Search the dictionary Advanced Search

How to use the Ojibwe People's Dictionary

burp
vi
burp
aagade vai s/he burps

megade vai s/he burps

megadeshki vai s/he always is burping

megadeshkaw vta (inverse only) something makes h/ burp

burp
vt
burp
megade' vta burp h/

burst
vi
burst out laughing
baashkaapi vai s/he bursts out laughing

burst
baashkikaa vii it bursts, ruptures

Paired with: baashkikaa vai

baashkikaa vai s/he bursts, ruptures

Paired with: baashkikaa vii

baashkijiishkaa vii it bursts open

Paired with: baashkijiishkaa vai

baashkijiishkaa vai s/he bursts open

Paired with: baashkijiishkaa vii

burst from heat
baashkide vii it explodes, blows up; it bursts from heat

Paired with: baashkizo vai

baashkizo vai s/he explodes, blows up; s/he bursts from heat

Paired with: baashkide vii

burst
vt
burst
baashka'an vti burst it (using something)

Paired with: baashka' vta

baashka' vta burst h/ (using something)

Paired with: baashka'an vti

baashkisidoon vti2 hit or drop and burst it

Paired with: baashkishim vta

baashkishim vta hit or drop h/ and burst h/

Paired with: baashkisidoon vti2

baashkijii'an vti burst it open (using something)

Paired with: baashkijii' vta

baashkijii' vta burst h/ open (using something)

Paired with: baashkijii'an vti

bite and burst
baashkam vta bite and burst h/

Paired with: baashkandan vti

baashkandan vti bite and burst it

Paired with: baashkam vta

bury
[ceremonially]
vt
bury
bagidenim vta
  1. release h/ from one's mind
  2. complete mourning for h/
  3. bury h/

Paired with: bagidendan vti

bagidenjigaazo vai s/he is buried (by someone), "they" bury h/

bury
[put in ground and cover]
vt
bury
ningwa' vta bury h/

Paired with: ningwa'an vti

ningwa'an vti bury it

Paired with: ningwa' vta

ningwa'amaw vta bury (it) for h/

ningwa'ige vai s/he buries things

ningwa'igaade vii it is buried (by someone), "they" bury it

ningwa'igaazo vai s/he is buried (by someone), "they" bury h/

buried in a certain place
dazhishin vai
  1. s/he lies in a certain place
  2. s/he is buried in a certain place

Paired with: dazhisin vii

bush
n
in the bush
noopiming adv loc in the bush; in the woods; inland

See also: noopimiing adv loc [BL]

bushel
n
certain number of bushels
daso-diba'iminaan qnt num a certain number of bushels; so many bushels

so many bushels
daso-diba'iminaan qnt num a certain number of bushels; so many bushels

bushy
adj
bushy
biigwawe vai s/he or it (animate) is bushy

business
n
do business
babaamizi vai s/he does business, goes about on his business

go about on business
babaamizi vai s/he does business, goes about on his business

The Ojibwe People's Dictionary is developed and maintained by:
Nora Livesay, Editor
John D. Nichols, Founder and Linguistic Editor

with support and collaboration from the University of Minnesota's Department of American Indian Studies and University Libraries.

Additional Resources

Many of the words in the Ojibwe People's Dictionary have related resources. Click through to the full dictionary entry to hear audio recordings, see images, read documents and watch videos. Here's a key to resource icons.

  • Audio recordings
  • Images
  • Video
  • Documents

Speakers & Regions Key

Individual speakers and speakers from different regions use different words when speaking. Each audio recording is marked with the initials of the Ojibwe speaker. Click on a speaker's initials to go to the speaker's bio page. If an Ojibwe word is particular to a certain region, it will be marked with a region code. Click on the region code to go to the Regions page.