Animal Terms in Wyandot
Domestic Animals
The verb root -senę- means ‘to be the domestic animal of’
ayesęnˀąh It is my domestic animal, my pet.
[ah-yeh-sen-en-anh]
aye- feminine-zoic singular agent + 1st person singular patient ‘it to me, my’
–senę- verb root ‘to be a domestic animal of’
-ˀ- stative aspect
-ąh diminutive aspect suffix
sasęˀąh It is your domestic animal, your pet.
[sah-sen-en-anh]
sa- feminine-zoic singular agent + 2nd person singular patient ‘it to you(r)’
–senę- verb root ‘to be a domestic animal of’
-ˀ- stative aspect
-ąh diminutive aspect suffix
husenęˀąh It is his domestic animal, his pet.
[hoo-sen-en-anh]
hu- feminine-zoic singular agent + masculine singular patient ‘it to him, his’
–senę- verb root ‘to be a domestic animal of’
-ˀ- stative aspect
-ąh diminutive aspect suffix
usenęˀąh It is her domestic animal, her pet.
[oo-sen-en-anh]
u- feminine-zoic singular agent + feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it to her, her’
–senę- verb root ‘to be a domestic animal of’
-ˀ- stative aspect
-ąh diminutive aspect suffix
Tuh iyaˀatsih sasęnˀąh What is your pet called?
iyaˀatsih She, it is called, named such.
[ee-yah-ah-tseeh]
i- partitive, ‘such’
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘she, it’
ˀats- verb root ‘to name, be named, called’
-ih stative aspect
Trudy iyaˀatsih Trudy she is called.
Wiikwaas ihaˀatsih Wiikwaas he is called.
ihaˀatsih he is called, named such
[ee-hah-ah-tseeh]
i- partitive ‘such’
-ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-ˀats- verb root ‘to name, be named, called’
-ih stative aspect
Noun for Domestic Animal, Pet: -ndaskw-
yandaskwaˀ domestic animal, pet
[yan-dah-skwah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’
-ndaskw- noun root ‘domestic animal, pet’
-aˀ noun suffix
hundaskwaęh He has a pet, pets.
[hoon-dah-skwa-enh]
hu- masculine singular patient ‘he’
–ndaskw- noun root ‘domestic animal, pet’
-aˀ noun suffix
-ę- verb root ‘to have’
-h stative aspect
undaskwaęh She has a pet, pets.
[oon-dah-skwa-enh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘she’
–ndaskw- noun root ‘domestic animal, pet’
-aˀ noun suffix
-ę- verb root ‘to have’
-h stative aspect
Dogs, Foxes and Wolves
yanyęnǫh It barks many times; it is a dog.
[yah-nyen-onh]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent – ‘she, it’
-nyęn- verb root ‘to bark’
–nǫ- distributive root suffix
-h stative aspect
tsinęˀtǫtǫh fox (traditionally the cross fox, the one with a black cross)
[tsee-nen-en-ton-tonh]
skęhšu fox
[sken-shoo]
yaˀnariskwaˀ wolf [she/it used to chew bones].
[yah-ah-nah-ree-skwah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, she or it
-ˀn- noun root, ‘bone(s)’
-a- noun suffix
-ri- verb root, ‘to bite, suck, chew’
-s- habitual aspect
-kwaˀ past aspect suffix
hatinariskwaˀ They (masculine) used to chew bones, wolf clan.
[hah-ee-nah-ree-skwah-ah]
-hati- masculine plural agent
-ˀn- noun root, ‘bone(s)’
-a- noun suffix
-ri- verb root, ‘to bite, suck, chew’
-s- habitual aspect
-kwaˀ past aspect suffix
Cats Big and Small
takuš. domestic cat
[tah-koosh]
yę:riš she, it is a cougar, mountain lion
[yen-reesh]
tehutsiˀtut lynx
[tee-hoo-tsee-ee-toot] [he has two standing blossoms (ref. to ear tufts)]
te- dualic = two
-hu- masculine singular patient, ‘he’
-tsi?t- noun root, ‘blossom, flower’
-ut- verb root ‘to stand’ + stative aspect
skęˀkwaˀa. bobcat
[sken-en-kwah-ah]
Other Mammals
uskęnǫtǫ deer [It goes to the land of the dead]
[oo-sken-non-ton]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient
-skęn- verb root ‘to be a manifestation of the dead’
-ǫtǫ dislocative root suffix + stative aspect
tsatarižaˀi buffalo
[tsah-tah-ree-zhah-ah-ee]
auskwaˀ moose
[ah-oo-skwah-ah]
tsindaręta elk
[tseen-dah-ren-tah]
kyutǫhuskwerǫht cow
[kyoo-ton-hoo-skweh-ront]
uhšatęh horse (one rides on its back)
[ooh-shah-tenh]
u- feminine-zoic agent + feminine zoic patient
-hšatę- verb root, ‘to carry someone on one’s back or shoulder’
-h stative aspect
tsinęˀkaˀ porcupine
[tsee-nen-en-kahah]
kwiskwis. pig
[kwihs-kwihs]
uwaˀtatsiˀah skunk (its body smells bad)
[oo-wah-ah-tah-tsee-ee-ah]
uw- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-aˀt- noun root ‘body’
-a- noun suffix
-tsiˀa[1]– verb root ‘to smell bad’
-h stative aspect
suhǫmędiˀa mink, weasel
[soo-hon-men-dyee-ee-ah]
tawindeh otter
[tah-win-deh]
uˀtahi squirrel (especially the black squirrel)
[oo-oo-tah-hee]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient
-ˀtahi verb root ‘to have thick fur’ + stative aspect
tsuˀtahi beaver; ‘it has very thick fur’
[tsoo-oo-tah-hee]
ts- repetitive, ‘very’
u- feminine-zoic singular patient
-ˀtahi verb root ‘to have thick fur’ + stative aspect
suhiˀahšayaha muskrat
[soo-hee-ee-a-shah-yah-hah]
užuˀyę chipmunk (or ground squirrel)
[oo-zhoo-oo-yen]
u- feminine-zoic patient ‘she, it, one’
-žuˀyę- verb root ‘to be a chipmunk’ + stative aspect
tirǫ raccoon
[tee-ron]
tanyǫnyęha rabbit
[tah-nyon-nyen-ha]
tsuˀngyatęˀah mouse
[tsoo-oo-ngyah-ten-en-ah]
anyǫnyęˀ bear
[ah-nyon-nyen-en]
a- feminine-zoic singular agent[2] ‘she, it, one’
-nyǫnyę– verb root ‘to be a bear’
-ˀ stative aspect
hatinyǫnyęˀrǫnǫ They (masculine/mixed) are people of the bear (Bear clan).
[hah-tee-nyon-yen-en-ron-non]
hati- masculine/mixed plural ‘they’
-nyǫnyę– verb root ‘to be a bear’
-ˀrǫnǫ populative suffix + stative aspect
anyǫyętaˀ bearskin
[ah-nyon-yen-tah-ah]
t- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘she, it, one’
-nyǫnyę– verb root ‘to be a bear’
–t- causative root aspect/nominalizer
–aˀ noun suffix
tsahkwaˀah bear cub
[tsah-kwah-ah-ah]
Birds
yǫsahaˀ bird, small birds
[yon-sah-hahah]
y- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘she, it, one’
–ǫsah- noun root, ‘small bird’
-aˀ noun suffix
tsamęhuhiˀ eagle, osprey
[tsah-men-hoo-hee-ee]
yandehsǫˀ It is a hawk.
[yan-deh-son-on]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘she, it, one’
-ndehsǫ– verb root, ‘to be a hawk’
-ˀ stative aspect
hatindehsǫrǫnǫh They are people of the hawk, Hawk clan.
[hah-teen-deh-son-ron-nonh]
hati- masculine plural agent, they (mixed or male)
-ndehsǫ- verb root, ‘to be a hawk’
-rǫnǫ- populative suffix ‘people of’
-h stative aspect
hihih horned owl
[hee-heeh]
yuˀkuˀ owl
[yoo-oo-koo-oo]
kǫręhkǫmęh raven
[kon-renh-kon-menh]
yahkaˀa crow
[yah-kah-ah-ah]
kyękyęaˀ jay
[kyen-kyen-ah-ah]
undehtǫtaˀ turkey
[oon-deh-ton-tah-ah]
yahǫˀ goose, swan
[yah-hon-on]
yǫgyeˀ duck, it is a duck
[yon-gyeh-eh]
kwehsęˀ chicken
[kweh-sen-en]
kwesęhužaˀ prairie chicken
[kweh-sen-hoo-zhah-ah]
kweˀdisęˀąh partridge, grouse, pigeon
[kweh-eh-dee-sen-en-anh]
kwęhkwęhkwęh woodcock
[kwen-kwen-kwenh]
sahšukwut quail
[sah-shoo-kwoot]
s- repetitive ‘very’
-t- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’
-hšukw- noun root ‘bottom’
-ut- verb root ‘to stand’ + stative aspect
tsihskaya mockingbird or nightingale
[tseeh-skah-yah]
sętsiˀtaˀah buzzard, vulture
[sen-tseee-tah-ah-ah]
tsandehšenyǫhkaˀ snipe
[tsan-deh-shen-yon-kah-ah]
Words Related to Birds
To Fly: -kye-
iyakyeˀ It is flying.
[ee-yah-kyeh-eh]
- partitive ‘such’
-ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’
-kye- verb root ‘to fly’
-ˀ stative aspect
atikyes They fly (frequently), are birds.
[atee-kyehs]
ati- feminine-zoic plural agent ‘they (f)’
-kye- verb ‘to fly’
-s habitual aspect
hakyehsǫh He is flying around.
[hah-kyeh-sonh]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-kye- verb root ‘to fly’
-hsǫ- distributive root suffix ‘many places’
-h stative aspect
Feather -hǫr-
uhǫraˀ feather, quill
[oo-hon-rah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-hǫr- noun root ‘feather, quill’
-aˀ noun suffix
uhǫretsih It is a long feather
[oo-hon-reh-tseeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-hǫr- noun root ‘feather’
-etsi- verb root ‘to be long’
-h stative aspect
Down Feather -saˀw-
usaˀwaˀ down feather
[oo-sah-ah-wah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-saˀw- noun root ‘down feather’
-aˀ noun suffix
usaˀwažuˀtę It is a soft down feather.
[oo-sah-ah-wah-zhoo-oo-ten]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-saˀw- noun root ‘down feather’
-a- noun suffx
–žuˀtę verb root ‘to be soft’ + stative aspect
Tail feathers -ngyeˀr-
yangyeˀraˀ tail feathers, skirt
[yan-gyeh-eh-rah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’
-ngyeˀr- noun root ‘tail feathers, skirt ‘
-aˀ noun suffix
ungyeˀramęh she has a skirt, her skirt, her tail feathers
[oon-gyeh-eh-rah-menh]
u- feminine-zoic singular agent + feminine-zoic singular patient
‘she – it’
-ngyeˀr- noun root ‘tail feathers, skirt’
-a- noun suffix
-mę– verb root ‘to have’
-h stative aspect
Wing -ž-
yažaˀ wing, wings, her wing
[yah-zhah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’
–ž– noun root ‘wing, wings’
-aˀ noun suffix
utežataˀ It is the end or tip of a wing.
[oo-the-zhah-tah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-te- semi-reflexive voice
–ž– noun root ‘wing, wings’
-a- noun suffix
-ta- verb root ‘to be at the end’
-ˀ stative aspect
Beak -nyǫˀmahš–
unyǫˀmahšaˀ beak, tip of a canoe
[oon-yon-on-mah-shah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it
-nyǫˀmahš– noun root ‘beak, tip of a canoe’
-aˀ noun suffix
unyǫˀmahšetsih It is a long beak.
[oon-yon-on-mah-sheh-tseeh]
u- femininine-zoic singular patient ‘it
-nyǫˀmahš– noun root ‘beak, tip of a canoe’
–ets- verb root ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
talon –ˀeht’-
uˀehtaˀ talon, fingernail, claw
[oo-oo-eh-tah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
–ˀeht’- noun root ‘talon, fingernail, claw’
-aˀ noun suffix
uˀehtetsih It is a long talon.
[oo-oo-eh-the-tseeh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
–ˀeht’- noun root ‘talon, fingernail, claw’
-ets- verb root ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
nest –ˀndrękw-
uˀndrękwaˀ nest
[oo-oon-dren-kwah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
–ˀndrękw- noun root ‘nest’
-aˀ noun suffix
uˀndrękwaęˀ It is a lying nest (i.e., a turtle’s nest).
[oo-oon-dren-kwah-en-enh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
–ˀndrękw- noun root ‘nest’
-a- noun suffix
–ę verb root ‘to lie’
-ˀ stative aspect
Egg(s) -ˀtǫhš-
uˀtǫhšaˀ egg(s)
[oo-oo-tonh-shah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀtǫhš- noun root ‘egg(s)’
-aˀ noun suffix
uˀtǫhšuwanęh It is a large egg.
[oo-oo-tonh-soo-wah-nenh]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ˀtǫhš- noun root ‘egg(s)’
-uwanę verb root ‘to be large, great’
-h stative aspect
Reptiles
Turtles
yangyaˀwiš It is a turtle.
[yan-gyah-ah-weesh]
ya- feminine zoic agent, ‘she, it, one’
-ngyaˀwiš verb root ‘to be a turtle’ + stative aspect
yangyaˀwiš amęrureˀ It is a mossback turtle
amęrureˀ It is covered with moss
[amen-roo-reh-eh]
am- feminine-zoic patient, ‘she, it, one’
-ęr- noun root, ‘moss’
-ure- verb root, ‘to cover, be covered’
-ˀ stative aspect
yangyaˀwiš užatǫˀ wood turtle, striped turtle
užatǫˀ It has been marked.
[oo-zhah-ton-on]
u- feminine-zoic patient, ‘she, it, one’
-žatǫ- verb root ‘to mark, write’
-ˀ stative aspect
yangyaˀwiš hayuwanę big turtle, snapping turtle
hayuwanę He is big.
[hay-yoo-wan-en]
ha- masculine singular agent, ‘he’
-yuwanę verb root ‘to be big’ + stative aspect
yangyaˀwiš yanęstehrǫnǫh Mud Turtle (Large Turtle Clan)
yanęstehrǫnǫh
[ya-nen-steh-ron-nonh]
ya- feminine zoic agent, ‘she, it, one’
-nęsteh- ?
-rǫnǫh populative suffix,’ people of’ + stative aspect
yangyaˀwiš uskeˀnyaˀ small turtle, dry land turtle
uskeˀnyaˀ It is small
[oo-skeh-eh-nyah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic patient, ‘she, it, one’
-skeˀnya verb root ‘to be small’
-ˀ stative aspect
Snakes
kyuˀngyęˀtse It is a snake
[koo-oo-ngyen-en-tseh]
ky- dualic (?) or cislocative
u- feminine-zoic patient, she/it
-ˀngyęˀtse verb root ‘to be a snake’ + stative aspect
yangǫt a mythical horned snake
[yan-gont]
hatingǫtrǫnǫh They are people of the Snake clan.
[hah-teen-gon-tron-nonh]
hati- masculine plural agent (male or mixed) ‘they’
-ngǫt- verb root ‘to be a horned snake’
-rǫnǫh populative, people of + stative aspect
Amphibians
tsindeˀskyah frog
[tseen-deh-eh-skyah]
ketǫhskwaˀyęh toad
[keh-tonh-skwah-ah-yenh]
ǫmahšutaˀa She is grandparent to us, the toad.
[on-mah-shoo-tah-ah]
ǫma- feminine agent + first person plural patient, she-us
-ahšuta verb root ‘to be grandparent to’
-ˀa stative aspect + diminutive
Fish
yętsǫh It is a fish.
[yen-tsonh]
yętsǫˀtaˀ fish (noun)
[yen-tson-on-tah-ah]
yaˀndutsaˀ sunfish (literally ‘an ear of corn’)
[yan-an-doo-tsah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic agent, ‘she, it, one‘
-nduts– noun root ‘ear of corn’
-aˀ noun suffix
Insects etc
tsiˀnduhšruyęh beetle
[tsee-een-dooh-shroo-yenh]
tsi- repetitive
-ø- no apparent pronominal prefix[3]
-ˀnduhšr- noun root ‘shell’
-uyę- verb root ‘to split in two’
-h stative aspect
tsinǫtsistutariyi firefly [contains the noun root –tsist- ‘fire’]
[tsin-ǫ-tsee-stoo-tah-ree-yee]
ant tsinǫhšuke
[tsin-nonh-shoo-ke]
butterfly tsisǫtanyǫ
[tsee-son-tan-yon]
fly tsinduwihęye
[tseen-doo-wee-hen-yen]
spider tsihšekwęh
[tseeh-sheh-kweh]
worm tsiˀnǫmaˀ
[tsee-ee-non-mah-ah]
bee, wasp ǫndahkǫt
[on-dah-kont]
ǫ- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
-ndahk- noun root ?
-ǫt verb root ‘to be attached’ (?)
[1] [1]This seems to have a shortened form of the verb root –tsiway– ‘to smell bad, strong’.
[2] This is an irregular form. The regular form would be ya-.
[3] This is a feature in common with most insect terms.