Ojibwe Language I AIS 111
Pronunciation Key For Double Vowel Ojibwe1
A Note on Pronunciation: this orthography is made up of long and short
vowels, the former of which are emphasized.
Long Vowels
Vowel
Ojibwe (translation)
e
name (sturgeon)
esiban (raccoon)
Roughly Equivalent Sound in English
weigh
ii
zhiishiib (duck)
omakakii (frog)
knee
oo
makoons (bear cub)
aamoo (bee)
boot, boat
aa
waawaashkeshi (deer)
waagosh (fox)
father
Short Vowels
Vowel
Ojibwe (translation)
i
migizi (eagle)
amik (beaver)
Roughly Equivalent Sound in English
it
o
omakakii (Frog)
animosh (dog)
go
a
wazhashk (muskrat)
makwa
cup
Consonants (all the rest sound as they do in English)
Consonant Ojibwe (translation)
Roughly Equivalent Sound in English
g
nigig (otter)
goat
gaag (porcupine)
zh
1
ginoozhe (pike)
waabizheshi (martin)
treasure
This orthography was devised by Charles Fiero. For more detailed information
see Nichols & Nyholm 1995.
Other Sounds
Symbol
Ojibwe (translation)
Explanation
‘
gookooko’oo (owl)
A glottal stop, such as in: o-oh
baaka’aakwenh (chicken)
nh
giigoonh (fish)
bineshiinh (bird)
indicates nasalization of previous vowel
NUMBERS
Bezhig
Niizh
Niswi
Niiwin
Naanan
Ningodwaaswi
Niizhwaaswi
Nishwaaswi
Zhaangaswi
Midaaswi
Midaaswi ashi bezhig
Niizhtana
Nisimidana
Niimidana
Naanimidana
Ningodwaasimidana
Niizhwaasimidana
Nishwaasimidana
Zhaangasimidana
Ningodwaak