Wyandot Noun Roots Related to the Head
Unless otherwise stated, the noun roots are consonant conjugation
Skull -hskuˀt-
uhskuˀtaˀ head, skull, her head, her skull
[ooh-skoo-oo-tah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it, her’
-hskuˀt- noun root, ‘head, skull’
-aˀ noun suffix
huhskuˀtaˀyeh on his head
[hooh-skoo-oo-tah-ah-yeh]
hu- masculine singular patient ‘his’
-hskuˀt- noun root, ‘head, skull’
-aˀyeh external locative noun suffix
Head: -nǫhtsir-
unǫhtsiraˀ head, her head
[oo-nonhtsee-rah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it, her’
-nǫhtsir- noun root ‘head’
-aˀ noun suffix
anǫhtsiˀretsih My head is long.
[an-onh-tsee-ee-reh-tseeh]
a- 1st person singular patient‘my’
nǫhtsir- noun root ‘head’
-ets- verb root ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
Brains, head: -nǫhmar-
unǫhmaraˀ head, brains, her head, brains
[oon-oohmah-rah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it, her’
-nǫhmar- noun root ‘head, brains’
-aˀ noun suffix
ayenǫhmaruri I am covering my head, wearing a hat.
[ah-yen-nonh-mah-roo-ree]
aye- 1st person singular patient ‘I’
-nǫhmar- noun root ‘head, brains’
-uri- verb root ‘to cover’ + stative aspect
Hunǫhmarušah His brain moves; he mourns.
[hoo-non-hmah-roo-shah]
hu- masculine singular patient ‘he, his’
-nǫmar- noun root ‘head, brains’
-uš- verb root ‘to cover’
-ah habitual aspect
Scalp: -nǫr-
unǫraˀ scalp, her scalp
[oo-non-rah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it, her’
-nǫr- noun root ‘scalp’
-aˀ noun suffix
hunǫraˀ his scalp
[hoo-non-rah-ah]
hu- masculine singular patient ‘his’
-nǫr- noun root ‘scalp’
-aˀ noun suffix
tesanǫrǫhkwanyǫhs We greet you (s) with respect; oil your scalp many times.
[the-sa-nonronh-kwan-nyonhs]
t- dualic
-esa- 1st person plural agent + 2nd person singular patient we–you (s)
-nǫr- noun root ‘scalp’
-ǫhkwa- verb root, ‘to oil, grease’
-nyǫ- distributive root suffix
-hs dative root suffix + punctual aspect
hatinǫnhyandihtih They (m) make the scalp firm, are dangerous.
[hah-tee-non-hyan-deeh-teeh]
hati- masculine plural agent ‘they (m)’
-nǫhy- noun root ‘scalp’
-ndi(r)- verb root ‘to be firm’
-ht- causative root suffix
-ih stative aspect
Hair on Top of One’s Head –nęˀ–
unęˀaˀ hair, her hair (on top of her head)
[oo-nen-en-ah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient, ‘it, her’
-nęˀ– noun root, ‘hair on top of one’s head’
-aˀ noun suffix
anęˀetsih My long hair
[ah-nen-en-eh-tseeh]
a- 1st person singular patient ‘my’
–nęˀ– noun root, ‘hair on top of one’s head’
-ets- verb root ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
hunęhut His hair is standing up.
[hoo-nen-hoot]
hu- masculine singular patient ‘his’
–nęh– noun root, ‘hair on top of one’s head’
-ut verb root ‘to stand’ + stative aspect
Human Hair -eˀruhš- (e- conjugation)
aweˀruhšaˀ (her) human hair
[ah-weh-eh-rooh-sha-ah]
aw- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘it, her’
–eˀruhš- noun root ‘human hair’
-aˀ noun suffix
ayeˀruhsaˀ my hair
[ah-yeh-eh-rooh-sah-ah]
ay- 1st person singular patient‘my’
–eˀruhš- noun root ‘human hair’
-aˀ noun suffix
Plaited or braided hair, ponytail: -ngwah-
yangwahaˀ (her) plaited, braided hair, ponytail
[yan-gwah-ha-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it, her’
-ngwah- noun root ‘braided, plaited hair, ponytail’
-aˀ noun suffix
sangwahawastih your beautiful ponytail. You have a beautiful ponytail.
[san-gwah-hah-wah-steeh]
sa- 2nd person singular patient ‘your, you’
-ngwah- noun root ‘braided, plaited hair, ponytail’
-a noun suffix
-wast- verb root ‘to be beautiful’
-ih stative aspect
Beard –ˀskwęˀr-
uˀskwęˀraˀ beard
[oo-oo-skwen-en-rah-ah]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient, ‘it’
–ˀskwęˀr- noun root, ‘beard’
-a noun suffix
saˀskwęˀraˀ your beard
[sah-ah-skwen-en-rah-ah]
sa- second person singular patient ‘you (s)’
––ˀskwęˀr- noun root‚ beard‘
-aˀ noun suffix
ayeˀskwęˀretsih I have a long beard; my long beard.
[ah-yeh-eh-skwen-en-reh-tseeh]
aye- 1st person singular patient ‘I, my’
–ˀskwęˀr- noun root, ‘beard’
-ets- verb root, ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
Face: -yǫhš–
yayǫhšaˀ face, her face
[yah-yonh-shah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘it’ or ‘her’
-yǫhš– noun root, ‘face’
-aˀ noun suffix
aˀǫmąkohšutahs I stuck my face at you, invited you
[ah-ah-on-man-koh-shootahs]
aˀ factual prefix
-ǫm- 1st person singular agent + 2nd person singular patient: I-you
-k- semi-reflexive voice
–ǫhš– noun root, ‘face’
-ut- verb root, ‘to stand’
-ahs- dative root suffix + punctual aspect
ukǫhšawenǫdiˀ Her face is round
[oo-konh-shah-weh-non-dee-ee]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient ‘her’
-k- semi-reflexive voice
–(y)ǫhš– noun root, ‘face’
-a- noun suffix
-wenǫdi- verb root ‘to be round’
-ˀ stative aspect
Forehead: -yęˀts-
yayęˀtsaˀ forehead, her forehead
[yan-yen-en-tsah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘it’ or ‘her’
-yęˀts- noun root, ‘forehead’
-aˀ noun suffix
yeyęˀtsetsih My forehead is long.
[yen-yen-en-tseh-tseeh]
ye- 1st person singular agent ‘my’
-yęˀts- noun root, ‘forehead’
-ets- verb root ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
Tsayęˀtsuwa’t He has a very big forehead (Large Turtle clan name)
[tsah-yen-en-tsoo-wah-aht]
ts- repetitive prefix
-a- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-yęˀts- noun root, ‘forehead’
-uwat- verb root, ‘to be large, augmented’[1] + stative aspect
Ear(s) –ahǫht- (a- conjugation)
ahǫhtaˀ ear(s), her ear(s)
[ah-honh-tah-ah]
ahǫht- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’ or ‘her’ + noun root, ‘ear, ears’
-aˀ noun suffix
teyahǫhtetsihs My two long ears.
[teh-yah-honh-the-tseehs]
te- dualic prefix
-y- 1st person singular agent ‘my’
-ahǫht- noun root ‘ear’
-ets- verb root ‘to be long’
-i- stative aspect
-hs plural
teyahǫhtut My two ears are standing up
[teh-yah-honh-toot]
te- dualic prefix
-y- 1st person singular agent ‘my’
–ahǫht- noun root ‘ear’
-ut verb root ‘to stand’ + stative aspect
Eyes, eyeballs: -yahkwęˀd-
yayahkwęˀdaˀ eye, eyeball, her eye, eyes, her eyes
[yah-yah-kwen-en-dah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘it’ or ‘her’
-yahkwęˀd- noun root, ‘eyeball, eye’
-aˀ noun suffix
hayahkwęˀdawahstih He has beautiful eyeballs, eyes
[hah-yah-kwen-en-dah-wah-steeh]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘he’
-yahkwęˀd- noun root, ‘eyeball, eye’
-a noun suffix
-wahst- verb root ‘to be beautiful, good’
-ih stative aspect
Nose -yǫˀgy-
yayǫˀgyaˀ nose, her nose
[yah-yon-on-gyah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘it’ or ‘her’
–yǫˀgy- noun root, ‘nose’
-aˀ noun suffix
yayǫgyaˀyeh on her nose
[yah-yon-gyah-ah-yeh]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘her’
-yǫgy- noun root, ‘nose’
-aˀye external locative noun suffix ‘at’ or ‘on’
yeyǫgyetsih my nose is long
[yeh-yon-gyeh-tseeh]
ye- 1st person singular agent ‘my’
-yǫgy- noun root, ‘nose’
-ets- verb root, ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
Cheek: -ndar-
yandaraˀ cheek(s), her cheek(s)
[yan-dah-rah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘her, it’
-ndar- noun root ‘cheek, cheeks’
-aˀ noun suffix
undarǫt It is attached to her cheek
[oon-dah-ront]
u- feminine-zoic singular patient, ‘it’ or ‘her’
ndar- noun root ‘cheek, cheeks’
-ǫt verb root, ‘to attach’ + stative aspect
Mouth: -hš-
yahšaˀ mouth, her mouth
[yah-shah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent, ‘it’ or ‘her’
-hš- noun root, ‘mouth’
-aˀ noun suffix
yehšaˀ my mouth
[yeh-shah-ah]
ye- 1st person singular agent, ‘my’
-hš- noun root, ‘mouth’
-aˀ noun suffix
šehšaˀ your mouth
[sheh-shah-ah]
še- 2nd person singular agent ‘you’
-hš- noun root, ‘mouth’
-aˀ noun suffix
hahšuwanęh His mouth is big
[hah-shoo-wan-nenh]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘he, his’
-hš- noun root, ‘mouth’
-uwanę- verb root ‘to be large’
-h stative aspect
Jaw: -uˀyehs- (u- conjugation)
auˀyehsaˀ jaw, her jaw
[ah-oo-oo-yeh-sah-ah]
a- feminine-zoic singular patient, ‘it’ or ‘her’
-uˀyehs- noun root, `jaw`
-aˀ noun suffix
ayuˀyehsaˀ my jaw
[ah-yoo-oo-yehh-sah-ah]
ay- 1st person singular patient ‘my’
-uˀyehs- noun root, `jaw`
-omę- verb root, `to have, own`
-ˀ stative aspect
hauˀęhsuwanęh He has a big jaw; his big jaw
[hah-oo-oo-enh-soo-wan-nenh]
ha- masculine singular patient ‘ he, his’
-uˀyehs- noun root, `jaw`
-uwanę- verb root ‘to be large’
-h stative aspect
Lips: -hstr-
yahstraˀ lips, her lips
[yah-strah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic agent, ‘it’ or ‘her’
-hstr- noun root, ‘lips’
-aˀ noun suffix
hahstraˀ his lips
[hah-strah-ah]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘his’
-hstr- noun root, ‘lips’
-aˀ noun suffix
sahstrawahstih Your lips are beautiful.
[sah-strah-wah-steeh]
sa- 2nd person singular patient ‘you’
-hstr- noun root, ‘lips’
-aˀ- noun suffix
-wahst- verb root ‘to be beautiful’
-ih stative aspect
Tongue: -ˀndahš–
yaˀndahšaˀ tongue, her tongue
[yah-ahn-dah-shah-ah]
ya- feminine singular agent, ‘it’ or ‘her’
-ˀndahš– noun root, ‘tongue’
-aˀ noun suffix
haˀndahšetsih He has a long tongue; his long tongue.
[hah-an-dah-sheh-tseeh]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘he, his’
-ˀndahš– noun root, ‘tongue’
-ets- verb root ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
huˀndahšateyęh His tongue is burning (Snake clan name)
[hoo-oon-dah-shah-tey-yenh]
hu- masculine singular patient ‘his’
-ˀndahš– noun root, ‘tongue’
-atey- verb root ‘to burn’
-ęh 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
haˀskǫhšaˀ his tooth, his teeth
[hah-ah-skonh-shah-ah]
ha- masculine singular agent, ‘his’
–ˀskǫhš- noun root, ‘tooth, teeth’
-aˀ noun suffix
yaˀskǫhšižaˀi It is a broken tooth
[yah-ah-skonh-shee-zhah-ah-ee]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it’
–ˀskǫhš- noun root, ‘tooth, teeth’
-ižaˀ verb root ‘to break’
-i stative aspect
Neck -ngyaˀs-
yangyaˀsaˀ neck, her neck
[yan-gyah-ah-sah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘her’
-ngyaˀs- noun root, ‘neck’
-aˀ noun suffix
hangyaˀsaye on his neck
[yan-gyah-ah-sah-yeh]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘her’
-ngyaˀs- noun root, ‘neck’
-aye external locative noun suffix
yangyaˀsaetsih He has a long neck; his longneck.
[yan-gyah-ah-sah-eh-tseeh]
ha- masculine singular agent, ‘he, his’
-ngyaˀs- noun root, ‘neck’
-ets- verb root, ‘to be long’
-ih stative aspect
throat: -ngyaˀt-
yangyaˀtaˀ throat, her throat
[yan-gyah-ah-tah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it, her’
-ngyaˀt- noun root ‘throat’
-aˀ noun suffix
hangyaˀtaˀ his throat
[han-gyah-ah-tah-ah]
ha- masculine singular agent ‘his’
-ngyaˀt- noun root ‘throat’
-aˀ noun suffix
Nape of the neck, throat: -ngyar[2]–
yangyaraˀ back or nape of the neck, throat, her neck, her throat
[yan-gyah-rah-ah]
ya- feminine-zoic singular agent ‘it, her’
-ngyar- noun root, ‘back of the neck’
-aˀ noun suffix
yengyaraˀ back of my neck, throat
[yen-gyah-rah-ah]
ye- 1st person singular agent ‘my’
-ngyar- noun root, ‘back of the neck’
-aˀ noun suffix
Questions: Translate the following into Wyandot
- His back of the neck, throat______________________________________
- His head is long.____________________________________________
- My lips____________________________________________________
- It is attached to your cheek._____________________________________
- My throat_________________________________________________
- Your neck__________________________________________________
- My tooth, teeth______________________________________________
- His mouth_________________________________________________
- Your nose_________________________________________________
- His forehead________________________________________________
Answers
- His back of the neck, throat yangyaraˀ
- His head is long. hunǫhtsiˀretsih
- My lips yehstraˀ
- It is attached to your cheek sandarǫt
- My throat yengyaˀtaˀ
- Your neck šengyaˀsaˀ
- My tooth, teeth yeˀskǫhšaˀ
- His mouth ahšaˀ
- Your nose šeyǫˀgyaˀ
- His forehead hayęˀtsaˀ
[1] I do not yet know why this verb sometimes takes the -at- ending.
[2] This is cognate with or related to the Neutral word ‘Niagara.’