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How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

nishkanzh nad

  1. my nail (fingernail, toenail)
  2. my claw

Note:
There is no simple independent word for nail (fingernail, toenail) or claw. A personal prefix goes with the dependent noun stem /=shkanzhy-/ nail, claw to make a full word: 
  • nishkanzh my nail, claw (1s-3s)
  • gishkanzh your nail, claw (2s-3s)
  • oshkanzhiin h/ nail, claw
  • [MN] oshkanzhiin h/ nail/nails, claw/claws (3s-3')
  • [BL] oshkanzhiin h/ nail, claw (3s-3's)
  • [BL] oshkanzhii’ h/ nails, claws (3s-3'p)Some common forms of 
nishkanzh my nail, claw are: 



nishkanzh sg; nishkanzhiig pl; Stem: /=shkanzhy-/

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.

Word Family

=shkanzhy- nad
  1. STEM FOR: nail (fingernail, toenail)
  2. STEM FOR: claw
nishkanzh nad
  1. my nail (fingernail, toenail)
  2. my claw
 gishkanzh nad
  1. your (sg) nail (fingernail, toenail)
  2. your (sg) claw
 oshkanzhiin nad
  1. h/ nail (fingernail, toenail)
  2. h/ claw

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