Search the dictionary Advanced Search

How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

zhaaganaashiiwinikaazo vai [BL] s/he has an English name, is called in English

zhaaganaashiiwinikaazowin ni an English name

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

zhaagawibagad vii it has oval leaves

Paired with: zhaagawibagizi vai

zhaagawibagizi vai it (animate) has oval leaves

Paired with: zhaagawibagad vii

zhaagawigamaa vii it is an oval lake

zhaagigamiiwan vii there is open water along the shore as the ice breaks up

zhaagode'e vai s/he is cowardly

(derived noun) zhaagode'ewin ni cowardice
zhaagode'ewin ni cowardice

zhaagomaagozi vai s/he smells mild

Paired with: zhaagomaagwad vii

zhaagomaagwad vii it smells mild

Paired with: zhaagomaagozi vai

zhaagomaaso vai s/he smells mild (burnng or cooking), has a mild aroma

zhaagomaate vii it smells mild (burning or cooking), has a mild aroma

Paired with: zhaagomaaso vai

zhaagoodaabaso vai s/he can't stand the smoke

zhaagoodenim vta outthink, outwit h/; get the better of h/ (in a mental activity)

zhaagooj adv man anyway; regardless; no matter what; contrary to intention

See also: zhaagooj igo adv man

zhaagooj igo adv man anyway; regardless; no matter what; contrary to intention

See also: zhaagooj adv man

zhaagoojibinidiwag vai
  1. they defeat, beat each other (by pulling)
  2. they compete in tug-of-war

zhaagoojibizh vta defeat, beat h/ (with hands)

(reciprocal) zhaagoojibinidiwag vai
  1. they defeat, beat each other (by pulling)
  2. they compete in tug-of-war
zhaagooji' vta defeat, overcome h/

Paired with: zhaagoojitoon vti2

(detransitive) zhaagooji'iwe vai s/he defeats, overcomes people
zhaagooji'iwe vai s/he defeats, overcomes people

zhaagoojitoon vti2 defeat, overcome it

Paired with: zhaagooji' vta

zhaagoozaabam vta outstare h/

zhaagoozom vta convince, persuade h/; get the best of h/ in an argument or debate

zhaagoozondiwag vai they (try to) defeat, persuade, or overcome each other by speech; they debate each other

Created and maintained by the University of Minnesota's Department of American Indian Studies, University Libraries,
and editor John D. Nichols.

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.