Speak to Children

 

Kupcuwanumumun wuci kunicônunônak
We are proud of our children.

A fun way to begin learning our language is to practice saying Algonkian phrases instead of your usual English phrases when you speak to your children. Children learn and remember orders quickly. As you learn and use them, your children will also learn them and their meanings will stick. Here are some typical words and phrases you might say to your children. Note the variations in the phrases when you are speaking to more than one person.

Click on LISTEN to hear the words and phrases. Use the PLAY button to hear the audio. Use the REPEAT button to hear the audio again. Click on the GO BACK button to return to this page.

 

 

English LI Algonkian   Audio
Bad! Maci!   Listen
Yes! Nuks!   Listen
No! Mata!   Listen
Stop! Áhqi!   Listen
Look! Cuh!   Listen
Hurry up! Cáyhqatumsh!   Listen
Y’all hurry up! Cáyhqatumoq!   Listen
Go fast! Kipshôsh!   Listen
Y’all go fast! Kipshôq!   Listen
Listen! Kihtamsh!   Listen
Y’all listen! Kihtamoq!   Listen
Today! Yo kisk   Listen
Be happy! Worish!   Listen
Y’all be happy! Woriq!   Listen
It is good! Wurikun!   Listen
It is very good! Mutáwi wurikun!   Listen
I love you! Kuwômôrush!   Listen
Thank you! Táput ni!   Listen
Say please! Iwásh kuwihqitumôsh!   Listen
Y’all say please! Iwáq kuwihqitumôsh!   Listen
Come here! Yotay piyôsh!   Listen
Y’all come here! Yotay piyôq!   Listen
Hold my hand! Mihkunumsh nic!   Listen
We must go! Côci kutômun!   Listen
Go outside! Qacish!   Listen
Y’all go outside! Qaciq!   Listen
Walk! Pumshásh!   Listen
Y’all walk! Pumsháq!   Listen
Run! Qaqish!   Listen
Y’all run! Qaqiq!   Listen
Jump! Qihshôsh   Listen
Y’all Jump! Qihshôq!   Listen
Turn! Qipish!   Listen
Y’all turn! Qipiq!   Listen
Try! Qucish!   Listen
Y’all try! Quciq!   Listen
Get up! Awake! Tohkish!   Listen
Y’all get up / wake up! Tohkiq!   Listen
Get dressed! Aqush!   Listen
Y’all get dressed! Aquq!   Listen
Get ready! Qáhshapush!   Listen
Y’all get ready! Qáhshapuq!   Listen
Wash your hands! Kucusutawush kicish!   Listen
Where are you? Cáhak kutap?   Listen
Sit down! Mátapsh!   Listen
Y’all sit down! Mátapiq!   Listen
Sit by me! Kuski nahak mátapsh!   Listen
Y’all sit by me! Kuski nahak mátapiq!   Listen
Don’t move! Áhqi mámôciq!   Listen
Be quiet! Ciqunapsh!   Listen
Y’all be quiet! Ciqunapuq!   Listen
Listen to your elders! Kihtaw kucáyhsak!   Listen
Y’all listen to your elders! Kihtôhq kucáyhsak!   Listen
Let’s Go! Ôtuk!   Listen
Now! Yoyo!   Listen
Walk safely! Pumshásh nánáwihtiyi!   Listen
Y’all walk safely! Pumsháq nánáwihtiyi!   Listen
Be careful! Wáwôtamsh!   Listen
Y’all be careful! Wáwôtamuq!   Listen
Give it to me! Misum!   Listen
Y’all give it to me! Misiq!   Listen
Put it there! Nitay ponamsh!   Listen
Y’all put it there! Nitay ponamoq!   Listen
Drink water! Wutatamsh nupi!   Listen
Y’all drink water! Wutatamiq nupi!   Listen
Come to dinner! Piyôsh i wurôkpuwôk!   Listen
Y’all come to dinner! Piyôq i wurôkpuwôk!   Listen
Eat! Mitsush!   Listen
Y’all eat! Mitsuq!   Listen
Eat supper! Wurôkpuwush!   Listen
Y’all eat supper! Wurôkpuq!   Listen
Taste it! Qucitamsh!   Listen
Y’all taste it! Qucitamoq!   Listen
Don’t eat too much! Mata micush wusômi!   Listen
They are dirty! Nuskinôqusuwak!   Listen
You are very angry! Mutáwi kumusqôhtam!   Listen
Do you want to play? Kucôhtam pôhpuyan?   Listen
Let’s play! Pôhputuk!   Listen
Let’s dance! Mutákôtuk!   Listen
Say your prayers! Iwásh ôkosuwôkansh!   Listen
Y’all say your prayers! Iwáq ôkosuwôkansh!   Listen