Hidatsa

Words Hidatsa Reise Modern Orthography Modern Orthography (Commentary)
Arm Áhra (‘r’ tongue-trilled) áàra ‘his arm’
Arrow Bídda-arúhtischa (‘Bidda’ and ‘scha’ short) mira’arucíhša ‘straight wood used for making an arrow’
Bow Berúcha-paruï (‘r’ tongue-trilled, ‘ch’ velar) Berúcha-paruḯ mirúhxa baruwi
Child Mah-karischtá Máh-karischtá maagaríšda
Earth Auá (stress on ‘á’; ‘A’ and ‘u’ separate) awá ‘earth, land’
Eye Ischtá išdá ‘his eye’
Fire Bidá-a (‘dá-a’ short and clipped) mirá’
God Éhsich-kawáh-hiddisch (‘sich’ as in German, ‘hiddisch’ without stress, softer) Íìcihgawaahiriš ‘First Maker’
Hair Ará (nasal, ‘r’ tongue-trilled) ará ‘his hair’
Hand Waschaki mašagí ‘my hand’
Head Ah-tú (‘Ah’ nasal, ‘tú’ very short and clipped) aahdú ‘his head’
Man Matsä́h Matséh or Matsä́h macéé
Moon Wáhch-kubbedíh (everything short and together, ‘e’ half [=ə]) mááhguwiri
Mouth Bih míì ‘my mouth’
Pipe Éikipi (‘Éi’strong stress and very high, almost like ‘I,’ ‘kipi’ softer and short) íìgibi
Star Ichká (‘Ich’ palatal as in German, ‘ká’ short) ihgá
Sun Maápa-widdi (‘aá’ separate, ‘widdi’ short) Maápi-widdi maabiwirí
Tomahawk Wiipsaráhki-íhkpi mi’bcaráàga íìgibi ‘hatchet, little axe’ + íìgibi ‘pipe’ = ‘pipe tomahawk’
Water Biddí Biddí or bidí mirí
Woman Bía (‘a’ muted) míà

 

Names of Places and Geographical Features

Words Hidatsa Reise Modern Orthography Modern Orthography (Commentary)
Awatixa Awatixa Awatichái Awaticháy ‘High Village’
Bad River Biddi-schu-wáh-áhji Mirí Šuwá Áàši ‘Slow Water Creek’
Beaver Creek Bírapa-áhji Mirába Aaši
Big Hidatsa Eláh-sáh Hiraacá ‘Village of the Big Willows’; ‘Hidatsa’
Bighorn River Ahsüchtía-óhkarist-áhji Aašihdíà Aaši ‘Bighorn Creek’
Cannonball River Ansi-ichtiä (‘Án’ nasal, ‘ich’ velar, ‘ti’ stressed, ‘ä’ and ‘ti’ separate) Áàši ihdia → Áàšihdia ‘Big Creek’
Grand River Birridsipa-ahji (‘Birridsi’ short, ‘ji’ soft as in French) Mirá’ciba Aaši ‘Ashes Creek’
Heart River Nah-táh-schi (‘schi’ short) Naadáàši ‘Heart Creek’
Knife River Maëttseruåhji (‘a’ and ‘ë’ separate, second ‘e’ half [=ə], ‘ji’ as in French) Mé’charu’aaši ‘Knife Creek’
Little Bighorn River Ahsüchtía-óhjarist-áhji Aašihdíà Oogaríšdaaši ‘Little Bighorn Creek’
Little Missouri River Amáh-tikasche Awáàdhigaaša ‘Little River/Missouri’
Little Muddy River Wisíh-daschi (last word without stress) Dibíà Aaši ‘Mud Creek’
Missouri River Amáhti Awáàdhi ‘River/Missouri’
Moreau River Máh-Supíschä-Ahji (‘áh’ like ‘an’ nasal, ‘ji’ as in French), River of Grapes Maašibíša Aaši ‘Grape (lit. something black) Creek’
Musselshell River Máto-káhsi Madóògaaši ‘Shell Creek’
Powder River Biddá-sipá-áhji Mirá’ciba Aaši ‘Ashes/Gunpowder Creek’
Rampart River Ánji-widáss (‘Án’ as in French, with stress) Áàši Wira’š ‘Creek Trees[?]’
Tongue River Dähji-áhji Néèšaaši ‘Tongue Creek’
White Earth River Oh-katakáhsi Úùgadagaaši ‘White Clay Creek’
White River Biddi-attakahsi or Aú-atta-káhsch Biddi-Attakáhsi Mirí’adagáàši ‘White Water Creek’, Awadagáàšiš ‘White Earth Creek’
Yellowstone River Wisíh-daschi (last word without stress) Wísih-dáschi Mi’cíìraaši (lit. ‘Yellow Stone Creek’)

 

Names Given to Other Tribes

Words Hidatsa Reise Modern Orthography Modern Orthography (Commentary)
Crow Háiderohka Haideróhka Hereooka

 

Other Terminology

Words Hidatsa Modern Orthography Modern Orthography (Commentary)
Antelope Park Óh-Chidäi úùxi iiréè ‘antelope corral’
Arapahoes Íta-íddi Ida’aríì (lit. ‘his/her road’)
Arikaras Arakárahu Aragaráhu
Assiniboines Heduschíh-idi Hirušíìri (lit. ‘brown bones’)
Bear Claw Necklace Lachpitzi-sichpo-ahpöä naxbichicixbu’áàbe’
Belt Ma-i-páschagih maa’iibáhšaagi ‘a belt’
Blackfoot (tribe) Issi-schüpíscha Icišibíša
Bonnet, war-eagle feather Wah-aschu-lakukárahä maa’išú nagagárahe ‘trailing warbonnet’
Bow-lance Bidúcha-háski mirúhxa hácgi (mirúhxaahacgi) ‘long bow’
Bracelet, metal Itäruwassa ixirúhxa ‘bracelet’
Breechcloth Edde-ipschake iri’íbšaghe (lit. ‘covers penis from sight’)
Buffalo Robe Arakárahu Waschí maší ‘a robe’
Burial Scaffold Mánsachti maacáhdi oorúša
Buttes des Enfants (Children's Hills) Mah-Karistáhti Maagaríšdadi ‘House of the Infants’
Cheyennes Itáh-ischipáhji Idaa’išubuuší (lit. ‘spotted arrow feathers’)
Cree Schahí Šahíì
Crows (tribe) Gíhcha-itsá Gixaa’icháá
Crow Society Haideróhka-Ächke Herérooga’ihge ‘Crow Indian Society’
Dance of the Old Men Táiruchpahga Deeruxbáàga ‘Dead People’
Drum Biddá-charrikí miráxarigi
Eagle, war- Máh-eschó maa’išú ‘immature golden eagle (whose tail feathers contain white)’
Game, hoop and pole Máh-kache máàgaxa
Game, women's ball Ma-úh-tape ma’úùdabi ‘ball’
God/Lord of Life/First Man Éhsich-kawáh-hiddisch Íìcihga Maahiríš ‘First Worker, First Maker’
Grandfather Mahrutakas Máàrudaahgaš ‘my/our grandfather’
Grandmother (spirit being) Makóh Magúù ‘my/our grandmother’
Gros Ventres des Prairies (tribe) Eirichtí-aruchpágha Eerihdíàruxbaaga (lit. ‘big belly people’)
Hair bow, beaded Ächidúhwassa possibly iihi’irúhxa’s ‘headband with beads’
Hair ornament for the back of the head Arra-úhwassa ara’úùwaca ‘hair metal’ ?
Knife Máhtsi mé’chi
Language Máh-arúhdä maa’aru’iré’ ‘language, way of speaking’
Leggings, skin Wacháhpi-hu-psíh maaxáàbi ‘buckskin’ + ??
Lightning Karichkáhs garíhga
Little Missouri River Amáh-Tikasche Awáàdhigaaša
Lodge Attí adí ‘house, lodge’
Mandans Arabúcku (lit. ‘people at the confluence’)
Medicine(s) Chupáhs xubáá’aš ‘sacred objects’
Medicine man Madséh-akuchupáhs macéé aguxubáàš
Medicine Rock/Boulder/Stone Wíhdä-katachí Mi’ragadahxí ‘Knocking Rock’
Months: 1. (January) Wáhch-Kubbedi-Scháchpo mááhguwiri šáhbua ‘seven moons’
2. Sä́hsch-Ärúha cééša núú’arug ‘when the wolves are rutting’
3. Sä́hsche-Aterukickschá cééša adí ‘wolves lodge’ ?
4. Sä́hsch-Aráhk-Arrawatúhä cééšaraaga aru’iiwadúhe ‘when wolf cubs are born’
5. Wáh-Parruóhsche maabhí aru’óòšee[wiri] ‘[moon] when sunflowers are planted’
6. Awa-AuscheAweedi awá óòšeewiri ‘moon of planting’
7. Wáh-Etáh-Wetá ? + wiri ‘? + moon’
8. máácu óòdiwiri ‘moon when chokecherries/berries are ripe’
9. Wah-Ketáh-Arruóhte máàgadaa aru’óòdi[wiri] ‘moon when plums are ripe’
10. (September) Mankerúh-Wedí maa’arugiruuwirí ‘moon when it is time to harvest’
11. Macháure-Käwedí; Awaschi-Dáide-Bidí maxóòragiwiri ‘frost moon’; waší miréèriwiri; ‘moon of entering eagle traps’
12. Warucháh-Kapáh-Bidí ? + mirúxi ii’ághabaa wiri ‘moon of freezing ice’
13. (name not known) Aragaráhu
Moon (sun of the night) Wáhch-kubbedíh mááhguwiri ‘moon’
Negro Waschipsoh mas̆íìšibiša (lit. ‘white person’ + ‘to be black’)
Partisan, war party Akuríhdi aguríìri ‘someone who walks’
Pawnees Sä́jeruchpaga Cééšaruxbaaga (lit. ‘wolf people’)
Penitence festival Akupéhri ?
Rainbow Chárrä-apóka xaree’abhúhga
Rattle Éi-poh-chä íìbuuxi
Scalp Biddarú mirarú
Scalp Dance Zühdi-Arischí ? + rihší ‘? + dance’
Shirt, skin Wacháhpi-wa-itóchi maaxáàbiduuxi ‘buckskin shirt or dress’
Shoe Huupá huubá
Skunk Society Chóchkäiwi Xúhgeewia’ihge ‘Skunk Women Society’
Society of the Bow-lances Sóhta-Girakschóge Cúùda Giragšuugí ‘Half-Shaved Head (Society)’
Society of the Bulls Kädap-Ächke Gíìrabi’ihge
Society of the Enemies Máh-Iháh-Ächke Maa’iháà’ihge
Society (women’s) of the Enemies Máh-Iháh-Ächke Maa’iháàwia’ihge ‘Enemy Women Society’
Society of Hot Water Máhsawähs Maacawéèš ‘Something Hot’
Society of the Large Sabres Wírrachíschi Miraxihši ‘Lumpwood’
Society of the Old Dogs Waschúkka-Aechke Mašúga’ihge ‘Dog Society’
Society of the Ravens Pehriskäike Beericga’íhge
Society of the Small Dogs Waskúkka-Karíschta Mašúgagarišda ‘Small Dogs’
Society of the Small Prairie Foxes Éhhchoch-Kaïchke Ííxohga’ihge ‘Kit Fox Society’
Society of the Wild Geese Bíhda-Ächke Míìraa’ihge ‘Goose Society’
Stone Society Wíwa-Óhpage Mi’wa’úùbagi ‘Stone Hammer’
Star, morning Eddúwasch ?
Star, northern or polar Íchka-Chagátha Ihgá Xagáàdhaaš (lit. ‘immobile star’)
Star constellation, Dipper or Great Bear Íchka-Schachpó Ihgá Šáhbua’ (lit. ‘seven stars’)
Sun (of the day) Maápi-Widdí maabiwirí
Sweat bath/lodge Bih-óh-aku-es mi’úàhguaš (lit. ‘one who piles up rocks’), a functionary in the sweat lodge ceremony
Tattoo(ing) Arukpí arubhí
Thunder Tachúrakiss dahú
Village Awatí awadí
Villager, Mandan, Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch Äwa-Ichpawatí Awadí Náàdaga ‘Last (Most Distant) Village’ (not villager)
Villager, Mandan, Ruhptare Awatirá-Tácka Awa’ihbawadí ‘Hilltop Village’ (not villager)
War whistle Íh-akóhsche ii’ágooši ‘whistle’