APWAD - A Potawatomi Word a Day

Mekchako - Frog

Ggi wabma ne o mekchako?        Did you see that frog?

Ggi nodwa ne o mekchako?          Did you hear that frog?

Kche mekchako                          Big frog

Ggi nodwa ne o kche mekchako?   Did you hear that big frog?

Ni pi je o mekchako?                  Where is that frog?

Mbesek o mekchako                    The frog is by the lake

Zibek o mekchako                       The frog is by the river

Wawatesi - Lightening Bug/Firefly

Ni pi je o wawatesi?               Where is that firefly?

Wawatesiyek                         Fireflies

Ni pi je gi wawatesiyek?          Where are those fireflies?

Ngi wabma manek wawatesiyek      I saw many fireflies

Ggi wabma ne gi wawatesiyek ibe?   Did you see those fireflies over there?

Mno wabmenagwze o wawatesi         That firefly is beautiful

Jejauk - Crane

Ngi wabma o jejauk wnago      I saw that crane yesterday

Ngi nodwa o jejauk wnago        I heard that crane yesterday

Gwabma ne o jejauk?              Do you see that crane?

Ggi nodwa o jejauk dbekok?     Did you hear that crane last night?

Ni pi je o jejauk?                    Where is that crane?

Ésben - Raccoon

Ésbenek                   Raccoons

Ngi wabma nswéo ésbenek wnago    I saw three raccoons yesterday

Ggi wabma ne o ésben?                   Did you see that raccoon?

Ni pi je gi ésbenek?                         Where are those raccoons?

Ibe gi ésbenek                                 Those raccoons are over there

Kyébadzik gode ésbenek                  These raccoons are very naughty

Kyébadnagzik gode ésbenek             These raccoons even look naughty

Mshiké -Turtle

Nwabma o mshiké          I see that turtle

Ngi wabma o mshiké       I saw that turtle

Ggi wabma ne o mshiké?    Did you see the turtle?

Ni pi je o mshiké?            Where is that turtle?

Mbesek o mshiké              That turtle is by the lake

Mko - Bear

Ngi wabma o mko            I saw that bear

Ngi nodwa o mko              I heard that bear

Ggi wabma ne o mko?       Did you see that bear?

Ggi nodwa ne o mko?         Did you hear that bear?

Cho she ngi wabmasi o mko  I didn’t see that bear

Cho nwabmasi o mko            I don’t see that bear

Wabdan - To see something inanimate

Nwabdan i                 I see that

Gwabdan ne i?           Do you see that?

Ngi wabdan i             I saw that

Ggi wabdan ne i?       Did you see that?

Zagech ngi wabdan i    I saw that outside

Odanek ngi wabdan i    I saw that in town

Mbesek ngi wabdan i    I saw that at the lake

Cho she ngi wabdansi   I didn’t see that

Wabma - To see something animate

Nwabma o                  I see him/her

Gwabma ne o?            Do you see him/her?

Ngi wabma o nene       I saw that man

Nwi wabma o kwé        I will see that woman

Ggi wabma ne o nemosh?      Did you see that dog?

Cho she nwabmasi o              I don’t see him/her

Cho she ngi wabmasi o          I didn’t see him/her

Bkede’ - To Be Hungry

Mbekde’                  I am hungry

Gbekde’ ne?            Are you hungry?

Nbekde’men             We are hungry (excl.)

Gbekde’men             We are hungry (incl.)

Cho ne gbekde’si?      Aren’t you hungry?

Cho mbekde’si          I’m not hungry

Bkedék ne?               Are they hungry?

Pene’ shna gbekde’     You are always hungry

Cho wika - Never

Cho wika ndebanasi o                  I will never love him/her

Cho wika e’mikjewsi o                  He/she never works

Cho wika e’migadisiwat                 They never fight

Cho wika e’giwe’si o                     He/she never goes home

Cho wika e’wisnesiyan i wiyas        I never eat meat