Search the dictionary Advanced Search

How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

zhaagawizhan vti cut it oblong or oval

Paired with: zhaagawizhwi vta

zhaagawizi vai it (animate) is oblong or oval

Paired with: zhaagawaa vii

zhaagawizhwi vta cut it (animate) oblong or oval

Paired with: zhaagawizhan vti

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 it (animate) smells mild

Paired with: zhaagomaagwad vii

zhaagomaagwad vii it smells mild

Paired with: zhaagomaagozi vai

zhaagomaaso vai it (animate) smells mild (burning 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

zhaagoodendam vai2

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, beat h/

Paired with: zhaagoojitoon vti2

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

zhaagoojinikebizh vta win arm wrestling h/

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

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

zhaagwanaamo vai s/he has weak breathing

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.