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?
Arapaho, Wyoming
| Mother | Neinoo |
| Daughter | Notoone |
| Sister, Elder | Nei |
| Niece | Neesebi |
| Aunt | Neheihoo |
| Grandmother | Neiwoo |
| Grandchild | Neisii |
Catawba Language, Catawba Indian Nation, South Carolina
| Mother | yaksu (yahk-soo) | |
| My Mother | yaksuna (yahk-soo-nah) |
Choctaw, Oklahoma
| Mother | ishki |
| Daughter | ushi tek |
| Sister | i tek |
| Niece | ibihtek |
| Aunt | hokni |
| Grandmother | ippokni |
| Granddaughter | ipok tek |
Denaakk’e (Koyukon), Alaska
| Mother | Eenaa’e |
| My daughter (mother’s daughter) | seyots’aa’e |
| My daughter (father’s daughter) | setlaa’e |
| My older sister | sode |
| My younger sister | sedaadze’ |
|
My niece (woman’s daughter or niece) |
seyots’aa’e |
|
My daughter (father’s daughter or niece) |
setlaa’e |
| My aunt (mother’s sister) | sokk’ʉye |
| My aunt (father’s sister) | sebaats’e, semaats’e |
| My grandmother | setsoo |
| My granddaughter | sekoye, sechoye |
Gwich’in, Alaska
Note: In the Gwich’in language, we cannot have kinship terms without possession (my, your, his or hers, etc.)
| My mother | Shahan |
| Your mother | Nahan |
| His/her mother | Vahan |
| Our mother | Diihan |
| Your (plural) mother | Nakhwahan |
| Their Mother | Goohan |
| My daughter | Shiyeets’i’’ |
| Your daughter | Niyeets’i’’ |
| My older sister | Sheejii |
| Your older sister | Neejii’ |
| My younger sister | Shijuu’ |
| Your younger sister | Nijuu |
| My niece | Shakhoo |
| Your niece | Nakhoo |
| My maternal aunt | Sheek’aii |
| Your maternal aunt | Neek’aii |
| My paternal aunt | Shitsuu |
| Your paternal aunt | Nitsuu |
| My grandmother | Shitsuu |
|
My granddaughter (said by grandmother) |
Shitseii |
| Your granddaughter (said to grandmother) | Nitseii |
| Your grandmother | Nitsuu |
Hualapai, Arizona
| Mother | jitha |
| Daughter | misi’ |
| Sister, Younger | ginya |
| Sister, Older | niya |
| Niece | wisa |
| Aunt (Mother”s Side) | nithi |
| Grandmother (Mother’s Side) | goda |
| Grandmother (Father’s Side) | monya |
| Granddaughter | ko’ |
Inupiat Language, North Slope, Alaska
| Mother | Aaqa |
| Older Sister | Aataaraq |
| Siblings | Aaviliatkutat |
| Younger Brother or Sister (plural, both sexes) | Nukaaluq |
Mahican Dialect, Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe of Wisconsin
| My Mother | Ngok |
| Your Mother | Kok |
| My Grandmother | Noʔom |
| Your Grandmother | Koʔom |
| My Older Sister | Meeth |
| Your Older Sister | Kmeeth |
| My Daughter | Neechãan |
| Your Daughter | Kneechãan |
Mohawk, New York
| Mother | Ka’nisténhsera |
| Daughter | Kheién:’a |
| Sister, Younger | Khe’kén:’a |
| Sister, Older | Aktsi’:’a |
| Niece | Kheienhwatén:’a |
| Aunt | Ake’nisténha |
| Grandmother | Akhsótha |
| Granddaughter | Kheiatere’:’a |
Ojibwe Language
| Mother(s) | Nimaamaa(yag) |
| Daughter(s) | Nindaanis(ag) |
| Sister(s), Older | Nimise(yag) |
| Aunt, Father’s Sister(s) | Ninzigos(ag) |
| Aunt, Mother’s Sister(s) | Ninoshenh(yag) |
| Grandmother(s) | Nookomis(ag) |
| Female Friend(s) | Niijikwe |
| Wife (Wives) | Niwiiw(ag) |
‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Language), Hawai‘i
| Mother | Makuahine |
| Grandmother | Kupunawahine |
| Daughter/Girl | Kaikamahine |
| Sister (generally, and to a brother) | Kaikuahine |
| Older Sister (to a sister) | Kaikuaʻana |
| Younger Sister (to a sister) | Kaikaina |
| Niece (or Nephew) | ʻOhana Keiki |
Paiute, Nevada
| Mother | beah |
| Daughter | budduh |
| Sister, Older | hummah |
| Sister, Younger | buneh |
| Aunt, Mother’s Side | bedduh |
| Aunt, Father’s Side | buhwuah |
| Grandmother. Father’s Side | hootzee |
| Grandmother. Mother’s Side | mooah |
| Granddaughter/Grandson, Father’s Side | hootze |
| Granddaughter/Grandson, Mother’s Side | mooah |
Pyramid Lake Paiute/Northern, Nevada
| Mother | Pea |
| Daughter | Padu |
| Sister, Older | Hamma’a |
| Sister, Younger | Punne’e |
| Niece, Father’s Side | Hooza |
| Niece, Mother’s Side | Nanakwa |
| Aunt, Mother’s Side | Pedoo’o |
| Aunt, Father’s Sister (man speaking) | Pa’wa (Pa’wa) |
|
Aunt, Father’s Sister (woman speaking) |
Medo’o |
| Grandmother. Father’s Side | Hootse’e |
| Grandmother. Mother’s Side | Mooa’a |
| Granddaughter | Hoobe’e |
Tlingit, Alaska
| Mother | Tláa |
| Mother-in-Law | Chaan |
| Daughter | Sée |
| Boy’s Sister | Dlaak’ |
| Giril’s Older Sister | Shátx |
| Girl’s Younger Sister | Kéek’ |
| Niece, Sister’s Child | Káalk’w |
| Maternal Aunt | Tláak’w |
| Paternal Aunt | Aat |
| Grandmother/Grandfather/Grandparents) | Léelk’w |
| Great-Great Grandparent(s) | Daakanóox’u |
Tunica, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
| Mother | igachihchi |
Twulshootseed, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Washington
| Mother | sk’ʷuy |
| Grandmother | kayəʔ |
| Aunt | pus |
Note: The words and phrases in this post were provided by members of the tribes listedm but spellings and translations may vary. Also, 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. Please feel free to contact us at info@aianta.org.
View more kanguage posts in AIANTA’s Native Greetings series.
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