Metis Culture & Heritage Resource Centre
michif Language
Lesson 1 - Michif Conversation


Getting to know you
1.Hello/Hi.Tánishi/boñjour.
2.How are you?Tánishi kiya?
3.I am fine.Nimiyou'ayan/zhi baen.
4.What is your name?Tánishi eyishinikashoyan?
5.My name isDishinikáshon.
6.Where do you come from?Tánde ototayán?
7.Where were you born?Camperville nki nitáwikin.
8.I was born in Camperville.Tánishi eyishinikashoyan?
9.What kind of work do you do?Tánishi e'iyitatoshkeyan?
10.I work atNdatoshkan.
11.Are you married?Kiwékiton chéñ?
12.Do you have children?Lé záñfañ chéñ kitayáwáwak?
13.Where do you live?Tánde wékéyan?
14.I live in town.Dañ la vil niwékin.
15.Thank you for coming.Marsé eki pe'itoteyek.
16.Come again.Pe'itotekek ména.

Words from Michif Sounds and Spellings
1. PétikweCome in
Come in before you get cold.Pepétikwe chipwa kawachéyan.
2. KiyaYou
I mean you.Kiya ká'ititan.
3. Tánishi.Hello.
How are you?Tánishi kiya?
4. LiThe
Bring the hammerPetá li martó
5. MichinMedicine
Take the medicineOtina la michin
6. WéYes
Yes, I'll take it.Wé, nka otinen.
7. KiyawáwAll of you
(All of you) take the medicine.Kakéyaw kiyawaw otinámok la michin.
8. MénaAgain
Say it again, Sam.Ména itwe, Sam.
9. TomátTomato
He/she eats the tomato.Mówew li tomát.
10. ZayoñOnion
He/she is biting an onion.Aen zayoñ takwámew.
11. SoyéShoe
He/she is wearing shoes.Pochishkum lé soyé.
12. Shapó/BonneHat/Cap
He/she lost his/her cap/hat.Wanitaw sa/só bonne/shapó.
13. SóréMouse
There's a mouse in the cellar.Aen sóré ayáw dan la cáv.
14. MátóHe/She cries
The little girl is crying.La pitit fé mátó.
15. Áshtum ótaCome here
Come over here.Áshtum óta pe'itote.
New Words from Vocabulary
1.BeforeChipwá
2.You get coldKawachéyan
3.BringPetá
4.HammerMartó
5.TakeOtina
6.Take it allOtinamok
7.Say itItwe
8.Ate itMówew
9.Bit itTakwámew
10.HereÓta
11.The cellarLa cáv
12.Lost itWanitaw
Fill in the Blanks
  1. Petá li . (hammer)
  2. Pe chipwá kawachéyan. (come in)
  3. ká ititán. (You)
  4. itwe Sam. (Again)
  5. Tánishi. (are you)
  6. Wé otinen. (I'll)
  7. la michin. (Take)
  8. Áshtum ati . (go)
  9. La fé mátó. (little)
  10. Aen ayaw dañ lakáv. (mouse)
  11. Wanitaw soñ . (hat)
  12. lé soyé. (He wears)
  13. Aen takwamew. (onion)
  14. li tomát. (Eats)
  15. Pochishkam lé . (shoes)

Introduction | A language of Our Own | Lesson Index | Michif Audio CD Lessons for Beginners

Michif Pronounciation Guide
Pronunciation | Sounds and Spelling | Consonant/Vowel Blends
Nouns: Plural and Singular | Verbs: with Prefixes, Suffixes and Tenses

Michif Language Lessons
Lesson One | Lesson Two | Lesson Three | Lesson Four | Lesson Five
Lesson Six | Lesson Seven | Lesson Eight | Lesson Nine | Lesson Ten

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