Search the dictionary Advanced Search

How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

african
n
african
makadewiiyaas na a Black person; a person of African descent

african woman
makadewiiyaasikwe na a Black woman; a woman of African descent

after
adv
after a while
baanimaa adv tmp later, after a while, eventually

See also: baamaa adv tmp

baanimaa apii adv tmp later, after a while, eventually

See also: baamaapii adv tmp

baamaapii adv tmp later, after a while, eventually

See also: baanimaa apii adv tmp

bijiinag adv tmp after a while, eventually, finally; just now; recently

after a while
adv
after a while
baanimaa adv tmp later, after a while, eventually

See also: baamaa adv tmp

baanimaa apii adv tmp later, after a while, eventually

See also: baamaapii adv tmp

baamaapii adv tmp later, after a while, eventually

See also: baanimaa apii adv tmp

bijiinag adv tmp after a while, eventually, finally; just now; recently

afternoon
n
afternoon
ishkwaa-naawakwe vii it is afternoon

all afternoon
gabe-ishkwaa-naawakwe adv tmp all afternoon

again
adv
again
miinawaa adv conj also; and; again

against
prep
stand leaning against
aaswaakogaabawi vai s/he stands leaning against something (a wall, a tree)

aatwaakogaabawi vai s/he stands leaning against something (a wall, a tree)

lean against (stick-like)
aatwaakoshim vta lean h/ against (as something stick- or wood-like)

Paired with: aatwaakosidoon vti2

aatwaakoshin vai s/he leans against (as something stick- or wood-like)

Paired with: aatwaakosin vii

aatwaakosidoon vti2 lean it against (as something stick- or wood-like

Paired with: aatwaakoshim vta

aatwaakosin vii it leans against (as something stick- or wood-like)

Paired with: aatwaakoshin vai

throw up against (stick-like)
aatwaakowebin vta throw h/ up against (as something stick- or wood-like)

Paired with: aatwaakowebinan vti

aatwaakowebinan vti throw it up against (as something stick- or wood-like)

Paired with: aatwaakowebin vta

fall down against
apangishin vai s/he falls down against

apangisin vii it falls down against

Paired with: apangishin vai

hold against
ashidin vta hold h/ against something

Paired with: ashidinan vti

ashidinan vti hold it against something

Paired with: ashidin vta

age
n
same age
wiijigim vta be the same age as h/

wiijigindiwag vai they are the same age

certain age
apiitizi vai s/he is a certain age, is so old or young

Paired with: apiitaa vii

aged
adj
elderly
gitizi vai s/he is elderly, is old, is aged

gitaadizi vai s/he is elderly, is old, is aged

agile
adj
agile
wajepii vai s/he is quick, is agile

agitate
vi
agitate
mamaazikaa vai s/he moves, is in motion, twitches

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.