The Winjkte and the Warrior - Glossary

Printer-friendly version

Please bear with me in this endeavor. For some common English phrases, there are no translations (at least none of which I'm aware, anyway), so I took a few liberties, although the translations are (I hope) as accurate as possible. Any error in translation is mine alone, and if you know of a better translation, please PM me and I'll make the necessary changes.

First, the characters themselves:

Wasake Mato - The chief. His name, literally, means "Strength of the Bear"
Yupiya Yi - His wife. Her name translates to "Radiant as the Sun"
Kahwoke Nigesala - The firstborn son. "Swift as the Gazelle"
Wahwateca Tate - The newborn babe. "Gentle breeze", or a breath of fresh air... *wink*
Makoce Uci - "Grandmother Earth"

Wakan Tanka - The Great Spirit - "God", if you will.

Wakan He Sapa - Literally, "Holy Black Hills"

Next, some unfamiliar terms:

tipi - The PROPER spelling of something hopefully everyone knows - a basic Native American dwelling
wihuhcala tonpi - Here is my first attempt to translate an English word not in the Lakota vernacular. Loosely translated, it is "old woman of birth", in other words, a midwife.
mazaska zi - gold, also known as wakan wi inyan - Holy Sun stones, due to its color
thathanjka sanj - the legendary White Buffalo
wasicu - Caucasian
winjkte - Literally, "Two Spirit", a term used for anyone that takes on the traditional roles of the opposite gender. This, traditionally, was reserved for M2F transexuals, the intersexed, and eunuchs, but its use in modern day is pretty much all-encompassing of the LGBT community. The term "bardache" has fallen out of use, and is now considered as offensive as some of the more... colorful... words for community members used in English-speaking countries.

And phrases:

Wakanyaja tupi!- "A child is born!"
Wakan Takan kici un - "May the Great Spirit bless you
Atanikili! - "You are AWESOME!"
Lay he hun nee key wash tay! - It (today) is a good day!"

More will be added as the story progresses, so please visit often.

Edited 13-Mar-17 @ 11:55 PM EDT

Note: The term "Gazelle" is actually a misnomer propagated by the Spanish settlers of the 15th century. When they first saw the pronghorns of the Prairies, they likened them to the gazelles they had seen while on slaving runs in the Horn of Africa. Unfortunately, the name stuck, and what the Lakota refer to as Nigesala (gazelle) is, in fact the Pronghorn antelope. Thanks to Nuuan for pointing out this oversight.

up
28 users have voted.
If you liked this post, you can leave a comment and/or a kudos! Click the "Thumbs Up!" button above to leave a Kudos

Comments

I hope I am spelling this

I hope I am spelling this correctly, Pilamaya (Thank you). :-)

Yep

Haylee V's picture

Although some add a final 'ye' at the end, you are correct. Wakan takan kici un, my friend. (God bless)

*Kisses Always*
Haylee V