APWAD - A Potawatomi Word a Day

Mshimen - Apple

An apple, like many other plant foods, can be animate or inanimate, depending on whether it is connected to its life source.

Mshimnek - (Animate) Apples (connected to their life source - the tree)

Mshimnen - (Inanimate) Apples (disconnected and in the process of dying)

Gode mshimnek - These (animate) apples

Node mshimnen - These (inanimate) apples

Mshimnek gi yawik - Those are apples (animate)

Mshimnen ni yawnon - Those are apples (inanimate)

Ngoji - Somewhere

Ngoji pi - Sometime

Nwi mikchéwi wabek ngoji - I will work somewhere tomorrow

Nwi pamsé ngoji - I will go for a walk somewhere

Ggi zhya ne ngoji? - Did you go somewhere?

Gnebech gwi kigdomen ngoji - Perhaps we will speak somewhere

Wnago - Yesterday

Wnago ngi wabma o mekjako - Yesterday I saw a frog

Wnago ngi nodwa o mskwabenéshi - Yesterday I heard a cardinal

Wnago ngi mikchéwi bégishek - Yesterday I worked all day

Ni je ga zhechkéyen wnago? - What did you do yesterday?

Ni pi je ga zhyayen wnago? - Where did you go yesterday?

Wabek - Tomorrow

Wabek nwi mikjéwi bégishek - Tomorrow I will work all day

Tadiwgemek nwi zhya wabek - To the casino I will go tomorrow

Gnebech nwi minké wabek - Maybe I will pick berries tomorrow

Ni je wa zhechkéyen wabek? - What will you do tomorrow?

Ni pi je wa zhyayen wabek? - Where will you go tomorrow?

Koman - Knife

Komanen - Knives

Ni pi je i koman? - Where is that knife?

Ode se koman - Here is a knife/This is a knife

Mishen i koman - Hand me that knife

Byénan i koman - Bring that knife

Gdeton ne i koman? - Do you have a knife?

Émkwan - spoon

Émkwanen - Spoons

Ni pi je i émkwan? - Where is that spoon?

Mishen i émkwan - Hand me that spoon

Byénan i émkwan - Bring that spoon

Dapnen i émkwan - Pick up that spoon

Bdekjigen - Fork

Nin ma ode bdekjigen - This is my fork

Ode bdekjigen - This fork

i bdekjigen - That fork

Éi bdekjigen - That fork over there

Mishen i bdekjigen - Hand me that fork

Byédweshen i bdekjigen - Bring me that fork

Naden - Get something inanimate

Naden i mijem - Get the food

Naden i ziwtagen - Get the salt

Naden i nonagnabo - Get the milk

Naden i bkwéshgen - Get the bread

Naden i gbiskewagen - Get your coat

Nin géshe - Me too

Yesterday’s post, gé nin, is usually used within sentences.  Nin géshe can stand alone as a statement.

Gwi zhya ne ibe? - Are you going over there?

Éhe nwi zhya ibe - Yes I will go over there.

Hau, nin géshe. - Oh, me too.

Gé nin - Me too

Iw she anwe gé nin - I’m fine too

Gé gin - You too

Gé ginwa - You all too

Gé win - Him/her too

Gé winwa - Them too