tadaahaał
he is wading
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wade
tadaahaał
he is wading
| tadihhaał | tadzaadéł |
| tadinhaaL | tadahde1L |
| tadaahaaL | taxdaade1L |
taadetmeek
she or he is wading in and out of the water
wag
etiik
łii deché' étiik
the dog is wagging its tail
waist
shtl'ed
my waist
wait
tthée'
stop, wait!
needoogh eedah
she or he is waiting for us
wake up
Different words are used for taking about one or more than
one person.
ts'énihthíit
I am waking up
| ts'éníhthet | ts'éts'énindéek |
| ts'énínthet | ts'énahdéek |
| ts'énínthet ts'éxnindéek |
ts'éninthiit
wake up!
walk
This same basic words are used with a meaning 'go',
without referring to how. Different words are used for
referring to one or more than one person.
aahaał
she or he is walking
| ghihhaał | ts'aadéł |
| ghinhaał | ghahdéł |
| aahaał | xaadéł |
tth'iitú' k'eddh łóghíhhaał
I am walking around by the river
gheggek
I am walking fast and straight, �power walking�
see move (animals) for animals (and birds) walking
walking stick
tétth
syn staff, cane
wall
shax eekeh
want
There are two basic words for 'want'. It is injih to say that you want a material object. Words with -tląą imply an immediate desire for
something.
shdéhtląą
I want, crave it
ldîil shdéhtląą
I want tea
ldîil ndéhtląą?
do you want tea?
meł shdéhtląą
I am sleepy
literally 'I want sleep'
| shdéhtląą | needéhtląą |
| ndéhtląą | nuhdéhtląą |
| yidéhtląą | xuudéhtląą |
I want it
they want it
I want fish
| êynihthenh | êyts'iyininthenh |
| êyninthenh | êynahthenh |
| êyninthenh | êxiyininthenh |
war
naamaax
warbler
(bird)
k'elaxdihtsogh
yellow warbler
(Dendrocia petechia)
warm
nelgón'
it (an object) is warm
ldîil nelkón' t'o tishdiił
the tea is lukewarm but I will drink it
xnelgón'
it (the weather) is warm
nah'ôg xnelgón'
it is warm outside
naxnelgón'
it warmed up
warn
medaxdekshaan
I warned him or her
warrior
naamaax
wart
shéeth
wash
Tanacross uses different words depending on what is
being washed.
tth'ák k'éch'éktseł
I am washing the dishes
| k'éch'éktseł | k'éyts'éhtseł |
| k'éch'į́htseł | k'éch'áhtseł |
| k'éych'éhtseł | k'éch'áxéhtseł |
tth'áak eta'ihłeex
I am washing the dishes
lach'egdeex
I'm washing my hands
| lach'egdeex | layts'eldeex |
| lach'ildeex | lach'aldeex |
| lach'eldeex | lach'axeldeex |
neech'egdeex
I am washing my face
shch'ěl' na'ihgétth
I am washing clothes
| nach'ihgétth | nayts'egétth |
| nach'ingétth nach'ahgétth | |
| nach'egétth nach'axegétth |
wash basin
taatleex tth'áak
watch
nayúdeh'ę́ę'
she or he is watching him. her or it
ts'éhxeh gaay nayúdeh'ę́ę'
the little girl is watching her
dendîig na'údek-'ę́ę'
I am watching the moose
dendîig natdek-'íik
I am watching the moose move around
ndaxdédhíshdah
I am watching, observing (nothing in particular)
watch out!
súu' dé'!
be careful, watch out
water
Included here are words referring to the movement of water
as well as kinds of water.
tuu
water
texninthaat
deep water
texnįhk'ôdl
shallow water
dees k'et déełęyh
water flows over shallows
tuu tth'ų́ų'
clear water
taak'étth
clear, cold water
tuu kón'
clear water
tuu tanat-t'uut
water is muddy, dirty
Different words are used to describe water levels or
changes in water levels.
tuu natet-tsetth
the water went back down
tuu niihąą
water has risen, flooded
tuu niltah
water level is steady
water
(just above fish trap)
k'ełndîidz
\de
water lily
kelt'addh
water plants
tuu shíi nésheegh
waterfall
tuu naghinłęyh
water is flowing down, cascading down
watering hole
tuu dak'ée
a place to get water, water source
watermilfoil
níhts'îil
watermilfoil, "muskrat food"
(Myriophyllum spicatum)
wave
(on water)
taatth
wave
(hand)
yała'et-'aak
she or he is waving to him/her
nts'į́' łá'ísh'aak
I'm waving at you
waxwing, Bohemian
(bird)
tthi't'odihseel
tl'uuł nęy
we
A separate word for "we" or "us" is only used for emphasis
or in set phrases, since who or what is involved is a
necessary of the verb.
neexon
we, us
weak
sht'ěyy' kó́l
I am weak (have no strength)
wear
(clothing)
Different Tanacross words are used depending on
what part of the body the clothes normally are worn
over.
nádédhégshah
I am wearing it (clothing)
náydélshah
she or he is wearing it (clothing)
Used as a general term for 'wearing' as well as for clothes
worn above the waist but not on the hands or head.
| nádédhégshah | nádzélshah |
| nádédhílshah | nádédhálshah |
| nádélshah | náxdélshah |
díi nádédhílshah?
what are you wearing?
eek nádédhégshah
I am wearing a coat
O nadedheg'ąą
I am wearing O (a hat)
Used for hats.
| nádédhég'ąą | nádzél'ąą |
| nádédhíl'ąą | nádédhál'ąą |
| nádél'ąą | náxdél'ąą |
P shíi dédheg'éetth
I am wearing P (pants, shoes)
Used for clothes worn from the waist to the feet. Derives
from the Tanacross word meaning' move feet'. Note that
shíi 'in', always is used before the main verb.
| dédheg'éetth | dzél'éetth |
| dédhil'éetth | dédhal'éetth |
| dél'éetth | xdé'éetth |
ch'ehtlé' shíi dél'éetth
he's wearing pants
P shíi dédhegdíik
I am wearing P (mittens, gloves)
Used for clothes worn on the hands. Derives from the
Tanacross word for 'move hands'. Note that shíi 'in'
always is used before the main verb.
| dédhegdíik | dzéldíik |
| dédhildíik | dédhaldíik |
| déldíik | xdéldíik |
nátthí'udédhíshtl'uu
Used for scarves or shoelaces. Derives from the Tanacross
word for 'tie'.
| náth'í'udédhíshtl'ųų | nátth'ídzét-tl'ųų |
| nátth'í'udédhít-tl'ųų | nátth'ídédháltl'ųų |
| nátth'ídét-tl'ųų | nátth'íixidét-tl'ųų |
k'onit'êy nátth'í'udéttl'ųų
she's wearing a scarf on her head
O na'udédhísts'es
I am wearing O (blanket, cape around shoulders)
weasel
nihmaay
short-tailed weasel
(Mustela erminea)
syn ermine
tsuuy
least weasel
(Mustela rixosa)
weather
There is no word in Tanacross that corresponds to English
'the weather'. Instead, Tanacross talks about the condition
of the "outside".
nah'ôg nts'é xúnt'eh?
how is the weather?
literally 'How is it outside?'
nah'ôg nts'é xúltsįį?
how's the weather out there?
literally 'How does it look outside?'
nah'ôg xúnsųų
the weather is nice, it is nice outside
ch'et-ts'iik
nippy weather
weave
nihxét
I am weaving
aayh nexét
she or he is weaving snowshoes
web
kelahdzeey gǎal'
syn spider web
wedge
(for splitting wood)
ndeł
weep
see cry
weir
(fishing)
xtsiił
fish weir, bridge
wuch'ěel'
fish weir stakes
welcome
êy t'o
you're welcome, it okay
went
see go
wet
Different words are used depending on the degree of
wetness.
ehtseł
it is wet
nadhįhtseł
you are wet
chąą ts'enh nadhektseł
I am wet from the rain
shinłá' éhtseł
my hands are wet
elsox
it is damp
na'ehts'ół
it is soaking wet
nadhekts'ół
I am soaking wet
see damp
what
díi
díi ín'áał?
what are you eating?
díi chíh?
what else?
nts'é'
nts'é' t'índę́'ę?
what are you doing?
ęę
what?
wheeze
degtthéek
I am wheezing
when
Tanacross has slightly different words for
distinguishing between 'when in the future' and 'when
in the past'.
ndée dé'
when (future)
ndée dé' tínhaał?
when are you leaving?
ndée dą́'ą
when (past)
ndée dą́'ą nínshah?
when did you arrive?
where
Different words are used depending partially on the kind
of information being asked for.
ndée
where (what place)
ndée dhíndah?
where do you live?
chenhtiił ndée nínín'ąą?
where did you put the box?
nt'í́h?
where is it (a specific person or thing)
éeł nt'í́h?
where is the trap?
whetstone
ttheech'iik'agh
which
ndée êyninthenh?
which do you want?
while
tah
shchąą tah ts'enîin dâa'itshah
while I was sleeping the child arrived
k'ahdíidą́'ą
a while ago
k'ahdíidą́'ą nach'ih'áatl
I ate a while ago
k'ahdíidé'
after a while (in the future)
k'ahdíidé' tâatihdaał
after a while I'm going home
dindah
a while
wukól díndah na'ilsheyh
you rest while she or he is gone
whimbrel
ch'uhdlogn
(Numenius phaeopus)
whimper
see yelp
whirlpool
ok
whirlpool, eddy in water
syn eddy
whirlwind
ehts'eyh mâay
xaghints'eyh maay
syn dust devil
whiskers
shdaaxá'
my whiskers
syn beard
minch'ědl xá'
whiskers on dog or lynx
whisper
degdziit
I am whispering
| degdziit | dzeldziit |
| dildziit | daldziit |
| deldziit | xdeldziit |
sts'į́' díldziit
whisper to me
whistle
ch'udehshíis
he or she is whistling
| ch'udekshíis | ts'uyidehshíis |
| ch'udįhshíis | ch'udahshíis |
| ch'udehshíis | ch'uxdehshíis |
whistler
xuhshîiz
white
delgeyh
it is white
xey tah gah delgeyh
rabbits are white in winter
delgey
the white one
jâan tthíishúus délgey sínt'eh
this is a white hat
white fronted goose
dąąxêd
(Anser albifrons)
White Person
(non-Native)
Nondlêed
white socks
(bugs)
ch'echog tuu'
whitefish
see fish
white-winged junco
(bird)
chitnetl'edz
ts'est'ûud
(Junco hyemalis)
white-winged scoter
(duck)
ndêl
(Melanitta fusca)
whittle
xák'áneksees
I am whittling (to a point)
who
dóo
who
jâan dóo ch'e nt'eh?
who is this?
dóo íin éł tínhaał?
who (plural) are you going with?
whole
łaaltth'ek
wudzih gǎan' łaaltth'ek ts'į́' wutl'ayghų́hchuut dé'
make sure you give him or her the whole caribou arm
why
díi gha
díi gha ch'e t'inden?
why are you doing that?
wide
dintéeł
it is wide
tsá' ch'e dintéeł
beaver has a wide tail
widgeon
(duck)
shahsęy
American widgeon
(Anas americana)
widow
haashax
widow or widower
wife
sh'aat
my wife, mate
wu'éł dhíhdaay
my spouse, the one I stay with
wiggle
et-t'aał
she or he is wiggling, cannot sit still
ts'enîin et-t'aał
the child is wiggling
wilderness
ts'étl tah
wildman
gųų
Brush Indian. Bogeyman. People in stories that lived apart from
society and were often intent in capturing children.
syn brushman
also bug, insect, worm
willow
k'ę́y'
willow
dahłiigaay
pussy willow
k'aaz tsets
dry willow or alder branches
łuudh
mountain willow
syn buckbrush, dwarf birch
k'ę́y' jiits
willow sprouts, new growth
win
ch'ídhiht'éth
I won something
wind
(chinook wind)
tsaał
warm winter wind
window
sits'enal'een
windpipe
shthuuł
my windpipe
also tube
windy
ehts'eyh
it is windy
xaghįhts'eyh
it became windy
tęy k'et det-ts'iik
it (snow) is blowing on the trail
wing
mints'ěn'
wink
The same word is used for blinking.
nelts'ék
he is winking
yits'į́' nelts'ék
he or she is winking at him or her
winter
xey
winter
xey taatl'ed
mid-winter
wipe
Different words are used depending how thoroughly
the action is performed.
mejektlet
I am wiping it (quickly)
tth'aak ejektlet
I am wiping (drying) the plate
mejekkét
I'm wiping it (thoroughly)
tuu nee_h_el éł méjekkét
I am wiping it with hot water
wise
xunshąą
he is wise
also clever
ndaxdinshaan sínt'eh
that is a wise person
wish
tsíixú'ék-'ęę
I wish
nah'óg xneek'eddh éł, sheen úkah tsíixú'ék-'ęę
when it is cold outside I wish for summer
witch's broom
tth'ek
witch's broom (in spruce trees)
with
éł
with
sh'éł dhíndah
stay with me
shtá' éł
with my father
gha
dendeey iin aanděg' gha ishndaa
I work with Native languages
withered
see dry
without
ehdenh
êy ehdenh
without that thing
wolf
tiikâan
(Canis lupus)
tiikâan théth
wolf hide
Wolf Lake
Shós is an old word for 'wolf' that only occurs in placenames and in some stories.
Shós Menh
wolverine
nahtsį́įth
(Gulo gulo)
woman
ts'éhxeh
woman
ts'est'eey
old woman
ts'éxeey iin
women
womb
ts'enîin théth
\de
wonder
lé'e
díi lé'e ch'e nt'eh
I wonder what that is?
wood
tsets
firewood
tsets ndeeth
long length wood
tsets wuk'et det-tl'ęę
sawed wood
ts'ôgh dehtsel
wet, green wood
wood burl
dechenh ch'etxeez
syn burl
wood chips
ch'etthěel'
woodpecker
chenhttheeł
hoary or downy woodpecker
(Picoides villosus, pubescens)
work
ishndah
I'm working
| ishndah | ts'etndah |
| itndah | atndah |
| etndah | xetndah |
ishndah shax ts'enh ghihhaał
I'm coming from work
na'etdeyh
she or he is working, keeping busy
world
nén' k'et
worm
gųų
also brushman, insect, bug
wormwood
tthiiměnn'
worn out
dat-ts'iits
it is worn out
tet-tsenh
it is worn down, worn thin
shxú' tet-tsenh
my teeth are worn down
shkentsį̌įdh' xanintleek
my moccasins are worn out
worry
xáních'ét-thiit
she or he is worried
wound
nahkaay
wounded animal
ch'ekaa k'ée
a wound, injury
syn sore
wound
see injure
wrap
ts'ěd' na'udét-ts'es
she or he has a blanket wrapped around them
wreck
see break
wrestle
łeet'eexel'ęh
they are wrestling
wring
na'ídhihgétth
I am wringing it out
na'ídhíhgétth
I wrung it out
na'úghédhíhgétth
I wrung it out (a hide, by wringing around a stick)
wrinkle
nelch'ų́ųtth
it is wrinkled
nach'ihgêddh ts'enh shinlaatsógh' nelch'ų́ųtth
my fingers are wrinkled from washing clothes
wrist
shilaachěn'
\de
write
ch'etnihtl'éts
I'm writing
| ch'etnihtl'éts | ts'eytnetl'éts |
| ch'etnintl'éts | ch'etnahtl'éts |
| ch'etnetl'éts | ch'axtnetl'éts |
wrong
xu'én' la ha'
not that way (direction)!
k'á xúu'
wrong way!
dada'én'
wrong way (verbally)
dada'én' ts'į́' sų́'ų naxxghuldeg
don't tell that story the wrong way
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