Tanacross Learners' Dictionary
PRELIMINARY VERSION
compiled by Irene Solomon Arnold, Gary Holton, and Rick Thoman
Copyright © 2006 Alaska Native Language Center. The materials on this site, including Tanacross language transcriptions and audio recordings are intended for educational and reference purposes only. Commmercial use is strictly prohibited. Reproduction for non-profit educational purposes is permitted, provided appropriate citation is included. See complete terms of use. Please direct questions and comments to gary.holton@uaf.edu.Browse the glossary using this index
Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O
P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL
B |
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babiche: ALSO spruce roots SYN rawhide stripes ch'enxet thin snowshoe webbing |
baby: SYN infant ch'egaay baby animal |
baby basket: |
baby strap: |
bachelor: |
back (direction): toward the back k'éetah back to where it was yaandíi k'éetah nîi'itshah he, she or it went back to where he was. |
back (of the body): my back shinxǎan' my upper back SEE spine |
backbone: my backbone shnehts'ųų my spinal cord SYN spine |
backwards: chenent'aagh ts'į́' áahaał he or she is walking backwards |
bad: bad, poor quality łâan éł t'êey ts'antleeg ts'į́' éltsįį it is poorly made ts'axuntleeg it's bad, not safe, be on the lookout tęy ts'axuntleeg the road is bad tidaxghintthet a situation, place turned bad, is not normal tidaxdintthet a situation, place is bad |
bad breath (halitosis): he has bad breath |
bad mood: she or he is in a very bad mood miiní' shíi tnáalttthet she or he is in a very bad mood |
bag: old time women's skin bag for holding tools saak a bag, sack ssǎag' my bag |
bald: ch'etey wutthí' kedz xúnłęę the old man is bald wutthí' xághíntleek he went bald, lost his hair LITERALLY 'his hair wore out' |
bale (fish): I am baling fish |
ball: ch'uxeel old time willow ball |
bandage: it is bandaged, wrapped LITERALLY 'something is tied up' |
bandana: SYN handkerchief |
bank (of land): river bank meth níideex the bank is crumbling |
bannock: SYN frybread |
barefoot: nah'ôg kentsįįth ehdenh natedaak she or he is outside walking barefoot |
bark (dog): it is barking łii iin xehttheh the dogs are barking ch'ée'aldíik it is giving a warning bark naxáh'enh it bark, senses something out of the ordinary. |
bark (of tree): tree bark ch'elaht'ûudz outer bark ch'elahts'eyh shax old time bark house |
bashful: she is bashful SYN shy imperfective paradigm
ts'éhxeh gaay unétshąą | ||||||
basin: wash basin |
basket: birch bark basket k'įį tth'áatl baby basket tth'áak ét-tl'uun woven basket |
bat (animal): |
bat (for hitting): SYN club |
bathe: he is bathing dêech'egtséł I am bathing |
batter: łéets néltsel ektseyh I am making batter |
be: |
beach: SYN shore |
beads: nat-tl'êdz nihkón' shiny beads ch'enih'ées I am doing beadwork, sewing with beads imperfective paradigm
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beak: its beak SYN bill ALSO chin |
bean: kidney beans LITERALLY 'little kidney' |
bear: bear (general term) shos sęy black bear (Urus americanus) ch'éliitthǒgh' brown bear SYN grizzly bear (Urus arctos ) |
Bear Creek (Mile 1357 Alaksa Highway):Sht'ey Teyy' Nda' |
bearberry: jîiz ndǎagh' (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) |
beard: my beard SYN whiskers |
beat (as in a game): she or he beat him or her (at a game) shlsǎaz' ładedheknęyh I lost my money (in a game) ładedhegnęyh I lost (at a game) |
beat (drum): he is beating it (drum) imperfective paradigm
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beat (with a spoon): she or he is beating it, stirring it |
beaver: (Castor canadensis) tsá' íin xaa'ół beavers are swimming together tsá' kę̌ę' beaver lodge |
because: k'á xníntthogh n'éł tihdâal, ishndaay gha I can't stay with you long because I'm working xanich'ulnęy gha ch'e dádéhnęy he is keeping quiet because he is intimidated. êy gha sú' táhchąą le' sų́ų' tahchąą lé' because of that it will probably rain éł ghįhshâaddh éł xúltlet. it's slippery because it snowed. |
beckon: come along, lets go (said along with a motioning gesture) |
becoming: xey ts'į́' xáattheł it's becoming winter |
bed: ALSO rack, drying rack |
bedding: ALSO rug, mat, mattress |
bee: |
beehive: |
beetle: |
before: ch'et-ttheh nach'ih'áatl I ate before them nuhttheh ahead of you all nuhttheh dą́'ą tah ts'enihthet I woke up way before you all |
beg: |
behind: behind (nearby) łii deshax nandîidz eedah the dog is sitting behind its house nnandîidz sits'enal'iin nek-'ęh I see a window behind you yaadíi tah nek-'ę́ę' I saw him way behind on the trail. |
bell: |
belly: my belly SYN abdomen |
belly-button (navel): my belly-button SYN navel |
belongings:wughandá' xúudlaay he's surrounded by his belongings SYN possessions |
below (from): daashěz' chíh tęy xunłeen sixúnt'eh there is also a trail from down below |
belt: nthédh' nt'ih? where is your belt? |
bend: I am bending it nanįhxót you are bending it nanalxót it (trees, brush) are bent over tanelket it is bent back |
bend over (a person): you are bending over xanén' xúghék-'ah I am bent over, hunched over |
berry: general term, but especially referring to blueberries ch'inłuut unripe berries, but especially referring to blueberries nit-sįį' blueberry (less commonly used than jêg) naaxęy jêg nagoonberry, frogberry nihmá' silverberry tsaanttheetl high bush cranberry SYN currant ntl'ét low bush cranberry nkáatl salmonberry dendéyh bearberry jîiz ndǎagh' bearberry naht'êez blackberry SYN crowberry danch'ǒg' raspberry daníhdûuy red currant (berry) (Ribes triste) |
Berry Creek (AK Hwy xng @ Mile 1372): LITERALLY 'caribou mountain creek' |
beside: next to, besides menh k'eddh łóoghihhaał I am walking around beside the lake. dóo iin nk'eddh dixdéltth'ih? who all is sitting next to you? SYN alongside |
best: the best kentsįįth ch'etth'íh shíi nsųų ts'į́' éltsiin si1nt'eh these look like the best moccasins |
better: it is better than that one \de |
between: shtlęę iin daateg didhihdah I'm sitting between my friends |
beyond: wunaattheh beyond him wułǐig' wunaattheh aahaał his or her dog is walking ahead him or her |
bicep: my bicep |
big: big dendîig chox nek-'ęh I see a big moose ncháax it is big dendîig ncháax the moose is big |
Big Dipper: the constellation popularly called "Big Dipper" was used to tell time |
bill (bird): it's bill, beak SYN beak ALSO chin |
bind: |
binoculars: |
birch: birch tree ch'elaats'eyh peeled birch bark dahshú' birch catkins k'įįł birch sap k'įį ts'ědl' outer birch bark (paper) łuudh dwarf birch SYN buckbrush, mountain willow |
bird: general term for birds tsúgaay t'ox bird nest |
birth (give birth): she had a baby |
birth canal: her birth canal, vagina |
birthday: his or her birthday |
bite: I bit it łii shíi'éł the dog bit me |
bitter (taste): it is bitter ch'ondeyh tnínts'îig t'êey ghishná' medicine usually tastes bitter ldîil tatnínts'îig strong (bitter) tea SYN sour |
black: it is black wuche' chíi shę́ę' xdát-sęyh the tip of his tail is completely black dat-sęy the black one jâan tthíishúus dát-sęy sínt'eh this is a black hat |
blackberry: SYN crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) |
blackbird: rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) |
blacken: she or he is blackening it |
blackout: she or he blacked out |
bladder: it's bladder |
blade: blade or edge seey k'á' na'ihk'aax I am sharpening my knife blade |
blame: she or he blamed him or her yits'į́' xédaxdénį́htset she or her blamed him or her |
blanket: blanket, cloth blanket ch'ethéth ts'ěd' skin blanket wudzih théth ts'ěd' caribou skin blanket (with hair on) ch'ets'iiz ts'ěd' caribou skin blanket when the hair is wearing off. |
bleed: shinłá' dhiht'eddh éł deł xúnłęę I cut my hand and it is bleeding shintsįį deł my nose is bleeding |
blend (together): liquids are blended, mixed together |
blessing: I received a blessing |
blind (unable to see): she or he is blind |
blink: light blinks off and on SEE wink |
blister: minłá' k'et tuułot nídélneyh a blister appeared on his or her hand |
blizzard: it is snowing and windy |
block: it is blocked dâatth'i'ilshaay éł dedaxdéltsįį she or he came in the house in fear and so blocked up the house |
blood: shintsįį deł my bloody nose ch'inkąąy boiled blood (from moose, caribou) |
bloodshot: my eyes are bloodshot |
blossom: blossom, sprout xt'aghihdlâay k'ót'êey ch'exanihshaan I planted something and it is already blossoming, sprouting |
blouse:ALSO shirt |
blow: I am blowing on it yehshok she or he is blowing on it |
blow (nose): I am blowing my nose chiitah ish-thį́įth I am blowing my nose |
blue:deldlêedz jâan tthíishúus deldlêedz sínt'eh this is a blue hat |
blueberry: berries in general, but usually referring to blueberries nit-sį́į' ripe blueberries ch'inłuut unripe (green) blueberries ALSO hail ch'indą̌ąy' flower of blueberry (that grows into berry) |
bluff: SYN cliff |
boat:ts'eyh modern boat or skiff k'įį ts'eyh birch bark canoe wudzih theth ts'eyh caribou skin boat lxǒdz' large skin boat ts'eyh tl'á' stern of a boat ghihkeeł I'm going by boat
naghishkeeł | ||||||
body: his or her whole body ALSO spirit ch'ethěeg' dead body SYN corpse ssék my torso, upper body |
bog: SYN swamp |
boil:ekmeets I'm boiling it imperfective paradigm
shaadeh sâay ehmeets | ||||||
bone: |
book: ALSO paper |
boots: mukluks ch'edzaa théth kench'ǒdl' caribou legging mukluks |
border: border or edge (of something) wumâagh nanettl'uun sínt'eh it is sown along the edges ALSO edge |
boreal owl: (Aegolius funereus) |
bored: I am bored literally 'boredom is killing me' ts'axnintthenh she or he is bored, has nothing to do, lethargic nah'ôg ehchaan éł ts'axnintthenh it is raining outside so she or he is bored |
born:Fairbanks deh ch'e shexunłeen I was born in Fairbanks mexunłęę she or he or it was born Saagescheeg deh ch'e mexunłeen she or he was born in Ketchumstuk (and has passed away) |
borrow: |
botfly (caribou fly): |
bother: he's bothering it sh'éł nádájéhłaay that sound is bothering me sų́'ų wu'éł nách'ų́hłaay don't bother it |
bottom: it's bottom ALSO sole shkentsįįth keetl'aa the bottom of my moccasin |
bounce: I am bouncing it yach'ehdeth it is bouncing (up and down) shég yik'et ts'į́' yach'ehdeth it is bouncing up and down on it |
bow (weapon): a bow ts'ehtįį' tl'ǔul' bow string |
bowl: |
box: ALSO casket, coffin |
boy: boy tsiil gaay young boy |
boyfriend: my boy or girlfriend LITERALLY 'the one I usually go around with' ALSO girlfriend |
brag: she or he is bragging about him or her self dach'áa' ég'ęh I did something to brag about |
braid: I am braiding it
shtthí' néktl'uuł | ||||||
brain: my brain |
branch: tree branch ch'ethuchěnn' stump of branch remaining after branch is broken off or a knot in wood |
brave: |
bread: |
break: it is broken down, not working aałel etxotl the car is broken down shgáan' étxoł my arm is broken łatnetxotl broken up
xátnekxótl | ||||||
break-up:łuut téedéek the ice is breaking up tenh téedéek the ice is ready to move, break up |
breast: my breast |
breastbone: my breastbone |
breath: my breath |
breathe: I am breathing
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bridge: ALSO fish weir yaanâan xtsiil kenin'ah a bridge crosses the water |
bright (visual): it is bright |
bring: she or he brought it jah yinin'ąą she or he brought it here tthíish_úus nin'ąą she or he brought a hat dayinintąą he brought it in (stick-like object) neeshax nîits'iltęę we brought him back to our house xûuy iin éł taghinłeeł bring those things with you too xaghį́htęę she or he brought him, her or it (animal) out (by reaching into something) tehmíił shíi ts'enh łuug xaghį́htęę s/he brought out a fish from inside the fishnet shchêl shaa tsets nîidelsheek my younger brother is bringing in wood for me |
brisket: |
brittle: |
broke (no money): I'm broke |
broken: |
broom: wu'éł jet-thîid |
broth: SYN soup |
brother:shundaagh my older brother shchêl my younger brother |
brother-in-law:shłenh my brother-in-law (man's) shxeh my brother-in-law (women's) |
brown:deltthogh the brown one jâan eek deltthogh sínt'eh this is a brown coat deltthox it is brown ch'eliitthǒgh' déltthox grizzly bears are brown ALSO yellow |
bruise: bruise, black and blue mark wudǎagh' tsetl ni'it-'ąą somebody gave him or her a black eye iltúuts it is swollen, bruised xetnélttheey éł wutthí' iltúuts it (for example, a rock) fell down and bruised his/her head |
brush: ts'étl tah nihshah I went through the brush |
brushman:gųų Brush Indian. People in stories that lived apart from society and were often intent in capturing children or women. SYN wildman ALSO bug, insect, worm |
bubble: bubble xashotl bubbling xashotl edeex it is bubbling up |
buckbrush: SYN mountain willow, dwarf birch |
bucket: SYN pail |
bufflehead (duck): k'éłttheel (Bucephala albeola) |
bug (insect): general term for any kind of bug SYN insect ALSO worm, brushman, wildman kinds of bugs tehk'ąąy an orange and white bug that lives at the bottom of lakes, has and moves sideways. tehtsá'a water bug that can fly in the air ts'ąądihttheeg water bug, bloodsucker ts'aketl'aag a kind of bug or beetle |
build: |
bullet: SYN ammunition |
bumblebee: |
bump: I bumped it xets'ésdhektés I bumped my elbow xegótdhektés I bumped my knee |
bumpy: the ground is bumpy |
bundle: I bundled it, tied it together |
bunting (black snow): |
burbot: (Lota lota) SYN lingcod |
burl: SYN wood burl |
burn: it is burning k'ech'ii'aadl k'et díi ch'e deek'en'? what's that burning on the table? neldzeey k'ech'ii'aadl k'et deek'én' a lit candle is burning on the table natet-łeg deek'én' the car is running LITERALLY 'the car is burning' |
burst: it burst |
bury: she or he or it buries (something) deshí'i' taatsah it buries it's food dzenh deshí'i xey ukah etsah muskrat buries his food for winter chaatsah someone will bury something |
bush (away from town or village): ts'étl tah dhihdah I live in the bush |
busy: I'm keeping busy, passing time
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busy: I'm keeping busy, passing time
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but: k'áhmén dą́'ą xesadin'á', t'o k'ahdú' k'oth xu1nł̨ę it was sunny this morning, but it's cloudy now |
butcher: he is butchering it na'ek-'oł I am butchering it now |
butter: |
butterfingers: she or he has butterfingers, drops things SYN clumsy |
butterfly: |
buttocks (seat): my butt |
button: |
buy: I bought it
wukęy' k'á' ughinkéet
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by: ts'enîin etdzuug gha wunąą yédadée'ah the mischievous child was scolded by his or her mother |
