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Lenape Talking Dictionary

By English WORD or PHRASE

By Lenape WORD or PHRASE

Detailed Entry Information

Sound Icon
English:I killed him
Lenape:nihëla [vta]

Historical Example

Neeheelau [1824] to kill

Comments

/nn/ coalesces to a single occurrence /n/.
/ë/ of the root is raised to /i/ between /n/ and /h/; an unrelated /ë/ is inserted as a transition sound between /h/ and /l/.
/w/ is elided in final position after a vowel.
Note: see also /hnila/ "I kill(ed) him."

Analysis

Form:
nihëla
Structure:
n-nëhl-a-w
Meaning:
1-kill-dir-3