Abenaki Language Tutorial
Here, once again, is the Abenaki Language basics page. Thanks for your patience in its absence. I have
much more material, I just need to format it for the web, but time is at a premium right now.
Conversational Abenaki
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Basic Lessons
David Julian Xanatos
Algonquin Medicine Society
April, 2000
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Kwai, agakigamwinno, n'dacowaldam agakimomek alnombaodwawogan
Hello, teacher, I want to learn Abenaki Language
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PART 1: Simple Questions
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Who? Awani?
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| Who is this? | Awani wa? |
| Who is that? | Awani na? |
| Who is he/she? | Awani agama? |
| Who is your friend? | Awani kidomba? |
| Who are you? | Awani kiya? |
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What? Gagwi?
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| What is this? | Gagwi yo? |
| What is that? | Gagwi ni? |
| What is that? (far away) | Gagwi sa? |
| What's happening? | Gagwi lla? |
| What did you say? | Gagwi kd'idab? |
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How (also when, where)? Toni?
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| How are you? | Toni kd'ollowzin? |
| How do you say... ? | Toni kd'idam... ? |
| How do you say it? | Toni kd'idamen? |
| Where do you work? | Toni kidaloka? |
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PART 2: Simple Statements
Want Cowaldam ("tsowaldam")
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| I want | N'dacowaldam |
| You want | K'dacowaldam |
| He/she wants | Odacowaldam |
| I want it. | N'dacowaldamen |
| You want it. | K'dacowaldamen |
| He/she wants it. | Odacowaldamen |
| I want this. | N'dacowaldam yo. |
| You want that. | K'dacowaldam ni. |
| He/she wants everything. | Odacowaldam mziwi. |
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Give Mili
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| Give me | Mili |
| Give him/her | Mila |
| Give them | Milak |
| Give me something. | Mili gagwi. |
| Give me this. | Mili yo. |
| Give her that. | Mila ni. |
| Give me everything. | Mili mziwi. |
| Give them a little. | Mili tagasiwi. |
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Good Oligun, Oligo
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| He/she (animate) is good. | Oligo. |
| It is good (inanimate, general) | Oligun. |
| Good day | Oligizgok |
| Well, that's very good. | Kamoji, pita ni oligun ("kamodzi") |
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PART 3: Greetings & Introductions
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| Hello | Kwai |
| How are you? | Toni kd'ollowzin? |
| I'm fine, and you? | N'wowlowzi, ta giya? |
| I also am very well. | Niya atsi, n'wowlowzi pita? |
| I am David. | Tabid niya. |
| This is John. | Azo wa. |
| That is John. | Azo na. |
| My friend is John. | Nidomba Azo. |
| He is John. | Azo agama. |
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PART 4: Making it more polite
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| Thanks | Olioni (wliwni) |
| Would you like... | Kwigiba... |
| Would you like to go towards the river? | Kwigiba losan lagwiwi ziboke? |
| With Pleasure | Wiagiwi |
| If you please | Liwlaldamana |
| Sweetheart | Gezeldigan |
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PART 5: Interjections!
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| Sure! | Chowi! |
| Now, as in "Now then" | Ca! |
| By gosh (wonder) | Kokwanokw! |
| Astonishment | Kokwizanokw! |
| Darn, damn | Kokwiz! |
© Copyright 2002 Xanatos Enterprises.
All rights reserved in all media.
Special Note: The Abenaki Language material on this page belongs to all peoples, and may be freely distributed,
shared, printed and propagated as you like. Pass it on.
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