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How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

gichi- pv lex es
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big; great; very, quite

See also: chi- pv lex

Note:
Eugene Stillday pronounced this prefix for us although it isn't commonly spoken as a word by itself but is attached to a following word. The short form chi- is very common although some elders strongly prefer the form gichi-. gichi- can appear with verbs, nouns, and adverbs.



Gichi-bagakaasige awe dibiki-giizis aana-aabitawaabikizid.

The moon is really bright even though it's a half-moon.
 es
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Agaamakiing iwidi dazhi-gichi-miigaadim.

There's a war across the ocean.
 rg
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Gichi-wawiingezi gikinootawaad ini migiziin awe ogichidaa.

That warrior did a great job of imitating the sound of the bald eagle.
 es
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Naniizaanendam ji-ipizonikepan imaa gichi-oodenaang.

He thinks it's dangerous to drive into the city.
 es
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Andawaabandan i'iw gichi-gwaaba'igan.

Look for the Big Dipper.
 es
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Gichi-waasa bimi-debinaagod iwe jiimaan bemi-ayaamagak.

That boat that's going by is a long ways out.
 es
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Gichi-mewinzha gii-izhaayaambaan oodenaang.

It's been a long time since I've gone to town.
 rg
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Gichi-weweni ingii-piini'aa indoopwaagan.

I cleaned my pipe real good.
 es
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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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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.