The following is a sampling of the Coastal Algonquian language that was translated by Dr. Blair A. Rudes at the request of Coastal Carolina Indian Center in 2006. We’re thankful to Dr. Rudes for his assistance with this project. We are saddened by his unexpected passing in 2008 — not only by the loss of a dear friend — but also that we have lost the opportunity to learn from further work he intended to do on the Carolina/Virginia Algonquian language.
Nitáp (pronounced [knee-TAUP]) or
Cumay (pronounced [CHUM-my]) (both expressions mean ‘my friend’ and would be used with a stranger or someone who was not from one’s tribe.)
Winkapew (pronounced [wing-KAH-poe] means ‘good person’ and would be used with someone who was from one’s tribe, but was not one’s relative. With members of one’s family, one would use the appropriate kinship term as a greeting, i.e. ‘my father’ (nohsh), ‘my mother’ (nek), ‘my sister’, ‘my uncle’, etc. There are many such terms, all of which are just one word long. (I can send you others if you need them.)
How are you?
Sá kir winkan ? (pronounced [saw-keyd-WINK-on] – it means “Are you well?”)
I’m well/I’m not well.
Kupi (pronounced [kuh-PEA] – means ‘yes’, or Mahta (pronounced [MAH-ta] – means ‘no’)
My name is _____
Nuturuwins _____ (pronounced [nuh-tuh-DUH-wince] – it means “I am called ___”; one could say “Nuturuwins Powihetan” ‘I am called Powhatan’)
I am from _____
_(NAME OF PLACE)_ nunowám ? (pronounced [nuh-NO-wawm]; for example, one could say “Sukwoten nunowám.” ‘I come from Secotan.’)
The People (Indian People)
Runapewak (pronounced [duh-nah-PAY-wahk] – it means “the true, real, or genuine people”)
Ocean
Yapám (pronounced [yah-PAUM])
River
Pumitukew (pronounced [PUHM-tuh-koh] – this is the source of the place nam Pamlico)
Food
Micon (pronounced [MEE-chone]
Water
Nupuy (pronounced [nuh-PEA])
Corn
Pehkutawar (pronounced [peck-uh-TA-wahs])
Corn bread
Apon (pronounced [ah-PONE]) (This is where the -pone in English “Cornpone” comes from)
Cornmeal
Rohkahamin (pronounced [row-kah-HAH-mun])
Hominy
Apohominar (pronounced [ah-poe-HOE-muh-nahs])
Squash/gourds
Mahkahq (pronounced [MAH-kahk}
Acorns
Anáskimin (pronounced [ah-NAWS-kuh-mun]
Nut
Pakán (pronounced [pah-KAWN] – source of English “pecan”)
Fish
Namehs (pronounced [NAH-mace]}
Deer
Wutapantam (pronounced [wuh-tah-PAHN-tahm]
Squirrel
Mushaniq (pronounced [MUSH-ah-neek])
Opossum
Wápahshum (pronounced [AW-puh-shum] – source of English “opossum”)
Shoes
Mahkusun (pronounced [mah-KUH-sun] – source of English “moccassin”)
White people/People from Europe
Wutahshuntar (pronounced [wuh-TAH-shun-tahs] – it actually meant “foreigners, strangers”)
Kinship Terms
nek [neck] ‘my mother’
nohsh [noesh] ‘my father’ ([oe] as in ‘doe’)
nunutánuhs [nuh-nuh-TAW-nuhs] ‘my daughter’
nuqisus [nuh-KWEE-suhs] ‘my son’
numohshomus [nuh-moh-SHOW-muhs] ‘my grandfather’
nunohum [nuh-NO-hum] ‘my grandmother’
nuhsimuhs [nuh-SEA-muhs] ‘my younger sister’
numat [nuh-MAHT] ‘my younger brother’
numis [nuh-MEECE] ‘my older sister’
nihsháns [nee-SHAUNCE] ‘my older brother’
numirihtáq [nuh-mee-DEE-tawk] ‘my paternal aunt (father’s sister)’
nukukush [nuh-KUH-kush] ‘my maternal aunt (mother’s sister)’
nuhshis [nuh-SHEECE] ‘my maternal uncle (mother’s brother)’
nohshawas [NOH-shah-wahs] ‘my paternal uncle (father’s brother)’
nutánqus [nuh-TAWN-kwuss] ‘my male cousin’
nutánqusosqew [nuh-tawn-kwuh-SOSE-kwoe] ‘my female cousin’
Phrases
Shhh/Be quiet
Ehqutonahas! [eh-kwuh-TONE-ah-hahs] ‘Stop talking!’
Sit down/Be still
Apis! [AH-peace] ‘Sit down!’
Stand up
Nipatas! [NEE-pah-tahs] ‘Stand up!’
Listen to me
Kurustuwes nir! [kuh-duhs-TUH-wes nid] ‘Listen to me!’
Come over here
Pyas! [PYAHS] ‘Come here!’
Sing me a song
Nahkohes nir! [nah-KOE-hes nid] ‘Sing to me!’
Pick those things up
Nátunis yos! [NAW-tuh-nees yows] ‘Pick those things up!’
It’s time to eat
Mehci micis! [MEH-chee MEE-cheece] ‘Now eat!’
It’s time to go to sleep
Mehci kawis! [MEH-chee KAH-weece] ‘Now go to sleep!’
Goodnight
(There is no translation – the Algonquoian peoples do not say ‘good morning,
goodday, goodnight, etc. In the present case, one would just say ‘sleep well’)
I love you
Kuwumáras. [kuh-wuh-MAW-dahs] ‘I love you.’
Sleep well
Winkan nupes! [WING-kahn nuh-PACE] ‘Sleep well!’
The following word entries were submitted by Scott Dawson (Hatteras). The extended definitions first four words were provided by Dr. Blair A. Rudes. These were obtained by Scott through correspondence with Dr. Rudes.
Paquiwoc is the oldest name we have for the village where Avon sits today. It means ‘people of the shallows’ [pa:kwe – shallow – (w)ak is the animated plural (= people of)]
Kinnakeet next appears on maps in the same place as Paquiwoc and is derived from the Algonquian word Kinahkink, which means ‘sharp-land-place’ or ‘land jetting into something’ ie Pamlico Sound. The distortion of –ink into eet in English spelling is not unusual. Ahyny means ‘the flats’ so Kinnakeet is flat land that jets into something.
Croatoan is the English spelling of kurawoten pronounced (kuh-ra-woe-tain), which means ‘talking or council town.’ It is possible that it could be from the word kuroten which means main town or permanent town. The later English spelling of Croatan sounds more like the ‘kuroten’ word and archeological research suggests that a permanent village has been in Buxton since 400ad.
Wokokon seems to come from Woccon which means sacred or powerful and refers to Ocracoke Island. Ocracoke’s meaning is a mystery but the suffix ‘oke’ makes it a plural word.