Learn the Word of the Week

Language Revitalization

As part of revitalizing the Ojibwe Language on the Grand Portage tribal lands, we will be featuring a new Ojibwe word every week. We encourage you to use this word in your workday and hopefully outside of work as well. Check back periodically for new words.

These recordings are provided by Erik Martin Redix (Miskwaa anang), Ojibwe Language Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

About Pronunciation:

Ojibwe consonants have a similar pronunciation as English.
Vowels have the following pronunciation:

vowel	sounds like
a	the "u" in sun
aa	the "a" in father
e	the "ay" in day
i	the "i" in sit
ii	the "ee" in teeth
o	the "o" in go
oo	the "oo" in tooth

 

NPS Graphic / Design by Sofia V.

This week's word: nitaa-nagamowag (they are skilled singers)

This word consists of three parts that determine its meaning: nitaa-: skilled at, nagamo: singing, -wag: they (3rd person plural)

 

• nitaa-nagamowag

  
  

  How to say “they are skilled singers” in Ojibwemowin. This word consists of three parts that determine its meaning: nitaa-: skilled at, nagamo: singing, -wag: they (3rd person plural)

  Credit / Author:

  Erik Martin Redix, PhD (Miskwaa Anang), Ojibwe Language and Environmental Education Coordinator, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

  Audio Transcript

  nitaa-nagamowag, ni-taa-na-ga-mo-wag, nitaa-nagamowag

 

Daga Anishinaabemodaa!
(Let's Speak Anishinaabemowin!)

Click on each word to hear it spoken:

• Week of 8/3/2026: nitaa-nagamowag (they are skilled singers)
• Week of 7/20/2026: bagakinaagwad (it's clear)
• Week of 7/13/2026: gizhaate – (It’s hot!) referring to weather
• Week of 7/6/2026: abwi (paddle)
• Week of 6/26/2026: ogaa (walleye)
• Week of 6/22/2026: jiimaan (boat or canoe)
• Week of 6/15/2026: bakazhaawe (she or he is cleaning fish)
• Week of 6/8/2026: migiskan (fish hook)
• Week of 5/11/2026: anangokaa (it is a starry night)
• Week of 5/4/2026: nimaamaa (my mother)
• Week of 4/27/2026: moose (worm)
• Week of 4/20/2026: naadoobii (he or she collects sap or gets water)
• Week of 4/6/2026: manise (she or he gathers firewood)
• Week of 3/30/2026: negwaakwaan (tap)
• Week of 3/23/2026: ningizo (it is melting)
• Week of 3/16/2026: gezhibaabiseg (return - come back around)
• Week of 3/2/2026: aadizookaan (a sacred story)
• Week of 2/23/2026: waaboozokaa (there are a lot of rabbits)
• Week of 2/16/2026: weba’aagone (she or he is shoveling or plowing snow)
• Week of 2/9/2026: niinimoshenh (my sweetheart)
• Week of 2/2/2026: biinzikawaagan (coat)
• Week of 1/26/2026: odaabiisimoog (team of sled dogs)
• Week of 1/19/2026: indakiingwe (my face is cold)
• Week of 1/12/2026: zoogipon (it is snowing)
• Week of 1/5/2026: zhooshkwaa (slippery)

 

2025 Words by Week

Click on each word to hear it spoken:

• Week of 11/21/2025: dibaajimowigamig (classroom "the place of learning and sharing")
• Week of 7/14/2025: aazhogan (bridge)
• Week of 6/30/2025: wewebanaabii (she/he is fishing with a hook and line)
• Week of 6/23/2025: ode’imin (strawberry)
• Week of 6/16/2025: omiimii (pigeon)
• Week of 6/9/2025: gayaashk (gull or Herring gull)
• Week of 6/2/2025: bakwene (it is smoky)
• Week of 5/26/2025: minochige (she or he does a good job)
• Week of 4/21/2025: waawan (egg)
• Week of 4/14/2025: gimiwan (it is raining)
• Week of 4/7/2025: ininaatig (maple)
• Week of 3/31/2025: iskigamizigan (sugarbush)
• Week of 3/24/2025: maajigaa (the sap is starting to run)
• Week of 3/17/2025: animikiikaa (it is thundering)
• Week of 3/10/2025: diba’igiiziswaan (clock)
• Week of 3/3/2025: ingo-biboon (one year)
• Week of 2/24/2025: aadizooke (she or he is telling a sacred story or legend)
• Week of 2/10/2025: ode' (heart)
• Week of 2/3/2025: zhooshkwajiwe (she or he is sledding downhill)
• Week of 1/27/2025: waabooz (rabbit)
• Week of 1/20/2025: ningiikaj (I am cold)
• Week of 1/13/2025: dwaa'ige (she or he is making a hole in the ice)
• Week of 1/6/2025: dakaanimad (it is a cold wind)

 

2024 Words by Week

Click on each word to hear it spoken:

• Week of 12/30/2024: mikwam (ice)
• Week of 12/16/2024: zhingob (balsam fir)
• Week of 12/9/2024: zhakipon (wet snow is falling)
• Week of 12/2/2024: gizhiiyaanimad (the wind is blowing fast)
• Week of 11/25/2024 mizise (turkey)
• Week of 11/18/2024: adikameg (whitefish)
• Week of 11/11/2024: zoongide’e (she or he is brave)
• Week of 11/4/2024: biinjwebinige (she or he is voting)
• Week of 10/28/2024: zegizi (he or she is scared)
• Week of 10/21/2024: okosimaan (pumpkin)
• Week of 10/14/2024: bizhikiwi-wiiyaas (bison meat)
• Week of 10/7/2024: bine (Ruffed Grouse)
• Week of 9/30/2024: waatebagaa (there are bright leaves)
• Week of 9/23/2024: dagwaagin (it is fall)
• Week of 9/16/2024: manoominike (he or she is ricing)
• Week of 9/9/2024: gete-odaabaan (old car)
• Week of 9/2/2024: gikinoo’amaagan (student)
• Week of 8/26/2024: aabawaa (it is warm weather)
• Week of 8/5/2024: niimidaa! (Let's dance!)
• Week of 7/29/2024: miinan (blueberries)
• Week of 7/22/2024: wiingashk (sweetgrass)
• Week of 7/15/2024: waawaatesi (firefly)
• Week of 7/1/2024: baashkide (it explodes from heat)
• Week of 6/24/2024: wiigwaasike (she or he is gathering birchbark)
• Week of 6/17/2024: niibin (it is summer)
• Week of 6/10/2024: ginwashkad (the grass is long)
• Week of 6/3/2024: zagimekaa (there are many mosquitos)
• Week of 5/20/2024: bingoshikaa (there is an abundance of black flies)
• Week of 5/13/2024: gitige (she or he is planting or gardening)
• Week of 5/6/2024: zaagigin (it is sprouting from the ground)
• Week of 4/29/2024: noodin (it is windy)
• Week of 4/22/2024: aamiwag (they are spawning)
• Week of 4/15/2024: ziigwan (it is spring)
• Week of 4/8/2024: awan (it is foggy)
• Week of 4/1/2024: wawiyazh-giizhigad (it is trick day – April Fool’s Day)
• Week of 3/25/2024:biiwan (it is a blizzard)
• Week of 3/18/2024: gisinaa (it is cold weather)
• Week of 3/11/2024: waaban (it is dawn)
• Week of 3/4/2024: Maajitaadaa! (Let’s get started!)