Tanacross Learners' Dictionary

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pacifier
    ch'etsídáhk'ah fat from a moose kneecap used as a baby pacifier

pack
    xeeł pack, packsack (carry (on your back))
for packing water see 'haul'
    ghihxeeł I'm packing (it)

imperfective paradigm

ghihxeeł	ts'axeeł
ghinxeeł	ghahxeeł
yaaxeeł	xiyaxeeł

    dendeh dexěel' áaxeeł the man is carrying his pack

pack down
  see compress

paddle
    taat'ôgh a paddle
    taat'ogh éł áakeeł she or he is paddling a boat
    taachet'ogh wu'éł ch'áakeel she or he is paddling boat
    tach'iht'ox I'm paddling

imperfective paradigm

tach'iht'ox	tayits'et'ox
tach'int'ox	tach'aht'ox
tach'et'ox	tach'axet'ox

    ghegdzéł I am paddling fast and smooth

padlock
    ch'eldlíi'
  syn lock

pail
    nadh'aay
  syn bucket

pain
    chetkeyh have a pain
    shshíi chétkeyh I have a stomachache
    shtthí' shíi chétkeyh I have a headache
    shxól' tah chetkeyh I have pain in my legs

paint
    tseyh
  syn ochre
    xnihtseyh I am painting it

palm (of hand)
    shintl'áa' my palm

pant
    shłǐig' éhtthek my dog is panting

pants
    ch'ehtlé' pants
    shehtlé' my pants
    ch'etlé' t'ah pants pockets
    ch'ethéth thetl old time skin pants
    thetl pants
    dąą thetl fur pants

paper
    dináhtl'aa also book

pardon
  see forgive

parents
    shnąą iin my parents
    shchox iin my parents

parka
    xey eek parka, winter coat
    ch'egaay eek child's parka (anorak style)

part
    ch'ehłaad part of, a portion of, some of
    neeshí'i ts'enh ch'ehłaad déghulchúut de' make sure you put aside some of the food for yourself
    xáan' half, part of, piece (of something), referring to a sizeable piece
    aayh xáan' éxdék-'ąą I found part of a snowshoe
    shxáan' ts'į́' łuug įhma' do your part of the fish drying
    nxáan' ts'į́' t'uhdę́'ę I am going to do my part (to help you)

partition
    xdanint'eey a partition
    xdanint'eeyh it is partitioned

partly cloudy
    xah xú' k'oth xúnłęę

partner
    nehłég'

pass (mountain)
    teth

pass
    niłk'etsixghitdeetl they passed each other on the trail, went by each other
  see give me for "pass" as in "give me" or "hand me"

patch
    mejédhekką́ą' I patched it, put a patch on it

path
    tęy also trail, road

pattern
    wuk'éetáa ch'eltsîig a pattern, guide
    wuk'éetáa ch'į́htseeyh make it like this (using this as a guide or pattern)

paw
    wuké' it's paw also foot

pay
    mexughihkéet I paid him or her
    nexuteghihkéet I'm going to pay you
  see repay

peaceful
    súu' xúu'ąą it is peaceful (right here)

peak
    ddheł tthit'aag mountain peak
  syn summit
    shax tthit'aag peak of a house, roof peak

pear (dried)
    ch'edzǎagh'

peel
    wuk'et nách'ekt'áatth I peeled it (with a knife)
    wuk'et nâach'ekt'áatth I peeled them
    dekts'ek I am peeling birch or willow
    nat'u'ekt'įį I usually peel it
    wuk'et naxokch'uuł I am peeling it (orange, package)
    ch'elaat'ûudz dekt'uuts I peeling bark
    yehts'el she or he is peeling it

pelt
    ch'ethéth its pelt
  syn hide, skin

pelvic bone
    shk'ę́yy' tth'ěn' my pelvic bone

pelvis
    shk'ę́yy' my pelvis

pencil
    ch'etnetl'ědz'

peninsula
    łdaa

penis
    wutsóg' his penis

people
    dendeey iin
    koxt'een iin
    ch'ilkeey young people, adolescents

perhaps
  see maybe

person
The Tanacross word can refer to a man in particular or a person in general depending on context.
    dendeh person, man
    koxt'een people
is the usual word used; is only rarely used

perspire
  see sweat

pick
Used for activities such as picking plants or berries or gathering firewood
    jêg nektseyh I'm picking berries

imperfective paradigm

nektseyh	ts'enehtseyh
nįhtseyh	nahtseyh
nehtseyh	xnehtseyh

    tsiil tsets nehtseyh the boy is gathering wood

pick up
Different words are used depending on what kind of object is being handled or if more than one object is handled.
    nidihdlah I picked them up (more than one of any object)

perfective paradigm

ni'idhíhdlah	nidzíidlah
ni'idhíndlah	ni'idháhdlah
nidéedlah	nixiydíidlah

perfective paradigm

nidíh'ąą	nidzíi'ąą
nidín'ąą	nidáh'ąą
niyidín'ąą	nixiydíi'ąą

    niditąą I picked it up (something long and skinny, like a pencil)

perfective paradigm

nidíhtąą	nidzíitąą
nidíntąą	nidáhtąą
niydíitąą	nixiydíitąą

    nidihkąą I picked up it (something in a container, like a water jug)

perfective paradigm

nidíhkąą	nidzíikąą
nidínkąą	nidáhkąą
niydíikąą	nixiydíikąą

    nidekchúuth I picked it up (something flat and flexible, like shirt or a book)

perfective paradigm

nidekchúuth	nidzihchúuth
nidįhchúuth	nidahchúuth
niydihchúuth	nixiydihchúuth

    nidektęę I picked up it (a living animal or person, like a puppy or an infant)

perfective paradigm

nidéktęę	nidzíhtęę
nidį́htęę	nidáhtęę
niydíhtęę	nixiydíhtęę

picture
    ch'eshǐig' picture, photograph also ghost, reflection
    ch'ekanuhghuhłêel let me to take your (more than one) picture

piece
    xáan' part of, piece (of something), referring to a sizeable piece
    aayh xáan' éxdék-'ąą I found part of a snowshoe
    ch'edǔul' small pieces, scraps
    ch'edǔul' én' íntthet sweep those pieces out (for example, bits of broken glass)
see for more examples of 'piece, part of something'

pierce
    yixáningéet he pierced through it
    dedzǎagh' xáningéet she pierced her own ear

pike (fish)
    uljaaddh northern pike (Esox lucius)

pile
    tsets xatnaldok wood is piled up in a heap

pillow
    tthí'aał

pilot bread
    łéegęyh
  syn cracker

pimple
    t'aachěnn'
    wunę́ę' netgú' his or her face is pimpled, pock marked

pinch
    wu'éł dádhíhtset I pinched it
    shintsįį éł dádhíhtset I pinched my nose (for example to stop a nosebleed)

pine cones
    ch'elahdzôl
  syn spruce cones

pine grosbeak (bird)
    kelahtuud (Pinicola enucleator)
  syn grosbeak

pintail, northern (duck)
    dzehndeedh (Anas acuta)

pipe (steel)
    ts'íitsiy thǔul'

pit
    xosk'ée a hole in the ground
  syn hole also ditch, gully

pitch
    dzéex pitch
  syn gum
    dzéex kón' hard outer spruce pitch
    dzéex tl'ę̌y' soft white sticky pitch

pitiful
    teejuh kadįht'eh someone who looks pitiful (can apply to person or animal)

pity
Used as an exclamation with meaning of 'poor thing' or 'that's too bad'
    teejuh

place
    eshěg' deh that place, right there
    na'atthíi eshěg' deh nek-'ę́ę' I saw it at that place down there (by the water)

placenta
    ts'enîin él' literally 'with the child '
  syn afterbirth

plant
    nesheegh plants
    xt'ach'ihłeeyh I am planting a garden

plate
    tth'áak

play
    xdelxos they're playing

imperfective paradigm

degxos	dzelxos
dilxos	dalxos
delxos	xdelxos

    shchel łii chox éł délxos my younger brother is playing with a big dog
    dexos k'ée playground, a place for fun

playhouse
    kón' tsêdl

plead
    dach'udelkét she or he is pleading, begging
    shí' gha dach'udelkét he or she is begging for food
    dets'inkeey gha dach'udelkét he or she is praying for the well-being of his children
    nadayutnelsú' she or he is pleading with him/her

pliers
    ch'iitl'eg

plover
    theen ch'enelzhaay semi-palmated_plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

pluck (birds)
    ihdots I am plucking it
    dets'ên ghihdóts tl'âan dé' tékłet I plucked the duck and then I will singe it

pocket
    ch'et'ah pocket
    ch'etlé' t'ah pants pocket

point (finger)
point at
    wuts'į́' ts'utédhék-'ah I am pointing at it
    sts'į́' ts'utéh'ah he or she is pointing at me
point out with physical contact
    mets'u'ihttheyh I'm pointing at it
    mets'u'inttheyh you are pointing at it
    shets'u'ettheyh she or he is pointing at me
    mets'u'ts'ettheyh we are pointing at it
    mets'u'ahttheyh you all are pointing at it
    nets'uxettheyh they are pointing at you

point (of land)
    łdaachíi

point (of an object)
    wuchíi point or tip of something
  syn end

poke
    yihts'ok he poked it

    shinlaats'ógh maa ittets my finger poked through it

poker stick
    gés stick used for stirring campfire

poles (for drying rack)
    dints'eeg
  syn rack poles

police
    nach'udah'ę́'ę also guard

pond
    menh pond also lake

pool
    tl'aas k'ée literally 'clam place'

poor
    ch'ehdenh détłęę she or he is without necessities

poor quality
    ts'axuntleeg
    ts'axnildę'ę ts'į́' ts'áxúntleeg ts'į́' kentsįįth ehtsįį she or he is inexperienced so made poor quality moccasins

poor thing
    teejuh poor thing!
    te'injuh you poor thing! (I feel sorry for you)

pop \cl
    dzéex nekk'éts I am popping, snapping gum (as I chew)

poplar
    t'áath (Populus sp.) also cottonwood, aspen

poque (broomrape)
    shos tsǎadh' (Boschniakia rossica)

porcupine
    ts'iit (Erethizon dorsatum)
    ch'ox porcupine quill

Porcupine Creek
    Ts'induul Ndiig \de

possessions
    xuudlaay
  syn belongings

possible
    súle'
  syn maybe

pot
    ts'íitsiy tth'áak also dishpan

potato
    tsaath Indian Potato
  syn carrot, roots (Hedysarum alpinum)
    teediiz potatoes

potlatch
    xtíitl potlatch
    ch'ąą potlatch food
    jąą' gifts given at potlatch
    ją́ąy' personal potlatch gift
    soojee invited potlatch guest
    łeghaas neltl'uun old time potlatch tripod
    dzeteex ch'ełiik sorry song sung at potlatch
    xtéetíitl he or she is going to make a potlatch
    ldîil téhtsįį he or she is going to make a potlatch literally 'he or she is going to make tea'
this is a metaphorical way of talking about potlatch
    xaxotíitl they made a potlatch

pound
    nítthéynintthéet she or he pounded it in

pour
    de'ihdiił I'm pouring (it)

imperfective paradigm

de'ihdiił	dets'indiił
de'indiił	dedhahdiił
deyindiił	dexiyindiił

    ldîil tuutiił shíi dé'índiił pour the tea into the cup

poverty
  see poor

praise
    daydįhcháax she or he praised him or her literally 'she/he made him/her look or sound large'

pray
    xexnindeyh he or she prayed

imperfective paradigm

xexnihdeyh	xets'axnindeyh
xexnindeyh	xexnahdeyh
xexnedeyh	xexaxnindeyh

preacher
    giihii
  syn minister

precious
    shaa xdint'eh she or he is precious to me

pregnant
    ts'enîin éł nt'eh she is pregnant
    wugaay xtéełé' a pregnant animal

premonition
    wuts'į́' xáxáltsįį she or he had a premonition
  syn sign

prepare
  see make

prepared
  see ready

present (at this place )
    jah deh right here
    jah deh na'ethet he or she is present, is standing right here

present (gift)
    kǎay'
  syn gift also souvenir, keepsake

pretend
    cheejish'áał I am pretending to eat
    cheejeldę'ę' she or he is acting, pretending to do something
    cheejegnih I pretended I said that

pretty
This refers specifically to 'face'. It is injih to say that someone is pretty or handsome.
    ninsųų she is pretty also handsome

previously
    dą́'ą previously, in the past
This is used to indicate that a time period is in the past.
    teddh dą́'ą last night

probably
    k'ént'eh probably
    Fairbanks ts'į́' natihdaał, k'ént'eh I'll probably go back to Fairbanks.
    súle' probably
    k'á shnį́h'îil súle' you probably won't see me
    êy gha súu' probably

promise
    yidátl'áxdin'ąą she or he promised him/her, gave him or her their word

protect
    ch'udelnih it is being protective
This word implies that that someone or something is being protective by being aggressive
    deshaaz degǎay' gha én' ch'udelnih the cow moose protects its young

proud
    daa súu' él'ęh
    daa súu' él'ęh ts'į́' ch'e aayh aaxaan she or he is proud of the snowshoes she or he made

prune
    jêg chox literally 'big berry'

pry
    yihtl'ek he pried it

ptarmigan
    k'étmah willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
    ddheł k'aal rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)

puddle
    tuu tl'adéedlah puddle
    nateldliih frozen puddle with no water in it

pull
The Tanacross words include the English meanings of "drag" as well as "pull".
    ghihłuuth I am pulling it

imperfective paradigm

ghihłuuth	ts'aałuuth
ghinłuuth	ghahłuuth
yaałuuth	xiyaałuuth

    xáyínłuuth he or she pulled it out
    tl'uuł teełų́ųnin'ąą he or she pulled a rope
    xaałų́ųghíh'ąą I pulled it out of the water (with a rope)
    nanishłuuth I dragged it back
    tsiil tsets nadatłuuth the boy is dragging wood

punch
  see hit

puncture
    wuch'anekch'etth I punctured it, punched through it

punish (beat)
    ekts'eth I am punishing him or her
    łii ch'udelneey ekts'eth I am punishing the naughty dog (with a switch)

punk (fungus)
    lts'iis also ashes birch fungus ashes

pupil (eye)
    shnaxtl'ědz' my pupil

puppy
    łiigaay

purchase
  see buy

pus
    xeth

push
    me'ektset I am pushing it

imperfective paradigm

me'ektset	yits'ehtset
me'įhtset	me'ahtset
yi'ehtset	xiye'ehtset

    én' mé'éktset I am pushing it away
    ndêddh me'ektset I am pushing it forward

pussy willow
    dahłiigaay pussy willow
    k'ę́y' jiits pussy willow buds, young growth

put (place)
    naa nínínłeeyh put it there!
    chenhtiił ndée nínín'ąą? where did you put the box?
    tuu shíi táládhég'ąą I put my hand in water
    taandîidz tah shí' níxníndlah they put the food in the center
    Dóo ch'e thaayh jah di'endel? Who put this sand here?

put away
    nínekchúut I put away food
    xey de'ukah shí' nínekchúut I put away food for the winter
    wuch'aa yidhihdlah I put it away from him or her (so they won't bother it)

put down
Different words are used depending on what kind of object is being handled or if more than one object is handled.
    nádíh'ąą I put it down (a compact object such as a box)

perfective paradigm

nádih'ąą	nádzín'ąą
nadin'ąą	nádáh'ąą
náydín'ąą	náxíydín'ąą

    nâadih'ąą I put it down again
    nádíhtąą I put it down (something long and skinny, like a pencil)

perfective paradigm

nádíhtąą	nádzíntąą
nádíntąą	nádáhtąą
náydíntąą	náxíydíntąą

    nádíkąą I put it down (something in a container, like a water jug)

perfective paradigm

nádíhkąą	nádzínkąą
nádínkąą	nádáhkąą
náydínkąą	náxíydínkąą

    teddh tah kón' daak'ée ts'enh tuu nâadihkîig xde'ishdéyh at night I usually take the water off the stove
    nádíhdlah I put them down (any multiple objects)

perfective paradigm

nádíhdlah	nádzíndlah
naadindlah	nádáhdlah
náydídlah	náxíydíndlah

    nádekchúuth I put it down (something flat and flexible, like shirt or a book)

perfective paradigm

nádekchúuth	nádzinchúuth
nádįchúuth	nádahchúuth
náydinchúuth	náxíydinchúuth

    nîinekchuut I put it back down (piece of food)
    nâadektęę I put it down (a living animal or person, like a puppy or an infant)

perfective paradigm

nádektęę	nádzintęę
nádįtęę	nádahtęę
náydintęę	náxíydintęę

    nashég' nálághék-'ah I put my hand down

put on
    na'it-tl'uh put on your clothes

put out (extinguish)
    kón' natnįhdeex put out the fire

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