Immigrant Oral Histories

Woonspe Ŝakpe: Simple Verb Conjugation

Wo´onspe means "lesson." The lesson titles that follow will appear in Dakota.

Listen to the pronunciation of the following verbs.

Wo´onspe Wo´onspe, Wo´onspe means “lesson.” The lesson titles that follow will appear in Dakota.

ciŋ (S/HE/IT WANTS)

Waciŋ Waciŋ, I want.
Yaciŋ Yaciŋ, You want.
Ciŋ Ciŋ, S/He/It wants.
Uŋciŋ Uŋciŋ, You and I want
Uŋciŋpi Uŋciŋpi, We want.
Yaciŋpi Yaciŋpi, You all want
Ciŋ´pi Ciŋ´pi, They want.

TI (S/HE/IT LIVES [SOMEWHERE])

Wati Wati, I live.
Yati Yati, You live.
Ti Ti, S/He/It lives.
Uŋti Uŋti, You and I live.
Uŋtipi Uŋtipi, We live.
Yatipi Yatipi, You all live.
Ti´pi Ti´pi, They live.

NI (S/HE/IT LIVES/IS ALIVE)

Wani Wani, I live.
Yani Yani, You live.
Ni Ni, S/He/It lives.
Uŋni Uŋni, You and I live.
Uŋnipi Uŋnipi, We live.
Yanipi Yanipi, You all live.
Ni´pi Ni´pi, They live.

KUWA (S/HE/IT FOLLOWS, FLIRTS, CHASES, HUNTS, OR PURSUES)

Wakuwa Wakuwa, I follow.
Yakuwa Yakuwa, You follow
Kuwa Kuwa, S/He/It follows.
Uŋkuwa Uŋkuwa, You and I follow.
Uŋkuwapi Uŋkuwapi, We follow.
Yakuwapi Yakuwapi, You all follow.
Kuwapi Kuwapi, They follow.

KAMNA (S/HE/IT EARNS)

Wakamna Wakamna, I earn.
Yakamna Yakamna, You earn.
Kamna Kamna, S/He/It earns.
Uŋkamna Uŋkamna, You and I earn.
Uŋkamnapi Uŋkamnapi, We earn.
Yakamnapi Yakamnapi, You all earn.
Kamnapi Kamnapi, They earn.


Da Da, S/He/It asks for (something)
Hde Hde, S/He/It leaves/sets out for home
Hdi Hdi, S/He/It returns/comes back
Ķa Ķa, S/He/It digs up (something)
Kacoco Kacoco, S/He/It stirs or mixes up (something)
Kaĥapa Kaĥapa, S/He/It drives (something)
Kaksa Kaksa, S/He/It cuts (something)
Kaptaŋyaŋ Kaptaŋyaŋ, S/He/It turns or flips (with an instrument)
Kipaŋ Kipaŋ, S/He/It calls (to someone)
Kipazo Kipazo, S/He/It shows or points out (one’s own item)
Ķu Ķu, S/He/It gives (something)
Ŝa Ŝa, S/He/It shouts or yells
Ŝkaŋ Ŝkaŋ, S/He/It moves about
Ŝkata Ŝkata, S/He/It plays

Selected U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 commemoration projects and programs are made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008.