A collection of useful phrases in Ojibwe, an Algonquian language spoken in the parts of Canadian and the USA.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal
| English | Anishinaabemowin / ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᒧᐎᓐ (Ojibwe) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Biindigen (Come in / Welcome) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Aniin (inf) Bozhoo (frm) Aanish inaa? (frm) |
| How are you? | Aaniish naa ezhiyaayin? Aaniin ezhi-ayaayan? Aaniin enamanji’oyan? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Nminoyaa gwa (I'm fine) Nimino-ayaan (I'm fine) Nimino-ayaa (I'm well) Kaawiin gwa nminoyaasii (I'm not well/fine) Gaawiin nimino-ayaasiin (I am not good) Nimaanendam (I feel bad) Nimaanendaan (I feel bad about that) |
| Long time no see | Mewinzha gaa-ako-waabaminaan |
| What's your name? | Wegnesh ezhinkaazyin? Aaniin ezhinikaazoyan? |
| My name is ... | ... ndizhinikaaz ... (n)nindizhinikaaz ... (n)indigoo |
| Where are you from? | Aanii piish enjebayin? Aaniini wenjibaayan? |
| I'm from ... | ... ndojeba ... (n)indoonjibaa ... (n)indoonjiin |
| Pleased to meet you | |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Mino gigizheb ("It's a good morning") Mino-gigizhebaagwad ("It's a good morning") |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Mino giizhigad ("It's a good day") |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Mino dibikad ("It's a good night") |
| Good night | |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Giga-waabamin menawaa (See you again) Giga-waabamin naagaj (See you later) Nagaj apii (Later) Baanimaa apii (Later sometime) Baamaapii Wiingezin (Take it easy - casual) |
| Good luck! | Ambegish ji-onwaaziwiyamban (I wish you to be lucky) Jejiikn (Be lucky) Onwaazin (Be good luck) Gidoojiibikoon gidaa-pimaaji’otoon (Carry your root) |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Minobiidaa! (Cheers!) Ayaa! (It is!) |
| Have a nice day | Minawaanigozin isa yo’ow giizhigad |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Miijidaa! ("Let's eat!") Wiisinin (Eat) Naanaagajimiiji’iwen. (Think of you eating) |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Aangwaamaadaadizin (Careful journey) |
| I understand | Ninisidotam |
| I don't understand | Namanj iidog Gaawiin ninisidotaanziin |
| Yes | Enh Enya |
| No | Kaa Gaawiin Gego bina (Don't touch) Gego (Don't) |
| Maybe | Maagizhaa gaye Ganabaj iidog |
| Please speak more slowly | Zhoobi nitaawen Zhoobi Daga nitaawen |
| Please say that again | Ikidon miinawaa Zhoobi (Daga) ikidon aabiding miinawaa |
| Please write it down | Zhoobi (Daga) ozhibii’igen. (Please write) Zhoobi (Daga) maajibii’igen. (Please start wtiting) |
| Do you speak English? | Ginitaa-zhaganaashiim ina? |
| Do you speak Ojibwe? | Gdi-anishnaabem-na? Ginitaa-ojibwem ina? Gidoojibwem ina? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Enh, ndi anishnabem bangii eta go Enh, ninitaa-ojibwem bangii eta go Eya, nindoojibwem bangiishenh |
| Speak to me in Ojibwe | Ojibwemotawishin |
| How do you say ... in Ojibwe? | Aaniish ekidoyan Ojibwemong ? |
| Excuse me | Zhoobi (Daga) zhawenimishin (Pity me) |
| How much is this? | Aaniin minik? Aaniish minik? |
| Sorry | |
| Please | Daga |
| Thank you | Miigwech Chi-miigwech |
| Reply to thank you | Miiwe (That's it) Miiyiw (That's it) Inaa go naa (So is so) |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Aanindi eteg zaaga’amoowigamig ’iw? Aanindi eteg miiziiwigamig ’iw? Aanindi eteg Endazhi-kiziibigininjiinan ’iw? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Niwii-adaawetamig ’ow isa win |
| This lady will pay for everything | Niwii-adaawetamig ’ow isa win |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Nindaa-wiijishimotawidiyamban ina? |
| I miss you | |
| I love you | Gi zah gin Gizaagi’in (To a partner or child) Gizhawenimin (to everyone) |
| Get well soon | |
| Go away! | Awas Maajaan Danaseg boozhoo, boozhoo, maajaan, maajaan (a saying) |
| Leave me alone! | Boonishin! |
| Help! | Wiidokawishin! |
| Fire! | Aataayaa! Ishkodemagad zhayegwa! Azhigwa! Azhigo! Noongom! |
| Stop! | Ishkwaataan! |
| Call the police! | Gookoosh madwewen! |
| Christmas greetings | Minobii Niibaa Anama’e Giizhiigad |
| New Year greetings | Minawaanigozi Oshki Biboon |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Mino-dibishkaan |
| One language is never enough | Gaawiin gwechimagasinoon ji-ayaang inwewin igo bezhig |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | |
| It's hot today | Gizhaatemgat nangwaa Giizhigaatemagad noongom |
| It's raining today | Gmiwaan nangwaa Gimiwan noongom |
| It's cold today | Ksinaamgat nangwaa Gisinaamagad noongom |
| This is not good weather | Niiskaadad Nishkaadad |
| This weather isn't bad | Gaawiin niiskaadasinoon |
| This is fair weather | Anwaatin |
| This isn't nice weather | Gaawiin anwaatinzinoon |
| I'm hungry | Ninoondezgade Ninoondeskade Nimbakade Ninoondewiisin |
| Are you hungry? | Ginoondezgade na? Ginoondeskade na? Nimbakade na? Ninoondewiisin ina? |
| He's hungry | Noondezgade Noondeskade wiin a’aw Bakade wiin a’aw |
| Where are you going? | Aaniindi ezhaayin? |
| What kind? | Awenish dinowa? |
| Come with me | Ambe daga wiijiiwishin |
Recordings and some phrases provided by Allison L, Chris Cadeau and E Halverson
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Ojibwe | Phrases | Numbers | Time | Tower of Babel
Other collections of Ojibwe phrases
http://www.ojibwe.org/home/pdf/ojibwe_beginner_dictionary.pdf
http://www.nativetech.org/shinob/ojibwelanguage.html
Arapaho, Atikamekw, Cheyenne, Cree (Plains), Innu, Míkmaq, Ojibwe, Sauk, Shawnee
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