Chapter 9 – Basic Conversation
Greetings and Farewells
There are a variety of sounds that you will hear as you begin your Mi’kmaw language journey. Take a moment to review the video linked below to get started by learning about the use of vowels and consonants in the Mi’kmaw language.
The video below provides an introduction to greetings and farewells, along with a few related questions and statements with some tips at the end of the video.
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 Watch the Video: Level 2 Mi’kmaw: Video 3 Basic Conversation: Greetings and Farewells Source: Video produced by Captive Expression for No’kmaq Village / Flat Bay Band, Inc., Jun 12, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0tjLtBrt4&list=PLzCyJUukbz2KN1b7Tbu8laCyaYP37Zr8C&index=3 |
| Mu-l'nui'su. | I do not speak Mi’kmaw. | ||
| Ketu'-kina'masi l'nui'suti. | I want to learn the Mi’kmaq Language. | ||
| Wetnu'kwalsi l'nui'si. | I am trying to speak Mi’kmaw. | ||
| Tal-teluen l'nuituk ... ? | How do you say … in Mi’kmaw? | ||
| Kwe'. | Hello. | ||
| Pjila'si. | Welcome. (To 1 person) | Pjilita'q. | Welcome. (To more than 1) |
| Nmu'ltes. | See you. (To 1 person) | Nmu'ltoqsɨp. | See you. (To more than 1) |
| Nmu'ltes sapo'nuk | See you tomorrow. | Nmu'ltesnen. | We will see you then. |
| Nmu'ltes apukjik | See you later. | Nmu'ltes app. | See you again. |
| Tlewistutisun app | I’ll be talking to you again. | ||
| Juku'etɨsk. | Come again. | Juku'etɨsk app. | Come back again. |
| Wela'lin. | Thank you. (To 1 person) | Wela'lioq. | Thank you. (To more than 1) |
| Wela'liek. | Thank you. (From many to 1) | ||
| Weliaq. | You’re welcome. | Mukk-wi'tmu. | Don’t mention it. |
| Taliaq? | What’s happening? | Mu-talianuk. | Nothing is happening. |
| Sa'q kespi nmu'l. | It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. | ||
| Weltasi na nemu'l app. | I’m glad to see you again. | ||
| Welta'si emittukwalin. | I’m glad you came to visit me. | ||
| Welta'si na nike' pekisin. | I’m glad you came. | ||
| Kisi nmu'ltes? | Can I see you? | ||
| Kisi nmu'ltes welo'nuk? | Can I see you tonight? | ||
| Kisi nmu'ltes sapo'nuk? | Can I see you tomorrow? | ||
| Kiskajein? | Are you ready? | Suel kiskajein? | Are you almost ready? |
| Kiskajei. | I am ready. | Mu-kiskajei. | I am not ready. |
| Kiskaje'k. | S/he is ready. | Mu-kiskaje'k. | S/he is not ready. |
| Skma. | Wait. | Skmali. | Wait for me. |
| Miamuj eliey. | I must go. | Ketu' maja'si. | I want to leave. |
Mu-l'nui'su
Translation: I do not speak Mi'kmaw.
Meanings: I do not speak Mi'kmaw or He/she does not speak Mi'kmaw.
Pronunciation Guide: Moo-el-noo-ee-zoo
Ketu'-kina'masi l'nui'suti
Translation: I want to learn the Mi'kmaw Language.
Meanings: I want to learn the Mi'kmaw Language.
Pronunciation Guide: Keh-doo gee-nah-mah-zee el-noo-ee-zoo-dee
Wetnu'kwalsi l'nui'si.
Translation: I am trying to speak Mi'kmaw.
Meanings: I am trying to speak Mi'kmaw.
Pronunciation Guide: Wed-noo-gwahl-zee el-noo-ee-zee
Tal-teluen l'nuituk ... ?
Translation: How do you say ... in Mi'kmaw?
Meanings: How do you say ... in Mi'kmaw?
Pronunciation Guide: Dahl-deh-loo-en... El-noo-eeg-doog?
Kwe'
Translation: Hello
Meanings: Hello or Greetings
Pronunciation Guide: Gway
Pjila'si
Translation: You are welcome (one person)
Part of Speech: verb animate intransitive
Meanings: Welcome or Come in and be seated
Pronunciation Guide: Ep-jee-lah-zee
Pjilita'q
Translation: Welcome (to more than 1 person)
Meanings: "Welcome, everyone" or "Welcome, all of you"
Pronunciation Guide: Ep-jee-lee-dahk
Nmu'ltes
Translation: See you (To 1 person)
Meanings: "I will see you" or "See you"
Pronunciation Guide: Nem-ool-dehs
Nmu'ltoqsɨp
Translation: See you. (To more than 1)
Meanings: "I saw you all" or "I saw all of you"
Pronunciation Guide: Nem-ool-dohk-sub
Nmu'ltes sapo'nuk
Translation: See you tomorrow
Meanings: "See you tomorrow" or "I will see you tomorrow" i
Pronunciation Guide: Nem-ool-dehs sah-boh-nook
Nmu'ltesnen
Translation: See you then
Meanings: We will see you
Pronunciation Guide: Nem-ool-dehs-nehn
Nmu'ltes apukjik
Translation: See you later
Meanings: "See you in a little while", "See you soon", or "See you later today"
Pronunciation Guide: Nem-ool-dehs ah-boog-jig
Nmu'ltes app
Translation: See you again
Meanings: "See you again" or "I will see you again"
Pronunciation Guide: Nem-ool-dehs ahb
Tlewistutisun app
Translation: I'll be talking to you again
Meanings: "Speak to you again", "I will talk to you again", or "Let's talk again"
Pronunciation Guide: Dleh-wis-doo-dee-zoon ahb
Juku'etɨsk
Translation: Come again
Meanings: "Come here, everyone" or "Come here, all of you"
Pronunciation Guide: Joo-goo-eh-doosk
Juku'etɨsk app
Translation: Come back again
Meanings: "Come here again, everyone" or "Come back here, all of you"
Pronunciation Guide: Joo-goo-eh-doosk ahb
Wela'lin
Translation: Thank you. (To 1 person)
Meanings: Thank you.
Pronunciation Guide: Weh-lah-lin
Wela'lioq
Translation: Thank you. (To more than 1)
Meanings: Thank you, everyone" or "Thank you, all of you"
Pronunciation Guide: Weh-lah-lee-ohk
Wela'liek
Translation: Thank you. (From many to 1)
Meanings: "We thank you" (exclusive)
Explanation: This is the first-person plural exclusive form of gratitude. You use it when you and at least one other person are thanking a single individual who is not part of your group (e.g., "My friend and I thank you for your help"). From: Mi'gmaq Online Talking Dictionary.
Pronunciation Guide: Weh-lah-lee-eg
Weliaq
Translation: You're welcome
Meanings: "You're welcome", "It is good", "Fine", or "Okay"
Pronunciation Guide: Weh-lee-ahk
Mukk-wi'tmu
Translation: Don't mention it.
Meanings: "Don't tell on me", "Don't mention me", or "Don't talk about me"
Pronunciation Guide: mook-WEED-dɨm-oo
Taliaq
Translation: What's happening?
Meanings: "What's happening?" or "What's going on?"
Pronunciation Guide: Dah-lee-ahk
Mu-talianuk
Translation: Nothing is happening
Meanings: "Nothing is happening", "Nothing's going on," or "Not much"
Pronunciation Guide: Moo-dah-lee-ah-nook
Sa'q kespi nmu'l
Translation: It's been a while since I've seen you
Meanings: "It has been a long time since I last saw you" or "Long time no see"
Pronunciation Guide: Sahk gehsb-ee nem-ool
Weltasi na nemu'l app
Translation: I'm glad to see you again
Meanings: I am glad to see you again
Pronunciation Guide: Wel-dah-zee nah neh-mool ahb
Welta'si emittukwalin
Translation: I'm glad you came to visit me
Meanings: "I am glad you came to visit me" or "I am happy you came to visit"
Pronunciation Guide: Wel-dah-zee eh-mit-too-gwah-lin
Welta'si na nike' pekisin
Translation: I'm glad you came
Meanings: "I am glad you have arrived now" or "I'm happy that you are here now"
Pronunciation Guide: Wel-dah-zee nah nee-gay beh-gee-zin
Kisi nmu'ltes
Translation: Can I see you
Meanings: "I can see you" or "I am able to see you"
Pronunciation Guide: Gee-zee nem-ool-dehs
Kisi nmu'ltes welo'nuk?
Translation: Can I see you tonight?
Meanings: "I can see you tonight" or "See you tonight"
Pronunciation Guide: gee-see nem-ool-dehs weh-loh-nook
Kisi nmu'ltes sapo'nuk?
Translation:
Can I see you tomorrow?
Meanings:
I can see you tomorrow? or See you tomorrow?
Pronunciation Guide: Gee-see nem-ool-dehs sah-BOH-nook
Kiskajein
Translation: Are you ready?
Meanings: Are you ready?
Pronunciation Guide: Gis-gah-jayn?
Suel kiskajein?
Translation: Are you almost ready?
Meanings: Are you almost ready?
Pronunciation Guide: Soo-ell gis-gah-jayn
Kiskajei
Translation: I am ready
Meanings: I am ready
Pronunciation Guide: Gis-gah-jay-ee
Mu-kiskajei
Translation: I am not ready
Meanings: I am not ready
Pronunciation Guide: Moo-gis-gah-jay-ee
Kiskaje'k
Translation: S/he is ready
Meanings: S/he is ready, It is ready
Part of Speech: verb inanimate intransitive
Pronunciation Guide: Gis-gah-jayk
Mu-kiskaje'k
Translation: S/he is not ready
Meanings: S/he is not ready, It is not ready
Part of Speech:verb inanimate intransitive
Pronunciation Guide: Moo-gis-gah-jayk
Skma
Translation: Wait
Meanings: Wait, Expect
Part of Speech: verb animate transitive
Pronunciation Guide: Sehk-mah
Skmali
Translation: Wait for me
Meanings: Wait for me
Pronunciation Guide: Sehk-mah-lee
Miamuj eliey
Translation: I must go
Meanings: I must go or I have to go there
Pronunciation Guide: Mee-ah-mooch eh-lee-ay
Ketu' maja'si
Translation: I want to leave.
Meanings: I want to leave, I intend to go, or I'm ready to start moving
Pronunciation Guide: Keh-doo mah-jah-zee
