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How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

engaged
adj
engaged
asho-wiidige vai s/he is engaged

asho-wiidigendiwag vai they are engaged to each other

engine
n
engine
mayaajiibizod na-v engine

English
[language]
n
English language
zhaaganaashiimowin ni the English language

zhaaganaashiimo vai s/he speaks English

express in English
zhaaganaashiiwisidoon vti2 [BL] express it in English; write it in English

speak English
gichi-mookomaanimo vai s/he speaks English

zhaaganaashiimo vai s/he speaks English

zhaaganaashiimotaw vta speak English to h/

zhaaganaashiimonodaw vta speak English to h/

write in English
zhaaganaashiiwibii'an vti write it in English

zhaaganaashiiwibii'amaw vta write (it) in English to or for h/

zhaaganaashiiwibii'ige vai s/he writes in English

zhaaganaashiiwibii'igaade vii it is written in English (by someone), "they" write it in English

zhaaganaashiiwisidoon vti2 [BL] express it in English; write it in English

Englishman
n
Englishman
zhaaganaash na an Englishman

zhaaganaashiiwi vai [BL] s/he is English

enough
pron
enough
de- pv lex enough; sufficient; suitable

debise vii it is enough, is sufficient

Paired with: debise vai

debise vai s/he or it (animate) is enough, is sufficient, has enough

Paired with: debise vii

gwech adv qnt enough

eat enough
debisinii vai s/he has enough to eat, eats enough, is full

See also: de-wiisini vai

de-miijin vti3 eat enough of it

de-wiisini vai s/he has enough to eat, eats enough, is full

See also: debisinii vai

have enough
debisa' vta have enough of h/

Paired with: debisatoon vti2

debisachige vai s/he has enough of things

debisatoon vti2 have enough of it

Paired with: debisa' vta

debizi vai s/he is satisfied, has enough, is lucky

have enough to give
deba'ookii vai s/he has enough to give away, has enough for everyone

deba'oozh vta have enough to give to or feed h/

think there is enough
debisewendam vai2 s/he feels satisfied, thinks there is enough

enter
vi
enter
biindigaw vta enter into where h/ is, come in on h/

biindige vai s/he enters, goes inside / indoors, comes inside / indoors

biindigeshkaa vii it moves inside, enters

Paired with: biindigeshkaa vai

envelope
n
envelope
maajiibii'ige-mashkimodens ni an envelope

mashkimodens ni a small bag: a wallet, a coin purse, a pouch, an envelope

envy
vt
envy
ondenim vta envy h/

equal
adj
equal
dibishkoo adv man directly; equal; even; just like, seems like

equipment
adj
equipment
aabajichigan ni something used: a tool, equipment, material

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.

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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.