Imperatives in Wyandot
Imperatives in Wyandotte add two elements to a verb, a prefix and a suffix. The suffix is identical with the punctual suffix. As should be expected with Wyandot, there are a good number of forms a verb can take with the imperative. The most common forms are of four different kinds:
- For one person to do something: you (singular)
- For more than one person to do something: you (plural)
- For one person to do something with you.( “Let’s you and I”)
- For more than one person to do something with you ( “Let’s” with a group)
There are five conjugations of the Wyandotte language based on the forms that the pronominal prefixes take: a-stem, consonant stem (although not all begin with consonants), e-stem, yę-/i-stem and u-/ǫ-stem.
A-Stem
Prefix Forms
s- said to one person (2nd person singular).
ts- said to more than one person (2nd person plural).
ky- ‘Let’s’ (to one other person) (1st person dual inclusive)
kwa- ‘Let’s’ (to more than one person) (1st person plural inclusive)
*”inclusive” means including the listener or listeners
With -atrihut- ‘to be attentive’
satrihutat Listen! (2nd person singular)
[sah-tree-hoo-tat]
-s- imperative + 2nd person singular, ‘you’
-atrihut- verb root, ‘to be attentive’
-at causative root suffix + imperative aspect
tsatrihutat Listen! (2nd person plural)
[tsah-tree-hoo-tat]
ts- imperative + 2nd person plural, ‘you’
-atrihut- verb root, ‘to be attentive’
-at causative root suffix + imperative aspect
kyatrihutat Let’s listen (1st person inclusive dual) (said to one person)
[kyah-tree-hoo-tat]
ky- imperative + 1st person inclusive dual agent ‘us’
-atrihut- VR ‘to be attentive’
-at causative root suffix + imperative aspect
kwatrihutat Let’s listen (1st person inclusive plural) (said to more than one)
[kwah-tree-hoo-tat]
kw- imperative + 1st person inclusive plural agent ‘us’
-atrihut- verb root ‘to be attentive’
-at causative root suffix + imperative aspect
With -akahkwa- ‘to look’
sakahkwaˀ Look!
[sah-kah-kwah-ah]
s- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-akahkwa- verb root ‘to look’
-ˀ imperative aspect
aˀsakahkwaˀ Look there!
[ah-ah-sah-kah-kwah-ah]
aˀ- translocative
-s- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-akahkwa- verb ‘to look’
-ˀ imperative aspect
kwakahkwaˀ Let’s look!
[kwah-kah-kwah-ah]
kw- imperative + 1st person plural agent ‘us’
-akahkwa- verb root ‘to look’
-ˀ imperative aspect
With –arahskwa- ‘to leave, depart’
sarahskwaˀ leave (said to one person)
[sah-rah-skwah-ah]
s- imperative + 2nd person singular
-arahskwa- verb root ‘to leave’
-ˀ imperative aspect
tsarahskwaˀ Leave (said to more than one person)
[tsah-rah-skwah-ah]
ts- imperative + 2nd person plural
-arahskwa- verb root ‘to leave’
-ˀ imperative aspect
kyarahskwaˀ Let’s leave (said to one person)
[kyah-rah-skwah-ah]
ky- imperative + 1st person dual agent ‘us’
-arahskwa- verb root ‘to leave’
-ˀ imperative aspect
kwarahskwaˀ Let’s leave (said to more than one person)
[kwah-rah-skwah-ah]
kw- imperative + 1st person plural agent ‘us’
-arahskwa- verb root ‘to leave’
-ˀ imperative aspect
With -atewa- ‘to flee’
tsateˀwaˀ Flee, escape (said to more than one person)
[tsah-teh-eh-wah-ah]
ts- imperative + 2nd person plural ‘you’
-atewa- verb root ‘to flee’
-ˀ imperative aspect
With -atestę- ‘to get down, descend’
tahsatestęh Get down (said to one person)
[tah-sah-teh-steh]
ta- dualic
-hs- imperative + 2nd person singular
-atestę- verb root ‘to get down, descend’
-h imperative aspect
With –ǫ- (from -awi) ‘to give’
tikyaˀtatǫˀ Let’s trade (you and I).
[tee-kyah-ah-tah-ton-on]
ti- dualic
-ky- imperative + 1st person inclusive dual ‘us’
-aˀtat- reflexive voice
-ǫˀ verb root ‘to give’ (root -awi-) + imperative aspect
With -ahsturat- ‘to be quick, fast’
sahsturaht Hurry up! (said to one person)
[sah-stoo-raht]
s- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-ahsturat- verb root, ‘to be quick, fast’ + imperative aspect
tsahsturaht Hurry up! (said to more than one person)
[tsah-stoo-raht]
ts- imperative + 2nd person plural, ‘you’
-ahsturaht- verb root, ‘to be quick, fast’ + imperative aspect
kyahsturaht Let’s hurry! (said to one person)
[kyah-stoo-raht]
ky- imperative + 1st person inclusive dual agent ‘us’
-ahsturaht- verb root, ‘to be quick, fast’ + imperative aspect
kwahsturaht Let’s hurry! (said to more than one person)
[kwah-stoo-raht]
kw- imperative + 1st person inclusive plural agent ‘us’
-ahsturaht- verb root, ‘to be quick, fast’ + imperative aspect
Consonant Stem
Prefix Forms
sa- said to one person (2nd person singular)
tsi- said to more than one person (2nd person plural)
ti- Let’s (said to one person) – if a consonant follows
kwa- Let’s (said to more than one person)
With -ndrawa- ‘to dance’
sandrawaˀ Dance! (said to one person)
[san-drah-wah-ah]
sa- imperative + 2nd person singular
-ndrawa- verb root ‘to dance’
-ˀ imperative aspect
tsindrawaˀ Dance! (said to more than one person)
[tseen-drah-wah-ah]
tsi- imperative + 2nd person plural
-ndrawa- verb root ‘to dance’
-ˀ imperative aspect
tindrawaˀ Let’s dance (you and I).
[teen-drah-wah-ah]
ti- imperative + 1st person inclusive dual ‘us’
-ndrawa- verb root ‘to dance’
-ˀ imperative aspect
kwandrawaˀ Let’s dance (talking to a group).
[kwan-drah-wah-ah]
kwa- imperative + 1st person inclusive plural ‘us’
-ndrawa- verb root ‘to dance’
-ˀ imperative aspect
With -ža- ‘to shoot’
saˀžah Shoot (said to one person).
[sah-ah-zhah]
sa- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-ža- verb root ‘to shoot’
-h imperative aspect
tsiˀžah Shoot (said to more than one person)
[tsee-ee-zhah]
tsi- imperative + 2nd person plural ‘you (pl)’
-ža- verb root ‘to shoot’
-h imperative aspect
With -ngyah- noun root ‘food’ + verb root ‘to eat’
sangyahah Eat (said to one person)
[san-gyah-ah]
sa- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-ngyah- noun root ‘corn soup, food’ + verb root ‘to eat’
-ah imperative aspect
tsingyahah Eat (said to more than one person)
[tseen-gyah-ah]
tsi- imperative + 2nd person plural ‘you’
-ngyah- noun root ‘corn soup, food’ + verb root ‘to eat’
-ah imperative aspect
With –mę- ‘to wait’ (only form of this verb)
samęh Wait!
[sah-menh]
sa- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-mę- verb root ‘to wait’
-h imperative aspect
sanyǫˀ Come home!
[san-nyon-on]
sa- imperative + second person singular ‘you’
-nyǫ- verb root ‘to arrive’ (verb root is usually-ǫ-)
-ˀ imperative aspect
sąngyareh Go first!
[san-gyah-reh]
są- imperative + second person singular
-ngyare- verb root ‘to go first’
-h imperative aspect
With the very common noun root -aˀt- (consonant conjugation)
With –tę– ‘to stop’
saaˀtatęh Stop! (said to one person)
[sah-ah-ah-ta-tenh]
sa- imperative aspect + 2A, ‘you’
-aˀt- noun root, ‘body’
-a- noun suffix
-tę– verb root ‘to stop’
-h- imperative aspect
tsiaˀtatęh Stop (said to more than one person)
[tsee-ah-ah-tah-tenh]
tsa- imperative + 2nd person plural agent , ‘you (pl.)’
-aˀt- noun root, ‘body’
-a- noun suffix
-tę– verb root ‘to stop’
-h- imperative aspect
kyaˀtatęh Let’s stop! (said to one person)[1]
[kyah-ah-tah-tenh]
ky- imperative + 1st person inclusive dual agent ‘us’
-aˀt- noun root, ‘body’
-a- noun suffix
-tę– verb root ‘to stop’
-h- imperative aspect
kwaˀtatęh Let’s stop! (said to more than one person)
[kwah-ah-tah-tenh]
kw- imperative + 1st person inclusive plural agent ‘us’
-aˀt- noun root, ‘body’
-a- noun suffix
-tę- verb root ‘to stop’
-h- imperative aspect
setuhtǫh Shut the door (said to one person)
[seh-tooht-tonh]
se-[2] imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-tu- noun root ‘door’
-htǫ– verb root ‘to shut’
-h imperative aspect
setuhtǫwaˀ Open the door (said to one person)
[she-tooh-tonwah-ah]
se- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-tu- noun root ‘door’
-htǫ– verb root ‘to shut’
-wa- undoer root suffix
-ˀ imperative aspect
E-Stem
Pronominal Prefixes
s- 2nd person singular
st- 2nd person plural
t- 1st person inclusive dual agent
kw- 1st person inclusive plural agent
Verb Root -e- ‘to come, go, walk’
aseh Come here! (said to one person, often with ayuˀ ‘here’ before it)
[ah-seh]
a- cislocative ‘here’
-s- imperative + 2nd person singular
-e- verb root ‘to come’
-h imperative aspect
asteh Come here! (said to more than one person, often with ayuˀ before it)
[ah-steh]
a- cislocative ‘here’
-st- imperative + 2nd person plural
-e- verb root ‘to come’ -h imperative aspect
seh Go there! (said to one person, often with tuh before it)
[seh]
s- imperative + 2nd person singular
-e- verb root ‘to go’
-h imperative aspect
steh Go there! (said to more than one person, often with tuh before it)
[steh]
st- imperative + 2nd person plural
-e– verb root ‘to go’
-h imperative aspect
eteh Let’s go! (you and I)
[eh-teh]
e- translocative ‘there’
-t- imperative + 1st person inclusive dual agent‘us’
-e- verb root ‘to go’
-h imperative aspect
ekweh Let’s go! (a group)
[eh-kweh]
e- translocative ‘there’
-kw- imperative + 1st person inclusive plural ‘us’
-e- verb root ‘to go’
-h imperative aspect
aˀseht Go to a place! (Wyandotte aˀseht. Go to Wyandotte!)
[ah-ah-seht]
aˀ- translocative ‘there’
-s- imperative + 2nd person singular
-e- verb root ‘to go’
-ht causative root suffix + imperative aspect
saseht Go back!
[sah-seht]
s- repetitive ’back’
-a- translocative ‘there’
-s- imperative + 2nd person singular
-e- verb root ‘to go’
-ht causative root suffix + imperative aspect
Yę-/i- Stem
tsi- 2nd person singular
sti 2nd person plural
ti- 1st person inclusive dual agent
kwę- 1st person inclusive plural agent
With –ihǫ– ‘to say’
tsihǫˀ Say it (speaking to one person)
[tsee-hon-on]
ts- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you (s)’
-ihǫ- verb root ‘to say’
-ˀ imperative aspect
stihǫˀ Say it (speaking to a group of people).
[stee-hon-on]
st- imperative + 2nd person plural ‘you (p)’
-ihǫ- verb root ‘to say’
-ˀ imperative aspect
sęndikwarurih Cover yourself with a blanket.
[sen-dee-kwah-roo-reeh]
s- imperative + 2nd person singular ‘you’
-ęd- semireflexive voice ‘self’
-ikwar- noun root ‘blanket
-uri- verb root ‘to cover’
-h imperative aspect
u-/ǫ stem
s- 2nd person singular
st- 2nd person plural
t- 1st person dual agent
ky- 1st person plural agent
With noun root –ǫt- ‘life’ + verb root -ra- ‘to be on top’
sǫtaraˀ Be on top of life, be happy (said to one person).
[son-tah-rah-ah]
s- imperative + 2nd person singular
-ǫt- noun root ‘life’
-a- noun suffix
-ra- verb root ‘to be on top’
-ˀ imperative aspect
stǫtaraˀ Be on top of life, be happy (said to more than one person).
[ston-tah-rah-ah]
st- imperative + 2nd person plural
-ǫt- noun root ‘life’
-a- noun suffix
-ra- verb root ‘to be on top’
-ˀ imperative aspect
tǫtaraˀ Let’s us two be on top of life, be happy.
[ton-tah-rah-ah]
t- imperative + 1st person inclusive dual agent ‘us’
-ǫt- noun root ‘life’
-a- noun suffix
-ra- verb root ‘to be on top’
-ˀ imperative aspect
kyǫtaraˀ Let’s (plural) be on top of life, be happy.
[kyon-tah-rah-ah]
ky- imperative + 1st person inclusive plural ‘us’
-ǫt- noun root ‘life’
-a- noun suffix
-ra- verb root ‘to be on top’
-ˀ imperative aspect
With ‘Me” or “Us” as the Object
tayęˀngyarahs Help me!
[tah-yen-en-gyar-rahs]
ta- imperative
-yę- 1st person agent ‘me’
-ˀngy- noun root ‘finger, hand’
-a- noun suffix
-ra- verb root ‘to be with’
-hs dative root suffix + imperative aspect
tamęˀngyarahs Help us!
[tah-men-en-gyah-rahs]
t- imperative
-amę- 1st person exclusive plural ‘us’ (excluding the listener)
-ˀngy- noun root ‘finger, hand’
-a- noun suffix
-ra- verb root ‘to be with’
-hs dative root suffix + imperative aspect
taitęr Have compassion, pity on me
[tah-ii-tenr]
ta- imperative
-itęr- 1st person singular ‘me’ + verb root ‘to have compassion’ + imperative aspect
tamętęr Have compassion, pity on us.
[tah-men-tenr]
t- imperative
-am- 1st person exclusive plural ‘us’
-ętęr- verb root ‘to have compassion’ + imperative aspect
tanǫht Give it to me.
[tan-noht]
ta- imperative
-nǫht 1st person singular ‘me’ + verb root ‘to give’ + imperative aspect
tawanǫht Give it to us.
[tah-wah-noht]
t- imperative
-awa- 1st person exclusive plural agent ‘us’
-nǫht verb root ‘to give’ + imperative aspect
tayengyuhah Ferry me across.
[tah-yen-gyoo-hah]
ta- imperative
-ye- 1st person singular agent ‘me’
-ngyuh– vrb root ‘to cross water’
-ah imperative aspect
tawangyuhah Ferry us across.
[tah-wan-gyoo-hah]
t- imperative
-awa- 1st person exclusive plural agent ‘us’
-ngyuh- verb root ‘to cross water’
-ah imperative aspect
tayendaˀerah Copy me.
[tah-yen-dah-ah-eh-rah]
ta- imperative
-ye- 1st person singular agent ‘me’
-ndaˀer- verb root ‘to copy’
-ah imperative aspect
tawandaˀerah Copy us.
[tah-wan-dah-ah-eh-rah]
t- imperative
-awa- 1st person exclusive plural agent ‘us’
-ndaˀer– verb root ‘to copy’
-ah imperative aspect
tarǫhs Clean it (many things) off of me.
[tah-ronhs]
ta- imperative
-r- 1st person singular ‘me’ + verb root ‘to be with’
-ǫ- distributive root suffix + undoer root suffix
-hs dative root suffix + imperative aspect
tawarǫhs Clean it off of us
[tah-wah-ronhs]
t- imperative
-awa- 1st person exclusive plural agent ‘us’
-r- verb root ‘to be with’
-ǫ- distributive root suffix + undoer root suffix
-hs dative root suffix + imperative aspect
To her
satęndutǫˀ Tell her!
[sah-ten-doo-ton-on]
s- imperative + 2nd person singular + feminine-zoic singular patient ‘her’
-atę- semireflexive voice
-ndutǫ- verb root ‘to tell’
-ˀ imperative aspect
satsataha Show it to her.
[sah-tsah-tah-hah]
s- imperative + 2nd person singular + feminine-zoic singular patient ‘her’
-atsata- verb root ‘to show’
-h- dative root suffix
-a imperative aspect
saaˀtihšah Look for her.
[sah-ah-teeh-shah]
sa- imperative + 2nd person singular + feminine-zoic singular patient ‘her’
-aˀt- noun root ‘body’
-ihš- verb root ‘to look, search for’
-ah imperative aspect
To Him
hesatęndutǫˀ Tell him!
[heh-sah-ten-doo-ton-on]
hes- imperative + 2nd person singular + masculine singular patient ‘him’
-atę- semireflexive voice
-ndutǫ- verb root ‘to tell’
-ˀ imperative aspect
hehtsatsataha Show it to him.
[heh-tsah-tsah-ta-hah]
hehts- imperative+ 2nd person singular + masculine singular patient ‘him’
-atsata- verb root ‘to show’
-h- dative root suffix
-a imperative aspect
hehseaˀtihšah Look for him!
[heh-she-ah-ah-tee-shah]
hehse- imperative + 2nd person singular + masculine singular patient ‘him’
-aˀt- noun root ‘body’
-ihš- verb root ‘to look, search for’
-ah imperative
Questions: translate into Wyandot
- “Flee” – said to one person: ____________________________________________________
- “Let’s flee” said to one person__________________________________________________
- “Let’s flee” said to more than one person__________________________________________
- “Get down” said to more than one person__________________________________________
- “Let’s eat” said to one person____________________________________________________
- “Let’s eat” said to more than one person___________________________________________
- “Let’s go first” said to one person________________________________________________
- “Let’s go first” said to more than one person_______________________________________
[1] When a vowel follows -ti-, it become -ky-.
[2] With some verbs se- is used instead of sa-.