Search the dictionary Advanced Search

How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

gizhibaayaasijigan ni a rotary fan

gizhibaayaasin vii it spins, whirls in the wind

Paired with: gizhibaayaashi vai

gizhibaayaasindoon vti2 make it spin in the wind

gizhibaayaashi vai s/he spins in the air, whirls in the wind [nid:502239]

Paired with: gizhibaayaasin vii

gizhibinike vai s/he is missing an arm, h/ arm is amputated

gizhibininjii vai [BL] s/he is missing a hand, h/ hand is amputated

gizhibitawage vai [BL] s/he has a missing ear

gizhibizhan vti cut off a projecting part or limb of it

gizhibizide vai s/he is missing a foot

gizid nid your foot

gizhide vii it is hot

gizigos nad your aunt (cross-aunt: father's sister)

gizigozis nad your mother-in-law

gizhinis nad [N] your father-in-law

gizinis nad your father-in-law

See also: gizhinis nad [N]

gizhishenh nad your uncle (cross-uncle: mother's brother)

gizhiwashkade vai [BL] s/he has a stomachache

gizhiwashkade'iwe vai s/he gives people stomach aches

gizhiz vta heat h/, heat h/ up

Paired with: gizhizan vti

gizizamaw vta heat (it) up for h/

gizizan vti heat it, heat it up

See also: gizhizan vti

gizhizan vti heat it, heat it up

Paired with: gizhiz vta See also: gizizan vti

(detransitive) gizhizige vai s/he heats something
gizhizekwe vai s/he warms up food

gizhizige vai s/he heats something

gizhizo vai
  1. s/he is hot
  2. s/he has a fever

gizhizwi vta [BL]

► gizhiz vta

gizhiiba'idiwag vai they run fast together

gizhiibatoo vai s/he runs fast

gizhiibazhe vai h/ skin itches

giziibaakwad vii it (stick-like) squeaks

gizhiibaawigan vai [S] h/ back itches

gizhiibaawigane vai h/ back itches

See also: gizhiibaawigan vai [S]

gizhiibidaamikan vai [S] h/ chin itches

See also: gizhiibidaamikane vai [N]

gizhiibidaamikane vai [N] h/ chin itches

See also: gizhiibidaamikan vai [S]

gizhiibide vii it moves, runs, operates, speeds, drives, flies fast

Paired with: gizhiibizo vai

gizhiibidiye vai h/ rear end itches

gizhiibidooskwan vai [S] h/ elbow itches

See also: gizhiibidooskwane vai [N]

gizhiibidooskwane vai [N] h/ elbow itches

See also: gizhiibidooskwan vai [S]

gizhiibigaade vai h/ leg itches

gizhiibigwayawe vai h/ neck itches

gizhiibijaane vai h/ nose itches

gizhiibinagaakininjii vai h/ palm itches

gizhiibinagaakizide vai h/ sole itches

gizhiibinike vai h/ arm itches

gizhiibininjii vai h/ hand itches

gizhiibishkiinzhigwe vai h/ eye itches

gizhiibitawage vai h/ ear itches

gizhiibizi vai s/he itches

gizhiibizide vai h/ foot itches

gizhiibizo vai s/he moves, runs, operates, speeds, drives, flies fast

Paired with: gizhiibide vii

gizhiibizonike vai [N] s/he drives (a vehicle) fast

giziibiiga' vta wash h/ (using something)

Paired with: giziibiiga'an vti

giziibiiga'amaw vta wash (it) for h/, do laundry for h/

giziibiiga'an vti wash it (using something)

Paired with: giziibiiga' vta

(benefactive) giziibiiga'amaw vta wash (it) for h/, do laundry for h/ (detransitive) giziibiiga'ige vai s/he washes things, washes clothes, does laundry (derived noun) giziibiiga'igewin ni (item of) washing; (item of) laundry (verb of undergoing) giziibiiga'igaade vii it is washed (by someone), "they" wash it (verb of undergoing) giziibiiga'igaazo vai s/he is washed (by someone), "they" wash h/ (derived noun) giziibiiga'igan ni
  1. soap
  2. (item of) laundry
giziibiiga'igan ni
  1. (item of) laundry
  2. soap

giziibiiga'iganaabo ni [BL] liquid soap; washwater

See also: giziibiiga'iganaaboo ni [MN]

giziibiiga'iganaaboo ni [MN] liquid soap; washwater

See also: giziibiiga'iganaabo ni [BL]

giziibiiga'iganens ni [BL]

► giziibiiga'igan ni

giziibiiga'igani-biiwaabik ni a washtub, a washing machine

giziibiiga'igani-makak ni a wash tub

giziibiiga'igani-makakosag ni a wash tub

giziibiiga'igaade vii it is washed (by someone), "they" wash it

giziibiiga'igaazo vai s/he is washed (by someone), "they" wash h/

giziibiiga'ige vai s/he washes things, washes clothes, does laundry

giziibiiga'ige-giziibiiga'igan ni laundry soap or detergent

giziibiiga'ige-makak ni a washtub, a washing machine

giziibiiga'igewigamig ni a laundry room, a laundromat

giziibiiga'igewin ni (item of) laundry; (item of) washing

giziibiiga'igewinaagan ni [BL] a washtub, a washing machine

giziibiigazhe vai s/he washes up, takes a bath, bathes

giziibiigazhe-makak ni a bathtub, a swimming pool

giziibiigazhewaaboo ni rubbing alcohol

giziibiigidaabaane vai s/he washes a car or vehicle

giziibiigidaabaanetamaw vta wash a car or vehicle for h/

giziibiigidaabaanewigamig ni a car wash

giziibiigin vta wash h/ (by hand)

Paired with: giziibiiginan vti

(reflexive) giziibiiginidizo vai s/he washes h/ self, washes h/ privates
giziibiiginakokwe vai s/he washes a kettle or a pail

giziibiiginamaw vta wash (it) for h/

giziibiiginan vti wash it (by hand)

Paired with: giziibiigin vta

(detransitive) giziibiiginige vai s/he washes something (by hand) (verb of undergoing) giziibiiginigaazo vai s/he is washed (by someone), "they" wash h/ (verb of undergoing) giziibiiginigaade vii it is washed (by someone), "they" wash it (benefactive) giziibiiginamaw vta wash (it) for h/
giziibiiginaagane vai s/he washes dishes

giziibiigindibe vai s/he washes h/ (own) hair

giziibiigindiben vta wash h/ hair

giziibiiginidizo vai s/he washes h/ self, washes h/ privates

giziibiiginigaade vii it is washed (by someone), "they" wash it

giziibiiginigaazo vai s/he is washed (by someone), "they" wash h/

giziibiiginige vai s/he washes something (by hand)

giziibiigininjii vai s/he washes h/ (own) hands

giziibiigininjiin vta wash h/ hands

giziibiigisaginige vai s/he washes the floor

See also: giziisaginige vai [BL]

giziibiigisaginige-giizhigad vii it is Saturday

See also: giziibiigisaginigewi-giizhigad vii [C]

giziibiigisaginigewi-giizhigad vii [C] it is Saturday

See also: giziibiigisaginige-giizhigad vii

giziibiigisaginigewinini na a sailor who washes the deck of the ship: a swabbie

giziibiigishtigwaane vai s/he washes h/ (own) hair

giziibiigitawage vai s/he washes h/ (own) ears

giziibiigitigwaane vai [BL] s/he washes h/ (own) hair

giziibiigizide vai s/he washes h/ (own) feet

giziibiigiziden vta wash h/ feet

giziibiigii vai s/he washes up

giziibiigiingwe vai s/he washes h/ (own) face

giziibiigiingwewinaagan ni a wash basin

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.

Additional Resources

Many of the words in the Ojibwe People's Dictionary have related resources. Click through to the full dictionary entry to hear audio recordings, see images, read documents and watch videos. Here's a key to resource icons.

  • Audio recordings
  • Images
  • Video
  • Documents

Speakers & Regions Key

Individual speakers and speakers from different regions use different words when speaking. Each audio recording is marked with the initials of the Ojibwe speaker. Click on a speaker's initials to go to the speaker's bio page. If an Ojibwe word is particular to a certain region, it will be marked with a region code. Click on the region code to go to the Regions page.