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Welcome to our Anishinabe vocabulary page! Here is a comparison of Anishinabe words from Southwestern Ojibwe (as spoken in Minnesota), Ottawa, and Algonquin. Some linguists consider them separate languages, some consider them dialects of a single language, and others consider two of them to be the same language but the third to be separate. Here is a chart of the same words in all three languages, and you can judge for yourself:
English (Français) | Algonquin | Ojibwe | Ottawa |
One (Un) | Pejig | Bezhig | Bezhig |
Two (Deux) | Nìj | Niizh | Niizh |
Three (Trois) | Niswi | Niswi | Nswi |
Four (Quatre) | New | Niiwin | Niiwin |
Five (Cinq) | Nànan | Naanan | Naanan |
Man (Homme) | Ininì | Inini | Nini |
Woman (Femme) | Ikwe | Ikwe | Kwe |
Dog (Chien) | Animosh | Animosh | Nimosh |
Sun (Soleil) | Kìzis | Giizis | Giizis |
Moon (Lune) | Tibik-kìzis | Dibik-Giizis | Dbik-Giizis |
Water (Eau) | Nibì | Nibi | Nbi |
White (Blanc) | Wàbà | Waabishki | Waabshki |
Yellow (Jaune) | Ozàwà | Ozaawi | Zaawi |
Red (Rouge) | Miskwà | Misko | Msko |
Black (Noir) | Makadewà | Makade | Mkade |
Eat (Manger) | Mìdjin | Miijin or Wiisini | Miijin |
See (Voir) | Wàbi | Waabi | Waabi |
Hear (Entendre) | Nòndam | Noondam | Noondam |
Sing (Chanter) | Nigamo | Nagamo | Ngamo |
Leave (Partir) | Màdjà or Nagadàn | Maajaa or Nagazh | Maajaa or Ngazh |
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