Conversing in Mohawk: Introductions
Note: Spelling and dialects are what is used in Six Nations Territory (Ohsweken), Ontario
Shé:kon!1 Hello!
Oh nahòten í:se yesá:yats? What's your name? (lit. what are you called?)
Sawatis ní:'i yónkyats. My name is John. (lit. they call me Sawatis - Sawatis is a Mohawk version of "John".)
Nok ní:se? And you?
Wíhshe ní:'i yónkyats. My name is Mike. (lit. they call me Wíhshe - Wíhshe is a Mohawk version of "Mike".)
Oh káti ne raónha? And him?
Tawit ronwá:yats ne raónha. His name is David. (Tawit = David)
Oh káti ne akaónha? And her?
Wári yontátyats ne akaónha. Her name is Mary. (Wári = Mary)
Ka' nón:we nitisé:non? Where are you from?
Singapore nitewaké:non. I'm from Singapore.
Skennen'kó:wa ken? How are you? (lit. great peace)
Henh, skennen'kó:wa. Yes, I'm fine.
Yoyanerátye ken? How are you? (lit. is it going well?)
Henh, yoyanerátye. Yes, I'm well.
Nyá:wen.2 Thank you.
Ó:nen.1 Goodbye.
Notes:
Í:'i Me, I
Í:se You
Raónha Him
Akaónha Her
1 Shé:kon and ó:nen do not literally mean hello and goodbye respectively, but is used to express as such.
2 Nyá:wen: It is considered etiquette for a guest, in finishing his or her meal, to say nyá:wen, to which the host responds: nyoh. Children are told that a failure to say nyá:wen will give them a stomach ache .
References F.W., Waugh (September 1991). Iroquois Foods and Food Preparation (Facsimile, 1973 ed.). Ottawa Government Printing Bureau. pp. 47.