APWAD - A Potawatomi Word a Day

Ngotek - One time/Once

Ngotek ga zhe wébek - It happened at one time (once upon a time)

Éwi mikwéndemyan ga zhe wébek ngotek - That I remember how it was once

Ngotek ga zhewébseyak - It happened to us one time

Ngotek ga zhewébseyan - It happened to me one time

Ngotek mine - Once again

Ntagze - He/she is sad

Ntagzemen - We are sad

Ntages - I am sad

Ngi ntages - I was sad

Ngi ntages wnago - I was sad yesterday

Ngi ntages wnago bégishek - I was sad all day yesterday

Cho weye - Nobody, No one

Cho ngi wabmasi weye - I saw no one (I didn’t see anyone)

Cho ngi nodwasi weye - I heard no one (I didn’t hear anyone)

Cho weye gi mikchéwisi shote - No one worked here

Cho weye gi byési - No one came

Cho weye gi majisi - No one left

Wéj byé - To be from a place

Ni pi je wéj byayen? - Where are you from?

Indiana ndoch bya - I am from Indiana

Ni pi je wéj byayék? - Where are you all from?

Oklahoma ndoch byamen - We are from Oklahoma

Ni pi je wéj byéwat? - Where are they from?

Wisconsin wéj byék - They are from Wisconsin

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Watéya! is often exclaimed by a Potawatomi man who is surprised, shocked, or amazed by something.  It is sometimes shortened to Téya!

Mamkatgemek!

Mamkaze means to be surprised, shocked, or amazed.  When a Potawatomi woman is surprised or amazed by something, she will often exclaim Mamkatgemek!

This expression is only used by women.  Potawatomi men say something else.

Wiskatémget - It’s unbearably hot

Wiskatémget ngom - It’s unbearably hot today

Wiskatémget zagech - It’s unbearably hot outside

Wiskatémget ne? - Is it unbearably hot?

Wi wiskatémget ne wabek? - Will it be unbearably hot tomorrow?

Gi wiskatémget wnago. - It was unbearably hot yesterday

Chomshe - Not yet

Chomshe ngi zhyasi ibe - I didn’t go over there yet

Chomshe ngi wéwébtasimen - We (-) didn’t start yet

Chomshe ngi bidgésimen - We (-) didn’t go in yet

Chomshe gi giwsési - He/she didn’t hunt yet

Chomshe gi mikchéwisik - They didn’t work yet

Wawen - Egg

Wawnon - Eggs

Ni pi je ni wawnon? - Where are the eggs?

Gdeton ne i wawen? - Do you have an egg?

Mkwemitaswenek ni wawnon - The eggs are in the fridge 

Wawnon nwi zaskokwadanen - I will fry eggs

Wawnon nwi gbatonen - I will boil/poach eggs