Introduction to Lakota:

Click on the button next to the Lakota sentence/word to hear it spoken.

Popular Sayings
yes	han
no	hiya
OK	ohan
All my relations; We are all related.	mitakuye oyas'in
Greetings, my friend. (Man speaking.)	Hau, kola.
Thankyou	pilamayaye
thanks	pila
by the way	lotkunkšni
I suppose	nacece
what's wrong?	toka he?   toka hwo?
Look! (woman speaking)	wanlawa!
Look! (man speaking)	wayanka!
don’t do that! (woman speaking)	he cušni ye
don’t do that! (man speaking)	he cušni yo
to find interesting	iska
What is that?	He táku hwo?
Where are you from?	Nitúktetanhan hwo?
Where do you come from?	Tuktétanhan yaú hwo?
Where are you going?	Tókiya la hwo?
Where have you been?	Tókiya yaúnhan hwo?
Where do you live?	Tuktél yatí hwo?
I'm happy to have met you.	Iyúškinyan wancínyankelo.
I'm glad you came.	Tanyán yahí yélo.
I'm glad to see you again.	Aké iyúškinyan wancínyankelo.
I wish to speak to you.	Wóciciyaka wácin.
I saw.	Wanbláke.
We had.	Unyúhapi.
I have a problem.	Šicáya ecámu.
I don't know.	Slolwáye šni.
Have you had enough to eat?	Óta wayáta hwo?
Are you full?	Ínipi hwo?
I'm full.	Ímapi yélo.
I'm hungry	lowacin
I don't feel good.	Omápišni yélo.
I have a stomach ache.	Tezí mayázan.
I feel better.	Mablíheca yélo.
Did you do this?	Lécanu hwo?
It is said.	Heyápi.
How do you say in Lakota?	Tóske Lakótiya eýapi hwo?
What is your name?	Táku eníciyapi hwo?
How old are you?	Waníyetu nitóna hwo?
What time is it?	Mázaškanškan tónahca hwo?
Come in. [to one]	Timá hiyúwo.
Sign in.	Oígwayo.
Stand up.	Inánjinyo. [to one]
Don't do it.	Ecúnšni yo.

Spoken Lakota Words:

to have gone to, have been at	wai
to say, read, count	yawa
to read, count, go to school	wayawa
to take, accept, receive	icu
to think, purpose, try to	wacin
well	tanyan
good; pretty	wašte
bad; ugly	šica
	nina
how many; which	tona
few	conala
smile	iĥa
quickly	iše
to shoot, hit something when shooting	o
	inaĥ
to swell	mna
to burn, singe, scorch, to be burned	g'u
to blow (with mouth)	pogan
all	oyasin
again	ake
all of you	po
all over on its way	sitomniya
and	na
armor (consecrated)	wotawe
alter	wagle wošnapi
come	u, uyekiya
drop	oĥpa
freedom	tawaiciya
ghost	wanagi
great, large	tanka
Great Mystery	Wakan Tanka
laugh	amapsa
light	janjan
listen	anogoptan
little	cikala
long	hanska
look	ableza (or) ayuta
look towards	etonwan
love	cantkiya
me	mis (or) miye
not	šni
pray	cekiya
shine	pawiyakpa
sit	iyotake
stay	oyuĥlagan šni
tobacco	canli
walk	mani
warm	kata
work	wowasi
wrap	yuwi
yoke	canglakinyan
you	nis (or) niye
young	ojilaka
to point at	épazo
splash (sound)	c'o
to dig	k'a
to die	t'a
to whistle	zho
to sing	lowan

Colors:

blue	to, toĥca
green	tozi, ziyato
white	ska
pink	šamna
red	ša, šaša, luta
brown	g'i
black	sapa
yellow	zi, zizi
silver	mazaska
gold	mazaska zi
orange	ziša
purple	toša
gray	hota

Cardinal Numbers:

zero; nothing	takuni
one	wanji
two	nunpa
three	yamni
four	topa
five	zaptan
six	šakpe
seven	šakowin
eight	šagloĥan
nine	nepcunka
ten	wikcemna
eleven	ake wanji
twelve	ake nunpa (etc.)
twenty	wikcemna nunpa
twenty-one	wikcemna nunpa ake wanji (etc.)
thirty	wikcemna yamni (etc.)
thirty-one	wikcemna yamni ake wanji (etc.)
fifty	wikcemna zaptan
hundred	opawing'e
one hundred and one	opawinge sam wanji
one hundred and three	opawinge sam yamni
one hundred and eleven	opawinge sam ake wanji
one hundred and thirteen	opawinge sam ake yamni
one hundred and thirty-three	opawinge sam wikcemna yamni ake yamni
two hundred	opawinge nunpa (etc.)
thousand	opawinge wikcemna
two thousand	opawinge wikcemna kin nunpa (etc.)

Ordinal Numbers:

first	tokeya
second	inunpa
third	iyamni
fourth	itopa
fifth	izaptan
sixth	išakpe
seventh	išakowin
eighth	išaglogan
ninth	inapciunka
tenth	iwikcemna
fifteenth	iake zaptan
twentieth	iwikcemna nunpa
twenty-fifth	wikcemna nunpa iake zaptan
hundredth	iyopawinge

Money:

money	mazaska
change	yušpušpupi
bank check	mniĥuhu mazaskaiícu
bank	mazaska tipi
penny	mazšala (or) mazaša okisela
nickel	kašpapi okise
dime	kašpapi
quarter	šokela
half dollar	mazaska okise
dollar	mazaska

Times of the Day:

one o'clock	mazaškanškan wanji
two o'clock	mazaškanškan nunpa
three o'clock	mazaškanškan yamni
four o'clock	mazaškanškan topa
five o'clock	mazaškanškan zaptan
six o'clock	mazaškanškan šakpe
seven o'clock	mazaškanškan šakowin
eight o'clock	mazaškanškan šaglogan
nine o'clock	mazaškanškan napciunka
ten o'clock	mazaškanškan wikcemna
eleven o'clock	mazaškanškan ake wanji
twelve o'clock	mazaškanškan ake nunpa
a little after one o'clock	mazaškanškan wanji damiye
one thirty	mazaškanškan wanji sam okise
a little before two o'clock	mazaškanškan nunpa kiyela
noon	wicokan
midnight	hancokan
a.m.	hinhanni eciyatan
p.m.	wicokanhiyasamya
morning	hinhanni
daytime	anpetu
afternoon	wicokanhiyaya
evening	ĥtayetu
night	hanhepi
anytime	tohantu keceyaš
always	ohinni (or) ohinniyan
yesterday	ĥtálehan
tomorrow	hanhépi kin
already, long ago	ehánni

Days of the Week:

Monday	Anpetu tokahe
Tuesday	Anpetu nunpa
Wednesday	Anpetu yamni
Thursday	Anpetu topa
Friday	Anpetu zaptan
Saturday	Owanka yujajapi   (wash day)
Sunday	Anpetu wakan   (holy day)

Name of Months:

January   (moon of hard winter)	Wioteĥikawi
February   (moon of popping trees)	Cannapopawi
March   (moon of snow blindness)	Ištawicaniyanwi
April   (moon of tender grass)	Pejitowi
May   (moon of green leaves)	Canwapetowi
June   (moon of June berries)	Wipazunkawaštewi
July   (moon of red cherries)	Canpašawi
August   (moon of ripening)	Wašutonwi
September   (moon of colored leaves)	Canwapeg'iwi
October   (moon of falling leaves)	Canwapekašnawi
November   (moon of starting winter)	Waniyetuwi
December   (moon of middle winter)	Wanicokanwi
spring	wetu
summer	bloketu
fall/autumn	ptanyetu
winter	waniyetu
cold weather	osni
Merry Christmas	Christ Tunpi
Santa Claus is coming	Waziya wana u

Compass Directions:

west	wiyoĥpeya
westward	Wiyoĥpeyata
north	wazi
northward	Waziyata
east	wiohiyanpa
eastward	Wiyohinyanpata
south	itokaga
southward	Itokagata

Shapes:

triangle	oblo yamni
square	oblotun
circle	mimela
rectangle	oblotun hansker

Anatomy:

soul	nagi
flesh	ceĥpi
body	tancan
skin/hide/bark	ha
horn(s)	he
tail	sinte
tooth	hi
hair	pehin
hair/fur	hin
voice	ho
bone(s)	huhu
blood	we
sinew/nerve/vessel	kan
head; muzzle	pha
head	nata
brain	nasula
face	ite
ears	nunge
shoulder	ablo
arm	isto
leg	hu
legs	huki
hand	nape
foot	si
finger	nab'okazunte
toe	sipha
ears	nuge
elbow	išpa
knee	cankpe
back	cuwi
belly	ikpi
heart	cante
lungs	cagu
liver	phi
breast	ma'ma
stomach	tezi
intestine	šupe
uterus	tamni
nose	phoge
eye(s)	išta
mouth	i
teats	aze
testes	susu
penis	ce
vagina	šan
anus	unze
skin	ha
mucus	phaĥli
tears	ištamni
saliva	tage
milk	asanpi
semen	hiyuye
urine	ieje
feces	cesli
"he sweats"	temni
yawn	iyoya
sick	kuje

People:

nation; people; genus	oyate
Lakota	Lakota
nation	tunwan
society	okolakiciye
camp; village; town	wicoti
family (extended), tribe/clan	tiošpaye
family (immediate)	tiwahe
relative	takuye
my relative	mitakuye
all my relatives	mitakuye oyas'in
male	bloka
female	winyela
man	wicaša
boy	hokšila
young man	koškalaka
old man	wicaĥcala
woman	winyan
girl	wicinca (or) wincincala
young woman	wikoškalaka
old woman	winuĥcala
baby	hokšicala (or) bebéla (or) wakan yeja
child	cincala
children	wakanheja (or) cinca
child (youngest)	hake
father	ate
mother	ina
husband	mihinga
wife	mitawin
grandfather	tunkašila (or) lala
grandmother	unci (or) kunši
grandchild	takoja
son	cinkši
son-in-law	takoš
daughter	cunkše or cunwitku
brother	sunka
brother (younger)	sunkaku
brother (man's older)	ciye
brother (woman's older)	tiblo
sister (man's older)	tanke
sister (woman's older)	cuwe
sister (man's younger)	tanksi
sister (woman's younger)	tanka
uncle	lekši
aunt	tunwicu
my aunt	mitunwi
your aunt	tunwi
nephew (man's)	tonska
nephew (woman's)	toska
niece (man's)	tonjan
niece (woman's)	tojan
male friend of a male	kola
female friend of a female	maške
chief/leader	itancan
leader (band)	otancan
soldier	akicita
brave	ohitika
Indian	Ikcewicaša
white (man)	Wašicu(n)
American	milahanska   (long knife)
enemy, stranger	toka
peace	olakota (or) wolakota
war	ozuye
battle	kicizap
announcer	eyapaha
anybody	tuwe kakeš
everybody; everyone	taníyohila
For relationships in detail	See Lakota Kinship Terms

Household Items:

tipi, house	tipi
lodge	inipi
roof; ceiling	tice
table	waglutapi
chair	oakanke, canakankapi
dish(es)	wakšica
bottle, glass	janjan
kettle/pot/bucket	cega
bag	ojuha
bag, meat	lolopiya
bag, sewing	ojuha wotuka
bag, medicine	wopiye
bag, pipe (cannunpa)	ojuha cante
bucket	cega
fork	wicape
knife	mila
spoon	cinška
stove	oceti
refrigerator	ošniognake
freezer	ošniyeognake
lamp	petijanjanye
bed	oyunke, oheglepi
book	wowapi
computer	wounspe omnaye
telephone	mas'apha
electricity	wakangli
radio	ikancola
television	wiciteowapi
car	iyecinka; inyanka; iyecinkinyanka
bus	iwathokšu
door	tiopa

Food:

apple	taspan
banana	ziškopa
cherry	canpha
plum	kĥanta
potato	blo
turnips	timpsila
pumpkin	wagmu
corn	wagmiza
barley	pšinska
rice (wild)	psin
rice (white)	psin ska
bean	omnica
beef	tálo
bread	aguyapi
butter	ašanpi wigli
eggs	witka
sugar	canhanpi
sugar, brown	canhanpi gi
salt	mniskuya
meat	talo
liver	pi
dried meat	pa'pa
pemmican	wasna
coffee beans	pejuta sapa
tea	waĥpe kalyapi
beer	mnipiga
water	mni
milk	asonpi
soup	wáhanpi
chocolate	pejutasazi
chocolate pieces-chips	pejutasazi ospe
cook	aloza
flour	owayunpan
leaven	napoĥya
fry bread	Wigli Unkagapi

The Natural World:

cloud; sky	maĥpiya
wind	tate
soil, earth	maka
field (cultivated)	maga
prairie	oblaye
mountain	ĥe
hill	paha
lake	bde
river	wakpa
metal	maza
rock	inyan
stone	iĥ'e
seed; bullet	su
red earth; vermillion	wase
stone	inyan
stone (sacred)	tunkan
tree, wood	can
bush	hu
fire	peta
sacred fire (lodge)	peta oihankešni
sun	anpetuwi
moon	hanhepiwi
star	wicaĥpi
water	mni
ice	caga
snow	wa
hail	wasu
storm	icamna
rain	magaju
dew	cu
fog	p'o
smoke	šota
flower	wanaĥca
leaves	waĥpe
weed, vegetables	watho, woĥe
grass	peji
root	huta
medicine	pejuta
acorn	uta

Native Wildlife:

animal (wild)	wamakaškan
animal (domestic)	waniyanpi
animal (spirit)	wamakaškanškan
antelope	heton
goat/sheep	heton cikala
badger	hoká
bear	mato
bear cub	matocincala
bear, black	matosapa
bear, grizzly	sakehanska
bear, white	matoska
beaver	cápa
bee	teĥmunga
buffalo bull	tatanka
buffalo cow	pte
cat (domestic)	igmu'
cat (cat-dog)	igmu' šunka(la)
cat (spotted wild cat, genet)	igmu' gleška
cat (bobcat, tiger)	igmu' gleza, igmu' glezela
cat (gray wildcat, lynx)	igmu' ĥota
cat (mountain lion, cougar, puma)	igmu' watogla
cat (lion, Indian Inspector)	igmu' tanka
coyote	šung'mahetu
cow	pte gleška
deer	taĥca, hekaza
dog	šunka
elk	heháka (or) heslatkala (or) unpán
fish	hogan
fox	šungíla, tokála, wicáĥanhan
frog	gnaška
bullfrog	wasin
gopher	itígnila
gopher (pocket)	wahínheya
ground squirrel	pispíza (or) tašnáheca
horse	šunkawakan, tašunka
horse (colt)	šunkcincala (or) cincala (or) šunkcica
jumping mouse	psipsicala
lizard	agleska
mink	íkusan
mouse	itunkala
muskrat	sinkpé
opossum	sintešlantanka
otter	ptan, hepan
porcupine	pahin
prairie dog	pispía
rabbit	maštíncala
raccoon	wica, wiciteglega
ruminant	ta-
skunk	maká
snake	zuzeca
snake (rattlesnake)	sinteĥlaĥla
spider	iktomi
squirrel	hetkála
squirrel, gray	zica hota
squirrel, red	zica
turtle	kheya
weasel	itukansan
Wolf	šung'manitu, cakši
wolf (great plains wolf)	šung'manitu tanka
butterfly	kimimila
grasshopper	gnugnúška

Native Birds:

bird	zintkála
blackbire	wáĥpa táanka
blackbird (redwing)	wábloša
blackbird (yellow-headed)	wápagica
buzzard	hecá
cowbird	pteyáĥpa (or) wáĥpakaĥota
crane	pehán
crane (white)	pehánska
crow	kangí
dove	wakínyela
duck	magáksica
duck (red-headed)	magášniyanla
duck (teal)	šíyagla
eagle	wanbli
eagle (bald)	anúnkasan
eagle (spotted)	wanblígleška
flicker	šúnlata
flycatcher	zintkázila cíkala
goose	maga, or magášápa
grouse	cánšiyo
gull	wicátankala
hawk	cetán
hawk (red leg)	canšká
hawk (night)	píško
heron	hoka
jay	zintkátogleglega
lark	ištánica tánka
magpie	halĥate (or) unkeék'ihe
meadowlark	jiálepa (or) tašíyagnunpa
owl	hinhán
prairie chicken	šiyó
quail	šiyó cíkala
robin	šišóka
sparrow	iĥúĥaotila (or) pácanšihuta
thrush	cáanguguyaša
woodpecker (downy)	toskála
woodpecker (red-headed)	wagnúka

Native American Hobbyist Words:

tipi/house	tipi (or) tiikceya
door	tiopa
tipi poles	tusu
lacing pins	wiceskipasise
camp circle	hocoka
herald, crier	eyapaha
scalp	pa'ha
warbonnet, headdress	wapaha
standard, banner	wa'paha
coup stick	canwapaha
bow	itazipa
arrow	wanhinkpe
shield	wahacanka
spear	wahukeza
shield	wahacanka
knife	mi'la
gun/rifle	mazawakan
breechcloth	cegnake
robe/blanket	šina
leggings	hunska
moccasin	han'pa
beadwork	wakšupi
quillwork	wo'ska
drum	cancega
drumstick	cabu
feather	wiyaka
eagle feather	wanbli wiyaka
garments	hayápi

Dances With Wolves Cast/Characters:

Actor	Character (English)	Character (Lakota)
Kevin Costner	Lt. John J. Dunbar / Dances with Wolves	Šung'manitu Tanka O Waci
Mary McDonnell	Stands With A Fist	Napepeca Nazin Win
Graham Greene	Kicking Bird	Zintka Nagwaka
Rodney A. Grant	Wind In His Hair	Pehín O Tate
Floyd Red Crow Westerman	Chief Ten Bears	Mato Wikcemna
Tantoo Cardinal	Black Shawl	Šina Sapa Win
Jimmy Herman	Stone Calf	Inyan Ptehíncala
Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse	Smiles A Lot	Iĥa S’a
Michael Spears	Otter	Ptan
Jason R. Lone Hill	Worm	Waglula