Resources: Mi’kmaw Words
Language and culture are deeply linked. Many FNI members do not speak the language of our Mi’kmaq ancestors.
The best way to learn a language is from native speakers who are good teachers. While the FNI cannot provide this service, we offer a few resources here, and a list of some Mi’kmaq words (the pronunciation guide is in italic) and place names on the island of Newfoundland (Ternua uhartea). Our links section also lists some online reference sources.
Selected vocabulary:
agnutmajig (a·ge·nu·de·ma·jik) - talk to each other; discuss;
negotiate
a'lutasit (aa·lu·da·sit) – guide (by boat); fishing guide
apoqonmati (a·bo·hgon·ma·di) – assistance, help
Atoqwa'su (a·tohk·waa·su) – trout
atuomg (a·du·omk) – beach sand
emtoqwalatl (em·tohk·wa·la·dêl) - worship
etlenmit (e·dê·len·mit) – laugh
g’pnno’l (gê·bên·nool) – government
Galgwasiet (gal·hkwa·si·et) – sunset
Gapjagwej (gap·cha·gwech) - robin
Gappesaw (gahk·pe·saw) – smelt
Ga't (gaad) – eel
Gesig (ge·sik) - winter
Gept’gewigu’s (gepte·ge·wi·guus) - November
Gisu’lg (gi·suulk) – Creator
Gjinisgam (êk·chi·nis·kam) - Great Spirit
gloqontiej (ge·lo·hgonn·di·ech) – seagull
Inu saqamaw (ell·nu·sa·hga·maw) - aboriginal chief
jajigamugsit (ja·ji·ga·muk·sit) - look healthy
lampo'q (lam·poohk) – lake bottom
lasguaw (las·ku·aw) – snowshoe
mamunipsaq (ma·mun·ip·sahk) – snow heavily
Mewisit (me·wi·sit) - Pick berries
Musigisg (mu·si·gisk) – sky
Na’gu’set (naa·guu·zet) – sun
qalipu (hal·lay·boo) – caribou
Siggw (sikkw) - Springtime
tege’g (de·geeg) - cold (of weather)
Tia’m (di·aam) – moose
Tia’mugwet (di·aa·mu·gwet) - to hunt moose
Tqo’nug (et·hkoo·nuk) - next fall
Welp'teg (wel·bê·dek) - Nice and warm
Newfoundland place names:
a'lutasit (aa·lu·da·sit) – guide (by boat); fishing guide
apoqonmati (a·bo·hgon·ma·di) – assistance, help
Atoqwa'su (a·tohk·waa·su) – trout
atuomg (a·du·omk) – beach sand
emtoqwalatl (em·tohk·wa·la·dêl) - worship
etlenmit (e·dê·len·mit) – laugh
g’pnno’l (gê·bên·nool) – government
Galgwasiet (gal·hkwa·si·et) – sunset
Gapjagwej (gap·cha·gwech) - robin
Gappesaw (gahk·pe·saw) – smelt
Ga't (gaad) – eel
Gesig (ge·sik) - winter
Gept’gewigu’s (gepte·ge·wi·guus) - November
Gisu’lg (gi·suulk) – Creator
Gjinisgam (êk·chi·nis·kam) - Great Spirit
gloqontiej (ge·lo·hgonn·di·ech) – seagull
Inu saqamaw (ell·nu·sa·hga·maw) - aboriginal chief
jajigamugsit (ja·ji·ga·muk·sit) - look healthy
lampo'q (lam·poohk) – lake bottom
lasguaw (las·ku·aw) – snowshoe
mamunipsaq (ma·mun·ip·sahk) – snow heavily
Mewisit (me·wi·sit) - Pick berries
Musigisg (mu·si·gisk) – sky
Na’gu’set (naa·guu·zet) – sun
qalipu (hal·lay·boo) – caribou
Siggw (sikkw) - Springtime
tege’g (de·geeg) - cold (of weather)
Tia’m (di·aam) – moose
Tia’mugwet (di·aa·mu·gwet) - to hunt moose
Tqo’nug (et·hkoo·nuk) - next fall
Welp'teg (wel·bê·dek) - Nice and warm
| English map name· Mapetan | Mi’kmaq |
| Annieopsquotch Mountains | Aniapskwoj |
| Barachois | Kutapsku’j |
| Basque Brook | Paskwe’wa’kik |
| Bay d’ Espoir | Lapite’spe’ |
| Bay Du Nord | Oqwatinipukwek |
| Bay of Islands | Elmastukwek |
| Bishops Falls | Kjipa’tilia’sewey Qapskuk |
| Brazil Lake | Pa’si’lek |
| Burgeo | Najioqonuk |
| Cape La Hune | Saqskiitek |
| Crooked Lake | Paqju’pe’k |
| Deer Lake | Qalipue’katik |
| Ebbegunbaeg Lake | Epikin’pe’k |
| English Harbour | Akilasie’we’katik |
| Exploits River | Sple’tk |
| Friar | Kukumijinaweynu |
| Gander Lake | Akilasiye’wa’kik Qospem |
| Gander River | Akilasiye’wa’kik |
| Grand Falls | Qapskuk |
| Grand Lake | Wli Qospem |
| Grey River | Nqanaqanik |
| Hospital Mill | Ksinukwaqano’kuomk |
| Humber River | Maqtukwek |
| Ile Riche | Sa’pie’lek |
| Indian Point | Ilnue’kwisawey |
| Island Pond | Minikupe’k |
| Kaegudeck Lake | Ke’kutek |
| La Poile | Lapwelk |
| Long Range Mountains | Mekapisk |
| Meddonegannix Lake | Metoqonikanek |
| Meelpaeg | Milpe’k |
| Miguel Hill | Mikel Pim’tiin |
| Miguel’s Brook | Jo’mikelji’jk |
| Miguel’s Brook | Jo’mikelek |
| Milltown | Mulink |
| Morrisville | Mulisek |
| Mount Sylvester | Prnaqtiin |
| Newfoundland | Ktaqamk |
| Newfoundland, in Newfoundland | Ktaqamkuk |
| Newfoundland, Red Indian Land | Mekwejite’wa’kik |
| Placentia | Pliisantek |
| Port-aux-Basques | Sinalk |
| Pudops Lake | Putops |
| Pushthrough | Piskwa’taqan’ji’j |
| Quillier | Amasipukwek |
| Red Indian Lake | Mekwe’jite’wa’kik |
| St. George’s Bay | Nujio’qoniik |
| St. George’s | Nujio’qon |
| St. George’s River | Nujio’qoniik |
| St. Joseph’s Cove | Katalisk Sipu |
| Terra Nova Lake | Pekwatapaq |
| Trout Brook | Kun’tewi’ji’jk |
| Trout River | Atoqwa’sue’katik |
| Twin Lakes | Wipetikil |
| United States | Pastunkeywa’kik |
| Victoria Lake Falls | Qapskuk |
Months of the year:
| English | Mi’maq | Meaning |
| January | Punamuikús (Boo·na·moo·e·goose) |
the month of the Fresh Fish Moon |
| February | Apuknajit (A·book·na·jet) |
the month of the Snow-blinder Moon |
| March | Si’ko’kús (See·go·goose) |
the month of the Spawning Moon |
| April | Penatmuikús (Ben·not·moo·e·goose) |
the month of the Egg-laying Moon |
| May | Sqoljui’ku’s (Skol·jew·e·goose) |
the month of the Frog-croaking Moon |
| June | Nipniku’s (Ne·ben·e·goose) |
the month of the Fishing Moon |
| July | Peskewiku’s (Bess·gae·we·goose) |
the month of the Feather-shedding Moon |
| August | Kisaqewiku’s (Gis·awk·a·wee·goose) |
the month of the Fruit-and Berry-ripening Moon |
| September | Wikumkewiku’s (We·gum·gae·we·goose) |
the month of the Moose-calling Moon |
| October | Wikewiku’s (We·gae·we·goose) |
the month of the Animal-fattening Moon |
| November | Keptekewiku’s (Gep·day·gae·we·goose) |
the month of the River-freezing Moon |
| December | Kesikewiku’s (Gis·e·gae·we·goose) |
the month of the Winter Moon or the Great Month |