In early February, the United Nations proclaimed 2019 to the year of Indigenous Languages.

Since February is also the month of romance, we thought we’d query our members, partners and friends to see how they’ll be expressing their affection this season.

Artwork used with permission by the artist,
TJ Young (Sgwaayaans), of the Kaigani Haida Nation.

With 573 federally recognized tribes, Native Hawaiians and even more state-recognized tribes throughout the country–each with their own distinctive cultures and languages – it’s no surprise that there are endless ways to say “I love you!”

Here are just a few:

Alutiiq Language, Alaska

Qunukamken

I love you

Tlingit, Alaska

Ixsixán	I love you
I daat axajóon	I’m dreaming of you
Ax x’éit yees.á	Kiss me

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

Aloha au iā ‘oe

I love you

Salish

k?  hin  x?menc?

I love you

Klamath-Modoc, Oregon

Moo ‘ams ni stinta

I love you very much

Nimiipuutimpt (Nez Perce language), Idaho

In ‘ee hetewise

I love you

Mohawk, New York

Konnorónhkwa

I love you

Seneca Tribe, New York

gönóöhgwa’

I love you

Northern Paiute

Nu Soopeda U	I love you
Pesa Nasoopedyadu	Loved

Ojibwa/Bad River Ojibwe, Wisconsin

Gizaagiin

I love you

Oneida Tribe, Wisconsin

Kunoluhkwa

I love you

Chickasaw, Oklahoma

Chiholloli

I love you

Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico (Laguna Keres dictionary)

Amuu-thro-maa	I love you
Guuts’imi	He/she loves him/her

Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico (Acoma Keres dictionary)

Thro sii muu

You are dear to me

Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico (San Felipe Keres)

Shro- tse-mah

I love you

Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico

Eee-peinoom

I love you

Diné, Navajo

Ayóó’áníínísh’ní

I love you

Pueblo of Zuni, New Mexico

‘Ho’doh’ee’cheht’mah

I love you

 

Disappearing 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.

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.