MohawkLanguage

                               Mohawk Basic Knowledge

          Here is some Mohawk sayings and phrases
             That I am learning from a Book I have bought
and some I have got off the internet

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Alphabet

a e h i k n o r s t w
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Vowel Sounds

a e i o en on ia ie io ien ion
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Consonant Sounds

h k kh n r s sh t th w wh kw khw ts ths
Mohawk Syllable Chart One

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The following syllable chart is from Kahnawake, it may not reflect what

is presently being used on other reserves to spell the Mohawk langauge.

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a - e - i - o - en - on

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h - ha - he hi - ho - hen - hon

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k - ka - ke ki - ko - ken - kon

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kh - kha - khe khi - kho - khen khon

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n - na - ne ni - no - nen - non

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r - ra - re - ri - ro - ren - ron

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s - sa - se - si - so - sen - son

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sh - sha - she - shi - sho - shen - shon

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t - ta - te - ti - to - ten - ton

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th - tha - the - thi - tho - then - thon

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w - wa - we - wi -- wen --

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wh - wha -- -- -- when --

Mohawk Syllable Chart One

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The following syllable chart is from Kahnawake, it may not reflect what

is presently being used on other reserves to spell the Mohawk langauge.

Kanien'keha tsi nikontiwenno:tens

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ia ie ii io ien ion

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h hia hie -- hio hien hion

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k -- -- -- -- -- --

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kh khia khie -- khio khien khion

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n nia nie -- nio nien nion

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r ria rie -- rio rien rion

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s sia sie -- sio sien sion

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sh sha she -- sho shen shon

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t tia tie -- tio tien tion

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th thia thie -- thio thien thion
<Picture>

Kanienkehaka Pronounciation Chart

PRONOUNCIATION TABLE

Vowels

Approximate English Equivilant

Mohawk Example

as a in father

kasere' [ka:-se-re'] car

ahta' [ah-ta'] shoe(s)

(1)as e in they, or ay in say

(2)as e in met, bet

(1) wake' [wa:-ke'] I am going

kenenhskwas [ke-nenhs-kwas] I steal

(2) kasere [ka:-se-re'] car

ohere [o-he-reh] corn stalk

as ee in see, or ea in meat

ise [i:-se'] you

owira [o-wi:-ra'] baby

as o in note, poke

okonhsa [o-konh-sa'] face

okara [o-ka:-ra'] story

NASAL

as sound similar to u in

sun when pronounced

through nose
owenna [0wen:na'] word

kenenhskwas [kenenhs-kwas] I steal

as a sound similar to oo in

moon when pronounced

through the nose
oronya' [o-ron:ya'] blue

ohonte [o-hon-teh] green, grass

(1)as g in gate: when occurring

between vowels, when

followed by a vowle, or

when occurring before a w

(2)as k in skate: when occurring

before a consonant
wake' [ wa:-ke'] I am going

ka:sere' [ka:-se-re'] car

ikkwas [ik-kwas] I pick

(1)as d in dog: when occurring

between vowles, when

follwoed by a vowel, or

when occuring before y

(2)as t in take: when occurring

before a consonant
(1) tare' [ta:-re'] her is coming

akta [ak-ta'] near, beside

o'tara [o'-ta:-ra'] clay

atyatawi' [a-tya:-ta-wi'] coat

(2) katstha' [kats-tha'] I use it

ketshenryes [kets-hen-ryes] I find

(1) as s in say: when occurring before another

consonant, or before a vowel

(2) as a soft z sound when

occurring after a long stress

(ie. see: in bracket samples)

(3) as sh in she: when occurring

before a consonant y and in

some dialects when

occurring before vowel i
(1) wakatste' [wa:-kats-te'] I used it

ohsera [oh-se-ra'] year

(2) kasere' [ka:-se-re'] car

(3)katstahsyons [kats-tah-syons] I finish using

athsyana [athsya:-na'] a handful

ahsita' [oh-si:ta'] foot

SONORANTS

as n in now, note, never
onen [o:-nenh] now, already

ohna [oh-na'] skin

as an rl combination: in

some dialects it occurs more

line an r, while in others

it may occur like an l
raksa'a [rak-sa:-'ah] boy

ohere [o-he-reh] corn stalk

SEMI-VOWELS

as w in way, win

NOTE: w will change to

vowel when it occurs

between consonants
wahenron' [wa-hen:-ron'] he said

wake' [wa-:ke'] I am going

o'waronk [o'wa:-ronk] meat

as y in yet, yellow

oyente [o:yen-teh] firewood

yehninons [yeh-ni:nons] she buys

atyatawi' [a-tya:ta-wi'] coat

(1) as in hat, hard

(2) as a puff of air after a

vowel, or directly after a

consonant before a vowel
(1) ohere [o-he-reh] corn stalk

wahenron' [wa-hen:ron'] he said

(2) ahta' [ah-ta'] shoes(s)

wakhrorih [wak-hro:-rih] I did say

GLOTTAL

as a stop occurring directly

after vowels
wakko' [wa:k-ko'] I picked

o'tara [o'ta:-ra'] clay, clan

COMBINATIONS

as wh in where

onhwentsya [on-hwen-tsya'] earth

kahwenkare [ka-hwen:-ka-reh] snowshoes

as c in cat, c in cow

khekens [khe:-kens] I see her

wa-khrori' [wa'-khro:ri'] I hold

khw

as qu in queen, quiet

kakhwa [ ka-khwa'] food

should be pronuonced as

a g /gate/ plus w /way/

combination
okwaho [okwa-hoh] wolf

akwekon [a-kwe:-konh] all

should be pronounced as

a g /gate/ plus y /yet/

combination
wakyen' [wa:kyen'] I put down

anokyen [a-no-kyen'] muskrat

should be pronounced as

a n /now/ plus y /yet/

combination
ohnyara [oh-nya:-ra'] throat

onyare [o-nya-reh] snake

each consonant should be

pronounced seperately: r as

per Mohawk pronounciation,

and y as in yet.
wat'kathroryana'

[wa'-kat-hro-rya:-na']

I am going to tell about it

should be pronounced

seperately as a s /say/ plus

h /hat/ combination
ohshehs [ohs-hehs] syrop

enshiken' [ens-hi:ken'] I see him again

as sh in she, show, but with

more of a sh plus y

combined sound.
ohsya [oh-sya'] palm of the hand

wahsyen' [wah-syen'] you put down

each consonant in this

combination should be

pronounced seperately: t as

in take, h as in hat
wakthare' [wak-tha-re'] I am speaking

thonne's [thon:-ne'] they are about

tsy

(1)this combination represents

the j sound (a sound midway

between English j an ch)

(2)when tsy occurs between

consonants as it will be

represented as tsi with a

sound similar to gee
(1)kanatsyonk [ka-na:--tsyonk] pail

tsyatak [tsya:-tak] seven

(2)otsitsya [0-tsi:-tsya'] flower

ostinekwar [0-tsi:-ne-kwar] yellow

tshy

this consonant combination

provides a sound very

similar to the English ch as

in church
wat'tshyatkahtho'

[wa'tshyat-kah-tho'] I saw him

each consonant in this

combination should be

pronounced seperately: t as

in dog, y as in yet
satyen [sa-tyen] sit down

atyatawi' [a-tya:-ta-wi'] coat

as a soft f sound, as

pronounced by slightly

touching the lower lip to the

upper teeth
ohwhare [oh-wha-reh] fur

o'whahsa [o'whah-sa'] skirt

NOTE: Both the apirate and glottal are features of the language that can be best acquired through listening and practice with a fluent speaker.

NOTE: Material contained within this section has been taken from "More Than One Thousand MOHAWK VERBS" by David Kanatawakhon Maracle, please support his efforts and purchase his book. Book information has been linked to the above highlighted book title.

(Four Seasons)

Kaie:ri Niwakenhnhake (Four Seasons)
Kanenna'ke:ne - Fall
Akohsera:ke - Winter
Kakwite:ne - Spring
Akenhnha:ke - Summer
(Four Directions)

Kaie:ri Nikawera:ke (Four Directions)
Othore:ke - North
Entie - South
Na:kon Nonkwa:ti - East
E:neken Nonkwa:ti - West

Ononhkwa'shon:'a (Herb Medicine)
ani:tas ken:ie - skunk oil
a'no:wara raoti:ris - turtle socks, pitcher plant
akohsa:tens aotihso:kwa - chestnut
ietsi'tsaienthos - saffron, autumn crocus
iokhahon - garlic
iokhahon'ko:wa - wild garlic
kahentakon - sweetgrass
kanon'tinekens - milk weed
ken' niiohontesha - strawberries
o'nionkseri'ko:wa - wild onions
ohrhohtehko:wa - burdock
ohnenna:ta - potato
oien'kwa'on:we - tabacco
onen'takwenhten:tsera - cedar
o:nenhste ionta'tihonhkwa - corn starch
onono:ron - sweetflag
oso:ra ohnehta - spruce gum
osti:nekwar nikahtehro:ten - golden thread
teiakonia'tawen:'eks - chokecherry
tsohnohskwen:rie - snake root
tekaren'to:ken - gensing
tekanekwenhsia'ks - bloodroot

Okwire'shon:'a (Trees)
aka:ratsi - elm tree
atiehwa:ta - butternut
ehsa - black ash
erihko:wa - wild cherry
kanen:ten's - tamarack
kaneron/o'non:na - white ash
karihton - black oak
karihton ohso:kwa - acorn
karontara:ken - white tree
ohi:kta - thorn tree, thorn bush
ohosera - basswood
ohniohkwa - bulbs
ohtsohko:ton - balsam
o:kwire - tree, sapling
onekwenhtara niwatahtshero:ten - red willow
onennohkara - hisckory tree
onen:ta, onehta - pine tree
onen'ta'on:we - hemlock
onen'takwenhten:tshera - cedar
onerahtase'ko:wa - white pine
onerahte - leaf
onerahton:ta - poplar
o'rhenionkwa - shrubs or bush
o:se - willow
ose'ko:wa - black willow
o'so:ra - spruce
otokenha - white oak
otsken:rha - beechnut
owi:ra - marsh wood, swampwood
sewahio:wane o:kwire - apple tree
sewahiowane'on:we - crabapple
tara:kwi - sumac
teiakonia'tawne:'eks - choke cherry
tekontinonniakwa - scotch pine
tsorahsa - iron wood
tsiorahsa - iron wood
wahta - red maple
watenake:tarons - white birch

Otsi:tsa'shon:'a (Flowers)

Otsi:sta'shon:'a (Flowers)
a'no:wara raoti:ris - turtle socks, pitcher plant
iotitsha:ni - petunia
kahonro;totha otsi:tsa - dandelions
kakwitehnehkha otsi:tsa - tulips
kanon'tinekens - milkweed
katsi'tsakeras - marigolds
konwakeri - daisey
ohrhon'kehnehkha otsi:tsa - morning glory
okonhsa - pansy
otsikwa:rhe raotsi:tsa - iris
otsi'tsa'ko:wa - sunflower
So:se raotsi:tsa - atamasco, white lily
teiohnionwaron:ton otsi:tsa - rose

Bird Names
a:kweks - eagle
atiaren'ta:'a - canary
atiaren'ta'ko:wa - oriole
io'kohsen:ton - penguin
iotiwisto - snowbirds
kahrhakon:ha - hawk(older)
kanatakon:ha - sparrow
karontakaroks - woodpecker
ken'tarakonha:ka - swallow
kwanene'ko:wa - ostrich (I never seen ostrich in Mohawk Territory)
kwarero:ha - owl(barn)
oha:kwaront - heron

Otsi'nonwa'shon:'a (Insects)
e:so tekahsinon:ton - millopede, cenetipede
kontihneko'tsi:reks - aphids
ohwhara:ne - caterpillar
okariahta:ne - mosquito
oneron:ta - wasp
o'no:wa - beetle
otsin'non:wa - bug, insect
otsi:non - flea, louse
otsi'nahkontahkwa:ne - bee
otsi'nonwahnhe:ta - worm
takwa'ahson - spider
takwa'ahson tehota'a:ronte - spider web
taraktarak - cricket
tewattsirokwas - firefly
tsi'ks - fly
tsikenenhston:ko - cicada(harvest fly)
tsi'ksko:wa - horse fly
tsiki'nhontstokhi - ant
tsikenon'waristak - dragon fly
tsikenithe:sera - moth
tsiktsinen:sawen - butterfly
tsista:rare - grasshopper

Weather Expressions

wenhniseri:io - it is a nice day
teiotsha:taien - it is foggy
teionien'kwata:se - it is snowing(storming)
iowehronhaties - it is thundering
tewani'nehkara'wanions - it is lightening
Oh ni:ioht natste? - How is it outside?
Oh niwenhnisero:ten? - What kind of day is it?
wenhniseraksen - It is a bad day.
io'tarihen natste - It is warm outside.
iotho:re natste. - It is cold outside.

Additional Weather Expressions

iaonhara:ien - there is frost on the ground
iowisontion - it is hailing
ionen'ontion - there is an ice storm
ioniehtarorokhon - snowdrifts
iohsa'kensera:ien - frost
iowistanawenhatie - it is melting
kaniehtake:ron - there is snow here & there
oniehte - snow
otsha:ta - fog
owera - wind
o:wise - ice
teiotsha:taien - it is foggy
teiowerata:se - it is very windy
tekanien'kwatasehe - there will be a snow storm

Onontara'shon:'a - Soups

Onontara'shon:'a

Onatsa'ko:wa - barley
Ase'shon:'a - vegetable
Kitkit wateshe'rhawe'nonnia:ton - chicken noodle
Kitkit tanon onatsaken:ra - chicken and rice
Onenhsto - corn soup
Onekwa - pea soup
Wateshe'rhakwe'nonnia:ton - macaroni soup
Ohneka'shon:'a - Beverages

Ohneka'shon:'a

Ohso'kwakeri - coffee
Kahentanawenhton - tea
Onon:ta - milk
Athehsa nikanon'to:ten - chocolate milk
Otsi:nekwar niwahio:ten kahnekinekenhton - orange juice
O'nenhare kahnekiekenhton - grape juice
McCain thia'tekahne:kake - McCain's assorted drinks
Kakhwa'shon:'a - Food

Kakhwa'shon:'a

Wenhetsho:ron - hot dog
Wenhetsho:ron tanon tiononhkwa'tsherosko:wa - chili dog
Teka'wahrahrihton ka'wahro:ron - hamburger
Teka'wahrahrihton ka'wahro:ron tanon tsi:s - cheeseburger
Tariien raotina:taro - pizza
Wathon:ros tekana'tara:sere - submarine
Tiononhkwa'tsherosko:wa onon:tara - chili con carne
Tka'wa:ra - meat pie

atonhnhehtshera onen:ia feld -spar
iawenie:nare onen:ia - graphite
iohseriie:ta - asbestos
ionekwenhtare onen:ia - copper
ioneniahni:rons ne kawistana:wens granite
ionthe'seronnia:tha onen:ia - talk rock
kahwistara:ken nikahneko:ten - mercury, quicksilver
kahwistara:ken onen:ia - silver ore
kaneniano:ron - diamond
kaneniarihton - bricks
karista onen:ia - ore
ken'taraken:ra - limestone
ohwistano:ron onen:ia - gold
ona:kara onen:ia - mica

Back to
Tsi Niwenhni'to:ten's (Months)
Tsothohrhko:wa - January(the big cold)
Enniska -    February(lateness)
Ennisko:wa -   March(much lateness)
Onerahtokha -   April(budding time)
Onerahtohko:wa -    May(time of big leaf)
Ohiari:ha -   June(ripening time)
Ohiarihko:wa July(time of much ripening)
Seskeha -    August(time of freshness)
Seskehko:wa -    September(time of much freshness)
Kentenha -    October(time of poverty)
Kentenhko:wa -    November(time of much poverty)
Tsothohrha -    December(time of cold)
Related Mohawk Words
Days
sewenhnisera - one day
tewenhhisera:ke - two days
ahsen niwenhnisera:ke - three days
Weeks
tsahia:khsera - one week
teiahia'khsera:ke - two weeks
ahsen niiahia'khsera:ke - three weeks
Months
sewenhni:ta - one month
tewenhni:take - two months
ahsen niwenhni:take - three months
Years
tsohsera - one year
teiohsera:ke - two years
ahsen niiohsera:ke - three years
Information: If one continues to add the numbers to the third translation one can then continue the number of days, weeks, etc., etc.,

Numerical Week Days
Tiotierenhton - Monday(the first)
Tekenihaton - Tuesday(the second)
Ahsenhaton - Wednesday(the third)
Kaierihaton - Thursday(the fourth)
Wiskhaton - Friday(the fifth)
Iahia:khaton - Saturday(the sixth)
Tsatahkhaton - Sunday(the seventh)
Nia:wen -               Thank You.
Onhka ni:se -           Who are you?
I:i -                   Me.
O:nen -                 Goodbye.
Satahonhsatat -         Listen.
Ta:non -                And.
Tohsa sata:ti -         Don't talk.
Tha'tesato:tat -        Behave - Be quiet.
Ki:ken -                This.
Onhka ki:ken            Who is this?
Ka'wahse -              Where are you going?
Enwa:ton ken -          May I.
Shahsero:ten -          Put the Lights on.

She:kon. Skennenko:wa ken? - Hello. How are you.
Kwe. Ianeratie' ken? - Hello. Is it going well?
Skennenko:wa. - I'm fine.
Skennenko:wa. Ok ni:se'? - I'm fine. And you?
Ianeratie'. - It's going well.
Naho:ten iesa:iats? - What's your name?
Naho:ten ronwa:iats? - What's his name?
Naho:ten iontatiats? - What's her name?
Naho:ten ronwati:iats? - What's their(p,m) name?
Wa:ri iontiats. - My name is Mary.
Ko:r ronwa:iats. - His name is Paul.
Arisawe iontatiats - Her name is Elisabeth.
Montour ronwati:iats - Their name (p,m) is Montour.
Ok ni:se'? - And you?
Ok ne raonha? - And him?
Ok nakaonha? - And her?
Ok ne rononha? - And them (p,m)
Wishe iontiats. - My name is Michael.
Watio ronwa:iats. - His name is Mathew
Wariso:se iontatiats. - Her name is Josephine.
Sa:k tanon' A:nen ronwati:iats. - Their names are Jim and Ann.
O:nen ki' wahi'. - Good bye then.
O:nen - Good bye

tatsahkwishron - louder, you two
tasewahkwishron - louder, you all
tkaie:ri' - that's correct
iah tetkaie:ri' - that's wrong, not correct
i:se' o:ni - you two
i:se' khok - just you
akwe:kon - everybody, all of you
Tha'tesato:tat - be quiet
Tha'tetsato:tat - be quiet (d)
Tha'tesewato:tat - be quiet (p)
Ohni:tsi ashi:ron... - How do you say..
Sonke'nikon:hren - I forgot.
Tohsa sasa'nikon:hren - Don't forget.
Tohsa saseni'nikon:hren - Don't (d) forget.
Tohsa sasewa'nikon:hren - Don't (p) forget.
Iah teske:iahre. - I don't remember.
Sehia:rak - Remember.
Senehia:rak - Remember (d)
Sewehia:rak.- Remember (p)

Naho:ten ken:ton'? - What does it mean?
Tiohrhen:sa sata:ti. - Say it in English, Speak in English.
Onkwehonwehneha sata:ti. - Say it in Indian. Speak in Indian.
Sa'nikonhraien:tas ken? - Do you understand?
Seni'nikonraien:tas ken? - Do you (d) understand?
Sewa'nikonhraien:tas ken? - Do you (p) understand?
Iah tewake'nikonhraien:ta's. - I don't understand.
Onhka thi? - Who's that?
Onhka ki? - Who's this?
Ontiaten:ro' ne thi. - That is my friend. (m to m)
Ontiaten:ro' ne ki. 0 This is my friend. (m)
Ontiatshi ne thi. - That is my friend. (f talking about f)
Ontiatshi ne ki. - This is my friend.(f)
Raterihwaienstha ken? - Is he a student?
Ionterihwaienstha ken? - Is she a student?
Saterihwaienstha ken? - Are you a student?
Ronterihwaienstha ken? - Are they (p,m) student?
Hen. - Yes
To:ka - I don't know.
Iah tewakaterien:tare'. - I don't know. (polite form)
Tanon' onhka ne: nakaonha? - And who is she?
Tanon' onhka ne: ne raonha? - And who is he?
Tanon' onhka ni:se'? - And who are you?
Tanon' onhka ne: ne rononha? - And who are they(p,m)?
Raterihwaienstha ni' ne'e. - He's a student, too.
Ionterihwaienstha ni ne'e. - She's a student, too.
Katerihwaienstha ni ne'e. - I'm a student, too.
Ronterihwaienstha ni ne'e - They (p,m) are students, too.
Ontiatshi ne'e. - She is my friend(f).
Ontiaten:ro' ne'e - He's my friend(m).
Ontiaten:ro' ne ki. - This is my friend(m).
Onkwaten:ro ne'e - They (p,m) are my friends.

atiaren:ta - orange
athehsa - brown
kahon:tsi - black
kara:ken - white
karonhiahon:tsi - navy blue, dark blue
kanekwenhtarahon:tsi - maroon, dark red
onekwenhtara - red
kanekwenhtarara:ken - light red
ohonte - green
kahontara:ken - light green
oron:ia - blue
karonhiara:ken light blue, powder blue
oharennahta - purple
arihwawa'konhneha - purple(also used)
waharennahtara:ken - mauve
otsi:nekwar - yellow
katsi'nekwarara:ken - pale yellow
wahsen:rate - pink
wahsenrate'tsherara:ken - pale pink
wathehsara:ken - tan, beige, cream color, light brown
wata'kenhrohkwara:ken - light grey

Inanimate Objects #1
ka:sere - car
ka'serehko:wa - transport
kaneniakarenie's - pickup truck
ohthiio'keha - train
aikoia'takarenie's - bus
teka:tens - plane
ona:ke - canoe
kahonwe:ia - boat
watsirotha - sail boat
tekeni teiokahkwen:tonte - bicycle
teiontianenhtahkhwa - sleigh
kahwen:kare - snow shoes

Back

What is this called/What is its name? - Nahoten thi konwaiats
Abram, Abraham - apram
Agatha - akat
Agnes - anies
Anastasia - kenenstatsi
Angus - anias
Anna, Anne - Anen
Catherine - Kateri
Cecelia; Celia - sesi; sesir
Charles - saro
Charlotte - warisaro
Christie - kerisite
David - tawit
Francis; Frank - saksari
George - swasen
Jack; Jake; James - sak
John - sawatis
Joseph - sose
Josephine - warisose
Julia - serik
Lawrence - roren
Louie; Louis - rowi
Margaret; Marjorie - konwakeri
Marian - wariianen
Mari - onwari
MaryAnn - waliianen
Michael; Mitchell - wisse
Monique; Minnie - wanik
Mose; Moses - maiis
Nancy - kanenstatsi
Paul - kor
Peter - ker
Richard - resis
Sarah - serik
Susan; Suzanne - sosan
Theresa - teres
Thomas; Tom - atonwa

Aiá:wen's Ahiaia'taté:riste Ne Shonkwa'iatison Aesata'karí:teke, Aiesatshennonní:hake, Tánon Aión:nise' Ó:ni Aiesatenro'seraká:teke

May The Great Spirit Bless You With Health, Happiness, And Enduring Friendship