Kahta Mamook Kopa Chinook Wawa - How to speak Chinook
Chinook-English
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| Interrogatives | Prepositions & Conjunctions | Interjections & Exclamations |
| Interrogatives English-Chinook |
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Iktah? - What? (as an interjection or response). Note iktas
- things, belongings. Klaksta? - Who, which one? Na, nah - who, which one? Also used as an emphatic or interrogative particle, sometimes as a vocative. See interjections below. NB also naha or na'ah - mother. Ka? Kah? - where, whence, whither? Kahta? - How, why, what? Kunjih, kunsih - how many? |
| Prepositions & Conjunctions English-Chinook |
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Klonas, klonass - maybe, perhaps The usage of this word is similar to the Spanish quien sabe? or kisasz. e.g. as a reply to a question, means "I don't know". Kehwa - because, therefore Was not in common use, atlhough no other words for this exist, although pe in its sense of "then" could function as such. Spose - suppose, if Note that "suppose" in colloquial English is often used for "what if", rather than as a verb. Kloshe-spose - may I, please (i.e. "good if..."). Kahkwa spose - as if. Pe, pee - and, or, plus, but, if, then, besides Pe weght - and also, besides which. Pe kahta? - and why so? Also for emphasis, as in pe naika wawa wake - but I say, no. Pe is used for forming 'teens, etc. as in tahtlum pe ikt - eleven. This word is of Indian origin, as it is found in several Salishan and other languages, but note if used as an interjection, even with the meaning "and" and especially at the beginning of a phrase, the source of this usage may be the French of the fur trade era. Most North American dialects of French use "pi" for "puis" as a common interjection. Keschie, Kehtsie - notwithstanding, although Kahkwa - like, similar to, as Weght - even, also, in addition to Saghalie - above, up. Also means "heaven", "the sky", "holy", "sacred"
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| Interjections & Exclamations English-Chinook |
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Na, nah - a querying interjection - What? how's that? Isn't that so?
Also used as an empathic: e.g. cole nah! "It's really cold!" Na was also used as an interrogative particle to turn a phrase into a question. Gibbs says that in Yakima it is used as the vocative, and it also means who or which in both interrogative and pronomial senses. Usage of this particle is sometimes amazingly similar to ne in Japanese and colloquial German. Its etymology, however, seems to be related to that of nawitka, although a remote possibility exists it may be a German loan-word, or like wawa have its origins in remote contact with Asia in pre-Contact times. See also anah (below). Nawitka - , yes, indeed, right on, that's for sure In reply to a negative, it generally affirms the negative. e.g. Wake mika nanitc? Nawitka. - Did you not see? I did not. Ah-ha, e-eh - yes, expression of simple assent Accent on either syllable depending on context/emphasis. Al-ah - Expression of surprise Accent on second syllable. Hwah, hwah-wa - denotes surprise or admiration Also earnestness or sincerity, as in "no, really!" or "I promise" or "I swear it's true". Howh - hurry, turn to (an imperative interjection) Anah, an-ah, ad-de-dah- denoting pain, displeasure, or depreciation e.g. Anah nawitka maika halo shem - indeed you are without shame. Nah, na - yes, affirmative interjective Kweesh, kwish - contemptuous refusal, equivalent to "no, you don't" Newhah, nehwah - here, hither, bring it here, come e.g. newhah naika nanitch - here, let me see. Pe kahta? - and why so? But why? Howkwutl - an expression of inability e.g. howkwutl nika klatawa? - how could I go? perhaps from kwutl - press, crush, tighten (as in a bundle) |
| English-Chinook Chinook-English |
| Interrogatives Chinook-English |
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What? - iktah? kahta? When? - kah? Where? - kah? Which? Which one? - klaksta? Which? Which one? - nah? Who? - klaksta? Who? - nah? Why - kahta? But why? - pe kahta? How? - kahta? How many? - kunjih, kunsih? How much? - kunjih dolla? NB "Too much, expensive" - hiyu dolla or hyas mahkook. |
| Prepositions & Conjunctions Chinook-English |
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Maybe - klonas Perhaps - klonas Because - kehwa, pe Therefore - kehwa, pe And - pe If - spose, pe But - pe Then - pe Than - kahkwa, pe To - kopa In - kopa At - kopa With - kopa By - kopa Upon - kopa, kopa [object] latate Above - saghalie Up from - saghalie kopa Below - keekwullie Under - keekwullie Behind - kimta, kimtah Before - elip In front of - elip Across - enati Like - kahkwa
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| Interjections & Exclamations Chinook-English |
| Wow! - Hwah! Aha! - A-ha. Huh? - Nah? How's that again? - nah? Oh no! - Kweesh, ad-de-dah That's too bad! - No way! - Wake! For sure! - Nawitka! Right on! - Nawitka! Yuck! - Kweesh! |
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