Chapter 9 – Basic Conversation
Getting to Know Someone
Because the Mi’kmaw language is verb-based and deeply descriptive, learning how to introduce yourself, ask how someone is or about their relations or where they are from and listening to their responses, shows respect and are foundational building blocks to more fulsome conversations. Listen to the greetings and other conversation starters and responses and practice speaking Mi’kmaw with others.
| Taluisin ? | What is your name? | Ni'n teluisi … | My name is … |
| Taluisit? | What is his/her name? | Nekm teluisi … | His/her name is … |
| Wen …? | Who …? | Wen na …? | Who is …? |
| Wula na … | This is … | ||
| Me'talwulein? | How are you? | Welei. | I am well. |
| Katu ki'l? | What about you? | Mu-weleyu. | I am not well. |
| Me'tale'k? | How is s/he? | Wele'k. | S/he is well. |
| Mu-wele'k . | S/he is not well. | ||
| Metalo'ltijik kikmaq? | How is your family? | Welo'ltijik. | They are well. |
| Me'tale'k kujj? | How is your father? | Me'tale'k kkij? | How is your mother? |
| Tala'teken? | What is the matter? | Tala'teket? | What’s wrong with him/her? |
| Tamiaw tleyawin? | Where are you from? (to 1 person) | Tleyawi … | I am from … |
| Tamiaw tleyawit? | Where is s/he from? | Tleyawit … | S/he is from … |
| Tamiaw tleyawioq? | Where are you from? (to 2 or more people) | Tleyawi'kw | We are from … (inclusive) |
| Tleyawiek … | We are from … (exclusive) | ||
| Tamiaw tleyawijik? | Where is it from? | Tleyawik … | It is / those are from … |
| Tamiaw wetapeksin? | Where are your roots/ancestors from? | ||
| Wetapeksi … | My ancestors are from … | ||
| Tamiaw wikin? | Where do you live? | Wiki … | I live at … (local) |
Taluisin
Translation: What is your name?
Part of Speech: phrase
Meanings: What is your name? or You are called...
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-loo-wee-zin?
Ni'n teluisi
Translation: My name is ...
Meanings: My name is... or I am called...
Pronunciation Guide: Neen deh-loo-ee-zee.
Taluisit?
Translation: What is his/her name?
Meanings: What is his/her name?
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-loo-wee-zit?
Nekm teluisi ...
Translation: His/her name is ...
Meanings: His/her name is ...
Pronunciation Guide: neg-um de-la-we-sit
Translation: Who is ...?
Part of Speech: pronoun
Meanings: who is that?
Pronunciation Guide: when
Wen na
Translation: Who is
Meanings: Who is it? or Who is that?
Pronunciation Guide: when-nah
Wula na
Translation: This is
Meanings: This is it, Here it is, or Here is...
Pronunciation Guide: wool-a-nah
Me'talwulein
Translation: How are you?
Meanings: How are you? or How are you feeling?
Pronunciation Guide: May-dull-woo-lay-in?
Translation: I am fine / well.
Part of Speech: verb
Meanings: I am fine / well.
See also: Weleyi
Katu ki'l
Translation: What about you?
Meanings: And you? or How about you?
Pronunciation Guide: Gah-doo geel?
Mu-weleyu
Translation: I am not well.
Meanings: I am not well.
Pronunciation Guide: Moo-weh-lay-oo
Me'tale'k
Translation: How is he/she?
Meanings: How is he/she?
Pronunciation Guide: mee_da·leeg
Wele'k
Translation: He/she is well
Part of Speech: verb animate intransitive
Meanings: living well, fine, alive, healthy
Pronunciation Guide: we·leeg
Mu-wele'k
Translation: S/he is not well.
Meanings: not well, not too healthy
Pronunciation Guide: mu·woo·leg
Metalo'ltijik kikmaq
Translation: How is your family.
Meanings: How is your family.
Pronunciation Guide: meh-dah-lohl-dee-jig gee-gmakh
Welo'ltijik
Translation: They are well.
Meanings: They are well. They are healthy.
Pronunciation Guide: Weh-loh-ool-dee-jig
Me'tale'k kujj
Translation: How is your father.
Meanings: How is your father. How is your dad.
Pronunciation Guide: Meh-dah-lehk goot-ch
Me'tale'k kkij
Translation: How is your mother.
Meanings: How is your mother. How are you, mother?
Pronunciation Guide: Meh-dah-lehk guch
Tala'teken
Translation: What is the matter?
Meanings: What's wrong? or What is the matter with you?
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-lah-deh-gen?
Tala'teket
Translation: What's wrong with him/her?
Meanings:
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-lah-deh-get?
Tamiaw tleyawin
Translation: Where are you from? (to 1 person)
Meanings: Where are you from? (to 1 person)
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-mee-aoo dleh-yah-win?
Tleyawi
Translation: I am from ...
Meanings: I am from ... or I originate from...
Pronunciation Guide: Dleh-yah-wee...
Tamiaw tleyawit
Translation: Where is she/he from?
Meanings: Where is she/he from?
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-mee-aoo dleh-yah-wid?
Tleyawit
Translation: She/he is from ...
Meanings: "He/she is from..." or "He/she originates from..."
Pronunciation Guide: Dleh-yah-wid..."
Tamiaw tleyawioq
Translation: Where are you from? (two or more people)
Meanings: Where are you from? (two or more people) or Where are you all from?
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-mee-aoo dleh-yah-wee-ohk?
Tleyawi'kw
Translation: We are from ... (inclusive)
Meanings: "We are from..." or "We originate from..." (inclusive)
Explanation: It is the first-person plural inclusive form of the location verb root. This means you are stating where a group is from, and specifically including the person you are speaking to in that group (e.g., "You and I are both from...").
Pronunciation Guide: Dleh-yah-wee-gook
Tleyawiek
Translation: We are from ... (exclusive)
Meanings: "We are from..." or "We originate from..." (exclusive)
Explanation: This is the first-person plural exclusive form of the location verb root. You use it when you and another person are stating where you come from to a listener who is not part of that same group (e.g., "My friend and I are from here, but you are not").
Pronunciation Guide: "Dleh-yah-wee-eg"
Tamiaw tleyawijik
Translation: Where is it from?
Meanings: Where is it from? or Where are they from?
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-mee-aoo dleh-yah-wee-jig?
Tleyawik
Translation: It is / those are from ...
Meanings: "it is from...", "it originates from...", or "belonging to..."
Pronunciation Guide: Dleh-yah-wig
Tamiaw wetapeksin
Translation: Where are your roots / ancestors from?
Meanings: "Where are your roots?", "Where do your ancestors come from?", or "Who are your relatives?"
Pronunciation Guide:
Wetapeksi
Translation: My ancestors are from ...
Meanings: "My ancestors are from ... ", "My roots are from...", "I come from...", or "My lineage originates at..."
Pronunciation Guide: Weh-dah-bek-see...
Tamiaw wikin
Translation: Where do you live?
Meanings: "Where do you live?" or "Where is your home?"
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-mee-aoo wee-gin?
Wiki
Translation: I live at ... (local)
Meanings: "I live in...", "I reside at...", or "my dwelling"
Pronunciation Guide: Wee-gee...
