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Vocabulary Words in Native American Languages: Ojibwe/Chippewa/Ojibway

We have included twenty basic words, enough to give you a feeling for each language. All the nouns are singular and all the verbs are 3rd person singular ("he or she sings") because many Native American languages don't have a separate infinitive ("to sing") the way English and French do.

You can find a broader selection of Ojibwe words in our online picture glossaries. If you would like to know a word that is not included in any of these wordlists, you can take part in our Indian translations fundraiser, buy an Ojibwe dictionary, or visit our main Ojibwe language site for more free resources.

Thanks for your interest in Native American languages!

Ojibwe Word Set

(Click here for pronunciation guide)

English (Français) Ojibwe
One (Un) Bezhig
Two (Deux) Niizh
Three (Trois) Niswi
Four (Quatre) Niiwin
Five (Cinq) Naanan
Man (Homme) Inini
Woman (Femme) Ikwe
Dog (Chien) Animosh
Sun (Soleil) Giizis
Moon (Lune) Dibik-Giizis
Water (Eau) Nibi
White (Blanc) Waabishki
Yellow (Jaune) Ozaawi
Red (Rouge) Misko
Black (Noir) Makade
Eat (Manger) Miijin or Wiisini
See (Voir) Waabi
Hear (Entendre) Noondam
Sing (Chanter) Nagamo
Leave (Partir) Maajaa or Nagazh

Click here to see Ojibwe words compared to words in the Odawa and Algonquin languages: Anishinaabe words
Click here to see Ojibwe vocabulary words compared to words in related Algonquian languages: Algonquian Indian Words

Ojibwe Picture Dictionaries

Here are some themed Ojibwe word lists we have put together and illustrated for language learners. Feel free to print them out for classroom purposes!

*Ojibwe animal words
*Ojibwe body parts
*Ojibwe color words

Additional Resources

   Minnesota Indian tribes
   Native American Indian dictionaries
   American Indian names
   Indian numbers system
   Algonquian Indian people
   Ojibwe tales



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