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Here at Indigenous Student Affairs, we care deeply about language revitalization and supporting both students and the community in their language learning journey. Below are some vocabulary in Anishinaabemowin (Odawa dialect) to get you started as well as some other language resources including recordings of Anishinaabemowin classes with Elder Lorney Bob from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. If you'd like to join one of the sessions with Lorney online, please check out our Google calendar for the schedule!
Getting Started With Anishinaabemowin
BEGINNER PHRASES
| Boozhoo. | Hello. |
| Aaniish ezhnikaazyin? | What's your name? |
| _____ ndi-zhnikaas. | My name is _____. |
| Aapiish enjibaayin? | Where are you from? |
| _____ ndoo-njibaa. | I'm from _____. |
| Aanii! Aaniish naa? | Hi! How are you?/How are things? |
| Mii go aanwi. | Not too bad./Things are well. |
| Mii sa nishing. | That's good. |
| Giin dash? | And you? |
| Gmaa go. | So-so. |
| Ga-waabmin. | I'll see you. |
| Ga-waabminim. | I'll see you (plural). |
| Miigwech./Gchi-miigwech. | Thank you./Thank you very much. |
BEGINNER NOUNS
| eskoonwit | student | aachkin'gan | room | mzin'igan | paper, book |
| eknoomaagenh | teacher | waasechgan | window | pabwin | chair |
| skoon-gamik | school | shkwaandem | door | doopwin | table |
| zhibiigaans | pencil | ||||
BEGINNER VERBS
| skoonwi | he/she goes to school, is at school, studies | gaasknaabaagwe | he/she is thirsty |
| gindaasa | he/she reads, counts | giikiibngoshi | he/she is sleepy |
| bmase | he/she walks, is walking | nbaa | he/she is sleeping |
| zhi'biige | he/she writes | nakii | he/she works, is working [at a job] |
| ndagkenjge | he/she investigates, researches | maajtaa | he/she starts [doing something] |
| bkade | he/she is hungry | giizhiitaa | he/she is finished [doing something] |
| gkinoo'maage | he/she is teaching, teaches | naawkwe-wiisni | he/she eats lunch |
| nmadbi | he/she is sitting | dgoshin | he/she arrives |
| biindge | he/she enters, is welcome | maajaa | he/she leaves |