Lenape Lesson #2 - Spelling 2 & Vocab

Alënixsitàm!

Let's Talk Lenape!

Lesson 2

In the first lesson we covered the sounds of the vowels in Lenape. There is a special class of vowels we should mention at this time. These are the vowels that are followed by the letters N + S or N + SH. These are nasal vowels similar to the ones used in French.

Vowel	Lenape Word	Translation	Comments
a	ans’hwikàn	fishing net
a	manshapi	a bead (other than wampum
ë	chulëns	bird
ë	kawënsh	thorn
ò	xònsa	his older brother
u	ntalëmuns	my pet

Of course there are a few exceptions to every rule. In a few Lenape words the vowel is not nasalized in that position and to indicate that it is not nasalized a ’ (an apostrophe) is placed between the N and S as in the following example

èmhòn’sàk

spoons

Consonants in Lenape:

Next we will have the sounds of the consonants. As a reminder the consonants used in Lenape are:

ch - h - k - l - m – n - p - s - sh - t - w - x – y

Of these, ch – k – p – s – sh – t, are pronounced as in English, unless they follow the letters n- or m-, provided there is no apostrophe after the n- or m-. We will discuss that in the next lesson. Here are some Lenape words using these letters:

Consonant	Lenape Word	English Translation	Comments
ch	chinkwe	bobcat	like -ch- in English "church"
	chimhe	he rows a boat, or, he paddles a canoe
h	hàkhàkw	bottle	like -h- in English "hand"
	hàtës	sinew
k	ku	no	like -k- in English "hawk"
	kwis	your son
l	lòkëwe	yesterday	Like -l- in English "lip" (This -L- sound in Lenape comes at the beginning of a word or in the middle of a word between vowels or before the consonants -h- or -x-)
	lukàt	flour (from wheat)
l	òòl	egg	This -L- sound in Lenape comes at the end of a word or in the middle of a word before another consonant, except -h- or -x-. There is no equivalent sound in English, (this -L- is voiceless). If you feel your throat when pronouncing the -L- in the English word 'lot' you will feel a vibration. This is voicing. Now, start to say 'lot' but just let the air pass over your tongue with no vibration of the vocal cords. This is the sound of the voiceless -L-
	ashëwìl	he swims	(the voiceless -L-)
m	mitkëm	pole	like -m- in English "met"
	mùxul	canoe or boat
n	nux	my father	like -n- in English "net"
	ni	I or me or my
p	pèshkunk	nine	like –p- in English “pet”
	palenàxk	five
s	sànkwe	weasel	like -s- in English "sick"
	sipu	stream
sh	shëwàn	it is salty	like -sh- in English "shoe"
	shiki	it is pretty
s'h	ans´ha	dip it up	like -s- + -h- in English "kiss her"
t	tòke	it is soft	like -t- in English "ten"
	tëme	wolf
w	wil	head	like -w- in English "work"
	wikhè	he builds a house
w	wtenk xanikw kwewsi	behind (as in “behind the house”) squirrel you found out	This -W- sound in Lenape comes at the end of a word, or in the beginning or middle of a word before another consonant. There is no equivalent sound in English, (this -W- is voiceless). If you feel your throat when pronouncing the -W- in the English word 'way' you will feel a vibration. This is voicing. It is much like a short whistle sound. This is the sound of the voiceless -W-

x	xanikw	squirrel	like -ch- in German "kochen"
	òxe	it is daylight
y	yuh	alright or okay	like -y- in English "yes"
	yukwe	now