a-

ewü (first-person pronoun)
y- (first-person)
ü- (first-person)
u- (first-person)
w- (agent first-person transitive)
w- (agent-like first-person intransitive)
wi- (agent first-person transitive)
wi- (agent-like first-person intransitive)
küwü (dual first-person inclusive pronoun)
k- (agent-like dual first-person inclusive intransitive patient-like)
k- (direct-object dual first-person inclusive postpositional)
k- (dual first-person inclusive patient transitive)
k- (dual first-person inclusive possessive)
k- (dual first-person inclusive series-ii-verb-argument)
kü- (agent-like dual first-person inclusive intransitive patient-like)
kü- (direct-object dual first-person inclusive postpositional)
kü- (dual first-person inclusive patient transitive)
kü- (dual first-person inclusive possessive)
kü- (dual first-person inclusive series-ii-verb-argument)
ku- (agent-like dual first-person inclusive intransitive patient-like)
ku- (direct-object dual first-person inclusive postpositional)
ku- (dual first-person inclusive patient transitive)
ku- (dual first-person inclusive possessive)
ku- (dual first-person inclusive series-ii-verb-argument)
ki- (agent-like dual first-person inclusive intransitive patient-like)
ki- (direct-object dual first-person inclusive postpositional)
ki- (dual first-person inclusive patient transitive)
ki- (dual first-person inclusive possessive)
ki- (dual first-person inclusive series-ii-verb-argument)
k- (agent dual first-person inclusive series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
kii- (agent dual first-person inclusive series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
ki- (agent dual first-person inclusive series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
amödö (pronoun second-person)
ö- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
ö- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
ö- (patient second-person transitive)
ö- (possessive second-person)
ö- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
öy- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
öy- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
öy- (patient second-person transitive)
öy- (possessive second-person)
öy- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
ödh- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
ödh- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
ödh- (patient second-person transitive)
ödh- (possessive second-person)
ödh- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
o- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
o- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
o- (patient second-person transitive)
o- (possessive second-person)
o- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
oy- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
oy- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
oy- (patient second-person transitive)
oy- (possessive second-person)
oy- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
odh- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
odh- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
odh- (patient second-person transitive)
odh- (possessive second-person)
odh- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
a- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
a- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
a- (patient second-person transitive)
a- (possessive second-person)
a- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
ay- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
ay- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
ay- (patient second-person transitive)
ay- (possessive second-person)
ay- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
adh- (direct-object postpositional second-person)
adh- (intransitive patient-like second-person)
adh- (patient second-person transitive)
adh- (possessive second-person)
adh- (second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
m- (agent second-person series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
m- (agent-like intransitive second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
mi- (agent second-person series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
mi- (agent-like intransitive second-person series-ii-verb-argument)
nña (dual exclusive first-person pronoun)
y- (dual exclusive first-person)
dh- (dual exclusive first-person)
ch- (dual exclusive first-person)
i- (dual exclusive first-person)
chö- (direct-object dual exclusive first-person postpositional)
n- (agent dual exclusive first-person series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
n- (agent-like dual exclusive first-person intransitive patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
ni- (agent dual exclusive first-person series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
ni- (agent-like dual exclusive first-person intransitive patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
tüwü (pronoun third-person)
y- (third-person)
dh- (third-person)
ch- (third-person)
i- (third-person)
chö- (direct-object postpositional third-person)
n- (patient series-ii-verb-argument third-person transitive)
ni- (patient series-ii-verb-argument third-person transitive)
n- (agent series-ii-verb-argument third-person transitive)
n- (agent-like intransitive patient-like series-ii-verb-argument third-person)
ni- (agent series-ii-verb-argument third-person transitive)
ni- (agent-like intransitive patient-like series-ii-verb-argument third-person)
tüwü (distant-past past pronoun)
kün- (agent distant-past past patient series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
kün- (agent-like distant-past intransitive past patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
kun- (agent distant-past past patient series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
kun- (agent-like distant-past intransitive past patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
kin- (agent distant-past past patient series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
kin- (agent-like distant-past intransitive past patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
ken- (agent distant-past past patient series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
ken- (agent-like distant-past intransitive past patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
küm- (agent distant-past past patient series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
küm- (agent-like distant-past intransitive past patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
kum- (agent distant-past past patient series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
kum- (agent-like distant-past intransitive past patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
kim- (agent distant-past past patient series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
kim- (agent-like distant-past intransitive past patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
kini- (agent distant-past past patient series-ii-verb-argument transitive)
kini- (agent-like distant-past intransitive past patient-like series-ii-verb-argument)
t- (direct-object postpositional reflexive)
t- (possessive reflexive)
t- (reflexive series-ii-verb-argument)
tü- (direct-object postpositional reflexive)
tü- (possessive reflexive)
tü- (reflexive series-ii-verb-argument)
tu- (direct-object postpositional reflexive)
tu- (possessive reflexive)
tu- (reflexive series-ii-verb-argument)
ti- (direct-object postpositional reflexive)
ti- (possessive reflexive)
ti- (reflexive series-ii-verb-argument)
te- (direct-object postpositional reflexive)
te- (possessive reflexive)
te- (reflexive series-ii-verb-argument)
öö- (agent patient reciprocal transitive)
öö- (agent-like intransitive patient-like reciprocal)
öö- (direct-object postpositional reciprocal)
mön- (agent first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
man- (agent first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
mon- (agent first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
möm- (agent first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
möni- (agent first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
mön- (agent dual exclusive first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
man- (agent dual exclusive first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
mon- (agent dual exclusive first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
möm- (agent dual exclusive first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
möni- (agent dual exclusive first-person object-second-person patient transitive)
k- (agent object-first-person patient second-person transitive)
kü- (agent object-first-person patient second-person transitive)
ku- (agent object-first-person patient second-person transitive)
ki- (agent object-first-person patient second-person transitive)
k- (agent object-dual object-exclusive object-first-person patient second-person transitive)
kü- (agent object-dual object-exclusive object-first-person patient second-person transitive)
ku- (agent object-dual object-exclusive object-first-person patient second-person transitive)
ki- (agent object-dual object-exclusive object-first-person patient second-person transitive)

allomorph of öt- (detransitivizing prefix)

allomorph of ö- (second-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant and have a first vowel a or e


ai

From Proto-Cariban [Term?]. Compare Apalaí ae, Hixkaryana yaye, Macushi yapai, and Waiwai yay.

through, by; indicates motion by way of a non-aquatic object of class 1


dodo

Amazona ochrocephala
Amazona ochrocephala#Translingual

the yellow-crowned amazon, Amazona ochrocephala

Amazona aestiva
Amazona aestiva#Translingual

the blue-fronted amazon, Amazona aestiva

the two-striped forest-pitviper or parrotsnake, Bothrops bilineatus


mama

(Cunucunuma River dialect) first-person possessed form of nü


ye

(Caura River dialect) Alternative form of iye (“wood, tree”)


-chan

allomorph of -tan used for stems that end in i


o-

allomorph of ö- (second-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant and have a first vowel o or u


kana

Amazon brycon, a fish of species Brycon amazonicus


ja

head

ja (obligatorily possessed; possessed jadü)

sibling’s grandchild; grandnephew or grandniece


dea

Alternative form of de'a (“still, again, at the same time or place”)


atto

Alternative form of a'to (“rope, twine, snell”)


an-

allomorph of ön- (negative/sociative irrealis prefix) used for stems that begin with a or e


kakao

Theobroma cacao
Theobroma cacao#Translingual

cacao, Theobroma cacao or Herrania mariae


wai

(in ritual chants) Synonym of jüwai (“shaman”)


anna

From Proto-Cariban [Term?]; compare Trió anna.

central ground, central space, in particular:

central room of a village roundhouse, where unmarried men sleep and ritual activities take place

(in modern, more dispersed villages) central field of a village community where the roundhouse is located, or the roundhouse itself


y-

Marks a noun as having a first-person possessor.

Marks a postposition as having a first-person object.

Marks a transitive verb as having a first-person patient/object when the agent/subject is of third person with verb forms that take series I markers.

Marks a transitive verb as having a first-person patient/object when the agent/subject is unspecified with verb forms that take series II markers.

Marks a verb form derived with n- and -dü or -'jüdü as having a first-person agent/subject.

Marks an intransitive verb with patient-like argument as having a first-person argument/subject with verb forms that take series I markers (excepting a few verbs that take w-) and on all intransitive verbs with verb forms that take series II markers.


y-

The allomorphs ∅- and i- are direct descendants of the original Proto-Cariban *i-, used before consonants. However, Proto-Cariban had ∅- on vowel-initial stems; the Ye'kwana forms y- and ch- are innovations that it shares with certain other Cariban languages. For the former, compare Apalaí, Bakairí, and Chaima y-. The latter, meanwhile, derives from an earlier form *it- also found in several languages of the Venezuelan Cariban branch.

Marks a noun as having a third-person possessor.

Marks a postposition as having a third-person object.

Marks a transitive verb as having a third-person patient/object with verb forms that take series II markers.

Marks an intransitive verb as having a third-person argument/subject with verb forms that take series II markers.

Marks a verb as having third-person arguments when marked with the admonitive -'no, prohibitive -i, or uncertain future -tai suffixes.


-a

Marks imperfective aspect in both the recent and distant past tenses.


-ka

Cognate to Kari'na ka (“to take away, to deprive of”, verb), Trió -ka (privative verbalizer).

cog

forms privative transitive verbs from nouns, with a meaning of ‘to deprive of X’, ‘to extract X from’, ‘to X away’: dis-, ex-


-ka

From Proto-Cariban *-ka (suffix forming allative postpositions).

inh

forms allative or locative postpositions: to, at


-ka

allomorph of -a (nonpast or past imperfective suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k


e-

Perhaps originally related to or a variant form of öt-, which has an allmorphic form e- in some related languages. However, note that intransitive verbs formed with öt- have agent-like arguments, whereas those formed with e- have patient-like arguments.

converts a transitive verb into an intransitive verb with a patient-like argument, variously with reflexive, reciprocal, or passive meaning


e-

attaches to possessed nouns beginning with ö when the possessor is first- or second-person or is indicated by a full noun preceding the possessed noun


yo

(transitive) to leave (someone) without a portion from the hunt


chai

allomorph of tai used after words that end in i

allomorph of kwai used after words that end in i


-kö

Marks the distant past imperfective tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


shimada

Borrowed from Arawakan; compare Lokono shimarha.


-ta

Forms intransitive verbs with patient-like arguments from nouns.


-ta

Cognates are found in many other Cariban languages, where they are usually restricted to use with or in place of an imperative marker cognate to -kö. The Ye'kwana suffix thus shows a broadened scope of use.

Directs that the command or request expressed by a verb must be executed somewhere else and not at the place where the order was given.


-ja

forms a tag question, requesting confirmation: right?


-ja

expresses complaint about the term it attaches to


jo

(with following directional suffix -nno) indicates a point of origin


amo

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of amö (“hand”)


-ö

Forms the singular of the recent past perfective tense of the verbs ejö (“to come”) and enejü (“to bring”).

Forms the singular of the distant past perfective tense of the verbs ejö (“to come”) and enejü (“to bring”) when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


tai

From Proto-Cariban [Term?]. Compare Apalaí tae, Hixkaryana taye, Macushi tapai.

through, by; indicates motion by way of a non-aquatic object of class 2


aka

From Proto-Cariban *jaka. Synchronically as if suffixed with -ka (“to, at”). Compare Apalaí aka, Hixkaryana yaka, Macushi yapî', and Waiwai yaka.

(Caura River dialect and Brazil) at, in, on, to; indicates a specific location or goal at a non-aquatic object of class 1


enema

(transitive) to abide by (a ritual prohibition)


ad-

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of adh-


-e

Forms adverbs with a participle-like meaning from verbs; must be accompanied by the prefix t- and an indicator specifying the role of the verb argument to which the participle refers (intransitive argument w-, transitive agent n-, or transitive patient ∅-).

Forms adverbs from verbs, expressing the purpose of the movement described by a main motion verb or copula to which the derived term becomes subordinate: in order to, for the purpose of, to, for


-i

Unknown; unlike the other possessive suffixes found in the language, -i has no known cognates in any other Cariban language.

marks a noun as possessed; used mostly with nouns referring to instruments, technologies, and manufactured products, and also with all loanwords


-i

forms the singular of the recent past perfective tense

forms the singular of the distant past perfective tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person


-i

Possibly of the same origin as the previous suffix.


-i

forms the interrogative of the third-person form na of the copula ei


on-

allomorph of ön- (negative/sociative irrealis prefix) used for stems that have a first vowel o or u.


motto

a kind of long earthworm or caecilian used as a sacred food during major life events and at the end of any fast, and also for fishing


dee

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of iye (“wood, tree”)


utu

From Proto-Cariban *utu (“to give, to put”).


muna

→ Sanumá: mõna

Amazon River dolphin
Amazon River dolphin

Inia geoffrensis
Inia geoffrensis#Translingual

the boto or Amazon River dolphin, Inia geoffrensis


dui

head

dui (obligatorily possessed; possessed dui)

From Proto-Cariban *rui; compare Apalaí ryxi, rui, Kari'na yryi, yrui, Akawaio rui, Macushi rui, Pemon rui, Yao (South America) huoroye.


mota

mota (obligatorily possessed; possessed motai)


taka

From Proto-Cariban *taka. Synchronically as if suffixed with -ka (“to, at”). Compare Apalaí taka, Hixkaryana taka, Macushi tapî'.

at, in, on, to; indicates a specific location or goal at a non-aquatic object of class 2


aki

aki (obligatorily possessed; possessed akiyü)


ato

Alternative form of a'to (“rope, twine, snell”)


awa

(Brazil) Alternative form of öwa (“cemetery”)


annai

From anna (“central space”) + ai (“through, by”).


akai

a device used to teach children how to walk, consisting of a seat with legholes in it hung from a rafter at just the right height to allow them to hang with their feet touching the ground


kuma

From Proto-Cariban *kuma; compare Apalaí kuma, Kari'na kuma, Trió 'ma, Wayana kuna, Akawaio ï'ma.

(intransitive, of water) to flood, to overflow


ch-

Allomorph of y- (third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a vowel ö.


cha

Allomorph of ka (interrogative particle) used after words that end in i.


shi

(transitive) to tear, to slash, to scratch


ji

Perhaps from Proto-Cariban *pipi (“older brother”).


ajö

head

ajö (obligatorily possessed; possessed ajödü)

From Proto-Cariban *apô (“arm”); compare Apalaí apo, Kari'na apo, Trió apë, Wayana apë, Waiwai apo, Akawaio apö, Pemon apue, Yao (South America) iapelly.


iwi

the Amazonian brown brocket, Mazama nemorivaga


ki-

Allomorph of k- (first-person-dual-inclusive non-transitive-agent prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant and have a first vowel i.

Allomorph of k- (first-person-dual-inclusive transitive agent prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants.


ti-

Allomorph of t- used for stems that begin with a consonant other than w and have a first vowel i.


i-

(Caura River dialect) allomorph of y- (third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants

(Cunucunuma River dialect) allomorph of dh- (third-person prefix) used for non-deictic stems that begin with a consonant

forms part of the circumfix allomorphs of various adverbializers, i- -jai, i- -'da, and i- -emje, used for stems that begin with two consonants


kaju

(Ye'kwana mythology, usually suffixed with -nña) the mythological Sky or Heaven, an invisible sky beyond the visible sky divided into eight houses


tawa

tawa (obligatorily possessed; possessed tawadü)


mada

herb(s) used for magical purposes, especially the kind of wild elephant ear plant called woi


kuku

aji'choto weja'kadü
aji'choto weja'kadü#Ye'kwana

a life-sized figure constructed from tree branches and other natural materials, symbolically killed in the aji'choto weja'kadü ritual


mado

Panthera onca
Panthera onca#Translingual


sotto

(as a component in other numerals) twenty


etana

(now vulgar) cross-cousin (of either sex)


eka

(transitive) to pick (strips of plant matter, such as wö'nö twine for baskets or kudawa for arrows and hangers)


akka

(transitive) to make (a curiara, a kind of wooden canoe)


jawi

Alternative form of jaawi (“black curassow”)


yaji

Perhaps borrowed from a Yanomami language; compare Yanomamö yãpi (“grey-winged trumpeter”).

grey-winged trumpeter
grey-winged trumpeter

Psophia crepitans
Psophia crepitans#Translingual

the agami or grey-winged trumpeter, Psophia crepitans


te-

Allomorph of t- used for stems that begin with a consonant other than w and have a first vowel e.


-je

serves as an attributivizer to allow verbs nominalized with -tojo to function adverbially as a predicate in a subordinate clause of purpose with the meaning ‘in order to X’, ‘for X-ing’

serves as an attributivizer to allow borrowed verbs to function adverbially as a predicate when subordinated to ö'dü (for intransitive use) or üdü (for transitive use)

serves as an attributivizer to convert nouns into adverbs that can serve as attributes of other nouns or adverbial complements to a clause


ot-

allomorph of öt- (detransitivizing prefix).


dadi

the genip tree, Genipa americana or Genipa spruceana

a transparent sticky oil or resin extracted from the genip tree, used as a black bodypaint when mixed with soot from the cassava grills (jütadi)


-cha

allomorph of -ta used for stems that end in i


sumaa

to breastfeed from, to suck, to nurse at


munta

(intransitive, patientive) to menstruate


-ne

forms the singular of the distant past perfective tense when at least one of the arguments of the verb is not third-person

(in conjunction with other suffixes) marks the distant past tense in general when at least one of the arguments of the verb is not third-person


-ne

intensifier used especially in contexts of indignation or exasperation


muuna

(Brazil) Alternative form of muna (“the boto or Amazon River dolphin, Inia geoffrensis”)


uju

uju (obligatorily possessed; possessed ujudu)

From Proto-Cariban *pupu (“foot”); compare Apalaí pupu, Kari'na pupu, Trió pupu, Wayana pupu, Macushi pupu, Yao (South America) poepe.


-ya

Forms the singular of the recent past perfective tense of the verb ei (“to be”).

Forms the singular of the distant past perfective tense of the verb ei (“to be”) when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


-ya

Allomorph of -a (nonpast or past imperfective suffix) used for stems that end in i.


dede

the greater bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus

a basket motif featurng four interlocking images facing outward from a central point, with each image consisting of two small diamonds embraced by one or more larger V-shapes


-ano

Forms nouns from many postpositions and some (chiefly spatial) adverbs, typically with the sense of ‘one that (is (at)) …’, ‘one that has the quality of …’.


-ato

Forms nouns from adverbs, adverbial verb forms, and postpositions, typically with the sense of ‘one that (is) …’, ‘one that has the quality of …’.


-ato

From -a (recent/distant past imperfective suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix).

af

Forms the plural of the recent past imperfective tense when the arguments of the verb are first- or second-person.


n-

Cognate to prefixes analyzed as object nominalizers, switching nominalized forms from nouns of action to nouns referring to the patient argument. The Caura River form has a rather different scope of use.

Marks that (person markers on) a derivation from a transitive verb refer to the agent argument of the verb rather than the patient argument; used with verbs adverbialized with -e or nominalized with -dü or -'jüdü.


n-

Marks a nonderived transitive verb as having a third-person agent/subject and patient/object.

Marks a nonderived intransitive verb with agent-like or patient-like argument as having a third-person argument/subject.


-ma

From Proto-Cariban *-ma; cognate to Apalaí -ma, Kari'na -ma, Trió -ma, Wayana -ma, Waiwai -ma, Akawaio -ma, Macushi -ma, Pemon -ma.

Forms transitive verbs from nouns and adverbs, with no single clear meaning common to these derivations.


komu

oldest child (of a man), where ‘child’ has the scope of nne (sons, daughters, children of a brother or sister of the same sex, etc.)


tudi

Compare Apalaí katari, Kari'na katuri, Trió katari, Wayana katali.

open-backed rectangular carrying basket woven by men and carried as a backpack by an attached bark strap that passes around the shoulders


-ke

forms adverbs from nouns with a resulting meaning of ‘having X’, ‘with X’; must be accompanied by the prefix t- and can also follow a possessive suffix -i


-ke

Only used in -kene (distant past imperfective suffix).


-ke

allomorph of -e (adverbializer) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k


tamu

head

tamu (obligatorily possessed; possessed tamudu)

From Proto-Cariban *tamu (“grandfather”).


-to

Forms the plural of the recent past tense. (When used alone, forms the plural of the recent past perfective tense when the arguments of the verb are first- or second-person.)

Forms the plural of the distant past tense when at least one of the arguments of the verb is third-person.


-to

Allomorph of -ato (adverb/postposition nominalizing suffix) used after all vowels but e and i.


setu

Alternative form of settu (“small sturdy vase-shaped basket made of minñaatö with a coiled handle, used to cage small animals and store peppers, cotton, and other goods”)


jode

jode (obligatorily possessed; possessed jodedü)

From Proto-Cariban *pôre (“leg”). Compare Apalaí pori, Kari'na pori, Trió përi, Yao (South America) pollelii.


manku

Borrowed from Spanish mango, from English mango.


awana

protection, protective substance
bodypaint

the priprioca sedge, Cyperus articulatus


u-

Allomorph of y- (first-person prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants and have a first vowel u.


od-

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of odh-


-sa

diminutive suffix for postpositions and adverbs.


ku-

Allomorph of k- (first-person-dual-inclusive prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant and have a first vowel u.


-de

intensifier that attaches to adverbs, used especially in contexts of surprise

used in certain contexts to soften speech or make it more polite


ön-

Cognates are found in certain other Cariban languages, but not in any languages of the family outside Venezuela. Compare Panare ën- accompanying a negation and Akawaio ön-, Tamanaku ën- accompanying an imperative.

Marks a negated transitive verb with a third-person object/patient, forming a negative circumfix with -'da.

Marks a transitive verb in admonitive mood with a third-person object/patient, forming an admonitive circumfix with -'no.

Marks a transitive verb in prohibitive mood with a third-person object/patient or with a first-person object/patient and second-person subject/agent, forming a prohibitive circumfix with -i.

Optionally marks a transitive verb in imperative, jussive, or rogative mood to lend it a sociative meaning, indicating an action to be performed with others at the speaker’s request, and forming a circumfix with -kö, -iye, or -'ñojo respectively.


-jai

forms abilitative adverbs from transitive and intransitive verbs, with a meaning of ‘able to X’


manade

Compare Apalaí manare, Kari'na manare, Trió manare, Wayana manale, as well as (from non-Cariban languages) Lokono manari.

a flat circular basket with holes between its plaiting, through which pressed yuca is forced in order to make cassava flour


yaka

to assart, to clear (trees and plants) from a field or garden in slash-and-burn agriculture


jenka

(transitive) to hunt large game, such as deer, tapir, or capybaras, by flushing it out with dogs


adama

hook used for picking high fruit or hanging things


tooni

Probably contracted from earlier tawini (a form still in use in Brazil), from Proto-Cariban *tôwinô (“one”).


daka

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yaka (“to fell, to cut down, to assart”)


mma

(Cunucunuma River dialect and Brazil) Alternative form of nma (“house”)


saaku

Ipomoea batatas
Ipomoea batatas#Translingual


adoni

revitalizing agent or power, vitamin, health


madi

Pilherodius pileatus
Pilherodius pileatus#Translingual

(Caura River dialect) the capped heron, Pilherodius pileatus


ude

From Proto-Cariban *urô (“to light (a fire)”).

inh

(transitive) to blow on or stoke (a fire)


damai

a vine used in barbasco fishing, possibly Swartzia macrophylla


adada

→ Sanumá: ãdãdã

Anhinga anhinga
Anhinga anhinga#Translingual


-anto

From -anö (recent past imperfective suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix).

af

Forms the plural of the recent past imperfective tense when the arguments of the verb are third-person.


-oto

From -ö (recent/distant past perfective suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix).

Forms the plural of the recent past perfective tense of the verbs ejö (“to come”) and enejü (“to bring”) when the arguments of the verb are third-person.

Forms the plural of the distant past perfective tense of the verbs ejö (“to come”) and enejü (“to bring”) when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


mon-

Allomorph of mön- (first-person agent/second-person patient prefix) used for stems that begin with anything but j and have a first vowel o.


junu

Alternative spelling of jhunu (“muscle, flesh”)


nne

head

nne (obligatorily possessed; possessed nnedü, possessed plural nnakomo)

(in relation to a man) brother’s son or daughter, fraternal niece or nephew

(in relation to a woman) sister’s son or daughter, sororal niece or nephew

father’s brother’s son’s son or daughter

male parallel cousin’s child
mother’s sister’s son’s son or daughter

father’s sister’s daughter’s son or daughter

mother’s brother’s daughter’s son or daughter


sheene

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of seene (“being green or blue, grue; being unripe, green”)


t-

Marks a noun as having a reflexive possessor, referring back to the same entity as another element in the clause.

Marks a postposition as having a reflexive object, referring back to the same entity as another element in the clause.

Marks a verb in a verb form that takes series II markers as having a reflexive argument, referring back to the same entity as another element in the clause.

Marks an unspecified person when obligatorily used with the adverbializers -e, -emje, and -ke, forming circumfixes t- -e, t- -emje, and t- -ke.

Marks a transitive verb as having a third-person patient/object with verb forms that take series II markers for a small group of verbs, namely those whose roots start with a consonantless open syllable ü or ö.


-me

Serves as an attributivizer to allow verbs nominalized with -tojo to function as a predicate in a subordinate clause of purpose with the meaning ‘in order to X’, ‘for X-ing’.


-tai

Likely related to, if not derived from, the certain future suffix -ta.

Forms the uncertain future tense, expressing events with a likelihood but not certainty of happening.


satta

From a noun that also forms the stem of saddö (“to toast”), suffixed with -ta (verbalizer).

(intransitive, patientive) to toast, to dry, in the sun or in a comal

(intransitive, patientive, of a person) to get a rash


at-

allomorph of öt- (detransitivizing prefix)


kushi

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of kusshi (“a kind of lightly fermented drink made from cassava”)


nuwa

nuwa (obligatorily possessed; possessed nuwadü)


-tomo

Forms plural possessed forms of animate nouns, including kinship terms and pets.


weka

From Proto-Cariban *weka (“to defecate”).


-mö

Forms the singular of the recent past perfective tense of the verb ütö (“to go”).

Forms the singular of the distant past perfective tense of the verb ütö (“to go”) when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


kin-

Allomorph of kün- (distant past third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with i or y.


ni-

Allomorph of n- (third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant.


-tan

From the singular/third-person form -ta.

Directs that the command or request expressed by a verb must be executed somewhere else and not at the place where the order was given when the verb is in the non-third-person plural, i.e. when the suffix is followed by -tö.


m-

Marks a transitive verb as having a second-person agent/subject.

Marks an intransitive verb with agent-like argument as having a second-person argument/subject.


mi-

Allomorph of m- (second-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant.


kum-

Allomorph of kün- (distant past third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with j and have a first vowel u.


man-

Allomorph of mön- (first-person agent/second-person patient prefix) used for stems that begin with a vowel a.


w-

Obligatorily marks derivations of intransitive verbs adverbialized with -e or nominalized with any marker.


w-

Marks a transitive verb as having a first-person agent/subject when the patient/object is of third person.

Marks an intransitive verb with agent-like argument or (with certain vowel-initial verbs) patient-like argument as having a first-person argument/subject with verb forms that take series I markers.


wi-

Allomorph of w- (first-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant.


washo

the three-striped night monkey, Aotus trivirgatus


iye

From Proto-Cariban *jôje (“tree, wood”).


kwai

From Proto-Cariban [Term?]. Compare Apalaí kuae, Hixkaryana kwaye, Macushi kapai, and Waiwai kway.

through, by; indicates motion by way of an aquatic object


daju

a kind of thin bamboo used for making arrowheads


k-

Marks a noun as having a first-person-dual-inclusive possessor.

Marks a postposition as having a first-person-dual-inclusive object.

Marks a transitive verb as having a first-person-dual-inclusive patient/object when the agent/subject is of third person with verb forms that take series I markers.

Marks a transitive verb as having a second-person agent/subject and a first-person or first-person-dual-exclusive patient/object.

Marks an intransitive verb with agent- or patient-like argument as having a first-person-dual-inclusive argument/subject, regardless of whether the verb form takes series I or series II markers.

Marks a verb form derived with n- and -dü or -'jüdü as having a first-person-dual-inclusive agent/subject.

Marks a transitive verb as having a first-person-dual-inclusive patient/object when the agent/subject is unspecified with verb forms that take series II markers.


k-

Marks a transitive verb as having a first-person-dual-inclusive agent/subject.


d-

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of dh-


anku

a fragrant watercress-like herb mixed with water, salt, and possibly other herbs to ritually bathe a newborn baby and its mother for the first three months after birth, as well as to bathe the dead


sa'da'da

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of sa'dada (“sand”)


jüü

From Proto-Cariban *wɨpɨ; compare Apalaí ypy, Kari'na wypy, Trió pïï, Wayana ïpï, Waiwai ïpï, Akawaio wï', Macushi wî', Pemon wük.


dantadü

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yantadü (“island”)


ku'jö

From Proto-Cariban *ikutupô; compare Apalaí ikuhpo, Kari'na ikùpo, Trió ikutupë, Wayana ikutpë, Akawaio iku'pö, Macushi iku'pî, Pemon iku'pö.


yedukadü

[ɟeɾ̠uːkaɾ̠ɨ]

From eduka (“to fall”) + -dü (action nominalizer).


tö'ju

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of töju (“stone, rock”)


dejushi

Electrophorus electricus
Electrophorus electricus#Translingual

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of dijushi (“the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus”)


shii

an indeterminate unit of time: hour, moment


shidichö

[ʃiɾ̠iːt͡ʃə]

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of sidichö (“star; a year’s time; any one of the points at which the fibers of a woven tray (waja) interlock”)


jejenchö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of jejeichö (“wind”)


konojo

From Proto-Cariban *konopo; cognate to Apalaí konopo, Kari'na konopo, Trió konopo, Wayana kopë, Panare kano', Macushi kono', Pemon konok, Yao (South America) kenape.


wa'to

From Proto-Cariban *wapoto. Cognate to Yao (South America) ouapoto.


dudinñü

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of udinñü (“fire, flame”)


widinchö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of wedenchö (“smoke”)


wedennö

From Proto-Cariban [Term?]; compare Apalaí oruno, Kari'na werùnòpo, Trió wïrïnë, Wayana ëluwëtpë, Pemon weruna'pö.


ya'kwa

(transitive) to burn (something) with something hot, not necessarily fire


ya'ka

Alternative form of ya'kwa (“to burn (something)”)


da'tu

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yatu (“to burn”)


kemetö

From keme (“firepit, stove”) + -tö (benefactive verbalizer).


tüsochaamü

From t- -e (adverbializer) + soicha (“to scratch”) + -mü (patient nominalizer), thus literally ‘the one to be scratched’.


danwa

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yanwaa (“man”)


wodi

From Proto-Cariban *wôrɨti; compare Apalaí (w)oryxi, Kari'na woryi, Trió wëri, Wayana wëlïi, Akawaio wuri, Macushi wîri, Pemon wörü, Yao (South America) waryee.

(when possessed) female cross-cousin (of a man)


mude'kö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of müde'kö (“child, from the time when it learns to walk until puberty”)


danwa'kö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yanwa'kö (“boy”)


mudeshi

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of müdeshi (“youth, bachelor, unmarried but eligible young person”)


wodi'chö

[βoɾ̠iʔt͡ʃə]

From wodi (“woman”) + -'kö (diminutive suffix).


inño

From Proto-Cariban *nɨjo, *mɨjo (“husband”), with epenthetic initial i- after syllable reduction.


akono

Hall analyzes the final -no as a fossilized derivational suffix.

(in relation to a woman) younger same-generation relative in general


yaaya

older sibling; older sister or older brother

older same-generation relative in general


kooko

first-person possessed form of tamu: my grandfather


no'samo'kö

From no'samo (“old woman”) + -'kö (diminutive suffix).


waiñö'nö

head

waiñö'nö (obligatorily possessed; possessed waiñö'nöi)

(in relation to a woman) father’s sister, paternal aunt

(in relation to a woman) mother’s brother’s wife


jonü

jonü (obligatorily possessed; possessed jonü)

Hall analyzes the final -nü as a fossilized derivational suffix.

(in relation to a man) sister’s son, sororal nephew

(in relation to a woman) brother’s son, fraternal nephew

female parallel cousin’s son
father’s brother’s daughter’s son

female parallel cousin’s son
mother’s sister’s daughter’s son

male cross-cousin’s son
father’s sister’s son’s son

male cross-cousin’s son
mother’s brother’s son’s son


jonü

(often in the past possessed form) afterbirth; placenta and umbilical cord


ö'dümö

(in relation to a man) mother’s brother, maternal uncle

(in relation to a man) father’s sister’s husband


jannü

jannü (obligatorily possessed; possessed jannüdü)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of janü (“son-in-law”)


kömusa'kö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of komuusa'kö (“son-in-law (of a woman)”)


könkwö

(Cunucunuma River dialect, diminutive) Alternative form of konkwö (“son-in-law of a man”)


tunkemjünü

From tunke (“nonorphan”) + -jünü (negative suffix), apparently with one more unidentified suffix in the middle.


kuushi

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of kushi (“pig”)


kudaimaadu

Crypturellus variegatus
Crypturellus variegatus#Translingual

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of kudaimadu (“the variegated tinamou, Crypturellus variegatus”)


jañudu

Ultimately from Spanish español, via an intermediary such as Kari'na sipanijoro or Pemon españoro, sipañoro.

a Spanish-speaker, sometimes in particular a malevolent settler or slaver in contrast with the potentially more benevolent yadanawi


yadanawi

Borrowed from Puinave [Term?]. Compare Baniwa yalanawinai, Carijona yaranai (“Brazilian”).

2008, speaker ‘Anl’ from Boca de Piña (ConvChur.016), recorded in Cáceres, Natalia (2011), Grammaire Fonctionelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana, page 144

She defends us there (in the city) from the way of being of the non-natives.

A non-indigenous person, Creole, sometimes in particular a benevolent Spanish-speaking settler in contrast with the malevolent jañudu.


dhanñami

(Cunucunuma River dialect) nest, nesting place


maadi

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of madi (“the capped heron, Pilherodius pileatus”)


demoshi

Harpia harpyja
Harpia harpyja#Translingual

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of dimoshi (“the harpy eagle, Harpia harpyja”)


jiyana

Buteo nitidus
Buteo nitidus#Translingual


kudumö

Cathartes melambrotus
Cathartes melambrotus#Translingual

the greater yellow-headed vulture, Cathartes melambrotus

Coragyps atratus
Coragyps atratus#Translingual


kudewa

orange-winged parrot
orange-winged parrot

Amazona amazonica
Amazona amazonica#Translingual

the orange-winged parrot, Amazona amazonica


kaichai

Pionus menstruus
Pionus menstruus#Translingual

the blue-headed parrot, Pionus menstruus


meeshi

Borrowed, perhaps from an Arawakan language; compare Chamicuro mishi.


dawade

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yawade (“the common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis”)


na'kukwano

From na'kukwa (“in the water”) + -ano (nominalizer).


na'kwakano

From na'kwaka (“in the water”) + -ano (nominalizer).


-no

Allomorph of -ano (postposition/adverb nominalizing suffix) used after all vowels but e and i.


-no

(non-productive) Forms certain nouns whose possessed forms take no further suffix, with no clear semantic contribution.


na'kukwa

Alternative form of na'kwaka (“in the water”)


na'kwaka

Likely from an irregular contraction of tuna (“water”) + kwaka (“at, in, to (a body of water)”). Compare na'kwawö.


o'taajö

From o'tö (“to fish”) + -ajö (perfective past nominalizer).


kawadiimö

Puma concolor
Puma concolor#Translingual

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of kawadimö (“the cougar or puma, Puma concolor”)


jödemu

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of jade'mu (“giant anteater”)


yadakadu

From Proto-Cariban *tjawaraka, *tjawarakaru (“spider”).

the wedge-capped capuchin monkey, Cebus olivaceus

the tufted capuchin monkey, Sapajus apella

a zoomorphic basket design representing this monkey seen from the side on all fours, distinguished from wadishidi by the fact that its tail curls down rather than up


daamö

head

daamö (obligatorily possessed; possessed daamödü)


modhoi

Brazilian wandering spider
Brazilian wandering spider

(Cunucunuma River dialect and Brazil) the Brazilian wandering spider, Phoneutria sp.


wannö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of wanö (“bee; honey”)


wedesede

From Proto-Cariban *werewere; compare Apalaí erere, Kari'na werewere, Trió werewere, Akawaio weruwe, Macushi ereuwe, Pemon weruwe.


ökkööyu

(Caura River dialect) Alternative form of ököyu (“snake”)


kütto

a zoomorphic basket design representing a frog in the form of a rectangle with four forward-curving L-shaped legs

a kind of loricariid or auchenipterid catfish, the ‘chola’ fish, variously identified as Ageneiosus sp., Rineloricaria caracasensis, or Rineloricaria formosa


je'de

the yellow-spotted river turtle, Podocnemis unifilis


ji'jö

From Proto-Cariban *pitupô. Hall analyzes the final -jö as ultimately a fossilized derivational suffix.


jhunu

From Proto-Cariban *punu (“flesh, meat, body”).


ju'jö

From Proto-Cariban *uputupô; compare Apalaí upuhpo, Trió putupë, Carijona hutuhë. Hall analyzes the final -jö as ultimately a fossilized derivational suffix.

main subject or matter (of a story, etc.)


aaki

head

aaki (obligatorily possessed; possessed aakiyü)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of aki (“blood”)


ye'jö

From Proto-Cariban *jôtɨpô (“bone”). Hall analyzes the final -jö as ultimately a fossilized derivational suffix.


a'kü

From Proto-Cariban *arokɨ (“tail, penis”).

person who walks behind others on a path, follower

person who follows another’s lead more broadly, follower


jedü

jedü (obligatorily possessed; possessed jedü)

From Proto-Cariban *pe (“forehead”) with the possessed suffix -dü.


je'dü

je'dü (obligatorily possessed; possessed je'dü)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of jedü (“face”)


önu

önu (obligatorily possessed; possessed önudu or enudu)


ö'ji

ö'ji (obligatorily possessed; possessed ö'jiyü or e'jiyü)


dedü

dedü (obligatorily possessed; possessed dedü)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yedü (“tooth”)


nkawö

From Proto-Cariban *mɨka (“back”) + -wö (“at”).


a'jö

a'jö (obligatorily possessed; possessed a'jödü)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ajö (“arm, branch”)


ö'mu

ö'mu (obligatorily possessed; possessed ö'mudu or e'mudu)


ömmi

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ömi (“fingernail, claw”)


i'jotü

From Proto-Cariban *tipotɨ (“hair”), with epenthetic initial i- after syllable reduction. Hall analyzes the final -tü as ultimately a fossilized derivational suffix.

feathers, hair, hide (of humans or animals)


do'ta

do'ta (obligatorily possessed; possessed do'tadü)

one of the several doubles or spirits (ökato) possessed by each person, namely the one said to reside in the heart, to be benevolent, and, along with the önu ekato, to animate a human being and return to the sky at death

(by extension) Synonym of ökato (“spirit, double”) in general


dojü

dojü (obligatorily possessed; possessed dojüdü)

From Proto-Cariban *pɨropɨ (“chest”); compare Apalaí puropu, Kari'na ỳpopu, Trió pïropï, hropï, Akawaio pïropo, Yao (South America) pyelapo.


öwanü

From Proto-Cariban *ôwanô (“heart, chest”). Hall analyzes the final -nü as a fossilized derivational suffix.


udunoi

udunoi (obligatorily possessed; possessed udunoi)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of udumoi (“stomach, viscera”)


jootü

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of jöttü (“intestines”)


jöttü

Hall analyzes the final -tü as a fossilized derivational suffix.


töinshi'jo

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of tönsi'jo (“cough”)


weena'ta

From wenadu (“vomit”) + -ta (verbalizer).


wünü'nö

From w- (intransitive prefix) + ünükü (“to sleep”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


ünükü

From Proto-Cariban *wônɨkɨ (“to sleep”).


wönetünö

From wönetü (“to dream”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


wennunö

From w- (intransitive prefix) + ennu (“to be born, to give birth”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


ennu

Likely prefixed with e- (intransitivizer).


-nö

Forms infinitives and infinitive-like verbal nouns from intransitive verbs, which must bear the intransitive prefix w- but no person marking.


-nö

Marks the forms of the recent past imperfective tense not exclusive to first- or second-person arguments.


-nö

Forms transitive verbs from a few nouns and from adverbs suffixed with the attributivizer -je.


aminña'ka

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of aminñö'ka (“to kill”)


aminñö'ka

(Caura River dialect, transitive) to kill


tadonñe

Perhaps from t- -e (adverbializer) + adoni (“revitalizer, health”) + a verbalizing suffix of some kind.


awonñö'ka

From awo (“to swell”) + -nñö'ka. For the final element compare aminñö'ka (“to kill”).


-dü

From Proto-Cariban *-rɨ. The development into an imperfective marker is relatively late, and a similar evolution can be observed in the Kari'na cognate -ry.

Marks a noun as possessed; used with most types of nouns, including instruments, kinship terms, body parts, and natural and cultural elements.

Forms a noun from a verb, representing either the (nonpast) action or the object of the verb; must be accompanied by a personal prefix and an indicator specifying the role of the verb argument indicated by the noun (intransitive argument w-, transitive agent n-, or transitive patient ∅-).

Forms the imperfective aspect in many contexts.


-dü

Perhaps ultimately of the same origin as etymology 1 above; a similar construction can be found in Pemon -yi, also homophonic with one of the allomorphs of the Pemon possessive marker.

Relativizing clitic; nominalizes a construction containing a finite verb, often to form a relative clause.


wawonö

From w- (intransitive prefix) + awo (“to swell”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


adonka

From adoni (“revitalizing power”) + -ka.


wöödeetanö

From w- (intransitive prefix) + öödeeta (“to rest”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


öödeeta

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of öödeta (“to rest”)


sekumje

Ultimately suffixed with -je (adverbializer).


o'doku

Most likely formed with the intransitivizer öt-, although a corresponding transitive verb *doku, *daku (“to intoxicate?”) is apparently not attested.


ö'daku

(intransitive, agentive) Alternative form of o'doku (“to get drunk”)


Wanadi

Compare Tariana wanari (“anhinga”), Wanari Yapirikuri (“God”), and also see the etymological notes at wanadi.

(Ye'kwana mythology) A mythological figure functioning variously as a god, shaman, and culture hero, created by the sun and creator of humans, who retreated from the world after its corruption and no longer interferes with earthly affairs

One of a small number of temporary names given to a baby boy at birth until a true name can be determined


Kajunña

From kaju (“sky”) + -nña (“at the place of”).

(Ye'kwana mythology) in the mythological Sky or Heaven, an invisible sky beyond the visible sky where Wanadi lives, divided into eight houses or villages and visited by shamans on their initiatory journey


-nña

forms place names (in the form of adverbs that can be nominalized with -ano)


jaaja

From Proto-Cariban *papa, a nursery word in origin; compare Apalaí papa, Kari'na papa, Trió papa, Akawaio papa, Macushi papa, Pemon papa, Yao (South America) pape, as well as (from non-Cariban languages) Wayampi papa.


Kaajushawa

Synonym of Odo'sha (“evil brother of Wanadi, Devil”)


Odo'sha

Ultimately from Proto-Cariban *ijoroko (“evil spirit”) suffixed or compounded with an element that surfaces as -sha; compare Apalaí joroko, Kari'na ijoròkan, Trió joroko, Wayana jolok, Pemon iworok, as well as (from non-Cariban languages) Lokono jaloko, Sranan Tongo yorka.


Odo'sha

(Ye'kwana mythology) The evil twin brother of Wanadi, born from his rotting placenta, who serves as the incarnation of all negative or malignant forces


wa'sennö

From w- (intransitive prefix) + a'seuwü (“to laugh”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


enkutö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of enku'tö (“to tell (a lie), to lie”)


adakujusa

Borrowed from Spanish arcabuz (“arquebus”).


ashicha

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of aasicha (“good, well”)


kone'da

Compare Yao (South America) icone. Perhaps also compare koneka (“to fix, solve, straighten out”) + -'da (negative adverbializer), although this does not seem to be the actual derivation of this word, since the word itself can be negated with a further -'da and a cognate of the stem is found in Yao.


ötöneja

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of otoneja (“to struggle, to fight; to weigh oneself, test oneself, measure oneself”)


wötönejanö

From w- (intransitive prefix) + ötöneja (“to fight, to test oneself”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


wüüwü

From Proto-Cariban *wɨwɨ; compare Apalaí wywy, Kari'na wywy, Trió wïwï, Wayana wïwï, Yao (South America) oüoe.


üwö

From Proto-Cariban *wô, *wônô (“to shoot, to kill”).

(transitive) to strike or kill (a hunted animal), to stab, to shoot


jaanö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of janö (“hunting trap covered with leaves”)


weijüdü

From w- (intransitive prefix) + ei (“to be”) + -'jüdü (past action nominalizer).


ödajö

head

ödajö (possessed ödajö or edajö, possessed plural ödamo or edamö)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of öyajö (“master, ruler, chief; possessor”)


weichakono

Hall analyzes the final -no as a fossilized derivational suffix.


edantö

(transitive) to find, to meet, to run across


kö'tünnö

From kö'tümü (“to shout”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


ekanta'ñö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of etanta'ñö (“to sing, particularly in a style derived from the western musical tradition rather than traditional chants”)


etanta'ñö

From e- (intransitivizer) + Spanish cantar + -'ñö (loanword verbalizer).

(Caura River dialect, intransitive, patientive) to sing, particularly in a style derived from the western musical tradition rather than traditional chants


kö'tümü

Compare Trió këhtumu (“to shout, to scream”), and, from the same root, but with a different construction, Apalaí kohta and Kari'na kòta (“to scream”).

(intransitive, patientive) to shout, cry out


me'ku'tö

(transitive) to tell, to recount (a story)


a'deukwe

Apparently from a'deuwü (“to talk”) + -ke.


ekammajo

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ekamma'jo (“to ask, to inquire”)


a'deujötü

From a'deuwü (“to talk”) + -jötü (pluractional suffix).

(intransitive, patientive) to converse, to have a conversation


jiichu

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of jiichü (“flute”)


ekanüjü

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ekanöjü (“to believe”)


oowanoma

From öt- (intransitivizer) + owanoma (“to teach”).


yowanomani

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of owanomanei (“teacher”)


-nei

Forms agent nouns from transitive verbs, which can retain patient person marking.


woowanomatojo

From w- (intransitive prefix) + oowanoma (“to learn”) + -tojo (instrumental nominalizer).


-tojo

forms instrumental nouns from transitive and intransitive verbs, referring to a thing, place, or person that helps with carrying out the action of the verb


oowashinchö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ööwasinchö (“to eat”)


seweicha

Probably suffixed with -ta (verbalizer). Related to seweiche (“red, ripe”).


chöötaajö

[t͡ʃəːtaːhə]


enku'tö

Likely suffixed with -tö (benefactive verbalizer).

(Caura River dialect, transitive) to tell (a lie), to lie


ömije

Ultimately suffixed with -je (adverbializer), perhaps from ömi (“fingernail, claw”) + -je.

(now chiefly Cunucunuma River dialect) being hungry


amije

(Caura River dialect) Alternative form of ömije (“being hungry”)


jadankaana

Alternative form of jadankana (“large bowl, vat, pot”)


jütadi

Borrowed from Venezuelan Spanish budare.

comal, smooth flat griddle or pan used to cook cassava bread


kümü'kö

From kümü (“machete”) + -'kö (diminutive suffix).


öwainshi

head

öwainshi (possessed öwainshiñü or ewainshiñü)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of öwansi (“food, meal”)


i'sha

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of i'shaa (“to peel”)


oima

From oi (“complement, additional element for mixing”) + -ma (verbalizer).


shaaku

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of saaku (“sweet potato”)


chööjüdü

[t͡ʃəːhɨɾ̠ɨ]


chööjüdüjüdü

head

chööjüdüjüdü

[t͡ʃəːhɨɾ̠ɨːhɨɾ̠ɨ]

From chööjüdü (“flower”) + -'jüdü (past possessed suffix).


jomi

Capsicum frutescens
Capsicum frutescens#Translingual

spice, hot sauce prepared from the chili pepper


i'moi

From Proto-Cariban *pumo (“egg”), with epenthetic initial i- after syllable reduction.


Kaaju

Synonym of Odo'sha (“evil brother of Wanadi, Devil”)


ewontö

From e- (intransitivizer) + wontö (“to clothe”).

(intransitive, patientive) to put on clothes, to get dressed


ewontö

to refuse to hand (something) over or surrender (something)

to defend (someone or something) (+ -uwö: against, from)


ü'kajü

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ükajü (“to weave”)


shooka

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of sooka (“to pierce, to puncture; to sew”)


ajö'müi

decorative armband tied tightly above the bicep


jüdodo

[hʷɨɾ̠oːɾ̠o]

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of jüdödö (“yard, field, patio; street”)


jüdödö

[hʷɨɾ̠əːɾ̠ə]


ö'sa

the circular outer area of a village roundhouse (öttö), divided into rooms or compartments that each house an individual extended family

(in modern, more dispersed villages) house, home, or the collection of houses surrounding the öttö


jööjudu

head

jööjudu (obligatorily possessed; possessed jööjudui)

(Cunucunuma River dialect and Brazil) Alternative form of jojudu (“wall”)


inñaju'tajö

From nneju'tö (“to put up scaffolding”) + -ajö (perfective past nominalizer), with epenthetic initial i-.


amö'jüdü

[aməʔhʷɨɾ̠ɨ]

From amö (“to build”) + -'jüdü (nominalizer of completed action).


audaajö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of öddaajö (“conuco, large slash-and-burn garden planted in two concentric circles”)


ü'kaa

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of üka (“to dig”)


üka

(Caura River dialect, transitive) to dig


öju'jö

(Cunucunuma River dialect and Brazil) Alternative form of jüjö (“seed; pip, stone”)


naatü'tö

From natü (“plant”) + -tö (benefactive verbalizer).


önña

Compare Wayana etnai, Akawaio a'nai, Macushi a'nai, Pemon anai.


kawai

Nicotiana tabacum
Nicotiana tabacum#Translingual


küdede

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of kiyede (“manioc, cassava, yuca”)


kankudu

Crescentia cujete
Crescentia cujete#Translingual

calabash, fruit or gourd of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete)


öshichaadü

[əʃiːt͡ʃaːɾ̠ɨ]

Saccharum officinarum
Saccharum officinarum#Translingual

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ashichadü (“sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum”)


ashichadü

[aʃiːt͡ʃaɾ̠ɨ]

(Caura River dialect) sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum


a'to

snell (line by which a fishhook is attached)


we'wa'tönö

From w- (intransitive prefix) + e'wa'tö (“to help each other”) + -nö (infinitive suffix).


jüwaicha

From jüwai (“shaman”) + -ta (verbalizer).

(intransitive, patientive) to acquire knowledge or shamanic powers


-'se

Originally a postposition attaching to a nominalized form of the verb, as seen by its Cariban cognates. In Ye'kwana, however, this suffix apparently never co-occurs with a nominalizer—likely the anomalous glottal stop at the start of the suffix is in fact itself a reduced form of the nominalizer -dü in origin.

Forms the desiderative mood, expressing that the situation of the verb is wanted (typically by the agent of an auxiliary copula to which the desiderative verb is subordinated).

In the complement clause of a verb of cognition, can be used to express the future tense.


-'ñojo

Forms the rogative mood, expressing an indirect request to the interlocutor in order to obtain some kind of permission to perform the action described by the verb: if you don’t mind…, …if that’s all right.


-'no

Forms the admonitive mood, expressing a warning: watch out in case…, be careful lest….


-'kö

töju (“rock”) → töju'kö (“small rock”)

wodi (“woman”) → wodi'chö (“girl”)

Forms diminutives of nouns and pronouns.

Forms a handful of adverbs relating to small size or amount.


üdü

From Proto-Cariban *ɨrɨ, *rɨ (“to do, to make, to put”).

Allows a subordinated borrowed verb suffixed with -je to function as a transitive predicate.


tüdütojo

From t- + üdü (“to do”) + -tojo (instrumental suffix).


sheicha

(Cunucunuma River dialect, transitive) Alternative form of seicha (“to cut; to sand down; to tie”)


aijuka

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of aijuku (“to strike, to hit; to ritually whip; to smite, to kill”)


aijuku

(transitive) to strike, to hit (someone with something)

(transitive) to smite, to kill (someone) by striking them


siicha

Perhaps derived from shi (“to tear, slash, scratch”). Also compare seicha, soicha.


eshichako

From e- (intransitivizer) + siicha (“to rip, tear, break”) + -ko.


eshi

From e- (intransitivizer) + shi (“to tear, slash, scratch”).


ekku'ka

From ökkudu (“sap, liquid”) + -ka (privative verbalizer).


sheemeka

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of seemeka (“to sweep”)


ko'ka

(transitive) to wash (something other than a human or human body part)


entatü'

From e- (intransitivizer) + ntatü' (“to wash (someone’s) mouth”).

(intransitive, patientive) to wash one’s mouth


ntatü'

Cognate to Kari'na yntaty (“to wash (someone’s) mouth”). By surface analysis, nta (“mouth”) + atü (“to wash”).


wüüwa

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of wüwa (“hourglass-shaped carrying basket woven by women”)


wadiwadi

handheld fan twilled out of Ischnosiphon cane strips and used as a firefan and spatula


awanaichö

From awana (“bodypaint, protection”) + -i + -tö (benefactive verbalizer).

af

(transitive) to paint with awana bodypaint


oonuku

(intransitive, patientive) to rise, to go up


eju'kwa

Alternative form of ejukka (“to fall, to be(come) wrecked, to founder, to sink”)


tawa'ta

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of tawata (“to float”)


e'ji

Ultimately from Proto-Cariban *pɨ (“to bathe”).


yaichuma

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yaichuuma (“to blow on; to blow away; to bless”)


önwa

Possibly from öt- (intransitivizer) + enwa (“to make dance”), although *ötönwa would be the expected form.


oojoima

(intransitive, agentive) to take steps, to walk


eeka'tümü

From Proto-Cariban *ekatu, *ekatumɨ (“to run”).


annu'ku

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of annuku (“to mount, to climb up”)


eja'ka

From e- (intransitivizer) + ja'ka (“to take out, bring out”).

(intransitive, patientive) to go out, to come out, to leave, to exit


ööneje

(intransitive, agentive) to run away, to flee


ö'dü

From öt- (intransitivizer) + üdü (“to do”).

Allows a subordinated borrowed verb suffixed with -je to function as an intransitive predicate.


ööma

From öt- (intransitivizer) + ema (“to kill”).


ööma

course or path in a more abstract sense; progression, succession, course

flow or pattern of speech or other sound, such as birdsong

conduit, tube, pipe, including musical instruments and vessels of the body


kanowa

Borrowed from Spanish canoa, from Taíno *kanowa.


enü

From Proto-Cariban *ônɨrɨ (“to drink”). Compare Apalaí eny, Kari'na enyry, Trió enïrï, Wayana enïlï, Waiwai eerî, Akawaio ensi, Macushi enîrî, Pemon enü.


ajöi

From Proto-Cariban *apôti (“to seize”). Compare also ajö (“arm”).


ööwanaka

From öt- (intransitivizer) + ewanaka (“to save, to rescue”).

(intransitive, agentive) to save oneself, to pull through


ejema

From the root of töje (“precious, dear”) + -ma (verbalizer).


ejemajo

From ejema (“to buy”) + -jo (causative suffix).


ötö'tija

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ötötija (“to trade, to exchange”)


ötötija

From öt- (intransitivizer) + eetija (“to trade for”).

(Caura River dialect, intransitive, agentive) to trade, to exchange (to engage in buying and selling or barter)


ssoto

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of sotto (“person, human; Ye'kwana speaker, Ye'kwana, Maquiritari”)


ssoto

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of sotto (“twenty”)


mönse

edö (inanimate pronoun proximal)
^Y e'dö (inanimate pronoun proximal)
mö'dö (proximal singular)
eetö (anaphoric proximal)
eetö (proximal)
eese (proximal)
eesemjo (proximal)
sadö (proximal)
mödö (inanimate medial pronoun proximal)
mööyö (medial proximal singular)
^Y möödhö (medial proximal singular)
kanno (medial plural proximal)
möötö (anaphoric medial proximal)
möönü (distal inanimate medial pronoun)
mökkü (distal medial singular)
makkamo (distal medial plural)
inña (distal medial)
möntö (anaphoric distal medial)
mönse (distal medial)
aneeseja (distal medial)
mönsemjo (distal medial)
maadö (distal medial)
iyö (distal inanimate pronoun)
^Y iiyö (distal inanimate pronoun)
ñöödö (distal singular)
ñanno (distal plural)
yöötö (anaphoric distal)
unwaa (distal)
Y. Caura River dialect.
Y. Caura River dialect. (inanimate pronoun)
Y. Caura River dialect. (singular)
D. Cunucunuma River dialect.
D. Cunucunuma River dialect. (inanimate pronoun)
D. Cunucunuma River dialect. (singular)
V. Alto Ventuari River dialect.
V. Alto Ventuari River dialect. (inanimate pronoun)
V. Alto Ventuari River dialect. (singular)

For the first element, compare the distal inanimate demonstrative pronoun möönü. The second element -se is also found in eese.

there (in another division or unit of land)


kawö

From Proto-Cariban *kawô (“high”). Perhaps ultimately formed with the ancestor of awö (“at, in, on”); for the first element, perhaps compare kaju (“sky”).


awa'de

being first, at the front (of a line), at the bow (of a boat), foremost

being the preceding instance, last, this past


a'ka

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of aka (“at, in, on, to; indicates a specific location or goal at a non-aquatic object of class 1”)


anwa'ka

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of anwaaka (“in or at the crotch of; in, among”)


atajjima

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of atajima (“to sit down”)


sadamma

(transitive) to split in half, to divide


yaatojötü

From yaato + -jötü (pluractional suffix).


nonojoichö

Perhaps from nono (“earth, soil”) + -joi (“via”) + -tö.

being low, short, tiny, close to the ground


akoicha'jüdü

From akoicha (“to end, to kill”) + -'jüdü (nominalizer of completed action).

termination point, limit of something, top, tip


adema

(transitive) to take for a walk, to walk (something or someone)


-du

allomorph of -dü (possessive suffix) used for stems whose last vowel is u


-chö

allomorph of -tö used for stems that end in i


kun-

Allomorph of kün- (distant past third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with anything but j or y and have a first vowel u.


ennaka

From e- (intransitivizer) + nnaka (“to recover, to retrieve, to give back”).

(intransitive, patientive) to return, to come back


annuku

(Caura River dialect, transitive) to mount, to climb up


waja

a flat circular basket used as a serving tray and plate


chaka

allomorph of taka used after words that end in i

allomorph of kwaka used after words that end in i


-che

allomorph of -ke (adverbializer) used for stems that end in i


-icho

From -i (recent/distant past perfective suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix).

forms the plural of the recent past perfective tense when the arguments of the verb are third-person

forms the plural of the distant past perfective tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person


adhe

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of a'ye (“being brief, short, ephemeral”)


tu-

Allomorph of t- used for stems that begin with a consonant other than w and have a first vowel u.


-kene

From -ke + -ne (distant past tense suffix).

marks the distant past imperfective tense when at least one of the arguments of the verb is not third-person


maami

Crypturellus cinereus
Crypturellus cinereus#Translingual

the cinereous tinamou, Crypturellus cinereus


sheu

South American coati
South American coati


-ye

allomorph of -e (adverbializer) used for stems that end in i


maama

(Caura River dialect) first-person possessed form of nü


madaka

maraca, a gourd rattle filled with widiki crystals and used by shamans as a tool for their work


amoi

ritual pollution; taboo object or animal or action, or taboo matter considered present in an object, animal, etc.


deta

head

deta (obligatorily possessed; possessed detai)


woi

a kind of wild elephant ear plant (genus Xanthosoma), considered the most potent of all magical herbs (mada) as a defense against supernatural threats


tukui

From Proto-Cariban *tukuti; compare Apalaí tukuxi, Kari'na tukusi, Trió tukui, Wayana tukui, Akawaio tukui, Macushi tukui, Pemon tukui, as well as (from non-Cariban languages) Lokono tukusi.

the sparkling violetear, Colibri coruscans


-jo

forms causative verbs from transitive verbs, intransitive verbs with agent-like arguments, and a handful of intransitive verbs with patient-like arguments that begin with e-; intransitive verbs converted this way remain morphologically intransitive


ken-

Allomorph of kün- (distant past third-person prefix) occasionally used for stems that begin with anything but j or y and have a first vowel e.


kudai

the patawa or sehe palm tree, Oenocarpus bataua


kii-

Allomorph of k- (first-person-dual-inclusive transitive agent prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant.


-nto

From -mö (recent/distant past perfective suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix).

af

Forms the plural of the recent past perfective tense of the verb ütö (“to go”) when the arguments of the verb are third-person.

Forms the plural of the distant past perfective tense of the verb ütö (“to go”) when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


ümü

From Proto-Cariban *jumɨ; compare Apalaí jumy, Kari'na jumy, Trió junme, Wayana jumï, Waiwai yïmï, Macushi yun, Pemon yun.


jatu

Cairina moschata
Cairina moschata#Translingual

duck
the whistling duck, Dendrocygna sp.


kudata

head

kudata (obligatorily possessed; possessed kudatai)

a kind of reed, Iriartella setigera, used to make the inner part of a blowgun


akko

(transitive) to cut, to tear down, to clear (brush) with a machete


dhaka

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of yaka (“to fell, to cut down, to assart”)


adai

the primeval prototype, progenitor, and culture hero of a given species of animal or kind of object; animal ‘Master’


saayu

broad wrist bracelet made of white beads


ukwa

From Proto-Cariban *uka, *ukwa (“to burn (something)”).

(transitive) to burn (something) with fire


-cho

allomorph of -ato (adverb/postposition nominalizing suffix) used for stems that end in i

allomorph of -to (plural verb suffix) used for stems that end in i

allomorph of -icho (recent/distant past perfective plural suffix) used for stems that end in a vowel followed by i


-ño

Allomorph of -ano (postposition/adverb nominalizing suffix) used for stems that end in i.


oy-

(Caura River dialect) allomorph of ö- (second-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a vowel o or u


adudu

the black-tailed hairy dwarf porcupine, Coendou melanurus


-amo

Forms plural possessed forms of certain nouns.

Forms part of the suppletive plural forms of deverbal nouns formed with the nominalizers -nei and -mü.


adawa

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ayawa (“a tree, Protium heptaphyllum, from which a sticky transparent liquid is extracted; a torch, a light, typically made from this liquid wrapped in Oenocarpus bataua leaves; the bodypaint made from this liquid; bodypaint in general”)


awö

From Proto-Cariban *jawô. Synchronically as if suffixed with -wö (“at”). Compare Apalaí ao, Hixkaryana yawo, Macushi ya, and Waiwai yaw.

at, in, on; indicates a generic location at a non-aquatic object of class 1


tawö

From Proto-Cariban *tawô. Synchronically as if suffixed with -wö (“at”). Compare Apalaí tao, Hixkaryana tawo, Macushi ta.

at, in, on; indicates a generic location at a non-aquatic object of class 2


akü

a kind of white worm or snake said to feed on the dead


jiidi

(Caura River dialect) while standing or walking, while upright


kuji

(transitive) to clear or cut down undergrowth


kanwa

woven rectangular basket with a telescoping lid, commonly associated with shamans and used to store ritual objects


-ñe

allomorph of -ne used for stems that end in i


kadaiwa

Ultimately from Old Tupi karaíba (“great shaman, thaumaturge”; later also “European, Portuguese”). From the same source compare Taíno caraiba, Maku kalawa, kalamana (“white”), Guinau Baré kalaíua (“Brazilian”), Marawa Baré karaiua (“white person”), Pemon karaiwa (“Brazilian”), Macushi, Arutani, Xiriâna, and Trió karaiwa (“white person”), Yucuna karíwa, Wapishana kaɽaiwa (“Brazilian”), Ninam and Yanomam kraiwa (“white person”).


kadi'ña

Borrowed from Kari'na karìna, from Proto-Cariban *karipona (“person”).


kudiyada

Compare Kari'na kurijara, Trió kurijara, Wayana kulijara, Akawaio kuriyara, Macushi kuriyara, Pemon kuriyara, as well as Lokono koriara.


judunku

Dutch or more generally northern European person


yedü

head

yedü (obligatorily possessed; possessed yedü)

From Proto-Cariban *ô, *jô (“tooth”) with the possessed suffix -dü.


womjiiyu

Borrowed from Venezuelan Spanish bombillo.


-komo

forms plural or collective forms of nouns and plural forms of inanimate demonstrative pronouns


-chomo

allomorph of -komo (plural or collective suffix) used for nouns that end in i

allomorph of -tomo (possessive plural suffix) used for nouns that end in i


-'chö

allomorph of -'kö (diminutive suffix) used for nouns that end in i


yanwaa

dhanwa

Cunucunuma River dialect, Yujudunña dialect and Brazil


yanwa

(Caura River dialect) Alternative form of yanwaa (“man”)


yanwa'kö

From yanwaa (“man”) + -'kö (diminutive suffix).


-jünü

Negates the noun or pronoun it attaches to.

Negates the adverb it attaches to, resulting in a nominalized form.


-chü

allomorph of -dü (possessive or action noun suffix) used for most stems that end in i

allomorph of -dü (relativizing clitic) used for stems that end in i


-yü

allomorph of -dü (possessive suffix) used for some nouns that end in i


-tü

From Proto-Cariban *-tɨ. Compare Wayana -tï, Kari'na -ty, Waiwai -tï, and similar possessive suffixes in other Cariban languages.

Marks a noun as possessed; used only with a handful of nouns that end in -tö.

(non-productive) Forms certain nouns whose possessed forms take no further suffix, with no clear semantic contribution.


-ñü

Perhaps cognate to a possessive suffix -nü found in other Cariban languages.

Marks a noun as possessed; used only with a very small handful of nouns.


-tonkomo

-tomo (plural possessive suffix) + -komo (plural suffix)

forms possessed forms of animate nouns, including kinship terms and pets, with a plural possessor


-chonkomo

allomorph of -tonkomo used for nouns that end in i


-'jüdü

From Proto-Cariban *-tɨpɨ + *-rɨ. The second morpheme is equivalent to -dü (possessive marker/nominalizer), but seems to no longer be analyzed as such in modern Ye'kwana.

Marks a noun as possessed in the past; used with almost all nouns.

Forms a noun of past or completed action from a verb; must be accompanied by a personal prefix and an indicator specifying the role of the verb argument indicated by the noun (intransitive argument w-, transitive agent n-, or transitive patient ∅-).


-mjüdü

From Proto-Cariban *-nɨpɨ + *-rɨ. The second morpheme is equivalent to -dü (possessive marker), but seems to no longer be analyzed as such in modern Ye'kwana.

Marks a noun as possessed in the past; used with very few nouns.


üwü

ewü (personal pronoun singular)
^Y üwü (personal pronoun singular)
nña (dual personal pronoun)
nña (personal plural pronoun)
küwü (dual personal pronoun)
künwanno (personal plural pronoun)
amödö (personal pronoun second-person singular)
^Y ömödö (personal pronoun second-person singular)
önwanno (personal plural pronoun second-person)
tüwü (personal pronoun singular third-person)
tünwanno (personal plural pronoun third-person)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of ewü (“the first-person singular pronoun; I, me”)


ewü

From Proto-Cariban *ôwɨ. By surface analysis, ü- (first-person prefix) + a singular/dual personal pronoun base *wü, with subsequent sound change.

surf

(Caura River dialect) the first-person singular pronoun; I, me


tüwü

Possibly from t(ü)- (reflexive or coreference marker) + a singular/dual personal pronoun base *wü, by analogy with üwü / ewü and küwü. The Ye'kwana third-person pronoun series is not reconstructible to Proto-Cariban.

the third-person singular pronoun; he, she, it, him, her


tüwü

functions as a definite article for a following proper noun


küwü

Possibly from Proto-Cariban *kɨwɨ. Compare Waiwai kïwï and (with suffixed emphatic particle) Hixkaryana kàwro; but note forms such as Trió kïmë, Wayana kunmë, that suggest only the initial *kɨ- element may be reconstructible to Proto-Cariban. By surface analysis, k(ü)- (first-person inclusive prefix) + a singular/dual personal pronoun base *wü.

the first-person inclusive dual pronoun; you and I, me and you, the two of us


ömödö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of amödö (“the second-person singular pronoun; you”)


amödö

From Proto-Cariban *ômô (“you”) + *rô (emphatic particle). Compare Trió ëmë, Wayana ëmë, Waiwai amoro, Hixkaryana omoro.

(Caura River dialect and Brazil) the second-person singular pronoun; you


tünwanno

Possibly from t(ü)- (reflexive or coreference marker) + a plural personal pronoun base *nwanno, by analogy with künwanno and önwanno. The Ye'kwana third-person pronoun series is not reconstructible to Proto-Cariban.

the third-person plural pronoun; they, them


önwanno

From Proto-Cariban *ômjamo (second-person collective pronoun) + *rô (emphatic particle), the former from *ômô (second-person singular pronoun) + *-jamo (collective suffix). Analogous forms in other Cariban languages are similarly formed from the singular/non-collective form combined with various collective and emphatic suffixes in different orders. Compare Trió ëmënjamo, Wayana ëmëlamkom, Waiwai amyamro, Hixkaryana omnyamo. By surface analysis, ö- (second-person prefix) + *nwanno (plural personal pronoun base).


künwanno

Likely from forms such as Proto-Cariban *kɨwɨ (first-person inclusive dual pronoun) + *-jamo (collective suffix) + *rô (emphatic particle). Analogous forms in other Cariban languages are similarly formed from the dual/non-collective form combined with various collective and emphatic suffixes in different orders. Compare Trió kïmënjamo, Wayana kunmëlamkom, Waiwai kïwyam, Hixkaryana kàwyamo. However, this leaves the Ye'kwana -n- unexplained, unless perhaps the first element of the Ye'kwana term corresponds not to Proto-Cariban *kɨwɨ but to first-person inclusive forms such as Trió kïmë, Wayana kunmë. By surface analysis, k(ü)- (first-person inclusive prefix) + *nwanno (plural personal pronoun base).

surf

the first-person inclusive plural pronoun; all of us, me and all of you, we (inclusive)


nña

From Proto-Cariban *apina. Compare Trió anja, Wayana emna, Waiwai amna.

the first-person exclusive dual pronoun; he and I, she and I, it and I

the first-person exclusive plural pronoun; they and I, we (exclusive)


edö

From Proto-Cariban *(tj)ôrô. Compare Trió serë, Wayana helë, Kari'na ero.

(Caura River dialect) the inanimate proximal demonstrative pronoun; this, these


e'dö

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Alternative form of edö (“the inanimate proximal demonstrative pronoun; this, these”)


mö'dö

From Proto-Cariban *môkɨ (animate singular distal demonstrative pronoun) + *-rô (emphatic particle). Compare Trió mëërë, Wayana mëklë, Waiwai mïkro, Kari'na mòko. The first element is equivalent to the distal demonstrative mö'kü, mökkü.

der

the animate singular proximal demonstrative pronoun; this


mödö

From Proto-Cariban *môrô. Compare Trió mërë, Wayana mëlë, Waiwai moro, Kari'na moro.

(Caura River dialect) the inanimate medial demonstrative pronoun; this, these, that, those

(Cunucunuma River dialect) Synonym of e'dö (inanimate proximal demonstrative pronoun)


möönü

From Proto-Cariban *mônɨ. Compare Trió mënï, Wayana mïn, Waiwai mïnï, Kari'na mony.

(Caura River dialect) the inanimate distal demonstrative pronoun; that, those

(Cunucunuma River dialect) the inanimate medial demonstrative pronoun; this, these, that, those


iyö

From Proto-Cariban *irô (inanimate anaphoric demonstrative pronoun). Compare Trió irë, Wayana ilë, Kari'na iro.

inh

(Caura River dialect) the inanimate invisible demonstrative pronoun; that, those (that I can’t see)


mööyö

(Caura River dialect) the animate singular medial demonstrative pronoun; this, that


mökkü

From Proto-Cariban *môkɨ. Compare Trió mëkï, Wayana mëk, Waiwai mïkï, Kari'na moky. The geminate k/glottal stop is unexpected; but compare the form möökü given by Hall in her glossary, perhaps the etymologically original one.

(Caura River dialect) the animate singular distal demonstrative pronoun; that

(Cunucunuma River dialect) the animate singular medial demonstrative pronoun; this, that


ñöödö

From Proto-Cariban *inôrô, *nôrô (animate singular anaphoric demonstrative pronoun). Compare Trió nërë, Wayana inëlë, Waiwai noro, Kari'na inoro.

(Caura River dialect) the animate singular invisible demonstrative pronoun; that (that I can’t see)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) the animate singular distal demonstrative pronoun; that


ñanno

From Proto-Cariban *injamo (animate plural anaphoric demonstrative pronoun) + *rô (emphatic particle), the former from *inôrô (animate singular anaphoric demonstrative pronoun) + *-jamo (collective suffix). Compare Trió namo, Wayana inamolo, Waiwai ñešamro, Kari'na inaro(n).

der

(Caura River dialect) the animate plural invisible demonstrative pronoun; those (that I can’t see)

(Cunucunuma River dialect) the animate plural distal demonstrative pronoun; those


makkamo

From Proto-Cariban *môkjamo (animate plural distal demonstrative pronoun), from *môkɨ (animate singular distal demonstrative pronoun) + *-jamo (collective suffix). Compare Apalaí mokamo, Trió mëkïjamo, Wayana mëkjam, Waiwai mïkyam, Kari'na mòkan.

inh

(Caura River dialect) the animate plural distal demonstrative pronoun; those

(Cunucunuma River dialect) the animate plural medial demonstrative pronoun; these, those


kanno

From Proto-Cariban *môkɨ (animate singular distal demonstrative pronoun) + *-jamo (collective suffix) + *rô (emphatic particle), with subsequent loss of the first syllable. Analogous forms in other Cariban languages are similarly formed with various collective and emphatic suffixes in different orders. Compare Trió mëëjamo, Kari'na mòkaro. The first element is equivalent to ma'kamo / makkamo.

(Caura River dialect) the animate plural medial demonstrative pronoun; these, those

(Cunucunuma River dialect) the animate plural proximal demonstrative pronoun; these


iiyö

From Proto-Cariban *irô (anaphoric demonstrative pronoun). Compare Trió irë, Wayana ilë, Kari'na iro.

(Cunucunuma River dialect) the inanimate distal demonstrative pronoun; that, those


mööñö

(Alto Ventuari River, regional) Synonym of mö'dö (animate singular proximal demonstrative pronoun)


mö'kü

Alternative form of mökkü (“that, this”)


ma'kamo

Alternative form of makkamo (“those, these”)


-tö

forms the plural of the distant past tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are first- or second-person

forms the plural of performative moods (imperative, prohibitive, jussive, admonitive, and rogative) when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are first- or second-person


-tö

forms a benefactive transitive verb from a noun, with the meaning ‘to bring about X for (someone or something)’, ‘to provide (someone) X’


-tö

forms adverbs with an active-participle-like meaning from a handful of transitive verbs


wötunnö

From a verb stem affixed with w- (intransitive prefix) and -nö (infinitive suffix). The stem is said by Guss to be ultimately related to a'deu (“word”), but this does not seem morphologically justifiable.

the mythology and stories of the Ye’kwana; the Ye’kwana oral tradition


sidichö

[siɾ̠iːt͡ʃə]

any one of the points at which the fibers of a woven tray (waja) interlock


widiki

small quartz crystal which is attributed shamanic power and kept in a shaman’s maraca after his initiation


-'da

From Proto-Cariban *pɨra; compare Apalaí pyra, -ra, Kari'na -`pa, Trió -hra, Wayana -la, Waiwai pïra, -hra, Akawaio pïra, Macushi pra, Pemon püra.

Negates a verb, resulting in a non-finite adverbial form that cannot bear tense, aspect, or mood markers.

Negates a postposition or adverb, including nominal elements adverbialized with -je.


öt-

From Proto-Cariban *ôte-; cognate to Apalaí ot-, Kari'na ot-, Trió ët-, Wayana ët-, Hixkaryana os-, Waiwai et-, Akawaio è-, s-, Macushi es-, Pemon es-.

Converts a transitive verb into an intransitive verb with an agent-like argument, variously with reflexive, reciprocal, or passive meaning.


ö'-

allomorph of öt- (detransitivizing prefix)


ö-

Marks a noun as having a second-person possessor.

Marks a postposition as having a second-person object.

Marks a transitive verb as having a second-person patient/object when the agent/subject is of third person with verb forms that take series I markers.

Marks a transitive verb as having a second-person patient/object when the agent/subject is unspecified with verb forms that take series II markers.

Marks an intransitive verb with patient-like argument as having a second-person argument/subject with verb forms that take series I markers and on all intransitive verbs with verb forms that take series II markers.

Marks a verb form derived with n- and -dü or -'jüdü as having a second-person agent/subject.


ö-

allomorph of öt- (detransitivizing prefix).


-nöjü

Forms transitive causative verbs from intransitive verbs with patient-like arguments.


-mjü

allomorph of -nöjü (causative suffix) used when syllable reduction is triggered on the first syllable.

allomorph of -nüjü (causative suffix) used when syllable reduction is triggered on the first syllable.


-nö'

allomorph of -nöjü (causative suffix) used when syllable reduction is triggered on the second syllable.


-nü'

allomorph of -nüjü (causative suffix) used when syllable reduction is triggered on the second syllable.


-nñe

Marks postpositions as having plural objects and adverbs as having plural referents.


otoneja

tlb

(Caura River dialect, intransitive, agentive)

From öt- (intransitivizer) + oneja (“to test, to measure”).

af

to weigh oneself, test oneself, measure oneself


öödeta

(Caura River dialect, intransitive, patientive) to rest


nünnöjü

From n- (agent indicator) + ünükü (“to sleep”) + -nöjü (causative suffix).


-ñö

Allomorph of -nö used for stems that end in i.


-ajö

From Proto-Cariban *-sapô. Cognates in most other Cariban languages do not allow any person marking; this innovation seems largely restricted to Ye'kwana and languages of the Panare and Pemon groups.

Forms nouns with perfective-past-participle-like meaning (‘the fact that X was done’) from verbs, which can take patient-like person markers and which, if intransitive, must bear the intransitive prefix w-.


-kajö

Allomorph of -ajö (nominalizing suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k.


-yajö

Allomorph of -ajö (nominalizing suffix) used for stems that end in i.


-aajö

allomorph of -ajö (nominalizing suffix) used for stems that end in a and stems of at least three syllables that end in o or ö


-ñei

Allomorph of -nei (agentive suffix) used for stems that end in i.


-nei'jüdü

[-nejʔçɨɾ̠ɨ]

Apparently from -nei (agentive suffix) + -'jüdü (past nominalizer); but note that while -nei can only attach to transitive verbs, -nei'jüdü attaches to intransitive verbs.

The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include:

forms a noun indicating completed action (from which one has subsequently moved or come) from an intransitive verb


-ñei'jüdü

[-ɲejʔçɨɾ̠ɨ]

allomorph of -nei'jüdü used for stems that end in i


ükajü

(Caura River dialect, transitive) to weave


-chojo

allomorph of -tojo (instrumental nominalizer) used for stems that end in i


-to'

allomorph of -tojo (instrumental nominalizer) used when followed by -komo or -me


-cho'

allomorph of -tojo (instrumental nominalizer) used for stems that end in i when followed by -komo or -me


-mü

Forms nouns with nominalized-participle-like meanings from adverbs formed from verbs with t- -e, with the noun referring to the patient argument of transitive verbs or the sole argument of intransitive verbs: ‘the one X-ing’ (intransitive), ‘the one to X’, ‘the one being X-ed’ (transitive).


-aamo

Suppletive plural form of -mü (passive-participle-like nominalizer), used obligatorily with intransitive verbs and some transitive verbs and optionally with other transitives.


-kkwa

Allomorph of -ka (privative verbalizer) used when a preceding syllable with consonantal onset and vowel u is reduced and in other unclear circumstances.


-dö

forms transitive verbs from a small handful of nouns


-dö

attaches to locational adverbs and certain special postpositions to indicate that they express the destination of a movement; -to, to


-wü

Forms verbs, perhaps from nouns, although almost all verbs formed with this suffix no longer have a corresponding unsuffixed form.


-'ñö

Forms transitive or intransitive verbs from loanwords.


t- -ke

Forms adverbs from nouns with a resulting meaning of ‘having X’, ‘with X’.


t- -e

Forms adverbs with a participle-like meaning from verbs; must be accompanied by an indicator specifying the role of the verb argument to which the participle refers (intransitive argument w-, transitive agent n-, or transitive patient ∅-).


tü-

Allomorph of t- used for stems that begin with a w or that begin with a consonant and have a first vowel other than u or i.


-emje

forms adverbs from verbs with a resulting meaning of ‘ready to X’, ‘capable of X’ for intransitive verbs and ‘ready to be X-ed’, ‘capable of being X-ed’ for transitive verbs; must be accompanied by the prefix t-


-emje

forms adverbs from verbs with a resulting meaning of ‘recently X-ed’


t- -emje

forms adverbs from verbs with a resulting meaning of ‘ready to X’, ‘capable of X’ for intransitive verbs and ‘ready to be X-ed’, ‘capable of being X-ed’ for transitive verbs


-'cha

allomorph of -'da (negative suffix) used for stems that end in i


i- -'da

allomorph of -'da (negative suffix) used for intransitive verb stems that begin with two consonants


i- -'cha

allomorph of -'da (negative suffix) used for intransitive verb stems that begin with two consonants and end in i


-jünka

From -jünü (noun negation suffix) + ka (interrogative particle).

Forms a tag question, asking for confirmation.


yööjünka

From iyö (inanimate invisible demonstrative pronoun) + -jünka (tag question clitic).

used in reaction to another clause to request confirmation: Is it true? Really?


-'de

Used on nonpast finite verb forms to indicate that the action described by the verb will or must be performed later, after some delay.


ö'kö'de

From öjö (irregular alteration of ejö) + -kö (imperative suffix) + -'de (delayed suffix); unlike other imperatives, this form is lexicalized with -'de attached and never appears without it, and, when a delayed imperative is meant, a second -'de must be suffixed to the word.
For the initial vowel in the irregular root form *öjö, compare Trió ëepï, Panare ëpï.

irregular alteration of <i class="Latn mention" lang="mch">ejö</i>


-nü

allomorph of -dü (relativizing clitic) used after the past imperfective suffix -anö


-nü

(non-productive) Forms certain nouns whose possessed forms take no further suffix, with no clear semantic contribution.


yaawö

Probably from iyö (inanimate invisible demonstrative pronoun) + awö (“in”). Compare the construction of Trió irëme, derived from the Trió cognate of iyö and having a very similar meaning to yaawö.

Then, so, and so; used in the explanation of events to indicate a transition from one to the next.

Focalizes an element of a sentence by isolating it after the particle.


-dö'ja

oneself, itself, himself, herself, etc. (as an intensifier)


-dö'jaato

From -dö'ja (“in turn, oneself”) + -ato (nominalizer).


-aiñe

Intensifier used especially in contexts of annoyance or irritation.


wauj

(of water and hair) fwooshing, sweeping down


tüss

(of something big) falling, booming, crashing down


ü-

Allomorph of y- (first-person prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants and have a first vowel other than u.


öy-

(Caura River dialect) allomorph of ö- (second-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a vowel i, ö, or ü


ay-

(Caura River dialect) allomorph of ö- (second-person prefix) used for stems that begin with a vowel a or e


kü-

Allomorph of k- (first-person-dual-inclusive prefix) used for stems that begin with a consonant and have a first vowel other than u or i.


chö-

allomorph of y- (third-person prefix) used for postposition stems that begin with a consonant j, n, w, or y


kün-

Marks a transitive verb in a distant past tense (perfective -i or imperfective -akö) as having a third-person agent/subject and patient/object.

Marks an intransitive verb with agent-like or patient-like argument in a distant past tense (perfective -i or imperfective -akö) as having a third-person argument/subject.


küm-

Allomorph of kün- (distant past third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with j and have a first vowel other than u or i.


kini-

Allomorph of kün- (distant past third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants.


kim-

Allomorph of kün- (distant past third-person prefix) used for stems that begin with j and have a first vowel i.


mön-

Marks a transitive verb as having a first-person or first-person-dual-exclusive agent/subject and a second-person patient/object.


möm-

Allomorph of mön- (first-person agent/second-person patient prefix) used for stems that begin with j.


möni-

Allomorph of mön- (first-person agent/second-person patient prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants.


öö-

Marks a noun, and specifically a kinship term, as having a reciprocal possessor: each other’s.

Marks a postposition as having a reciprocal object: each other.


adö

From Proto-Cariban *arô (“to take, to carry”).


aduwaawö

From Proto-Cariban *ôterɨwawô. Compare Kari'na óruwa, Akawaio osorowa, Yao (South America) terrewaw.


aichü

(transitive) to insert (something) into a hole


aakene

(interrogative) how? what? in what way or manner?


aakene yeijökö

(Cunucunuma River dialect, interrogative) why is it?


akoicha

(transitive) to end, to finish (something)

(transitive) to end, to finish (someone), to terminate or exterminate, to kill


amoinche

being distant in terms of family relations, not closely related


aakö

From Proto-Cariban *atjôkô (“two”). Compare Kari'na oko, Yao (South America) tage.


aakö'kö

From aakö (“two”) + -'kö (diminutive suffix).


ajissa

(Caura River dialect) Alternative form of ajisha (“the great egret, Ardea alba egretta”)


ajissaamö

the yellow-backed tanager, Hemithraupis flavicollis

the Venezuelan troupial, Icterus icterus


ödemi

Coordinate term: aichudi

long (2–3 days) communal ceremonial chant performed at major events and festivals to purify involved objects of ritual pollution/taboo (amoi)


akudi

Ultimately from the same source as Old Tupi akuti.

agouti, specifically the red-rumped agouti, Dasyprocta leporina


i- -jai

allomorph of -jai (abilitative adverbializer) used for intransitive verb stems that begin with two consonants


i- -emje

allomorph of -emje (adverbializer of novelty) used for verb stems that begin with two consonants


i- -mje

allomorph of -emje (adverbializer of novelty) used for certain verb stems that begin with two consonants


öm-

allomorph of ön- (negative/sociative irrealis prefix) used for stems that begin with m or j.


öni-

allomorph of ön- (negative/sociative irrealis prefix) used for stems that begin with two consonants.


-anö

From -a (recent/distant past imperfective suffix) + -nö (recent past imperfective suffix).

af

Forms the singular of the recent past imperfective tense.


-neto

From -ne (distant past tense suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix).

forms the plural of the distant past perfective tense when the arguments of the verb include a mix of one third-person argument and one first- or second-person argument


-töne

From -tö (distant past non-third-person plural suffix) + -ne (distant past tense suffix).

forms the plural of the distant past perfective tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are first- or second-person


-akene

From -a (recent/distant past imperfective suffix) + -kene (distant past imperfective suffix).

Forms the singular of the distant past imperfective tense when at least one of the arguments of the verb is not third-person.


-akento

From -a (recent/distant past imperfective suffix) + -kene (distant past imperfective suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix) or -akene (distant past imperfective singular suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix). The reduction of the ne syllable is synchronically irregular and suggests this suffix is analyzed as a single unit by current speakers.

forms the plural of the distant past imperfective tense when the arguments of the verb include a mix of one third-person argument and one first- or second-person argument


-a'kene

From -a (recent/distant past imperfective suffix) + -tö (distant past non-third-person plural suffix) + -kene (distant past imperfective suffix).

forms the plural of the distant past imperfective tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are first- or second-person


-akö

From -a (recent/distant past imperfective suffix) + -kö (distant past imperfective third-person suffix).

Forms the singular of the distant past imperfective tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


-a'to

From -a (recent/distant past imperfective suffix) + -kö (distant past imperfective third-person suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix) or -akö (distant past imperfective third-person suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix).

Forms the plural of the distant past imperfective tense when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


-kakene

Allomorph of -akene (distant past imperfective singular suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k.


-ka'kene

allomorph of -a'kene (distant past imperfective non-third-person plural suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k


-kakento

allomorph of -akento (distant past imperfective mixed-third-person plural suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k


-kakö

Allomorph of -akö (distant past imperfective all-third-person singular suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k.


-kanto

Allomorph of -anto (recent past imperfective third-person plural suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k.


-kanö

Allomorph of -anö (recent past imperfective singular suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k.


-kato

Allomorph of -ato (recent past imperfective non-third-person plural suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k.


-ka'to

Allomorph of -a'to (distant past imperfective all-third-person plural suffix) used for stems with a reducing final syllable that begins with k.


-yakene

Allomorph of -akene (distant past imperfective singular suffix) used for stems that end in i.


-ya'kene

allomorph of -a'kene (distant past imperfective non-third-person plural suffix) used for stems that end in i


-yakento

allomorph of -akento (distant past imperfective mixed-third-person plural suffix) used for stems that end in i


-yakö

Allomorph of -akö (distant past imperfective all-third-person singular suffix) used for stems that end in i.


-yanto

Allomorph of -anto (recent past imperfective third-person plural suffix) used for stems that end in i.


-yanö

Allomorph of -anö (recent past imperfective singular suffix) used for stems that end in i.


-yato

From -ya (recent/distant past perfective suffix) + -to (plural verb suffix).

Forms the plural of the recent past perfective tense of the verb ei (“to be”) when the arguments of the verb are third-person.

Forms the plural of the distant past perfective tense of the verb ei (“to be”) when both the agent and patient (if there is one) of the verb are third-person.


-yato

Allomorph of -ato (recent past imperfective non-third-person plural suffix) used for stems that end in i.


-ya'to

Allomorph of -a'to (distant past imperfective all-third-person plural suffix) used for stems that end in i.


-chöne

allomorph of -töne used for stems that end in i


-ñeto

allomorph of -neto used for stems that end in i


ütö

¿Össa küntaakö tüwü?

2008, speaker ‘Anl’ from Boca de Piña (CtoWoshi.005), recorded in Cáceres, Natalia (2011), Grammaire Fonctionelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana, page 355


owanoma

From owano (“acquaintance, known person”) + -ma (verbalizer).