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Arkansas Native Animal Words

Here are the American Indian names of six native animals of Arkansas. We have given their names in four different Indian languages: Caddo,, Cherokee,, Osage, and Quapaw.

Two of these Native Arkansas languages are related to each other. Can you guess which two languages are relatives by looking at the animal names on this page? You can find the answer on this page: Siouan languages.

Arkansas Native Animal Names


Caddo: n'áwtsi' (pronounced nn-out-see)
Cherokee: yonv (pronounced yoh-nuh)
Osage: wasape (pronounced wah-sah-pay)
Quapaw: wasá (pronounced wah-sah)

Caddo: da' (pronounced dah)
Cherokee: ahawi (pronounced ah-wee)
Osage: tta (pronounced tah)
Quapaw: t'a (pronounced t-ah)

Caddo: du'u' (pronounced duh-oo)
Cherokee: tsisdu (pronounced jeese-doo)
Osage: manshchinke (pronounced monsh-cheen-kay)
Quapaw: mašt'inke (pronounced mosht-een-kay)

Caddo: banit (pronounced bah-nit)
Cherokee: tsisgwa (pronounced jeese-gwah)
Osage: wazhinka (pronounced wah-zheen-kah)
Quapaw: wazika (pronounced wah-zee-kah)

Caddo: batah (pronounced bah-tah)
Cherokee: atsadi (pronounced ah-jah-dee)
Osage: ho (pronounced hoe)
Quapaw: ho (pronounced hoe)

Caddo: kikah (pronounced kee-kah)
Cherokee: inada (pronounced ee-nah-dah)
Osage: wets'a (pronounced waits-ah)
Quapaw: wés'a (pronounced wase-ah)

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