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Greetings in Native American
Languages of California
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This page contains
greetings in native American languages of California.
Ethnologue lists
245 languages
spoken in the United States. 57 of these languages are Native
American languages native to California.
There are 35
languages on this page.
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Achumawi [acv]
(United States of America: northeastern California.) |
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Tusi uwi |
general greeting in Homawi dialect |
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Barbareño
[boi]
(United States of America: southern California near Santa Barbara.)
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Haku |
general greeting |
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Haku itšitš |
general greeting spoken to a group of people |
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Yawa |
general greeting |
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Me'šumawiš |
general greeting, "good health" |
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Cahuilla [chl]
(United States of America: southern California.) |
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Waa |
general greeting |
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Miyaxwe |
general greeting |
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Miyaxwen |
general greeting |
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Miyaxwen umon emem |
general greeting spoken to a group of people |
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Hiicha miyaxwen? |
how are you? |
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Em miyaxwen pish em mehave't iiv'ax? |
how are you? |
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Cupeño
[cup]
(United States of America: southern California.) |
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Miyaxwe |
general greeting |
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Ichaam |
reply to Miyaxwe |
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Miyaxwenet? |
how are you? |
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Esselen [esq]
(United States of America: Big Sur, California.) |
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Saleki atsa |
general greeting |
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Saleki asatsa |
morning greeting |
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Saleki itsa |
afternoon greeting |
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Saleki itsu |
evening greeting |
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Saleki tomanis |
nighttime greeting |
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Gabrieliño-Fernandeño [xgf]
(United States of America: southern California.) |
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Miiyu |
general greeting |
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Nachochan |
general greeting |
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Hupa
[hup]
(United States of America: Hoopa Valley, California.) |
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He:yung |
general greeting |
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He:yung whima:lyo' |
greeting spoken to a friend |
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Xwe:di whung 'a:nt'e? |
how are you? spoken to one person |
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Dixwe:di wha:ne 'a:nt'e? |
how are you? spoken to one person |
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Dixwe:di wha:ne 'a:noht'e? |
how are you? spoken to a group of people |
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Niwho:n |
reply to Dixwe:di wha:ne 'a:nt'e and
Dixwe:di wha:ne 'a:noht'e |
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Ineseño
[inz]
(United States of America: southern California.) |
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Haku |
general greeting |
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Haku
č'antik |
greeting spoken to a friend |
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Haku tikali'? |
how are you? |
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Pa
kič hek'i |
reply to Haku tikali' |
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Pa
kič hek'i, na
tikali' hi pi'? |
reply to Haku tikali' |
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Pa
kič hek'i nani' |
reply to Pa
kič hek'i, na
tikali' hi pi' |
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Karok [kyh]
(United States of America: northwestern California.) |
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Ayukîi |
general greeting |
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Ayekwi |
general greeting |
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Akich |
greeting used between men |
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Huut kich? |
how are you? |
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Kashaya [kju]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Džamáy |
general greeting |
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Camáy |
general greeting |
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Háy |
informal greeting |
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He'én s'iwa mithoni? |
how are you? |
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He'én ma 'iwa? |
how are you? |
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Kato [ktw]
(United States of America: Laytonville California.) |
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Naanyaa kwaan |
greeting to a person who is walking
(literally: "you are walking around") |
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Naanyaa kwaan, naanywa kwaan |
greeting to a person who is walking
(literally: "you are walking, you are walking") |
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Naashai |
reply to Naanyaa kwam, naanywa kwam
(literally: "I am walking around") |
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Ninsaat, diishoo'
shilkimut |
reply to Naanyaa kwam, naanywa kwam
(literally: "sit, tell me something") |
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Kumiai [dih]
(United States: southern California. Mexico: Baja California.) |
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Háawka |
general greeting |
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Inya quahaun |
general greeting |
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Memeeyu tempa? |
how are you? |
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Ehaun tempa |
reply to Memeeyu tempa |
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Memeeyu temenyeway |
how are you? |
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Nymsup quahaun |
morning greeting |
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Eehaun |
morning greeting |
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Maidu, Northeast [nmu]
(United States of America: central California.) |
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Mínk'i k'ódojdi hesásak'ade |
general greeting to a visitor
from another place, literally "how are things in your land?" |
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Maidu, Valley [vmv]
(United States of America: central California.) |
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Hei |
general greeting |
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Miwok, Coast [csi]
(United States of America: California.) |
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'Oppun towih? |
how are you? spoken to one person |
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Katowih |
reply to 'Oppun towih |
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Walli katowih |
reply to 'Oppun towih |
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'Oppu mikkos towih? |
how are you? spoken to two people |
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'Ostowih |
reply to 'Oppu mikkos towih |
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'Oppu mikkon towih? |
how are you? spoken to a group of three or
more people |
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Matowih |
reply to 'Oppu mikkon towih |
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Miwok, Lake [lmw]
(United States of America: California.) |
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’Eméene ’áwweh |
morning greeting |
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Miwok,
Northern Sierra [nsq]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Kuci' kawlypa' |
morning greeting |
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Kuci' kawyly' |
nighttime greeting |
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Kuci' acin? |
how are you? |
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Kuci' acit |
reply to Kuci' acin |
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Micyksys? |
how are you? |
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'Uki' huŋeniŋ |
welcome greeting inviting a person inside |
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'Yni' 'uki |
welcome greeting inviting a person inside |
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'Yni' 'ywyŋ hinesaj |
welcome greeting inviting a person inside to
eat |
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Miwok, Plains [pmw]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Majook chush |
general greeting in the foothill dialect |
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Wi'oh u-kuh? |
general greeting in the valley dialect |
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Wu' meh? |
greeting spoken to a visitor in the valley
dialect |
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Hiti' we'cin? |
how are you? |
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Miwok,
Southern Sierra [skd]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Híyako' |
general greeting spoken to a
person arriving |
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Híyanaksi |
general greeting spoken to a
person arriving |
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Híyakoc'i |
general greeting spoken to a
group of people arriving |
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Híntikatun 'óppoj? |
how are you? |
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Mínimi? |
where did you come from? |
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Mohave [mov]
(United States of America: Arizona and California.) |
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Kamaduu |
general greeting |
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Kwichkamaduum |
general greeting |
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Mono [mnr]
(United States of America: east central California.) |
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Maná hu |
general greeting spoken to one person |
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Muna hu e boso |
general greeting spoken to a friend |
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Obispeño [obi]
(United States of America: southern California.) |
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Hatyu |
general greeting |
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Ohlone, Southern [css]
(United States of America: north central California.) |
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Pasip-inyi |
general greeting in the Mutsun dialect |
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Misymin tuuhis |
morning greeting in the Mutsun dialect |
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Misymin aruh'a |
afternoon greeting in the Mutsun dialect |
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Misymin yukasyte |
evening greeting in the Mutsun dialect |
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Misymin murut |
nighttime greeting in the Mutsun dialect |
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Hinakahte-m? |
how are you? in the Mutsun dialect |
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Miste-ka |
reply to Hinakate-m in the Mutsun
dialect |
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Akkuy misymin |
welcome greeting in the Mutsun dialect |
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Akkuy misimpi |
welcome greeting in the Mutsun dialect |
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Akkuyut misimpi |
welcome greeting spoken to a group of people
in the Mutsun dialect |
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Paipai [ppi]
(United States: southern California. Mexico: Baja California Norte.) |
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Awka |
general greeting |
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'Awlika |
reply to Awka |
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Kamyuli |
general greeting |
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Paiute, Northern [pao]
(United States of America: Nevada, Oregon, and California.) |
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Tu cubin noonie |
greeting spoken to a friend |
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Noonie tu cubin |
reply to Tu cubin noonie |
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Iooie, iooie |
reply to Noonie tu cubin |
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Mike tu cubin |
greeting spoken to a friend |
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Ha'oo manewun? |
how are you? |
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Ha'oo u |
welcome greeting |
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Pomo, Central [poo]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Bé'ka ma mó'wan |
general greeting |
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Seen wa ma? |
how are you? |
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Pomo, Eastern [peb]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Chiin tha eh? |
how are you? |
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Q'odii |
reply to Chiin tha eh |
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Hah q'odii 'eh |
reply to Chiin tha eh |
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Ma tha chiin eh? |
how are you? |
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Xa ah q'odii' |
morning greeting |
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Pomo, Southern [pec]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Pasip-inyi |
general greeting |
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Serrano [ser]
(United States of America.) |
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Ava'aha |
general greeting |
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Haminat |
general greeting, literally "who is it?" |
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Tübatulabal [tub]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Mãi |
general greeting |
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Mãʔ |
general greeting |
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Ute-Southern Paiute [ute]
(United States of America: California, Colorado and Utah.) |
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Maiku |
general greeting |
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Mique wush tagooven |
general greeting |
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Ati'wichgusak |
morning greeting |
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Ati'tog'otaváivinakwayak |
afternoon greeting |
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Ati'tavayaakwiyak' |
evening greeting |
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Manahóo |
general greeting spoken in the Owens Valley
(California) dialect |
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Ventureño [veo]
(United States of America: southern California.) |
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Haku |
general greeting |
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Haku
kiy'aliwət |
general greeting to a group of people |
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Lahupwašwášətš? |
how are you? to one person |
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Lahupiwašwášətš? |
how are you? to a group of people |
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Lakwašwášətš |
reply to
Lahupwašwášətš and
Lahupiwašwášətš |
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Kalaqwa'ay |
reply to
Lahupwašwášətš and
Lahupiwašwášətš |
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Huki pałhin? |
general greeting, "what are you doing?" |
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Tapí, tapí |
welcome greeting to a person arriving, "come
in" |
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Wailaki [wlk]
(United States of America: Round Valley, California.) |
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Sukim |
general greeting |
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Kaa, yeinyac |
greeting spoken to a visitor |
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Nin sukkoon tcun nal koo'n |
greeting spoken to a visitor |
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Wintu [wit]
(United States of America: California.) |
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Hestam? |
how are you?, spoken to one person |
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Hestamlel? |
how are you?, spoken to two people |
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Buham? |
how are you?, literally "do you live?" |
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Hestam moroq sukem? |
how are you? |
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Weyam? |
welcome greeting to a person who is arriving,
literally "did you come?" in the Nomlaki dialect |
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Weda |
reply to Weyam in the Nomlaki dialect |
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ʔomoy' |
general greeting in the Patwin dialect |
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Hestum |
general greeting in the Winnemem dialect |
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Wiyot [wiy]
(United States of America: northwestern California.) |
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He'ba'lo' |
general greeting |
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Yokuts [yok]
(United States of America: San Joaquin Valley, California.) |
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Hawaan |
general greeting in the Dumna (northern
foothill) dialect |
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Ma wit hide |
general greeting in the Dumna (northern
foothill) dialect |
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Hileu ma tanin? |
general greeting, literally "where are you
going?" in the Dumna (northern foothill) dialect |
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Xawaxan |
general greeting in the Toltichi (northern
foothill) dialect |
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Hìu |
general greeting in the Tachi (southern
valley) dialect |
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Hìi |
general greeting in the Tulamni dialect |
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Heyuk |
general greeting in the Yowlumni (southern
valley) dialect |
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Hawanic ma hawan? |
how are you? in the Yowlumni (southern
valley) dialect |
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Yuki [yuk]
(United States of America: northern California.) |
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'On tat |
general greeting |
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Heó, heó |
general greeting |
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Yurok [yur]
(United States of America: northwestern California.) |
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'Ayekwi' |
general greeting |
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'Oyekwi' |
general greeting |
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'Oyii |
general greeting |
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Hoyii |
general greeting |
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Nowoh |
greeting spoken by one man to another man |
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Ney |
greeting spoken by one woman to another woman |
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Neyen |
greeting spoken by one woman to another woman |
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Skuye'n 'u-koy |
morning greeting |
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Skuye'n 'u-kechoyhl |
afternoon greeting |
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Skuye'n 'we-chmey |
evening greeting spoken near sunset |
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Skuye'n 'we-nahschewen |
evening greeting spoken after dark |
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Kus cho' sonowo'm? |
how are you? spoken to one person |
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Kus cho' sonowo'mo'w? |
how are you? spoken to a group of people |
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Kus cho' sono'w? |
how are you? informal, spoken by a man to
another man |
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Skuy' soninepek' |
reply to Kus cho' sonowo'm and Kus
cho' sonowo'mo'w |
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'O'lomah |
welcome greeting, "come in" |
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Iya kwe natamer |
greeting spoken to a friend in the Tsurau
dialect |
©
2010 - 2011 Jennifer Runner. All rights reserved.
Last updated on
August 5, 2011.