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Algonquian Language
Algonquian Language
Algonkian (also spelled Algonquian) is the largest family of languages native to North America. Before the coming of the Europeans, Algonkian languages were spoken in what is now the eastern U.S., the southern half of Canada and parts of the western U.S.
As Algonkian speakers were the first native peoples that the English encountered in North America, a large number of Algonkian words have entered the English language. The English often adopted Algonkian words to refer to things that they had never seen before. Some examples of Algonkian words that have entered English: moose, skunk, chipmunk, raccoon, possum, persimmon, squash, hominy, squaw, papoose, wigwam, powwow, moccasin, wampum, tomahawk, woodchuck and toboggan. Some of the most important languages in this family are Cree (85,000 speakers), Ojibwa or Chippewa (50,000) Blackfoot (5,000) and Lenape or Delaware (around 1,000). The Blackfeet people (also known as Piegan) speak a language that is very similar to Blackfoot.
Countless place names in the U.S. and Canada come from the Algonkian languages. Here are just a few: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Saskatchewan, Chicago, Manhattan, Wissahickon and Nantucket.
| The Algonkian Languages |
|
English
|
Cree
|
Lenape
|
Ojibwa
|
Blackfoot
|
|
I
|
niya
|
nii
|
niin
|
niisto
|
|
you
|
kiya
|
kii
|
giin
|
kiisto
|
|
he, she
|
wiya
|
neeka
|
wiin
|
-
|
|
we
|
kiyanaw
|
kiiloona
|
giinawind
|
-
|
|
who
|
awina
|
aween
|
awenen
|
tahkaa
|
|
here
|
oma, ota
|
apaamu
|
omaa
|
o'tsipikkssi
|
|
where
|
tante
|
eenda
|
anndi
|
tsima
|
|
hand
|
chihchiy
|
naxk
|
ninij
|
ikinsst
|
|
heart
|
teh
|
deeh
|
de
|
sskit-sipahp
|
|
breast
|
tohtosim
|
aakan
|
doodooshim
|
okayis
|
|
eye
|
skisik
|
skiinjukw
|
shkiinzhig
|
apssp
|
|
ear
|
tawakay
|
tawak
|
tawag
|
sstooki
|
|
nose
|
kot
|
kiiwan
|
jaanzh
|
ksisis
|
|
mouth
|
ton
|
doon
|
doon
|
oo
|
|
face
|
kwakan
|
skiinjukw
|
dengway
|
sstoksis
|
|
foot
|
sit
|
ziit
|
zid
|
kat
|
|
skin
|
masakay
|
xay
|
zhaga'ay
|
|
|
head
|
stikwan
|
lushtiikan
|
shtigwan
|
tokaan
|
|
English
|
Cree
|
Lenape
|
Ojibwa
|
Blackfoot
|
|
shoe
|
skisin
|
mahksun
|
makizin
|
atsikin
|
|
man
|
napew
|
lunuw
|
inini
|
ninaawa
|
|
woman
|
iskwew
|
oxkweew
|
ikwe
|
aakii
|
|
child
|
awasis
|
amiimunz
|
abinoojiinh
|
oko's
|
|
bird
|
piyesis
|
chulEs
|
bineshiinh
|
pi'kssii
|
|
fish
|
kinosew
|
namees
|
giigoonh
|
mamii
|
|
wolf
|
mahihkan
|
wiixcheew
|
ma'iingan
|
omahkapi'si
|
|
water
|
nipiy
|
mbuy
|
nibi
|
aohkii
|
|
house
|
wikowin
|
wiikwahm
|
waakaa'igan
|
naapiooyis
|
|
rain
|
kimowan
|
sookulaan
|
gimiwan
|
sootaa
|
|
sun
|
pisim
|
kiishooxkw
|
giizis
|
ki'somm
|
|
moon
|
tipiskaw pisim
|
niipaahum
|
dibik-giizis
|
ki'somm
|
|
sky
|
kisik
|
|
giizhig
|
sspomoo
|
|
day
|
kisikaw
|
kiish-kwunuwii
|
giizhig
|
ksiistsiko
|
|
night
|
tipiskaw
|
piiskeew
|
dibikad
|
sskiina
|
|
hill
|
wachiy
|
aman-gaawunge
|
wajiw
|
miistak
|
|
English
|
Cree
|
Lenape
|
Ojibwa
|
Blackfoot
|
|
road
|
meskanaw
|
aanay
|
miikana
|
mohsoko
|
|
stone
|
asiniy
|
asun
|
asin
|
oohkotok
|
|
land
|
askiy
|
ahkuy
|
aki
|
ksaahko
|
|
sea, lake
|
kihchikamiy
|
mbiisus
|
zaaga'igan
|
mo'toyaohkii
|
|
island
|
ministik
|
munahan
|
minis
|
mini
|
|
fire
|
iskotew
|
tundeew
|
ishkode
|
pakoyittsi
|
|
wood
|
mitith
|
xwus
|
mitig
|
|
|
river
|
sipiy
|
siipuw
|
ziibi
|
niitahtaa
|
|
wind
|
yotin
|
kshaxun
|
noodin
|
ssikssopo
|
|
to
live
|
pimatisiw
|
pumaaw
|
bimaadizi
|
|
|
to
die
|
nipowin
|
ehkwaawsuw
|
nibo
|
iponihtsi
|
|
to
eat
|
michisowin
|
miichuw
|
wiisini
|
ooyi
|
|
it
is cold
|
kisin
|
takwachuw
|
gisinaa
|
sstowa'pii
|
|
one
|
peyak
|
kwEi
|
bezhig
|
ni't
|
|
two
|
niso
|
nisha
|
niizh
|
ist
|
|
three
|
nisto
|
naxa
|
niswi
|
niookska
|
|
four
|
newo
|
newa
|
niiwin
|
niiso
|
|
five
|
hiyanan
|
palenàxk
|
naanan
|
niisit
|
|
English
|
Cree
|
Lenape
|
Ojibwa
|
Blackfoot
|
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