige vai s/he makes a mistake beading things on a loom

bead loom
n
bead loom
mazinaabidoo'iganaatig ni a bead loom

mazinaabidoo'igeyaatig ni [BL] a bead loom

bead work
n
bead work
manidoominensikaan na an item of bead work

beading needle
n
beading needle
naabidoo'igan ni a beading needle

beak
n
beak
okoozh nid its (a bird's) bill, beak

bean
n
bean
mashkodesimin na a bean

See also: mashkodiisimin na

mashkodiisimin na a bean

See also: mashkodesimin na

miskodiisimin na a bean

See also: miskojiisimin na

miskojiisimin na a bean

See also: miskodiisimin na

The Ojibwe People's Dictionary is developed and maintained by:
Nora Livesay, Editor
John D. Nichols, Founder and Linguistic Editor

with support and collaboration from the University of Minnesota's Department of American Indian Studies and University Libraries.

Additional Resources

Many of the words in the Ojibwe People's Dictionary have related resources. Click through to the full dictionary entry to hear audio recordings, see images, read documents and watch videos. Here's a key to resource icons.

  • Audio recordings
  • Images
  • Video
  • Documents

Speakers & Regions Key

Individual speakers and speakers from different regions use different words when speaking. Each audio recording is marked with the initials of the Ojibwe speaker. Click on a speaker's initials to go to the speaker's bio page. If an Ojibwe word is particular to a certain region, it will be marked with a region code. Click on the region code to go to the Regions page.