Learn Oneida

Module 4

NOTE: This page is still under construction!

Someone Being Here

Below is a number of paradigm tables for "someone being here".

Someone Being There (temporarily)

Below is a number of paradigm tables for "someone being there (temporarily)".

Someone Being At Home / Someone Residing There

Below is a number of paradigm tables for "someone being at home" or "someone residing there".

Note: in the tables above, there are two phrases that are peculiar: yáh teʔtehsí·tluʔ and yáh teʔtehsiʔtlu·táhkweʔ. It is fairly uncommon to see te followed by another te.

Someone Living There

Below is a number of paradigm tables for "someone living in an area".

Wanted / Thought

Times of day

Below is a bunch of phrases related to what time of day it is (not a specific clock time).

Times

EnglishTranslation
a long time
wahu·níseʔ
a short time
kʌʔ nikalí·wes
all the time
yaʔteka·kú·te
how long of a time?
Tó· niwahu·niʔsé̲
Tó· nahe

Day, daytime

EnglishTranslation
day
awʌhnísla̲ʔ̲
all day
kwʌʔtátiʔ
during the day
tsiʔniwʌhnísles
this day
Tó· niwʌhnisla·ké
daytime
kwaʔté·ke
every day
yaʔtewʌhnislaké

Morning

EnglishTranslation
(earlier) this morning
sʌhaʔ ast ́ éhtsiʔ
early morning
astéhtsiʔ
the other morning
oyá· tshitwastéhtsiʔ
morning
morning time
astehtsiwé·ke

Afternoon

EnglishTranslation
afternoon
yotukóhtu ʌt́i
noon
ʌ́ti
ʌ́tyʌ ni·káleʔ

Evening

EnglishTranslation
evening
early evening
late afternoon
yoʔkaláshʌ
yoʔkaláshu
when it was evening
tshiyoʔkaláshu
this evening
tonight
later this evening
ʌyó·kalahweʔ

Night

EnglishTranslation
night
né· wahsuta·té·
night-time
kwaʔshuté·ke
all night
kwaʔshutátiʔ
during the night
tsiʔ niwahsu·tés
every night
yaʔtewahsu·táke
midnight
ashú·tha
(when it got dark) last night
kwaʔshu·té·
this night
tonight
kaʔikʌ́wahsuta·té·
the other night
oyá· tshitkwaʔshu·té·
how many nights?
Tó· niwahsu·táke̲ʔ
when it gets dark
tshityó·kalas

Tomorrow

EnglishTranslation
tomorrow
ʌyólhʌne̲ʔ
tomorrow night
ʌyólhʌneʔ
ʌyó·kalaweʔ
tomorrow evening
ʌyólhʌneʔ
yoʔkala·sneʔ
the day after tomorrow
oyá· yʌtsyólhʌneʔ

Yesterday

EnglishTranslation
yesterday
the·tʌ́·
the day before yesterday
o·yá tshithe·tʌ́

Week

EnglishTranslation
all week
yaʔtewʌ·tá·ke
during the week
tsiʔ niwʌ·tés
every week
yaʔtewʌ·táke
last week
swʌtatkʌ́
next week
yʌswʌ·tát
how many weeks?
Tó· niwʌ·táke̲

Weekend

EnglishTranslation
weekend
yawʌtokta·u
this (coming) weekend
ʌwʌtokta
this past weekend
yautokta·u

Months

EnglishTranslation
month
awʌhní·taʔ
during the month
tsiʔ niwʌhní·tes
last month
swʌhniʔtatkʌ́
next month
yʌswʌ́hniʔtat
how many months?
Tó· niwʌhní·take̲ʔ

Years

EnglishTranslation
all year
Ohslakwekú
during the year
all year
through the year
tsiʔ niyóhsles
every year
nyaʔteyohslaké
last year
tsyohslatkʌ́
next year
yʌtsyohslá·teʔ
the other year
oyá· tshikohslá·ke
a particular year
kaʔikʌ́ yohsla·té·
how many years?
niyohslaké̲
one year after another
yohslaténi

Other Phrases

EnglishTranslation
always
tyóhtkut
eclipse
utʌhniʔtáhtuʔ
more often
sʌ́haʔ yotká·teʔ
never
yáh newʌtú
now
today
nuʔú·waʔ
nʌʔú·waʔ
often
yotká·teʔ
sometimes
swatye·lʌ́

Days of the week

EnglishTranslation
Sunday
Yautatokʌ́htu
Monday
Yautʌtá·u
Tuesday
Tekníhatut
Wednesday
Ahsʌ́hatut
Thursday
Kayelíhatut
Friday
Wískhatut
Saturday
Ʌtáktaʔ

On a specific day

EnglishTranslation
on Sunday
Yautatokʌhtu·neʔ
on Monday
Yautʌtaʔú·neʔ
on Tuesday
Teknihatútneʔ
on Wednesday
Ahsʌhatútneʔ
on Thursday
Kayelihatútneʔ
on Friday
Wiskhatútneʔ
on Saturday
Ʌtaktáhneʔ

Last...

EnglishTranslation
last Sunday
tshawʌtatokʌ́htu
last Monday
tshawʌtʌ·táneʔ
last Tuesday
tshaʔtekníhatuht
last Wednesday
tshiwahsʌ́hatuht
last Thursday
tshikayelíhatuht
last Friday
tshiwískhatut
last Saturday
tshiwʌtáktaʔ

Next...

EnglishTranslation
next Sunday
yʌswʌtatokʌ́htu
next Monday
oyá· yʌswʌtʌ·táneʔ
next Tuesday
oyá· nyaʔteskníhatuht
next Wednesday
oyá· nyaʔteswahsʌ́hatuht
next Thursday
oyá· nyaʔteskayelíhatuht
next Friday
oyá· yʌswískhatut
next Saturday
oyá· yʌswʌtáktaʔ

Months

EnglishTranslationLiteral translation
January
Teyakohúhtyaʔks
Their ears are freezing
February
Tshaʔtekohsélhaʔ
Half of winter
March
Tewʌhníslyaʔks
The day is cut in two
April
Wahsakayu·té·seʔ
It's thundering
May
Latiyʌ́thos
They plant
June
Awʌhihteʔ
 Strawberry
July
Ohyótsheliʔ
Green string bean
August
Onʌ́staseʔ
New corn
September
Yeyʌthókwas
Someone harvests
October
Yutékhwayʌheʔ
Someone stores food
November
Tehutʌnuhela·túheʔ
They give thanks
December
Wahsu·tés
It's a long night

Last month

EnglishTranslation
last January
Tshaʔteyakohúhtyaʔkskʌ́
last February
Tshaʔtekohselhaʔkʌ́

Next month

EnglishTranslation
next January
Tʌyakohúhtyaʔks
next February
Tshaʔtʌkohsélhaʔ

Clock Time

Clock time in Oneida is a bit tricky. Let's start with a couple words:
  • noon: ʌ́tyʌ ni·kále̲ʔ̲ OR ʌtí
  • midnight: ahsútha
  • morning: astéhtsiʔ
  • before: tyono·lúhe OR kalo tsiʔ niyo·lé· OR tsiʔ niyo·lé
  • after: yotukóhtu
  • half-past: tshaʔtewahsʌnʌ
So if someone asks you what time it is, and it's midnight or noon, you can simply sayahsútha or ʌtí, respectively. Now, let's look at a couple simple examples:
EnglishTranslation
1:00 a.m.
úska niyohwistá·e astéhtsiʔ
7:00 a.m.
tsyá·tak niyohwistá·e astehtsi
11:00 a.m.
úska yawa·lé niyohwistá·e astehtsi
1:00 p.m.
úska niyohwistá·e yotukóhtu ʌ́ti
7:00 p.m.
tsyá·tak niyohwistá·e yotukóhtu ʌ́ti
11:00 p.m.
úska yawa·lé niyohwistá·e yotukóhtu ʌ́ti
To incorporate minutes, there are a couple rules to establish...
  • When it's less than 30 minutes: "X minutes after the hour"
  • When it's exactly 30 minutes: "half-past"
  • When it's more than 30 minutes: "X minutes before the next hour"
If this is confusing, take a look at the examples below.
EnglishTranslation
2:05 a.m.
wísk nikahí·kalat yotukóhtu tékni niyohwistá·e astéhtsiʔ
3:30 a.m.
tshaʔtewahsʌnʌ́ áhsʌ niyohwistá·e astéhtsiʔ
4:50 a.m.
oye·lí· nikahí·kalat tyono·lúhe wísk niyohwistá·e astéhtsiʔ
2:05 p.m.
wísk nikahí·kalat yotukóhtu tékni niyohwistá·e yotukóhtu ʌ́ti
3:30 p.m.
tshaʔtewahsʌnʌ́ áhsʌ niyohwistá·e yotukóhtu ʌ́ti
5:50 p.m.
oye·lí· nikahí·kalat tyono·lúhe wísk niyohwistá·e yotukóhtu ʌ́ti
To make things even more confusing, you may instead hear:
EnglishTranslation
8:00 p.m.
téklu niyohwistá·e ʌyó·kalahweʔ
9:00 p.m.
wátlu niyohwistá·e yoʔkaláshʌ
10:00 p.m.
oye·lí· niyohwistá·e kwaʔashuté·ke
The new words above are:
  • yoʔkaláshʌ: evening (right now)
  • ʌyó·kalahwe: this evening / tonight
  • kwaʔashuté·ke: night-time
Lastly, we can use ostúha (a little bit) and nʌ́ kiʔ thóha (it is almost...) for more variety:
EnglishTranslation
2:05 p.m.
ostúha yotukóhtu tékni niyohwistá·e yotukóhtu ʌ́ti
4:55 p.m
nʌ́ kiʔ thóha wísk niyohwistá·e yotukóhtu ʌ́ti

Counting Lengths of Time

MinutesHoursDaysNights
1swasliyetaʔkuska kahwistaʔeksswʌhníslatswahsu·tát
2tewasliyetaʔktekahwistaʔekstewʌhnislakétewahsu·táke
3áhsʌ niwasliyetaʔkáhsʌ nikahwistaʔeksáhsʌ niwʌhnislakéáhsʌ niwahsu·táke
For some reason, the word for "minute" here is different than the word you would use when saying what time it is.
WeeksMonthsYears
1swʌ·tátswʌhní·tattsyóhslat
2tewʌ·táketewʌhní·taketeyóhslakeʔ
3áhsʌ niwʌ·tákeáhsʌ niwʌhní·takeáhsʌ niyóhslaké

Phone Numbers

The word for phone number is niwashe·tás. Below you will find the paradigms for "at someone‘s (own) house" and "at someone‘s (own) place of work", and some examples for how to use the word for phone number with the paradigms.

At Someone‘s House

Pronoun (EN)PronounPhraseTranslation
Iítsiʔ twakyoʔtʌ́staʔAt My own house
Youisétsiʔ tisyoʔtʌ́staʔAt Your own house
Helaulhátsiʔ thyoʔtʌ́staʔAt His own house
Sheakaulhátsiʔ tyakoyoʔtʌ́staʔAt Her own house
Itaulhátsiʔ tyyoʔtʌ́staʔAt Its own house
You and Itetniyáhsetsiʔ tyukniyoʔtʌ́staʔAt Our (you and I) own house
You twotesniyáhsetsiʔ tisniyoʔtʌ́staʔAt All your own house
Two malestehniyáhsetsiʔ tyukwayoʔtʌ́staʔAt Their (males, mix) own house
Two femalestekniyáhsetsiʔ tiswayoʔtʌ́staʔAt Their (females) own house
You all and Itwakwekutsiʔ thotiyoʔtʌ́staʔAt All our own house
All of youswakwekutsiʔ tyotyoʔtʌ́staʔAt All of yours own house

At Someone‘s Work

Pronoun (EN)PronounPhraseTranslation
Iítsiʔ twakyoʔtʌ́staʔAt My own work
Youisétsiʔ tisyoʔtʌ́staʔAt Your own work
Helaulhátsiʔ thyoʔtʌ́staʔAt His own work
Sheakaulhátsiʔ tyakoyoʔtʌ́staʔAt Her own work
Itaulhátsiʔ tyyoʔtʌ́staʔAt Its own work
You and Itetniyáhsetsiʔ tyukniyoʔtʌ́staʔAt Our (you and I) own work
You twotesniyáhsetsiʔ tisniyoʔtʌ́staʔAt All your own work
Two malestehniyáhsetsiʔ tyukwayoʔtʌ́staʔAt Their (males, mix) own work
Two femalestekniyáhsetsiʔ tiswayoʔtʌ́staʔAt Their (females) own work
You all and Itwakwekutsiʔ thotiyoʔtʌ́staʔAt All our own work
All of youswakwekutsiʔ tyotyoʔtʌ́staʔAt All of yours own work

Examples

EnglishTranslation
A telephone
teyethalákhwaʔ
yutwʌnataʔástaʔ
What's your phone number?
Náhteʔ niwashe·tás né· isé· sawʌ́ teyethalákhwa̲ʔ
My phone number is 445-1234.
445-1234 niwashe·tás tsiʔ teyethalákhwa̲ʔ
What's the phone number where you work?
Tó· niwashe·tás né· teyethalákhwaʔ tsiʔ nú· tisayoʔtʌ́staʔ
My phone number at work is 765-1234.
765-1234 niwashe·tás tsiʔ twakyo·té·ˍ
What's the phone number where you live?
Tó· niwashe·tás né· teyethalákhwaʔ isé· sawʌ́ tsiʔ tisatʌtíˍ
The phone number where I live is 445-1234.
445-1234 teyethalákhwaʔ niwashe·tás tsiʔ twakatʌtíˍ
What's the phone number at your house?
Tó· niwashe·tás teyethalákhwaʔ tsiʔ tisanúhsote̲ʔ
The phone number at my house is 445-1234.
445-1234 niwashe·tás tsiʔ twaknúhsote̲ʔ
What's your address (at your house)?
Tó· niwashe·tás tsiʔ tisanúhsote̲ʔ
I live at 1234 Oneida Road.
1234 niwashe·tás Onʌyoteʔa·ká· yoha·té· tsiʔ tkí·tlu̲ʔ

Roads

These are roads in the Oneida of the Thames community.
EnglishTranslation
Ballpark Road
Tehuttsihkwaʔéktaʔ Yoha·té·
Clara Road
Clara Yoha·té·
Elijah Road
Oskanu·tú· Yoha·té·
Elm Ave
Elm Yoha·té·
Evan John Road
Evan John Yoha·té·
Fairgrounds Road
Tethutkʌnyé·thaʔ Yoha·té·
Hazel Road
Hazel Yoha·té·
Highway 2
Tékni Niwashe·tás Yoha·té·
Highway 3
Áhsʌ Niwashe·tás Yoha·té·
Intersection
tetyohahá·sleʔ / teyohahá·seleʔ
Iroquois Road
Lotiʔskʌʔlhakehtú Yoha·té·
Longhouse Road
Kanúhses Yoha·té·
Nicholas Road
Nicholas Yoha·té·
Old Trail Road
Ohahaʔka·yú Yoha·té·
Oneida Road
Onʌyoteʔa·ká· Yoha·té·
Pheasant Drive
Pheasant Yoha·té·
River Road
Kawyhuhakta Yoha·té·
Townline Road
Kanata·yʌ́· Yoha·té·
Walker Road
Walker Yoha·té·
Williams Road
Williams Yoha·té·

Cities

Below is a list of cities. Kanatá·ke is the word for both "town" and "London" as it‘s a city near the Oneida of the Thames community.
EnglishTranslation
Chippewa / Muncey
Twakʌnhá·ke·
London
Kanatá·ke
New York City
Kanunolú·ke
Niagara Falls
Tsiʔ tetwaʔsʌ́thaʔ
Oneida, NY
Tsiʔtkanaʔalóhaleʔ
Tkanaʔlohaleʔ
Oneida, WI
Taluʔkowane
Ottawa
Kanatsyohalé·ke·
Six Nations Grand River Territory
Oshwe·kʌ́
St. Thomas
Tsiʔ tkanatáheleʔ
Strathroy
Ohkwalihné·
Toronto
Tsiʔ tkaluto
Washington, D.C.
Kanatakalyáhsneʔ
Lanatakalyashnekeʔ

Countries

Some continents and other words are also included.
EnglishTranslation
Canada
Kolahkowánhne̲
United States of America
Ostʌhlonú·ke
Europe
Ohutsyakayú·ke̲
China, Japan, Korea
Tehatikahlatí·luté·ke
North America (Turtle Island)
Anowalé·ke
The whole world
Ohutsyakwekú

Around the house

EnglishTranslation
attic, in the
tkanʌstó·teʔ
basement, in the
ohutsyá·ku
bathroom, in the
átsteʔ yʌtákhwaʔ
bedroom, in the
tsiʔ tyunuhwétstaʔ
dining room, in the
tsiʔ tyutekhunyá·thaʔ
entrance, in the
tsiʔ tyutawyaʔtákhwaʔ
garage, in the
tsiʔ tyuteʔslehtayʌtákhwaʔ
kitchen, in the
tsiʔ tyekhunyá·thaʔ
laundry room, in the
tsiʔ tyenohalenyutá·khwaʔ
living room, in the
tsiʔ tyutyʌtá·khwaʔ
outside
átsteʔ
stairs
yelathʌstá·khwaʔ
yard, in the
tewatʌʔʌlá·lu·heʔ
yard, in the back
onakʌ tyohutsyote
yard, in the front
ohʌtu tyohuysyote

At someone‘s place

EnglishTranslation
my mom's place
aknulhaʔké·ne
my dad's place
lakeʔnihné·ke
my grandmother's place
akhsotné·ke
my grandparents' place
yukhsothané·ke
my uncle's place
laknulhaʔké·ne
my aunt's place
yuknulhaké·ne
my older brother's place
lakeʔkʌʔné·ke·
my little sister's place
kheʔkʌʔné·ke·
my niece's place
kheyuwatʌné·ke
my son's place
liyʌʔné·ke·
my cousin's place
ukyalasé·ke·ne
my friend's place
ukyatʌló·ke·ne
David's place
Tawétné·ke·
Mary's place
Walíné·ke·

Places in the community

EnglishTranslation
at the ball park
tsiʔ tehuttsihkwaʔéktaʔ
at the band office
tsiʔ thatihashʌtákhwaʔ
at the bank
tsiʔ tyehwistayʌtákhwaʔ
at the bar
tsiʔ thatihnekila·thaʔ
at the bridge
twaskó·huʔ
at the casino / bingo
tsiʔ tethatihyatuslayʌ́takhwaʔ
at the car repair
tsiʔ thuteʔslehtunyá·tha
at the car wash
tsiʔ tyuteʔslehtohaleʔtákhwa
at the cemetery
tsiʔ thuwatiyaʔtataʔastha
at the church
tsiʔ tyutlʌnayʌtákhwaʔ
community centre
tsiʔ thutyaʔtaló·loks
at the dentist's office
tsiʔ thuwatinawilotákhwaʔ
at the doctor's office
latetsyʌ́htne·
at the dump / landfill
tsiʔ yeyakotyéhtha
tsiʔ yeyakotyéhtákhwaʔ
at the fairgrounds
tsiʔ tethutkʌnyé·thaʔ
at the fire station
luhswaʔtné·ke
at the fitness centre
tsiʔ thutyaʔtahnilátsta
at the gas station
tsiʔ tyutye nahní·nuheʔ
at the health centre
tsiʔ thuwatitsyʌtákhwa
at the hospital
tsiʔ teyutateshnyé·thaʔ
at the hotel
tsiʔ teyetástaʔ
at the jail
tsiʔ tyutatenhotú·khwaʔ
at the library
tsiʔ tyewʌnahnótakhwaʔ
tsiʔ thatihyatuslayʌtakhwaʔ
at the longhouse
kanuhséhsneʔ
at the mall
tsiʔ tyutʌhninuheʔkó·
at the drive in
tsiʔ twatasatálhaʔ
at the movie theatre
tsiʔ twatasatálhaʔ
at the playground
tsiʔ thutnutolyaʔ tákhwaʔ
at the police station
shakotiyé·nahsne̲ʔ
at the political office
tsiʔ tethatilihutá·kwas
at the post office
tsiʔ tyehyatuhslayʌtakhwaʔ
at the radio station
tsiʔ thutlʌnóthaʔ
on the reserve
ukwehuwé·ne
at the restaurant
tsiʔ tyutekhunyá·thaʔ
at the school
tsiʔ tyutatlihunyʌní·thaʔ
at the store
tsiʔ tyutʌhní·nuheʔ
in town
kanatá·ke

Particles

OneidaEnglishExamples
kwáh ok tsyoʔk nú·
all over
Kwáh ok tsyoʔk nú· yehé·lehskwe kwaʔshu·téˍ·
He was all over last night.
kwáh ok tsyoʔk nú· kanatá·ke
all over town
Kwáh ok tsyoʔk nú· kanatá·ke yehé·lehskwe kwaʔshu·téˍ·
He was all over town last night.
áti kwáh tsyoʔk nú·
anyplace, wherever
Áti kwáh tsyoʔk nú· nʌhsé·shekeʔ, tho kyu ní· nú· sʌ́· tho yʌké·sheke̲ʔ
Wherever you're going to be, I will be there too.
ákteʔ nú·
elsewhere
Ákte nú· yehé·lehse̲ʔ
He's somewhere else.
kʌ́·tho
here
Kʌ́·tho kʌ́ í·lehse̲ʔ
Is he here?
yáh kánikeʔ
no place / nowhere
Yáh kánikʌ thyeyáknehskweʔ kwaʔshu·téˍ·
S.o. & I were not anywhere last night. (We didn't go anywhere.)
kátshaʔ ok nú·
somewhere
Kátshaʔ ok nú· Ostohlonú·ke yʌhlé·shekeʔ swʌ·tát
He will be somewhere in the United States next week.
thó
there
Thó kʌ́ yehélehseʔ tsiʔ thoyo·téˍ·
Is he at work?
Kánke
when?
Kánke thó yʌhsé·sheke̲ʔ
When will you be there?
tshi-
when
Kanaʔtsyohalé·ke· teknáklehkweʔ tshikeksá·
I used to live in Ottawa when I was a kid.
nʌ
when
Thó yʌké·shekeʔ nʌ thó yʌhsé·sheke̲ʔ
I will be there when you get there.
tsha nú· / tsiʔ nú· / thó nú·
where
Yáh tewakanúhteʔ tsha nú· ní·lehse̲ʔ
I don't know where he is.
tshaʔ nú· / kátshaʔ nú·
where?
Kátshaʔ nú· ní·lehseʔ né·n Tshyalé
Where is Charlie?
aya·wʌ́·s kwi
hopefully
Aya·wʌ́·s kwi Hawaiʔi yʌké·shekeʔ yʌswʌ́·tat
Hopefully, I will be in Hawai'i next week.
yolihowanʌ́
it is important
Yolihowa·nʌ́ tsiʔ nok ʌwa·tú· kʌ́·tho ayʌ́·sheke̲ʔ
It's important that someone has to be here.
nok ʌwa·tú·
(it is a) must, have to
Nok ʌwa·tú· thó yʌké·shekeʔ ʌyólhʌne̲ʔ
I have to be there tomorrow.
teyotuhutsyúhu
(it is) necessary, need to
Yáh thaʔteyotuhutsyúhu thó yayʌ́·shekeʔ tsiʔ ʌyó·kalahwe̲ʔ
She doesn't need to be there this evening.
Tó· ni·kú
How many things / objects?
Tó· ni·kú snú·wehseʔ thi·kʌ́ˍ
How many of those do you like?
Tó· nitwatí
How many of us? (all of you & I)
Tó· nitwatí kʌ́·tho ítwehseʔ nuʔú·wa̲ʔ
How many of us are here now?
Tó· niyakwatí
How many of us? (they & I, not you)
Sanúhte kʌ́ tó· niyakwatí tyakwʌʔtlu·táhkweʔ thé·tʌ̲
Do you know how many of us were (at) home yesterday?
Tó· niswatí
How many of you all? (all of you)
Tó· níswatí yáh kʌʔ thaeswé·sheke̲ʔ
How many of you won't be here?
Tó· nihatí
How many of them? (males, males and females)
Tó· nihatí né· swalaʔsé·shuha Ostuhlonú·ke thatinakéhle̲ʔ
How many of your cousins live in the States?
Tó· nikutí
How many of them? (females)
Tó· nikutí thikʌ́ otikstʌhokúha swatátnuhkwe̲ʔ
How many of those old ladies are you related to?