Health Matters in the Wyandot Language
To hurt, injure: -astera-
Question: Where does it hurt? Where are you injured?
Anęę d’ etisasteray
[an-en-en]
Where is it that which
etisasteray It is where you are injured, hurt.
[eh-tee-sah-steh-rah-eey]
eti- cislocative ‘where’
-sa- 2nd person patient, you (s)
-astera- verb root ‘to hurt, to injure,’
-y stative aspect
Tuh ekyayasteray de ayežušaˀye My elbow is injured; it hurts.
[tooh] [deh]
There it is where I am injured the on my elbow
ekyasteray It is where I am injured
[eh-kyah-steh-rah-ee]
ek- cislocative ‘where’
-ay- 1st person patient, ‘I’
-astera- verb root ‘to hurt, injure’
-y stative aspect
ayežušaˀye at, on my elbow
[ah-yeh-zhoo-shah-ah-yeh]
aye- 1st person singular patient ‘my’
–žuš- noun root ‘elbow’
-aˀye external locative noun suffix ‘at, on’
Tuh ekyasteray de ayehšigyuˀta ˀye.
There it is where I am injured the on my knee
My knee is where I am injured, where I hurt.
ayehšigyuˀta ˀye my knee
[ah-yeh-shee-gyoo-oo-tah-ah-yeh]
aye- 1st person patient ‘my’
-hšigyuˀt- noun root, ‘knee’
-aˀye external locative noun suffix, ‘at, on’
To be Sick/in pain: -nǫma-[1]
huhšiˀtanǫmaš His foot repeatedly hurts him.
[hooh-shee-ee-tah-non-mahsh]
hu- masculine singular patient, ‘his, him’
-hšiˀt- noun root ‘foot
-nǫma- verb root ‘to be sick, in pain’
-š inchoative root suffix + habitual aspect
ayahšiˀtanǫmaš My foot repeatedly hurts me.
[ah-yah-shee-ee-tah-non-mahsh]
ay- 1st person patient, ‘my, me’
-ahšiˀt- noun root ‘foot
-a- noun suffix
-nǫma- verb root ‘to be sick, in pain’
-š inchoative + habitual aspect
ayahšiˀtanǫmądih My foot is hurting me.
[ah-yah-shee-ee-tah-non-man-deeh]
ay- 1st person singular patient , ‘my, me’
-ahšiˀt- noun root ‘foot
-a- noun suffix
-nǫma- verb root ‘to be sick, in pain’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
Stomach -nderaˀt-[2]
yanderaˀtaˀ stomach, her stomach
[yan-deh-rah-ah-tah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic agent ‘it’
-nderaˀt- noun root ‘stomach’
-aˀ noun suffix
kwižuh sanderaˀtanǫmądih Does your stomach hurt? Do you have a stomach ache?
[kwee-zhooh]
sanderaˀtanǫmądih Your stomach aches; you have a sore stomach.
[san-deh-rah-ah-tah-non-man-deeh]
sa- 2nd person singular patient, you
-nderaˀt- noun root ‘stomach’
-a- noun suffix
-nǫm- verb root ‘to be sick, in pain’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
ayenderaˀtanǫmądih My stomach is hurting me. I have a stomach ache.
[ah-yen-deh-rah-ah-tah-non-man-deeh]
aye- 1st person singular patient, ‘I’
-nderaˀt- noun root ‘stomach’
-a- noun suffix
-nǫm- verb root ‘to be sick, in pain’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
Hęh ayenderaˀtanǫmądih Yes, I have a stomach ache.
[henh]
ąˀą teˀayenderaˀtanǫmądih No, I don’t have a stomach ache.
[an-an] [the-eh-wah-yen-deh-rah-ah-tah-non-man-deeh]
Throat –ngyat-
yangyataˀ throat, her throat
[yan-gyah-tah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘it, her’
-ngyat- noun root ‘throat’
-aˀ noun suffix
Kwižuh sangyatanǫmądih Does your throat hurt? Do you have a sore throat?
sangyatanǫmądih Your throat hurts. You have a sore throat.
[san-gyah-tah-non-man-deeh]
sa- second person singular patient, ‘you (s)’
-ngyat- noun root ‘throat’
-a- noun suffix
–nǫm- verb root ‘to hurt’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
Hęh ayengyatanǫmądih Yes, I have a sore throat.
ayengyatanǫmądih My throat hurts, I have a sore throat.
[ah-yen-gyah-tah-non-man-deeh]
aye- 1st person singular patient, ‘my, I’
-ngyat- noun root ‘throat’
-a- noun suffix
–nǫm- verb root ‘to hurt’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
ąˀą teˀayengyatanǫmądih I don’t have a sore throat
Forehead: -yęˀts-[3]
yayęˀtsaˀ forehead, her forehead
[yah-yen-en-tsah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘it’ or ‘her’
-yęˀts- noun root, ‘forehead’
-aˀ noun suffix
kwižuh sayęˀtsanǫmądih Do you have a forehead ache, a headache?
sayęˀtsanǫmądih Your forehead, your head aches.
[sah-yen-en-tsah-non-man-deeh]
sa- 2nd person singular patient, ‘you’-yęˀts- NR, ‘forehead’
-a- noun suffix
–nǫm- verb root ‘to hurt’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
Hęh ayeyęˀtsanǫmądih Yes, I have a sore forehead, a headache.
ayeyęˀtsanǫmądih I have a headache
[ahyeh-yen-en-tsah-non-man-deeh]
aye- 1st person singular patient ‘I’
-yęˀts- noun root, ‘forehead’
-a- noun suffix
–nǫm- verb root ‘to hurt’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
ąˀą teˀayeyęˀtsanǫmądih No, I don’t have a headache.
teˀayeyęˀtsanǫmądih I don’t have a headache.
[teh-eh-ah-yeh-yen-en-tsah-non-man-deeh]
teˀ- negative prefix
aye- 1st person singular patient, ‘I’
-yęˀts- noun root, ‘forehead’
-a- noun suffix
–nǫm- verb root ‘to hurt’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
Tooth/Teeth: –ˀskǫhš-
yaˀskǫhšaˀ tooth, teeth, her tooth, her teeth
[yah-ah-skonh-shah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘it, her’
–ˀskǫhš- noun root, ‘tooth, teeth’
-aˀ noun suffix
Kwižuh saˀskǫhšanǫmądih Does your tooth, do your teeth hurt?
saˀskǫhšanǫmądih Your tooth hurts, your teeth hurt.
[sah-ah-skonh-shah-non-man-deeh]
sa- 2nd person singular patient ‘your’
–ˀskǫhš- noun root, ‘tooth, teeth’
-a- noun suffix
–nǫm- verb root ‘to hurt’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
Hęh ayeˀskǫhšanǫmądih Yes, my tooth hurts, my teeth hurt
ayeˀskǫhšanǫmądih My tooth hurts, my teeth hurt.
[ah-yeh-eh-skonh-shah-non-man-deeh]
aye- 1st person singular patient, ‘my’
–ˀskǫhš- noun root, ‘tooth, teeth’
-a- noun suffix
–nǫm- verb root ‘to hurt’
-ąd- inchoative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
Sick/Pain: -hšatur-[4]
ahuhšaturęˀ He became sick, began to feel pain.
[ah-hooh-shah-too-ren-en]
a- factual prefix
-hu- masculine singular patient ‘he’
-hšatur- verb root ‘to feel sick, to feel pain’
-ęˀ dative root suffix + punctual aspect
ayehšaturandih I am feeling pain, suffering, being sick.
aye- 1st person singular patient, ‘I’
-hšatur- verb root ‘to feel sick, to feel pain’
-and- dative root suffix
-ih stative aspec
Disease: -ˀtr-
yaˀtruˀtęˀ It is such a kind of disease.
[yah-ah-troo-oo-ten-en]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’
-ˀtr- noun root ‘disease’
-uˀtę- verb root ‘to be such’
-ˀ stative aspect
etraˀtarinyǫˀ d uˀngyuhkwaˀ Small pox is a contagious disease.
etraˀtarinyǫˀ it is a disease that is hot in many places
[eh-trah-ah-tah-ren-yon-on]
e- indefinite agent, ‘it, ‘they‘
-ˀtr- noun root ‘disease’
-tari- verb root ‘to be warm, hot’
-nyǫ- distributive root suffix
-ˀ stative aspect
uˀngyuhkwaˀ small pox
[oo-oon-gyooh-kwah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it’
–ˀngyuhkw- noun root ‘smallpox’
-aˀ noun suffix
To cure, doctor, use medicine: -tsę(t)-
hǫtetsęhs They (m[5]) doctor, are doctors, curers.
[hon-teh-tsehs]
hǫ- masculine plural agent, ‘they’
-tsę(t)- verb root ‘to cure, doctor’
-hs habitual aspect
usahutsęh She or he healed, cured him.
[oo-sah-hoo-tsenh]
u- factual prefix
-s- repetitive[6] prefix
-hu- feminine-zoic or masculine singular agent + masculine singular patient
‘she or he to him‘
-tsę(t)- verb root‘to heal, cure, doctor’
-h punctual aspect
Medicine: enǫhkwaˀt
enǫhkwaˀt It is medicine
[e-nonh-kwah-aht]
enǫhkwaˀt feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’ + verb root ‘to be medicine’ + stative aspect
To be right, healthy: -eri
usažutižerih They (f) would be right, healthy.
[oo-sah-zhoo-tee-zheh-reeh]
u- optative ‘would’
-s- repetitive
-až- optative
-utiž- feminine-zoic plural patient ‘they (f)’
-eri- verb root ‘to be right’
-h punctual aspect
waˀžah usahuerih He became a little better, healthier
[wah-ah-zhah]
it is little he is better
usahuerih He became healthy, healthier.
[oo-sah-hoo-eh-reeh]
u- factual
-s- repetitive
-a- factual
-hu- masculine singular patient ‘he’
-eri- verb root ‘to be right’
-h punctual aspect
to cough: -asayaht-
kwižuh sasayahtaˀ Are you coughing (repeatedly)?
sasayahtaˀ You are coughing (repeatedly).
[sah-sah-yah-tah-ah]
s- 2nd person singular patient ‘you’
-asayaht- verb root ‘to cough’
-aˀ habitual aspect (repeatedly, often)
hęh ayasayahtaˀ Yes, I am coughing repeatedly.
ayasayahtaˀ I am coughing repeatedly
[ah-yah-sah-yah-tah-ah]
ay- 1s person singular patient ‘I’
-asayaht- verb root ‘to cough’
-aˀ habitual aspect
ąˀą teˀayasayahtaˀ No, I am not coughing repeatedly.
teˀayasayahtaˀ I am not coughing repeatedly.
[teh-eh-ah-yah-sah-yah-tah-ah]
teˀ- negative prefix
-ay- 1st person singular patient, ‘I’
-asayaht- verb root ‘to cough’
-aˀ habitual aspect
To sneeze: -atsǫt-
Kwižuh tesatsǫtaˀ Are you sneezing repeatedly?
tesatsǫtaˀ You are sneezing repeatedly.
[teh-sah-tson-tah-ah]
te- dualic prefix[7]
-s- 2nd person singular patient, ‘you (s)’
-atsǫt- verb root ‘to sneeze’
-aˀ habitual aspect
hęh teˀayatsǫtaˀ Yes, I am sneezing repeatedly.
[teh-eh-ah-yah-tson-tah-ah]
teˀ- negative prefix
-ay- 1st person singular patient, ‘I’
-atsǫt- verb root ‘to sneeze’
-aˀ habitual aspect
Kwižuh aˀsatsǫt Did you just sneeze?
aˀsatsǫt You just sneezed.
[ah-ah-sah-tsont]
aˀ- factual
-s- 2nd person singular patient‘you (s)’
-atsǫt- verb root ‘to sneeze’ + punctual aspect
ąˀą teˀaˀayatsǫt No, I did not just sneeze.
teˀ- negative prefix
-aˀ- factual
-ay- 1st person singular patient, ‘I’
-atsǫt- verb root ‘to sneeze’ + punctual aspect
To vomit: -ngyaˀwa-
utahungyaˀwa He just vomited.
[oo-tah-hoon-gyah-ah-wah]
u- factual
-t- dualic
-a- factual
-hu- masculine singular patient ‘he’
-ngyaˀwa- verb root ‘to vomit’ + punctual aspect
tewungyaˀwąˀ She is vomiting.
[teh-woon-gyah-ah-wan-an]
tew- dualic
-u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘she’
-ngyaˀwa- verb root ‘to vomit’
-nˀ stative aspect
artery, vein[8]: –tsiˀnǫnyąht-
Kwižuh satsiˀnǫnyąhtarih Are you bleeding?
satsiˀnǫnyąhtarih You are bleeding, your vein, artery is spilling.
[sah-tsee-ee-non-yanh-tah-reeh]
sa- 2nd person singular patient ‘you (s)’
-tsiˀnǫnyaht- noun root ‘artery, vein’
-a noun suffix
-ri- verb root ‘to spill, spread’
-h stative aspect
Anęę d’ etisatsiˀnǫnyąhtarih Where are you bleeding?
Where is it that which where you are bleeding
etisatsiˀnǫnyąhtarih You are bleeding in such a place.
[eh-tee-sah-tsee-ee-non-yanh-tah-reeh]
eti- cislocative
sa- 2nd person singular patient, ‘you (s)’
-tsiˀnǫnyaht- noun root ‘artery, vein’
-a noun suffix
-ri- verb root ‘to spill, spread’
-h stative aspect
Tuh ekyayetsiˀnǫnyąhtarih de ayežušaˀye My elbow is bleeding.
There it is where I am bleeding the on my elbow
ekyayetsiˀnǫnyąhtarih It is where I am bleeding.
[eh-kyah-yeh-tsee-ee-non-yanh-tah-reeh]
eky- cislocative
-aye- 1st person singular patient, ‘I’
–-tsiˀnǫnyaht- noun root ‘artery, vein’
-a- noun suffix
-ri- verb root ‘to spill, spread’
-h stative aspect
[1] This verb differs from the next one in that it is used with noun roots.
[2] A possible alternative is the noun root –semęˀt- ‘belly, stomach ‘.
[3] This noun appears in the name Tsayęˀtsuwat ‘Great Forehead’.
[4] This verb is not used with noun roots.
[5] This refers either to a group that is all male, or a mixed-gender group.
[6] The repetitive is used when the verb refers to someone being cured. The repetitive can have the sense of being returned to health (see below).
[7] The dualic is used with some verbs that indicate sudden disturbing actions, like sneezing and vomiting.
[8] This noun root also can be used to refer to ‘sinew.’