This chapter introduces some Mi'kmaq vocabulary by themes: animals, body parts, elements of the calendar, colours, currency and food.
Note: All words in this chapter are in Francis-Smith orthography (see Chapter 3 for more details). The abbreviations "n.a" and "n.i." respectively mean "noun animate" and "noun inanimate".
Listen to the word sa'qitie'j (dragonfly) recorded by a Mi'kmaq elder Lmu'j Te'sipow Tiya'm Paqtɨsm Lentuk Kitpu
English
Mi'kmaq
Plural Mi'kmaq form
Fourth person Mi'kmaq form
Bat
Na'jipuktaq'nej (n.a.)
Na'jipuktaq'nejk
Na'jipuktaq'nejl
Beaver
Kopit (n.a.)
Kopitk
Kopitl
Bear
Mui'n (n.a.), muin (n.a.)
Mui'naq, muinaq
Mui'nal, muinal
Bear cub
Mui'ne'j (n.a.)
Mui'nejk
Mui'ne'jl
Bee
Amu (n.a.)
Amu'k
Amu'l
Bird
Jipji'j (n.a.)
Jipji'jk
Jipji'jl, jipji'tl
Black duck
Apji'jkmuj (n.a.), jikwij (n.a.)
Apji'jkmujk, jikwijk
Apji'jkmujl, jikwijl
Blackbird
Putlieskij (n.a.)
Putlieskijk
Putlieskijl
Blue Jay
Tities (n.a.)
Titiesk
Titiesl
Blue-winged Teal
Tma'qni (n.a.)
Tma'qni'k
Tma'qni'l
Bull
Matto'law (n.a.), latto'law (n.a.)
Matto'lawk, latto'lawk
Matto'lawl, latto'lawl
Butterfly
Mimikes (n.a.), mimikej (n.a.)
Mimikesk, mimikesjk
Mimikesl, mimikejl
Calf
Wenjitia'mu'j (n.a.)
Wenjitia'mu'jk
Wnejitia'mu'jl
Calf moose
Tia'mu'j (n.a.)
Tia'mu'jk
Tia'mu'jl
Caribou
Qalipu (n.a.)
Qalipuk
Qalipul
Cat
Kajuewj (n.a.), mia'wj (n.a.)
Kajuewjik, mia'wjk
Kajuewjl, mia'wjl
Caterpillar
Enkejit (n.a.)
Enkejijik
Enkejitl
Chicken
Ko'qoli'kwej (n.a.), ki'kli'kwej (n.a.)
Ko'qoli'kwejk, ki'kli'kwejk
Ko'qoli'kwejl, ki'kli'kwejl
Chipmunk
Apalqaqamej (n.a.)
Apalqaqamejk
Apalqaqamejl
Clam
E's (n.a.)
E'sik
E'sl
Cod
Peju (n.a.)
Peju'k
Peju'l
Cow
Wenjti'am (n.a.)
Wenjiti'amuk
Wenjiti'amul
Crane
Tmkwatiknej (n.a.)
Tmkwatiknejk
Tmkwatiknejl
Crow
Ka'qaquj (n.a.), ka'qawej (n.a.)
Ka'qaqujk, ka'qawejk
Ka'qaqujl, ka'qawejl
Deer
Lentuk (n.a.)
Lentukk
Lentukul
Dog
Lmu'j (n.a.), nmu'j (n.a.)
Lmu'jik, nmu'jik
Lmu'jl, nmu'jl
Duck or geese (domestic)
Takali'j (n.a.)
Takali'jk
Takali'jl
Dragonfly
Sa'qitie'j (n.a.)
Sa'qitie'jik
Sa'qitie'jl
Eagle
Kitpu (n.a.)
Kitpu'k
Kitpu'l
Eel
Ka't (n.a.), katew
Ka'taq, kataq
Ka'tal, katewal
Female dog
Skwesmuj (n.a.)
Skwesmujk
Skwesmujl
Female fowl
Skwe'w (n.a.)
Skwe'wuk
Skwe'wul
Flying squirrel
Saskatu (n.a.), sasqatu (n.a.)
Saskatu'k, Sasqatu'k
Saskatu'l, sasqatu'k
Foal
Te'sipowji'j (n.a.)
Te'sipowji'jk
Te'sipowji'jl
Fox
Wowkwis (n.a.)
Wowkwisk
Wowkwisl
Frog
Sqolj (n.a.)
Sqoljik
Sqoljl
Goat
Te'plj (n.a.), te'pulj (n.a.)
Te'pljik, te'puljik
Te'pljl, te'puljl
Goose
Sulumkw (n.a.), sinumkw (n.a.)
Sulumkwaq, sinumkwaq
Sulumkwal, sinumkwal
Groundhog
Mulumkwej (n.a.)
Mulumkwejk
Mulumkwejl
Halibut
Sanuk (n.a.)
Sanukk
Sanukl
Herring
Alanj (n.a.)
Alanjk
Alanjl
Horned owl
Titiklie (n.a.)
Titiklie'k
Titiklie'l
Horned serpent
Jipijka'm (n.a.)
Jipijka'muk
Jipijka'mul
Horse
Te'sipow (n.a.)
Te'sipowk
Te'sipowl
Kingfisher
Jikitli'kej (n.a.)
Jikitli'kejk
Jikitli'kejl
Kitten
Kajuewji'j (n.a.)
Kajuewji'jk
Kajuewji'jl
Lamb
Jijkluewji'j (n.a.)
Jijkluewji'jk
Jijkluewji'jl
Lobster
Jakej (n.a.)
Jakejk
Jakejl
Mackerel
Amalamek (n.a.)
Amalamekk
Amalamekl
Marten
Apistanewj (n.a.)
Apistanewjik
Apistanewjl
Mink
Jiakewj (n.a.), mujpej (n.a.)
Jiakewjik, mujpejk
Jiakewjl, mujpejl
Moose
Tia'm (n.a.)
Tia'muk
Tia'mul
Mouse
Apikji'j (n.a.), apukji'j (n.a.)
Apikji'jk, apukji'jk
Apikji'jl, apukji'jl
Muskrat
Ki'kwesu (n.a.)
Ki'kwesu'k
Ki'kwesu'l
Otter
Kiwnik (n.a.)
Kiwnikaq
Kiwnikal
Owl
Ku'ku'kwes (n.a.)
Ku'ku'kwesk
Ku'ku'kwesl
Partridge
Plawej (n.a.)
Plawejk
Plawejl
Pig
Kulkwi's (n.a.)
Kulkwi'sk
Kulkwi'sl
Piglet
Kulkwi'ji'j (n.a.)
Kulkwi'ji'jk
Kulkwi'ji'jl
Porcupine
Matues (n.a.)
Matuesk
Matuesl
Puppy
Lmu'ji'j (n.a.)
Lmu'ji'jk
Lmu'ji'jl
Rabbit
Apli'kmuj (n.a.), wapus (n.a.)
Apli'kmujk, wapusk
Apli'kmujl, wapusl
Raccoon
Amaljukwej (n.a.), amaljikwej (n.a.)
Amaljukwejk, amaljikwejk
Amaljukwejl, amaljikwejl
Robin
Jipjawej (n.a.), kapjakwej (n.a.)
Jipjawejk, kapjakwejk
Jipjawejl, kapjakwejl
Rooster
Lape'w (n.a.), nape'w (n.a.), jikijo'n (n.a.)
Lape'wk, nape'wk, jikijo'nk
Lape'wl, nape'wl, jikijo'nl
Salamander
Taqtaloq (n.a.)
Taqtaloqq
Taqtaloql
Salmon
Plamu (n.a.)
Plamu'k
Plamu'l
Seagull
Kloqntiej (n.a.)
Kloqntiejk
Klowntiejl
Sheep
Jijkluewj (n.a.)
Jijkluewjik
Jijkluewjl
Skunk
Apikjilu (n.a.)
Apikjilu'k
Apikjilu'l
Smelt
Kaqpesaw (n.a.)
Kaqpesaq
Kaqpesawul
Snake
Mteskm, mte'skm (n.a.)
Mteskmuk, mte'skmuk
Mteskml, mte'skml
Squirrel
Atu'tuej (n.a.)
Atu'tuejk
Atu'tuejl
Sucker
Komkwej (n.a.)
Komkwejk
Komkwejl
Sugar ant
Sismo'qone'j (n.a.)
Sismo'qone'jk
Sismo'qone'jl
Swallow
Pukwales (n.a.)
Pukwalesk
Pukwalesl
Trout
Atoqwa'su (n.a.)
Atoqwa'su'k
Atoqwa'su'l
Turtle
Mikjikj (n.a.)
Mikjikjik
Mikjikjl
Waterfowl
Sisip (n.a.)
Sisipaq
Sisipal
Wolf
Paqtɨsm (n.a.), paqtesm (n.a.)
Paqtɨsmuk, paqtesmuk
Paqtɨsmul, paqtesmul
Woodpecker
Apo'qatej (n.a.)
Apo'qatejk
Apo'qatejl
Young goat
Te'plji'j (n.a.)
Te'plji'jk
Te'plji'jl
English
Mi'kmaq
Arm
Npitnokom
Belly button
Nili
Chest
Npsewikn
Ear
Nsituaqn
Elbow
Ntluskinikn
Eye
Npukik
Finger
Ntlewikn
Foot
Nkat
Knee
Njikun
Hand
Npitn
Head
Nunji
Mouth
Ntun
Neck
Njitaqn
Nose
Nsiskun
Shoulder
Ntlmaqn
Stomach
Nmusti
Testicle
Nulsu
Thigh
Nkajikn
Thumb
Ntijin
Toe
Npsisqunan
English
Mi'kmaq
Autumn
Toqwa'q
Spring
Siwkw
Summer
Nipk
Winter
Kesik
English
Mi'kmaq
Literal meaning
January
Penamujuiku's
Frost fish runs
February
Apuknajit
Snow blinding month
March
Siewkesiku's
Forerunner of Spring
April
Penatmuiku's
Egg hatching time
May
Etquljuiku's
Frog croaking time
June
Nipniku's
Leaves are budding time
July
Peskewiku's
Animal fur thickens time
August
Kisikwekewiku's
Ripening time
September
Wikumkewiku's
Mate calling time
October
Wikewiku's
Animal fattening time
November
Keptekewiku's
Frost month
December
Kesikewiku's
Winter month
English
Mi'kmaq
Monday
Amskwesewey
Tuesday
Ta'puewey
Wednesday
Si'stewey
Thursday
Ne'wewey
Friday
Kweltamultimk
Saturday
Kespitekɨtek
Sunday
Ekntie'wimk
Since there is no adjectives per say in Mi'kmaq, the words in the table below are verbs meaning "He/she/it is black " (or another colour). All verbs shown are for the third person and are singular.
English
Mi'kmaq
Black
Maqtawe'k, maqtewe'k
Blue
Ewne'k
Brown
Tupkwanamu'k, jijijuwaqitewamu'k
Dark green
Stoqonamuksit
Deep blue
Musqunamu'k
Gold
Wisawisuliewey
Green
Stoqonamu'k
Grey
Sulieweyamu'k
Light blue
Musik'ewamuk'
Orange
Nikjawiknejewamu'k, wisawsulieweyamu'k
Pink
Nijinjewamu'k
Purple
Nisqunamu'k
Red
Mekwe'k
Yellow
Wisawe'k, wataptek
White
Wape'k
Since the vast majority of Mi'kmaq speakers are in Canada, this page lists the Mi'kmaq words for the different denominations for Canadian money.
Value
Mi'kmaq word
1¢
Smalkiewey
5¢
Kopitewey
10¢
Salpo'lkewey
25¢
Kaltie
$1
Newtayik
$2
Tapuayikl
$5
Nanayikl
$10
Metla'sayikl
$20
Tapuiskekayikl
$50
Naniskekayikl
$100
Kaskimtlnaqnayikl
Enmapejit Ejkujk Tmato's Moqopa'q
English
Mi'kmaq
Bannock
Lusknikn (n.i.)
Bread
Pipnaqan (n.i.)
Butter
Mlakeju'mi (n.i.)
Buttermilk
Sikupaqte'kn (n.a.)
Carrot
Enmapejit (n.a.)
Cheese
Te'plmasewei (n.i.), tepplma'sigewei (n.i.)
Cinnamon
Pkwejijk (n.)
Coffee
Kaffi (n.i.)
Cookie
Kalkunawei (n.i.)
Food
Mijipjewei (n.i.)
Food for breakfast
Eksitpu'kwatalmgewei (n.i.)
Hazelnut
Malipqwanj (n.i.)
Jam
Paskoqsikn (n.i.), passoqsikn (n.i.)
Meal
Mijjuaqan (n.i.)
Meat
Wius (n.i.)
Milk
Mlakejk (n.a.)
Moose fat
Tia'mu'mi (n.i.)
Moose meat
Tia'muei (n.i.)
Mushroom
Lketu (n.a.), sqoljui'kan (n.i.)
Pancake
Sisla'kwa'taqan (n.i.)
Pea soup
Wenjua'p'tew (n.i.)
Pepper
Te'pisewei (n.i.)
Porcupine meat
Matuesuei (n.i.)
Pork
Kulkwi'suei (n.i.)
Pork fat, lard
Kulkwi'su'mi (n.i.)
Potato
Tapatat (n.a.), tap'tan (n.a.)
Rhubarb
Sewlugowei (n.a.)
Salt
Salawei (n.i.)
Squash
Ejkujk (n.i.)
Soup
Lasup (n.i.)
Sugar
Sismoqn (n.i.), sismo'qon (n.i.)
Tea
P'tewei (n.i.)
Tomato
Tmato's (n.a.)
Turnips
Wenj'u'sɨpekn (n.a.), wenju'suqapun (n.a.), tanaps (n.a.)
Water
Samuqwan (n.i.)
Wild potato
S'kepn (n.a.)
Wine
Moqopa'q (n.i.)
Additional resources
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