Anishinaabemowin Pronounciation

Front 1

namadabi

Back 1

'sits down'

Front 2

baashkizigan

Back 2

'gun'

Front 3

aagim

Back 3

'one snowshoe'

Front 4

maajaa

Back 4

'goes away'

Front 5

waabaamaa

Back 5

'to see him / her'

Front 6

epiichaak

Back 6

'time'

Front 7

zheba

Back 7

'morning'

Front 8

biindige

Back 8

'to enter'

Front 9

nini

Back 9

'man'

Front 10

mawi

Back 10

'cries'

Front 11

niin

Back 11

'I'

Front 12

giizhigak

Back 12

'day'

Front 13

googii

Back 13

'dives'

Front 14

objikaaz

Back 14

'to use'

Front 15

nokii

Back 15

'works'

Front 16

a
This is the sound "schwa" as in English but, cup, among, tuba.

Back 16

anishinaabe 'anishinaabe'
namadabi 'sits down'
baashkizigan 'gun'

Front 17

aa
In English, this sound occurs in words like father, pot, opposite. Note that slight variation may exist between speakers, and a single English speaker might not pronounce the vowels in these words exactly the same way.

Back 17

aagim 'one snowshoe'
maajaa 'goes away'
waabaamaa 'to see him / her'

Front 18

e
This sound has no exact counterpart in English, but occurs in the French word café. In English, we tend to pronounce café, as if it rhymes with obey or say; we diphthongize it, pronouncing it with two vowels -- [e] plus an sound - spoken together quickly. This is a mark of an American accent. Try to produce a clear simple [e]. To an English speaker, this vowel may sound more like the vowel in bet.

Back 18

epiichaak 'time'
zheba 'early'
biindige 'to enter'

Front 19

i
In English, this sound occurs in words like bit, little, sip. It is not difficult for English speakers to say, but in English this sound never occurs at the ends of words, as it does in Anishnaabemowin. English speakers will tend to mispronounce the at the ends of the words above, turning them into <ee>, rhyming with knee.

Back 19

nini 'man'
mawi 'cries'

Front 20

ii
This sound occurs in the English word knee, peach, beat, each.

Back 20

niin 'I'
giizhigak 'day'
googii 'dives'

Front 21

o
The letter <o> in Anishnaabemowin represents a variety of sounds in English. It may sound like the <au> in caught, or the <u> in put. In some dialects, it is pronounced as <a> (see above). Listen to the recordings and you might hear some of this subtle variation.

Back 21

objikaaz 'to use'
nokii 'works'
bigiza 'to swim'

Front 22

oo
This combination represents the long <o> sound as in "boat," "know," or "toe."

Back 22

oodenang 'town'
goon 'snow'
pimbatoo 'runs along'

Front 23

NASAL VOWELS
aanh
nokiiyaanh

Back 23

'I work'

Front 24

NASAL VOWELS
enh
nisawenh
gii'enh

Back 24

'my older brother'
'I was told'

Front 25

a
This is the sound "schwa" as in English but, cup, among, tuba.

Back 25

anishinaabe 'anishinaabe'
namadabi 'sits down'
baashkizigan 'gun'

Front 26

aa
In English, this sound occurs in words like father, pot, opposite. Note that slight variation may exist between speakers, and a single English speaker might not pronounce the vowels in these words exactly the same way.

Back 26

aagim 'one snowshoe'
maajaa 'goes away'
waabaamaa 'to see him / her'

Front 27

e
This sound has no exact counterpart in English, but occurs in the French word café. In English, we tend to pronounce café, as if it rhymes with obey or say; we diphthongize it, pronouncing it with two vowels -- [e] plus an sound - spoken together quickly. This is a mark of an American accent. Try to produce a clear simple [e]. To an English speaker, this vowel may sound more like the vowel in bet.

Back 27

epiichaak 'time'
zheba 'early'
biindige 'to enter'

Front 28

i
In English, this sound occurs in words like bit, little, sip. It is not difficult for English speakers to say, but in English this sound never occurs at the ends of words, as it does in Anishnaabemowin. English speakers will tend to mispronounce the at the ends of the words above, turning them into <ee>, rhyming with knee.

Back 28

nini 'man'
mawi 'cries'

Front 29

ii
This sound occurs in the English word knee, peach, beat, each.

Back 29

niin 'I'
giizhigak 'day'
googii 'dives'

Front 30

o
The letter <o> in Anishnaabemowin represents a variety of sounds in English. It may sound like the <au> in caught, or the <u> in put. In some dialects, it is pronounced as <a> (see above). Listen to the recordings and you might hear some of this subtle variation.

Back 30

objikaaz 'to use'
nokii 'works'
bigiza 'to swim'

Front 31

oo
This combination represents the long <o> sound as in "boat," "know," or "toe."

Back 31

oodenang 'town'
goon 'snow'
pimbatoo 'runs along'

Front 32

NASAL VOWELS
aanh
nokiiyaanh

Back 32

'I work'

Front 33

NASAL VOWELS
enh
nisawenh
gii'enh

Back 33

'my older brother'
'I was told'