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How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

sugar cake
n
sugar cake
ziiga'igan ni a sugar cake, a sugar cone,

sugar camp
n
sugar camp
iskigamizigan ni a sugar bush, a sugar camp

sugar cone
n
sugar cone
zhiishiigwaans na a sugar cake, a sugar cone,

ziiga'igan ni a sugar cake, a sugar cone,

cast sugar cones
ziiga'ige vai s/he casts sugar cones; s/he pours things out (using something), scoops or ladles it out

make a sugar cone
ziiga'iganike vai s/he makes a sugar cone

sugar cube
n
sugar cube
bikwaakwado-ziinzibaakwad ni [BL] a sugar cube

sugar maple
n
maple tree
aninaatig na a maple

[
sugar maple
; 
Acer saccharum
]

See also: ininaatig na ; ziinzibaakwadwaatig na

ininaatig na a maple

[
sugar maple
; 
Acer saccharum
]

See also: aninaatig na

ziinzibaakwadwaatig na a maple

sugaring trough
n
sugaring trough
naseyaawangwaan ni a sugaring trough

suicide
n
commit suicide
nisidizo vai s/he kills h/ self, commits suicide

suit
[clothes]
n
business suit
babaamiziiwayaan ni a business suit

suitable
adj
suitable
de- pv lex enough; sufficient; suitable

nandawendaagozi vai s/he is desirable; s/he is suitable

nandawendaagwad vii it is desirable; it is suitable

suitcase
n
suitcase
babaamaadizii-makak ni a suitcase

suite
n
club suite card
danens na a club suite card

diamond suite card
gaanoo na a diamond suite card

heart suite card
giiwoon na a heart suite card

See also: giiyoon na

giiyoon na a heart suite card

See also: giiwoon na

spade suite card
biig na a spade suite card

sumac
n
sumac
baakwaanaatig na sumac

[
smooth sumac; staghorn sumac
; 
Rhus glabra; Rhus hirta
]

summer
n
summer
niibin vii it is summer

after mid-summer
giiwe-niibin vii it is after mid-summer, is late summer

all summer
gabe-niibin adv tmp all summer

every summer
endaso-niibin adv tmp every summer

last summer
niibinong adv tmp last summer

late summer
giiwe-niibin vii it is after mid-summer, is late summer

midsummer
aabita-niibin vii it is the Fourth of July, is Independence Day; it is midsummer

spend the summer
niibinishi vai s/he spends the summer somewhere

summer before last
awas-niibinong adv tmp [ML] summer before last

See also: awasi-niibinong adv tmp [RL]

awasi-niibinong adv tmp [RL] summer before last

See also: awas-niibinong adv tmp [ML]

summon
vt
summon
andom vta ask for, call, summon h/

See also: nandom vta [ML]

nandom vta [ML] ask for, call, summon h/

See also: andom vta

andonge vai s/he asks for, calls, summons people

nandonge vai [ML] s/he asks for, calls, summons people

See also: andonge vai

sun
n
sun
giizis na sun, moon, a month

sun rises
mooka'am vai2 s/he (the sun) rises = it is sunrise

sun sets
bangishimon vii it sets as the sun, is sunset

bangishimo vai s/he (the sun) sets

sun warms
aabawaasige vai s/he (the sun) warms things up

aabawaate vii it is warm, warms up in the sunshine

sun shines
bagakaasige vai s/he (sun or moon) shines brightly

gizhaasige vai s/he (the sun) shines hot

zaagaasige vai s/he (the sun or moon) shines out (from behind something)

zaagaaso vai s/he (the sun or moon) shines out (from behind something)

aabawaate vii it is warm, warms up in the sunshine

sunburned
adj
sunburned
gashkaaso vai s/he is sunburned

peel from being sunburned
bishagaaso vai s/he peels from being sunburned

Sunday
n
Sunday
anama'e-giizhigad vii it is Sunday

sunfish
n
sunfish
agwadaashi na a sunfish

sunny
adj
sunny
waaseyaa vii it is bright, is light (as in the day), is radiant; it is sunny

Paired with: waasezi vai

sunrise
n
sunrise
mooka'am vai2 s/he (the sun) rises = it is sunrise

sunset
n
sunset
bangishimon vii it sets as the sun, is sunset

bangishimo vai s/he (the sun) sets

superintendent
n
school superintendent
gichi-gikinoo'amaagewikwe na a school superintendent (female)

gichi-gikinoo'amaagewinini n a school superintendent (male)

supper
n
eat supper
onaagoshi-miijin vti3 eat it for supper

onaagoshi-wiisini vai s/he eats supper

support
[aid, take care of]
vt
support
bami' vta support, provide for, adopt h/

supported one
bami'aagan na a supported one, an adopted one

support
[hold up]
vt
support by hand
aasonan vti steady it; support it (with hand)

Paired with: aason vta

aason vta support h/ (with hand); support, provide for, adopt h/

Paired with: aasonan vti

aasonamaw vta support (it) for h/ (with hand)

aasonige vai s/he supports things (with hand)

sure
adv
sure
enange pc disc sure! you bet!; you bet

geget adv man sure, certainly, really, indeed

See also: gaawiin geget adv phr

sure about
gwayakwendam vai2 s/he thinks correctly; s/he is sure, certain about something

gwayakwendan vti think it right, correct; be sure, certain about it

Paired with: gwayakwenim vta

gwayakwenim vta think h/ is right, correct; be sure, certain about h/

Paired with: gwayakwendan vti

surface
n
level surface
desaa vii it is a level surface

on a bare surface
michayi'ii adv loc on the floor; on the ground

See also: michaya'ii adv loc [N]

prop up to be a level surface
desa'an vti prop it up to be a level surface

stand up from a surface
badakide vii it sticks up, stands, stands up (from a surface), is planted in

badakizo vai s/he sticks up, stands up (from a surface), is planted in

Paired with: badakide vii

stick in a surface
badakise vai s/he falls on or hits something and sticks into it

Paired with: badakise vii

badakise vii it falls on or hits something and sticks into it

Paired with: badakise vai

writing surface
apibii'igan ni something to write on: a desk

surface
vi
surface
mookii vai s/he emerges, surfaces

surprise
vt
surprise
goshko' vta startle, surprise h/

surprise verbally
goshkom vta startle, surprise h/ (verbally)

surprised
adj
surprised
goshkokaa vai s/he is surprised, is startled

goshkwendam vai2 s/he is surprised

survey
vt
survey land
diba'akii vai s/he surveys land

surveyor
n
surveyor
diba'akiiwinini na a surveyor

survive
vi
survive
zhaabwii vai s/he goes through, passes through, achieves something, survives

suspect
vt
suspect
anaamendan vti be suspicious of, suspect it

Paired with: anaamenim vta

anaamenim vta suspect, blame h/

Paired with: anaamendan vti

anaamenindiwag vai they suspect, blame each other

moonenim vta suspect, blame h/

Paired with: moonendan vti

suspenders
n
suspenders
anikamaanan ni suspenders; shoulder straps of a traditional Anishinaabe dress

swallow
vt
swallow
gondan vti swallow it

Paired with: gonzhi vta

gonzhi vta swallow h/

Paired with: gondan vti

swallow
[bird]
n
swallow
zhaashaawanibiisi na a swallow

swamp
n
swamp
mashkiig ni [N] a swamp, a muskeg

waabashkiki ni [LL] [ML] a swamp, a muskeg

by a swamp
jiigashkiig adv loc by the swamp, by the muskeg

swamp tea
n
swamp tea
mashkiigobagwaaboo ni swamp tea

mashkiigobagwaabo ni [BL] swamp tea

See also: mashkiigobagwaaboo ni

swampy
adj
swampy
waabashkikiiwan vii it is swampy

swampy ground
mashkiigwakamigaa vii it is swampy ground

swampy narrows
obashkiigaa vii it is a swampy narrows, is a narrows through muskeg

swan
n
trumpeter swan
waabizii na a swan

[
trumpter swan
; 
Cygnus buccinator
]

swarm
n
swarm
okwiinowag vai they are in a group, a herd, a flock, a swarm

Paired with: okwiinadoon vii

swear
vi
swear
maji-izhi vta speak ill of or to h/; swear at h/

majigiizhwe vai s/he swears

sweat
vi
sweat
abwezo vai s/he sweats

sweat bath
n
take a sweat bath
madoodoo vai s/he takes a sweat bath

sweat lodge
n
sweat lodge
madoodiswan ni a sweat lodge

See also: madoodison ni [RL]

madoodison ni [RL] a sweat lodge

See also: madoodiswan ni

conduct a sweat lodge
madoodoo'iwe vai s/he runs a sweat

rock for sweat lodge
madoodoowasin na a rock for a sweat lodge

sweaty
adj
sweaty face
abweyiingwe vai s/he has a sweaty face

sweaty foot
abwezide vai s/he has a sweaty foot

sweaty hand
abweninjii vai s/he has a sweaty hand

sweaty head
abwendibe vai s/he has a sweaty head

sweep
vt
sweep
jiishada'an vti sweep it

jiishada'ige vai s/he sweeps

jiishada' vta sweep h/ (forcefully), brush h/ off (forcefully using something)

Paired with: jiishada'an vti

jiishiweba'an vti sweep it (forcefully), brush it off (forcefully using something)

Paired with: jiishiweba' vta

jiishiweba' vta sweep h/ (forcefully), brush h/ off (forcefully using something)

Paired with: jiishiweba'an vti

zhiishada'an vti [RL] sweep it

zhiishada'ige vai [RL] s/he sweeps

sweet
adj
The initial in words relating to sweet is the root  /wiishkob-/ in the south, but /zhiiw-/ at Ponemah and in the Border Lakes region. The root /zhiiw-/ is used in the south for other distinctive tastes such as sour or salty.
sweet
wiishkobi- pv lex sweet

wiishkoban vii it is sweet

Paired with: wiishkobizi vai

wiishkobizi vai s/he is sweet

Paired with: wiishkoban vii

wiishkobaagamin vii it (a liquid) is sweet

zhiiwi- pv lex [BL] sweet; sour

zhiiwan vii it is sour; [BL] it is sweet

Paired with: zhiiwizi vai

zhiiwizi vai s/he is sour; [BL] s/he is sweet

Paired with: zhiiwaa vii [RL]

zhiiwaagamin vii it (a liquid) is sour; [BL] it (a liquid) is sweet

taste sweet
wiishkobipogozi vai s/he tastes sweet

Paired with: wiishkobipogwad vii

wiishkobipogwad vii it tastes sweet

Paired with: wiishkobipogozi vai

zhiiwipogwad vii it tastes sour; [BL] it tastes sweet

Paired with: zhiiwipogozi vai

zhiiwipogozi vai s/he tastes sour; [BL] s/he tastes sweet

Paired with: zhiiwipogwad vii

sweet flag
n
sweet flag
wiikenh na sweet flag

[
Acorus calamus
]

sweet grass
n
sweet grass
wiingashk ni sweet grass

[
Hierochloe odorata
]

sweet roll
n
sweet roll
waashkobizid bakwezhigan na-v cake; pastry; sweet roll

wiishkobi-bakwezhigan na a pastry, a cake, a sweet roll

sweeten
vt
sweeten
wiishkobitoon vti2 sweeten it

zhiiwinan vti [RL] sweeten it

sweetheart
n
sweetheart
niinimoshenh nad my cross-cousin (of the opposite sex to me): my mother's brother's child, my father's sister's child; my sweetheart

giinimoshenh nad your cross-cousin (of the opposite sex to you): your mother's brother's child, your father's sister's child ; your sweetheart

wiinimoshenyan nad h/ cross-cousin (of the opposite sex to h/): h/ mother's brother's child, h/ father's sister's child ; h/ sweetheart

See also: owiinimoshenyan nad

owiinimoshenyan nad h/ cross-cousin (of the opposite sex to h/): h/ mother's brother's child, h/ father's sister's child ; h/ sweetheart

See also: wiinimoshenyan nad

swell
vi
The root /baag-/ 'swell, swollen' occurs as the initial element in many verbs indicating the swelling of specific body parts. The involved body part is identified in the second element, a body part medial such as /-zid-/ 'foot' or /-iingw-/ 'face'. The reduplicated form of the root /babaag-/ can indicate swelling in more than one place.
swell
baagishi vai s/he swells up, is swollen

Paired with: baagisin vii

baagisin vii it swells up, is swollen

Paired with: baagishi vai

cheek swells up
baaganowe vai s/he has h/ cheek or cheeks swell up, has a swollen cheek or swollen cheeks

eye swells up
baagaabi vai s/he has h/ eye or eyes swell up, has a swollen eye or swollen eyes

baagishkiinzhigwe vai s/he has h/ eye or eyes swell up, has a swollen eye or swollen eyes

face swells up
baagiingwe vai s/he has h/ face swell up, has a swollen face

foot swells up
baagizide vai s/he has h/ foot or feet swell up, has a swollen foot or swollen feet

gland (lymph node) swells up
baaginiishkwe vai s/he has his gland (lymph node) or glands swell up, has a swollen gland (lymph node) or glands

hand swells up
baagininjii vai s/he has h/ hand or hands swell up, has a swollen hand or swollen hands

nose swells up
baagijaane vai s/he has h/ nose swell up, has a swollen nose

swim
vi
The verb bagizo "s/he swims, goes swimming, bathes" emphasizes immersion in the water. Swimming in different ways or directions is indicated with a VAI verb final /-aadagaa/ (or /-aadage/ in the Border Lakes region and further north) combined with a verb initial indicating the manner or direction of the action as in biidaadagaa and biidaadage "s/he swims here" and gizhiiyaadagaa and gizhiiyaadage "s/he swims fast". For "swims like a fish", see the verbs with the VAI final /-akwazhiwe/ under PADDLE.
● SWIM
swim
bagizo vai s/he bathes, goes swimming

arrive swimming
bagamaadagaa vai s/he arrives swimming

See also: bagamaadage vai [BL]

bagamaadage vai [BL] s/he arrives swimming

See also: bagamaadagaa vai

go swimming
bagizo vai s/he bathes, goes swimming

swim about
babaamaadagaa vai s/he swims about

See also: babaamaadage vai [BL]

babaamaadage vai [BL] s/he swims about

See also: babaamaadagaa vai

swim across
aazhawaadagaa vai s/he swims across

See also: aazhawaadage vai [BL]

aazhawaadage vai [BL] s/he swims across

See also: aazhawaadagaa vai

swim along
bimaadagaa vai s/he swims along

See also: bimaadage vai [BL]

bimaadage vai [BL] s/he swims along

See also: bimaadagaa vai

swim along the shore
jiigeweyaadagaa vai s/he swims along the shore

swim ashore
agwaayaadagaa vai s/he swims ashore

See also: agwaayaadage vai [BL]

agwaayaadage vai [BL] s/he swims to shore

See also: agwaayaadagaa vai

swim away
animaadagaa vai s/he swims away [in the other direction]

See also: animaadage vai [BL]

animaadage vai [BL] s/he swims away [in the other direction]

See also: animaadagaa vai

swim fast
gizhiiyaadagaa vai s/he swims fast

See also: gizhiiyaadaage vai [BL]

gizhiiyaadaage vai [BL] s/he swims fast

See also: gizhiiyaadagaa vai

swim from a certain place
ondaadagaa vai s/he swims from a certain place

See also: ondaadage vai [BL]

ondaadage vai [BL] s/he swims from a certain place

See also: ondaadagaa vai

ondakwazhiwe vai s/he paddles from a certain place; s/he swims from a certain place (as a fish)

swim here
biidaadagaa vai s/he swims here

See also: biidaadage vai [BL]

biidaadage vai [BL] s/he swims here

See also: biidaadagaa vai

biidakwazhiwe vai
  1. s/he paddles here
  2. s/he swims here (as a fish)

swim out from shore
niminaaweyaadagaa vai [MN] s/he swims out from shore

swim out of view
awaseweyaadagaa vai s/he swims out of view around something

swim slow
bedaadagaa vai s/he swims slow

See also: bedaadage vai [BL]

bedaadage vai [BL] s/he swims slow

See also: bedaadagaa vai

swim suddenly into view
zaageweyaadagaa vai s/he swims suddenly into view

See also: zaageweyaadage vai [BL]

zaageweyaadage vai [BL] s/he swims suddenly into view

See also: zaageweyaadagaa vai

zaagewekwazhiwe vai s/he paddles suddenly into view; s/he swims as a fish suddenly into view

swim to a certain place
inaadagaa vai s/he swims a certain way, swims to a certain place

See also: inaadage vai

inaadage vai s/he swims a certain way, swims to a certain place

See also: inaadagaa vai

inakwazhiwe vai
  1. s/he paddles a certain way, paddles to a certain place
  2. s/he swims to a certain place (as a fish)

● HEARD SWIMMING
heard swimming
madweyaadagaa vai s/he is heard swimming

See also: madweyaadage vai [BL]

madweyaadage vai [BL] s/he is heard swimming

See also: madweyaadagaa vai

heard swimming about
babaamweweyaadagaa vai s/he is heard swimming about

See also: babaamweweyaadage vai [BL]

babaamweweyaadage vai [BL] s/he is heard swimming about

See also: babaamweweyaadagaa vai

heard swimming along
bimweweyaadagaa vai h/ is heard swimming along

See also: bimweweyaadage vai [BL]

bimweweyaadage vai [BL] h/ is heard swimming along

See also: bimweweyaadagaa vai

heard swimming away
animweweyaadagaa vai s/he is heard swimming away [in the other direction]

See also: animweweyaadage vai [BL]

animweweyaadage vai [BL] s/he is heard swimming away [in the other direction]

See also: animweweyaadagaa vai

heard swimming from a certain place
ondweweyaadagaa vai s/he is heard swimming from a certain place

heard swimming here
biidweweyaadagaa vai s/he is heard swimming here

See also: bimweweyaadage vai [BL]

biidweweyaadage vai [BL] s/he is heard swimming here

See also: biidweweyaadagaa vai

heard swimming to a certain place
inweweyaadagaa vai s/he is heard swimming to a certain place

Swimmers
[the beings who swim about]
n
the beings who swim about
Swimmers
gaa-babaamaadagewaad na-v [BL] the beings who swim about: the Swimmers

swimsuit
n
swimsuit
bagizoowayaan ni a swimsuit

swing
vi
swing
wewebizo vai s/he swings

wewebise vii it swings back and forth, flutters, flaps, sways

swing
vt
swing
wewebinan vti swing it

Paired with: wewebinan vti

wewebin vta swing h/

Paired with: wewebinan vti

wewebaabiiginan vti swing it on a line

Paired with: wewebaabiigin vta

wewebaabiigin vta swing h/ on a line

Paired with: wewebaabiiginan vti

swing
n
swing
wewebizon ni a swing, a hammock

make swing
wewebizonike vai s/he makes a swing

wewebizonikaw vta make a swing for h/

wewebizonikaagen vai + o s/he uses (it) to make a swing

switch
n
switch
biskaakonebijigan ni a switch

switch
vt
switch on
biskanebidoon vti2 switch it on

switch
[exchange]
vt
switch seat
meshkwadabi vai s/he switches h/ seat

swollen
adj
The root /baag-/ 'swell, swollen' occurs as the initial element in many verbs indicating the swelling of specific body parts. The involved body part is identified in the second element, a body part medial such as /-zid-/ 'foot' or /-iingw-/ 'face'. The reduplicated form of the root /babaag-/ can indicate swelling in more than one place.
swollen
baagishi vai s/he swells up, is swollen

Paired with: baagisin vii

baagisin vii it swells up, is swollen

Paired with: baagishi vai

swollen arm
baaginike vai s/he has a swollen arm

babaaginike vai s/he has swollen arms

swollen at tooth
baagaabide vai s/he is swollen at a tooth

swollen cheek
baaganowe vai s/he has h/ cheek or cheeks swell up, has a swollen cheek or swollen cheeks

babaaganowe vai s/he has h/ cheeks swell up, has swollen cheeks

swollen ear
baagitawage vai s/he has a swollen ear or swollen ears

babaagitawage vai s/he has swollen ears

swollen elbow
baagidooskwane vai [S] s/he has a swollen elbow

babaagidooskwane vai s/he has swollen elbows

swollen eye
baagaabi vai s/he has h/ eye or eyes swell up, has a swollen eye or swollen eyes

baagishkiinzhigwe vai s/he has h/ eye or eyes swell up, has a swollen eye or swollen eyes

swollen face
baagiingwe vai s/he has h/ face swell up, has a swollen face

swollen foot
baagizide vai s/he has h/ foot or feet swell up, has a swollen foot or swollen feet

babaagizide vai s/he has swollen feet

swollen gland
baaginiishkwe vai s/he has his gland (lymph node) or glands swell up, has a swollen gland (lymph node) or glands

babaaginiishkwe vai s/he has swollen glands

swollen hand
baagininjii vai s/he has h/ hand or hands swell up, has a swollen hand or swollen hands

babaagininjii vai s/he has swollen hands

swollen head
baagindibe vai s/he has a swollen head

swollen heel
baagidoondane vai s/he has a swollen heel or swollen heals

swollen knee
baagigidigwe vai s/he has a swollen knee or swollen knees

babaagigidigwe vai s/he has swollen knees

swollen leg
baagigaade vai s/he has a swollen leg or swollen legs

babaagigaade vai s/he has swollen legs

swollen nose
baagijaane vai s/he has h/ nose swell up, has a swollen nose

sword
n
sword
ashaweshk ni a sword

sympathize
vi
sympathize
wiidookawagenim vta sympathize with h/ in what h/ is doing; pull for, root for h/

syringe
n
enema syringe
biindaabaawajigan ni an enema syringe

syrup
n
syrup
zhiiwaagamizigan ni maple syrup; syrup

See also: anishinaabe-zhiiwaagamizigan ni

maple syrup
anishinaabe-zhiiwaagamizigan ni maple syrup

See also: zhiiwaagamizigan ni

zhiiwaagamizigan ni maple syrup; syrup

See also: anishinaabe-zhiiwaagamizigan ni

cook to syrup
zhiiwaagamizan vti cook it to a syrup

make syrup
zhiiwaagamiziganike vai s/he makes syrup

zhiiwaagamizige vai s/he makes syrup

thicken into syrup
zhiiwaagamide vii it thickens into syrup

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.

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