Search the dictionary Advanced Search

How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

zhingwaako-mishiimin na a pineapple

zhingwaakokaa vii it is a pine grove; there are (many) pines

zhingwaakwanagek na (a piece of) pine bark

zhingwaakwaandag na a pine bough

zhingwena'odizo vai

zhinoodaagan ni selvedge lines at top and bottom of a net made of heavy cord or rope; lines tying the net to an anchor or buoy; a rope

zhishigagowaadan vti vomit it up; vomit, puke on it

zhishigagowaan ni vomit, puke

zhishigagowaazh vta vomit, puke on h/

zhishigagowe vai s/he vomits, pukes

(applicative) zhishigagowaadan vti vomit it up; vomit, puke on it (derived noun) zhishigagowaazh vta vomit, puke on h/ (derived noun) zhishigagowaan ni vomit, puke
zhishigagowezigan ni an emetic: a medicine used to induce vomiting

zhishigobidoon vti2 crush it (with hands)

Paired with: zhishigobizh vta

zhishigobizh vta crush h/ (with hands)

Paired with: zhishigobidoon vti2

zhishigode vii it is cooked mushy

Paired with: zhishigozo vai

zhishigoshkan vti crush it (by foot or body)

Paired with: zhishigoshkaw vta

zhishigoshkaw vta crush h/ (by foot or body)

Paired with: zhishigoshkan vti

zhishigoshkoode vii it is crushed by weight

Paired with: zhishigoshkoozo vai

zhishigoshkoozo vai s/he is crushed by weight

Paired with: zhishigoshkoode vii

zhishigoz vta cook h/ mushy

Paired with: zhishigozan vti

zhishigozan vti cook it mushy

Paired with: zhishigoz vta

zhishigozo vai it (animate) is cooked mushy

Paired with: zhishigode vii

zhishigwa' vta mash, crush h/ (using something)

Paired with: zhishigwa'an vti

zhishigwa'an vti mash, crush it (using something)

Paired with: zhishigwa' vta

(detransitive) zhishigwa'ige vai s/he mashes, crushes something (using something) (derived noun) zhishigwa'igan ni ground meat, hamburger
zhishigwa'igan ni ground meat, hamburger

zhishigwa'ige vai s/he mashes, crushes something (using something)

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.