How Do You Say Mother?

With Mother’s Day on the horizon, we queried our tribes and other language experts on how to address female family members in their Native languages. (We extend warm thanks to everyone who helped contribute to this and all our indigenous language posts.)

How many ways do you know how to say mother?:

Tunica, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

igachihchi

Mother

‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Language), Hawai‘i

Makuahine	Mother
Kupunawahine	Grandmother
Kaikamahine	Daughter/Girl
Kaikuahine	Sister (generally, and to a brother)
Kaikuaʻana	Older Sister (to a sister)
Kaikaina	Younger Sister (to a sister)
ʻOhana Keiki	Niece (or Nephew)

Arapaho, Wyoming

Neinoo	Mother
Notoone	Daughter
Nei	Sister, Elder
Neesebi	Niece
Neheihoo	Aunt
Neiwoo	Grandmother
Neisii	Grandchild

Choctaw, Oklahoma

ishki	Mother
ushi tek	Daughter
i tek	Sister
ibihtek	Niece
hokni	Aunt
ippokni	Grandmother
ipok tek	Granddaughter

Denaakk’e (Koyukon), Alaska

Eenaa’e	Mother
seyots’aa’e	My daughter (mother’s daughter)
setlaa’e	My daughter (father’s daughter)
sode	My older sister
sedaadze’	My younger sister
seyots’aa’e	My niece (woman’s daughter or niece)
setlaa’e	My daughter (father’s daughter or niece)
sokk’ʉye	My aunt (mother’s sister)
sebaats’e, semaats’e	My aunt (father’s sister)
setsoo	My grandmother
sekoye, sechoye	My granddaughter

Gwich’in, Alaska

Note: In the Gwich’in language, we cannot have kinship terms without possession (my, your, his or hers, etc.)

Shahan	My mother
Nahan	Your mother
Vahan	His/her mother
Diihan	Our mother
Nakhwahan	Your (plural) mother
Goohan	Their Mother
Shiyeets’i’’	My daughter
Niyeets’i’’	Your daughter
Sheejii	My older sister
Neejii’	Your older sister
Shijuu’	My younger sister
Nijuu	Your younger sister
Shakhoo	My niece
Nakhoo	Your niece
Sheek’aii	My maternal aunt
Neek’aii	Your maternal aunt
Shitsuu	My paternal aunt
Nitsuu	Your paternal aunt
Shitsuu	My grandmother
Shitseii	My granddaughter (said by grandmother)
Nitseii	Your granddaughter (said to grandmother)
Nitsuu	Your grandmother

Hualapai, Arizona

jitha	Mother
misi’	Daughter
ginya	Sister, Younger
niya	Sister, Older
wisa	Niece
nithi	Aunt (Mother”s Side)
goda	Grandmother (Mother’s Side)
monya	Grandmother (Father’s Side)
ko’	Granddaughter

Mohawk, New York

Ka’nisténhsera	Mother
Kheién:’a	Daughter
Khe’kén:’a	Sister, Younger
Aktsi’:’a	Sister, Older
Kheienhwatén:’a	Niece
Ake’nisténha	Aunt
Akhsótha	Grandmother
Kheiatere’:’a	Granddaughter

Ojibwe Language

Nimaamaa(yag)	Mother(s)
Nindaanis(ag)	Daughter(s)
Nimise(yag)	Sister(s), Older
Ninzigos(ag)	Aunt, Father’s Sister(s)
Ninoshenh(yag)	Aunt, Mother’s Sister(s)
Nookomis(ag)	Grandmother(s)
Niijikwe	Female Friend(s)
Niwiiw(ag)	Wife (Wives)

Paiute, Nevada

beah	Mother
budduh	Daughter
hummah	Sister, Older
buneh	Sister, Younger
bedduh	Aunt, Mother’s Side
buhwuah	Aunt, Father’s Side
hootzee	Grandmother. Father’s Side
mooah	Grandmother. Mother’s Side
hootze	Granddaughter/Grandson, Father’s Side
mooah	Granddaughter/Grandson, Mother’s Side

Pyramid Lake Paiute, Nevada

Pea	Mother
Padu	Daughter
Hamma’a	Sister, Older
Punne’e	Sister, Younger
Hooza	Niece, Father’s Side
Nanakwa	Niece, Mother’s Side
Pedoo’o	Aunt, Mother’s Side
Pa’wa	Aunt, Father’s Sister (man speaking)
Medo’o	Aunt, Father’s Sister (woman speaking)
Hootse’e	Grandmother. Father’s Side
Mooa’a	Grandmother. Mother’s Side
Hoobe’e	Granddaughter

Tlingit, Alaska

Tláa	Mother
Chaan	Mother-in-Law
Sée	Daughter
Dlaak’	Boy’s Sister
Shátx	Giril’s Older Sister
Kéek’	Girl’s Younger Sister
Káalk’w	Niece, Sister’s Child
Tláak’w	Maternal Aunt
Aat	Paternal Aunt
Léelk’w	Grandmother/Grandfather/Grandparent(s)
Daakanóox’u	Great-Great Grandparents

Disappearing Languages

In February, the United Nations proclaimed 2019 to be the year of Indigenous Languages, so every month this year, AIANTA is showcasing different words and phrases to highlight the diversity in our Native languages.

According to UNESCO, approximately 600 languages have disappeared in the last century. More alarmingly, they continue to disappear at a rate of one language every two weeks. If this pace continues, up to 90 percent of the world’s languages are likely to disappear before the end of this century.

In the United States, according to the Indigenous Language Institute, there were more than 300 indigenous languages. Today, about 175 remain, although this number may shrink to 20 by 2050 if efforts aren’t made to preserve these languages.

For more information on the Year of Indigenous Languages, visit https://en.iyil2019.org/ or follow the hashtag #IY2019).

Language Resources

American Indian Language Development Institute

Northwest Indian Language Institute

Indigenous Language Institute

Consortium of Indigenous Language Organizations

Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival

Note: The words and phrases in this post were provided by members of the various tribes listed. Spellings and translations may vary. Some words may be missing accents or symbols due to limited characters on a keyboard. We’re happy to add your language and/or hear corrections and suggestions on spellings and translations, so please contact us at info@aianta.org.

How Do You Say Mother?