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Lenape Talking Dictionary

By English WORD or PHRASE

By Lenape WORD or PHRASE

Yuki Mwekaneyok òk Tëmeyok Xwëntuwàk

The Dogs and Wolves Fear Each Other . . . This story was told by Nora Thompson Dean in 1982. It tells about a time when dogs and wolves were friends. It also tells how dogs came to live with the Lenape people.
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English:
Long ago when the earth was new
Lenape:
Lòmwe hùnt ènta lawsienkw wëskink
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English:
The animals held a council.
Lenape:
Yuki aèsësàk maehëleyok.
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English:
These dogs and wolves were friends long ago..
Lenape:
Yuki mwekaneyok òk tëmeyok witisëwak lòmwe.
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English:
Once long ago the wolf leader said
Lenape:
Kwëtën lòmwe nikanixink tëme luwe
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English:
"Oh, I am already cold and I am hungry.
Lenape:
"Ei, mèchi ta ni ntahkochi òk nkatupwi.
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English:
Who will go and get a firebrand so we can have some fire?"
Lenape:
Awèn hàch a natink pëlitay wënchi a kàski tënteweenk?"
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English:
The little mongrel dog said, "Oh, my friend, I can! I can go get it!"
Lenape:
Na lënxàmtët luwe, "O, nchu, ni ta! Ni ta nati!"
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English:
Then he stood on a hill for a while
Lenape:
Na èt chëweyunk nipu lahapa.
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English:
He smelled smoke from where the Lenape were camped.
Lenape:
Mwëlamën kwèshhatèk ènta nèki Lënapeyok maekèhtit.
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English:
When he came near the young woman said,
Lenape:
Enta kixki pat na skixkwe luwe,
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English:
"Oh, the little dog looked so cute.
Lenape:
"E, ninkëminakwsitit na mwekane.
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English:
Then the young woman went to meet him. She began to pet the little dog.
Lenape:
Na may nòkiskao na skixkwe. Tòlëmi òchema na chëminkwtët.
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English:
"Oh, come here, come here! You are shivering from the cold!"
Lenape:
"O, wëntaxa, wëtaxa! Nànkahchi!"
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English:
Oh, the little one was cold. He must be hungry.
Lenape:
Ei, takòhchitu wa awèn. Kahtupu èt.
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English:
Meat and bread I will give you." Oh, the little dog was glad.
Lenape:
"Wiyus òk ahpòn këmilël." O, wëlelìntàm na mwekanetët.
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English:
She fed him bread and meat which she brought from where they lived.
Lenape:
Tòxamaon ahpòn òk wiyus ènta pèshëwat wikhatihtit.
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English:
Then the dog forgot to bring the fire.
Lenape:
Na na mwekane wànin tìlia pètun tëntay.
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English:
The wolves were already waiting over the hill.
Lenape:
Mèchi yuk tëmeyok pehëweyok òsaonke.
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English:
They though that soon the little dog would bring the firestick.
Lenape:
Liteheyok xuniti na mwekanetët pè pèshu pëlitay.
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English:
Then finally those wolves gave up.
Lenape:
Na xantki lukaheyok nèk tëmeyok.
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English:
(The wolf said) "The dog said, 'He guessed he forgot.' I will hit him in the head when I see him."
Lenape:
"Luwe na mwekane, 'Mèchi èt wànin.' Mpapelpiteho ènta neyok,"
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English:
Perhaps this must be true. This is the reason the dogs and wolves fear each other.
Lenape:
Kìchi èt mah në le. Nal në wënchi yuki mwekaneyok òk tëmeyok xwëntuwàk.
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English:
This story was told to me long ago when I was a young woman.
Lenape:
Yushe achimëwakàn ntëlkenèp lòmwe ènta skixkweiane.