Powhatan Words and Facts
Bogdan Manga
Algonquian
wingapo
English
my beloved friend,
hello
raccoon
raccoon
squash
squash
wigwam
house
wow
wonder and awe
werowance
chief, he is
wealthy
necut
one
ningh
two
nuss
three
yough
four
paranske
five
crenepo
woman
nemarough
man
yehawkans
houses
moccasins
shoes
tomahawk
axe
terrapin
sea turtle
Powhatan
waterfall
pokatawer
fire
attonce
arrows
netoppew
friends
marrapough
enemies
keshowse
sun
umpsquoth
moon
suckquahan
water
opaivwh
white
oussawack
yellow
musqua
red
mahcatawaiuwh black
mecher
eat
vunamun
see
nowwuntamen
hear
attemous
dog
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The Powhatan language, also known as the Virginia Algonquian,
has not been spoken for centuries because the modern Powhatan
Indians speak English. However, some Powhatan Indians
continue to use Powhatan today for cultural and religious
purposes.
The Powhatan Indians lived in Virginia, where they famously
interacted with the Jamestown colony. Some Powhatan
descendants still live in Virginia today. Other Powhatan Indians
were driven northward and their descendants live in Pennsylvania
and New Jersey.
The most famous Powhatan Indian was Chief Powhatan's
daughter Pocahontas. A lot of stories told about Pocahontas are
not true. Pocahontas was only eleven years old when she met John
Smith, and they did not have a romance. The story about
Pocahontas saving his life may not be true either. But Pocahontas
really did marry another English colonist, John Rolfe. It was the
most famous interracial marriage of the time. Pocahontas was
only 21 when she died, but many people are descended from her
son Thomas.
The Powhatan Indians lived in wigwams and longhouses.
Wigwams were covered in birch bark and the structure was made
from saplings.
In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, just
like early colonial children. They did have dolls and toys, such as
a miniature bow and arrow or hand-held ball games.
A website you can visit to find out more about the Powhatan
Indians is http://www.bigorrin.org/powhatan_kids.htm.
These are the types of
houses the Powhatan
Indians lived in. The
top one is a wigwam
and the bottom one is
a longhouse.