wasicu

Folk etymology claims that it comes from the Lakota for "he takes the fat", from wašiƞ (cooking fat) + cu, from icu (“to take”). More likely, it comes from an old Lakota word for medicine bundle, referring to the bundles of goods brought by French traders, and originally did not carry the derogatory meaning of the modern word. Compare Dakota wašicuŋ (“white man”).

washichu (alternative)
washicun (alternative)
wasichu (alternative)
wasi'chu (alternative)
wašicun (alternative)

a native person who has lost their culture and thus become "not native".


wopila

Thanks given for all of existence and the blessing inherent in each moment of it. Often used in ceremony, and as a broad statement of thanks within a community.


wakinyan

From wa- + kiŋyáŋ (“to fly”), literally “the flyer, the flying one”.

wakinyan oyate

thunder people; thunder nation; meaning or


mathó

From Proto-Mississippi-Valley *mąthó, from Proto-Siouan *wąthó (“black bear”). Cognate with Dakota mathó, Mandan wątóʔ (“bear”), Chiwere mąthó (“grizzly bear”), Winnebago mąčó (“grizzly bear”), Omaha-Ponca mąčhó (“grizzly bear”), Kansa mičhó (“polar bear”), Osage mįčhó (“grizzly bear”), Quapaw mąthó/mąčhó (“grizzly bear”).


hokšíla

From hokší (“child”) + -la (“diminutive suffix, forms terms of endearment”). Cognate with Dakota hokšína (“boy”).


itázipa

Itázipa–tȟaŋníla k’uŋ héčhena waglúha.


mní

Mní etáŋ mak’ú wo.


khąğí

From Proto-Mississippi-Valley *hká•ɣi, from Proto-Siouan *hká•xi.


Lakȟol

(colloquial) abbreviation of Lakȟótiyapi


wolakota

the traditional way of life and culture of the Lakota people.


pȟéta

From Proto-Siouan *ahpéˑte (“fire”). Cognate with Osage hpéece, Quapaw ppétte, Kansa ppéǰe, Omaha-Ponca ppéde, Winnebago péec, Biloxi phêti.

Pȟéta kiŋ yuíle yo.


wíŋkte

From wíŋyaŋ (“woman”) + kta (“will, want, intend”), the sense being something like "will be / wants to be / intends to be a woman". Compare Dakota winkta.

a two-spirit; a male-bodied person who has a feminine or third-gender/bigender gender role and is regarded as having special spiritual talents


kȟolá

mitȟákȟolapi (mitakolapi)


takuye

mitakuyepi


wičhóni

From wičhá (“man”) + oní (“life”), from ní (“to live”).

mní wičhóni


máza

From Proto-Mississippi Valley *mą́•ze, from Proto-Siouan *awą́•se.


wagmú

From wa- + gmu (“to be twisted”). Literally something twisted.


mniskúya

From mní (“water”) + skúya (“sweet”). literally sweet water.


waníyetu

Historically, Lakota people counted a year from the first snowfall to the next year’s first snowfall, hence why waníyetu can mean either 'winter' or 'year'. This can be seen documented in winter counts.


thípi

From thí (“to live somewhere”) + -pi (plural suffix), literally “they live”.


mázaskazi

From mázaska (“money”) + zí (“to be yellow”). Literally yellow money.


masʾóphiye

From máza (“metal”) + óphiye (“box”). literally cash box.


aǧúyapi

From a- + ǧú (“to be burned”) + ya (“forms causative verbs”) + -pi (“plural marker”). literally they cause it to be scorched. Cognate with Assiniboine aǧúyabi.


omás’apȟela

Coined at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation language immersion school in South Dakota in the 2010s.


Čhaŋwápe ǧí wí

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Čhaŋwápe ǧí wí

Čhaŋwápe ǧí wí

čhaŋwápe (“tree leaves”) + ǧí (“to be brown”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "moon of the changing leaves".

September (ninth month of the year, having 30 days).


čháŋ

Čháŋ tóna háŋ he?

Hé čháŋ úŋ káǧapi.


Čhaŋwápe kasná wí

čhaŋwápe (“tree leaves”) + kasná (“to cause to rustle”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "moon of the rustling leaves".

October (tenth month of the year, having 31 days).


Tȟakhíyuȟa wí

tȟakhíyuȟa (“bull, buck”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "bull moon".

November (eleventh month of the year, having 30 days).


Waníyetu wí

waníyetu (“winter”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "winter moon".


tȟakhíyuȟa

tȟa- (“ruminant”) + khiyúȟa (“to mate, copulate, breed”)


Tȟahékapšuŋ wí

tȟahékapšuŋ (“ruminant horns uprooted by hitting hard”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "deer shedding horns moon".

December (twelfth month of the year, having 31 days).


Waníčhoka wí

waníčhoka (“winter core”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "midwinter moon".


Aŋpétu Tȟokáheya

From Lakota aŋpétu (“day”) + tȟokáhe (“first”).

Aŋpétu Wakȟáŋ · Aŋpétu Tȟokáhe · Aŋpétu Núŋpa · Aŋpétu Yámni · Aŋpétu Tópa · Aŋpétu Záptaŋ · Owáŋkayužažapi [edit]


Aŋpétu Tȟokáhe

Aŋpétu Tȟokáhe kiŋháŋ, Colorado-ta uŋkí kte.

You and I will arrive in Colorado on Monday.


Wiótheȟika wí

wiótheȟika (“sun hard time”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "sun-is-scarce moon".

January (first month of the year, having 31 days).


Čhaŋnápȟopa wí

čhaŋnápȟopa (“trees popping”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "popping-tree moon".

February (second month of the year, having 28 days).


Thiyóȟeyuŋka wí

thiyóȟeyuŋka (“frost on lodge”) + wí (“moon”). Literally "frost-on-the-lodge moon".


zuzéča

Uŋgnáhelaka zuzéča-othí waŋ oyúȟloka čha etáŋ napȟé.

All of a sudden he discovered a snake den so he ran away from there.


šúŋkawakȟáŋ

From šúŋka (“dog”) + wakȟáŋ (“sacred, holy, mysterious, powerful”).


mázaska

From máza (“metal”) + ská (“to be clear, white, pure”).


mázasapa

From máza (“metal”) + sapa (“to be black”). Literally black metal.


čhaŋháŋpi

From čháŋ (“wood, tree”) + háŋpi (“juice”). literally tree juice or wood juice.


tȟatȟáŋka

From tȟa- + tȟáŋka (“to be large, to be an adult”). Cognate with Dakota thathą́ka (“buffalo bull”).


blokétu

Cognate with Assiniboine mnogédu, Dakota bdokétu.


ptaŋyétu

From Proto-Mississippi Valley *ptą́•-, from Proto-Siouan *wahtą́•(-re).


wólakȟota

From wó- (“abstract noun modifier”) + Lakȟóta (“Lakota”).


maštíŋčala

Cognate with Dakota maštį́cana, Assiniboine maštį́ja.


waŋblí

Cognate with Dakota wąbdí, Assiniboine wamní.


zíškopela

Possibly From zí (“yellow”) + skope (“crooked”) + -la (“diminutive suffix”).

Zíškopela waŋ yúte.


tȟaló

From tȟa- (ruminant) + ló (“to be soft, tender”). literally ruminant's meat.


owóte thípi

owóte thípi Literally (canonical)
“dining building” (canonical)


aŋpétu

Cognate with Dakota ąpétu, Assiniboine ąbédu.

Aŋpétu kiŋ lé él wakȟályapi latkáŋ he?


wičhíŋčala

From wi- (“female classifier”) + čhíŋčá (“his/her child”) + -la (“diminutive suffix, forms terms of endearment”).

confix

wicíŋcala (alternative)
wiŋčhíŋčala (alternative)


wičháša

Wičháša kiŋ hé slolwáye šni.


tȟuŋkášila

paternal grandfather
paternal grandfather


kȟúŋši

paternal grandmother
paternal grandmother


kaká

maternal grandfather
maternal grandfather


haŋwí

Cognate with Assiniboine hąwí, Dakota hąwí.


tȟaté

tȟaté-tȟáŋka


haŋhépi

Cognate with Assiniboine hąhébi, Dakota hąhépi.


sniwógnake

From sni (“cold”) + wógnake (“container”). literally cold container.


wípablaye

electric clothes iron
electric clothes iron


šuŋgmánitu

From šúŋka (“dog”) + manítu (“wilderness”). literally wilderness dog.


wóžuha

From wa- + ožúha (“case, container, holder, pouch”).


mnišá

From mní (“water”) + šá (“red”). literally red water.


mázaša

From máza (“metal”) + šá (“to be red”). Literally red metal.


šuŋǧíla

From šúŋka (“dog”) + ǧí (“to be brown”) -la (“diminutive suffix.”). Literally little brown dog.


waȟčázi

From wahca (“flower”) + zí (“yellow”). Literally yellow flower.


Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka

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Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka

Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka

English: Wakan Tanka


anúŋkȟasaŋ

From anúŋkȟa (“on both sides”, adverb) + sáŋ (“to be white”, verb).


waštúŋkala

dried sweet corn, green corn preserved by drying


wahúwapa

From wa- + hú (“leg, stem, stalk”) + apá (“impaled, attached to”). Literally something attached to the stem.


tȟahé

From tȟa- (“ruminant”) + hé (“horns or antlers”).


mázazi

From máza (“metal”) + zí (“to be yellow”). Literally yellow metal.


pȟežúta

From pȟeží (“grass, hay”) + húta (“root”). Literally herb roots.

spiritual; religious; spiritual; religious


čhaŋnúŋpa

Cognate with Dakota chąnų́pa, Assiniboine cąnúba.


maȟpíya

Cognate with Assiniboine maȟpíya, Dakota maxpíya.


wáǧačhaŋ

From waǧa (“cottonwood”) + čháŋ (“tree”).

Populus deltoides
Populus deltoides#Translingual


othí

From o- (“'place of'”) + thí (“to dwell”). Literally, “place of dwelling”


wičhóthi

From wičha- (“turns intransitive verbs into nouns”) + othí (“to live in, dwell in”).


makȟá

Makȟá kiŋ mahétuya k’ápi.

Mitȟámakȟa kiŋ wíyopȟewakiyiŋ kte šni.


wazí

From Proto-Siouan *wa•si (“pine”). Cognate with Omaha-Ponca mázi (“pine”), Crow báačii (“pine”).


wačhípi

From wačhí (“to dance”) + -pi (“plural marker”).


hóčhoka

the inner area of the camp circle, the center of a camp circle

hóčhoka ópta máni.

He walked through the center of the camp circle.


pahá

Cognate with Dakota pahá, Osage paaxó, Assiniboine bahá.


tȟašúŋke

From tȟa- (“his, her, its, their”) + šúŋka (“dog”).


olówaŋ

From o- (“forms nouns from some verbs”) + lowáŋ (“to sing”).


wóopȟe

From wó- (“abstract noun modifier”) + ópȟa (“to participate in, join in”).

af

law, custom, regulation, traditional social rules


ophíye

container; box. An object for storing things.


čhaŋhá

From čháŋ (“tree, wood”) + há (“skin, hide”). Cognate with Dakota chąhá, Assiniboine cąhá, Omaha-Ponca zhóⁿha.


húhu

Šúŋka kiŋ hená húhu yasmípi.


húčhiŋška

Asclepias viridiflora
Asclepias viridiflora#Translingual


čhaŋhásaŋ

Acer saccharum
Acer saccharum#Translingual


wíkȟaŋ

From wi- +, a tool identifier. Cognate with Dakota wikaƞ. Possibly cognate with Quapaw wahíǫ (“rope”).


wamákȟaškaŋ

From wa- (“indefinite object marker”) makȟá (“earth”) + a- (“upon, on”) + škáŋ (“to move about”). Literally something that moves on the earth.


hohú

Šúŋka kiŋ hená hohú yasmípi.


matúška

matúgna (alternative)
mąthúška (alternative)


waníyetu wówapi

a winter count; a pictorial calendar in which tribal records and events were recorded by Native Americans.


pȟetówayake

a big piece of wood laid in the stove to keep up the fire over night


makȟátȟaspaŋ

From makȟá (“earth, ground”) + tȟaspáŋ (“apple”). literally earth apple, ground apple.


khukhúše tȟaló

From khukhúše (“pig”) + tȟaló (“meat”). literally pig meat.


tȟaspáŋhaŋpi

From tȟaspáŋ (“apple”) + háŋpi (“juice”)


tȟaspáŋpȟa haŋpí

From tȟaspáŋpȟa (“lemon”) + háŋpi (“juice”)


čhaŋháŋpiblu

From čhaŋháŋpi (“sugar”) + blú (“fine, powdered”).


blopátȟaŋpi

From bló (“'potato'”) + patȟáŋ (“to mash up”) + -pi (plural suffix).


aǧúyapiblú

From aǧúyapi (“bread”) + blú (“fine, powdered”). literally powdered bread.


asáŋpiblú

From asáŋpi (“milk”) + blú (“fine, powdered”).


hoǧáŋwičhašašni

Salvelinus namaycush
Salvelinus namaycush#Translingual


čháŋška upíɡ̌i

head

čháŋška upíɡ̌i


igmuwatogla

From igmú (“cat”) + watogla (“wild”). literally wild cat.

Puma concolor
Puma concolor#Translingual


oíčhimani

From o- (“place of”) + íčhimani (“travel or journey”). Literally, “place of travelling”


matȟóska

From matȟó (“bear”) + ská (“white”). Literally white bear.


matȟó

From Proto-Mississippi-Valley *mąthó, from Proto-Siouan *wąthó (“grizzly bear”). Cognate with Dakota mathó, Chiwere mąthó, Omaha-Ponca mąčhó, Osage mįčhó.


wábloša

From wa (“something”) + abló (“shoulder”) + ša (“red”). literally red-shouldered.

red-winged blackbird
red-winged blackbird


oyúŋke

From o- (“'place of'”) + yuŋká (“'to lie, recline'”). Literally, “place of lying”


mniwáŋča

From mní (“water”) + wáŋča (“one”). literally one water.


wapȟóštaŋla

From wapȟóštaŋ (“hat”) + -la (“diminutive suffix”).


šungwiyela

From šúŋka (“horse”) + wiyela (“female”).


wógnake

From o- (“place of”) + gnaka (“to put away”). Literally, “place of putting away”


owóte

From o- (“'place of'”) + wótA (“'to eat'”). Literally, “place of eating”


pte-

From Proto-Siouan: *wité· (“bison, buffalo”), from Proto-Siouan-Catawban: *wi-.


makȟáblu

From makȟá (“earth, soil”) + blú (“powdered”). Literally powdered earth or powdered soil.


makȟá woblú

A sandstorm; a strong wind carrying clouds of sand and dust through the air.


maštíŋča

Cognate with Dakota maštį́cana, Assiniboine maštį́ja.


matúgna

matúška (alternative)
mąthúška (alternative)


igmúgleza

From igmú (“cat”) + gléze (“striped, streaked”). Literally striped cat.


igmútȟaŋka

From igmú (“cat”) + tȟáŋka (“big”). Literally big cat.


mnisápa

From mní (“water”) + sápa (“black”). Literally black water.


mnikhúkhuše

From mní (“water”) + khukhúše (“pig”). literally water pig.


mnitȟáža

From mní (“water”) + tȟáža (“waves”). literally water waves.


asáŋpiǧi

From asáŋpi (“milk”) + ǧí (“brown”). Literally brown milk.


pšiŋšíčamna

From pšíŋ (“onion”) + šíča (“bad”) + mná (“to have a particular smell”).

A type of onion, know as the Prairie onion, autumn onion, cliff onion or glade onion; Allium stellatum.


tȟahá

From tȟa- (ruminant) + wahá (“animal hide”)

any hide that belongs to a ruminant (e.g. deerskin)


waháŋpi

From wa- (“indefinite object marker”) + haŋpí (“juice”).


wamákȟaslohaŋ

From wa- (“indefinite object marker”) makȟá (“earth”) + sloháŋ (“to crawl, to creep; to slither”).


wípaslohaŋ

From wa- (“indefinite object marker”) i- (“with relation to”) + paslóhaŋ (“to push something”).


šuŋkítepȟesto

From šúŋka (“dog”) + ité (“face”) + pȟésto (“sharp, pointed”). literally sharp-faced dog.


wóinila

From wó- (“verbal noun modifier”) + iníla (“silently”)


owíŋža

From o- (“'place of'”) + wíŋža (“'to be flexible; pliant'”).


tȟaléža

From tȟa- (ruminant) + léža (“to urinate”).


šúŋkawakȟaŋ gléǧa

From šúŋkawakȟáŋ (“horse”) + gléǧa (“striped”). Literally striped horse.


šúŋkawakȟaŋ

From šúŋka (“dog”) + wakȟáŋ (“sacred, holy, mysterious, powerful”).