Flashcards: Animals in Northern Sierra Miwok

Table of Contents

Animal names (searchable table)

Animal names + bonus phrases

Language notes

Additional Resources

Suggestions for using these cards

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Animal names

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001 - Bobcat (Set 1)

Tóllomma

'Bobcat'

Heṭéeyɨs tóllommay aa?

'Do you see the bobcat?'

Mínto tóllomma’?

'Where's the bobcat?'

002 - Mountain Lion (Set 1)

Híiliica

'Mountain Lion'

Heṭéeye’ híiliicay!

'Look at the mountain lion!'

Híiliica’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.

'The mountain lion is eating.'

003 - Coyote (Set 1)

Olé’cu

'Coyote'

Heṭéeye’ olé’cuy!

'Look at the coyote!'

Mínto olé’cu’?

'Where's the coyote?'

Heads-up: While all Northern Sierra Miwok speakers call coyotes olé’cu, some speakers have also shared the name aséeli as an alternate form. This may be a dialect variant, or more likely a borrowing from another language like Central Sierra Miwok.

Aséeli

'Coyote'

004 - Wolf (Set 1)

Húŋŋu

'Wolf'

Ṭolóoyus húŋŋuy aa?

'Do you hear the wolf?'

Húŋŋu’ héssɨccɨɨ.

'The wolf is resting.'

005 - Black Bear (Set 1)

Úyyemɨ

'Black Bear'

Heṭéeyɨs úyyemɨy aa?

'Do you see the black bear?'

Ɨwɨ́ɨ úyyemɨ’.

'The black bear is eating.'

Heads-up: Úyyemɨ is specific to 'black bear'. The word ɨsɨ́ɨmaṭi means 'grizzly bear' but can also mean 'bear' in a generic sense.

Ɨsɨ́ɨmaṭi

'Bear, Grizzly Bear'

006 - Fox (Set 1)

Wáccihha

'Fox' (northern dialects)

Ṭolóoyus wáccihhay aa?

'Do you hear the fox?'

Mínto wáccihha’?

'Where's the fox?'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) The word wáccihha comes from speakers of the northern dialects of Northern Sierra Miwok (spoken in places like Fiddletown). Speakers of southern dialects (spoken in places like West Point and Camanche) call foxes yúwwelɨ.

Yúwwelɨ

'Fox' (southern dialects)

007 - Raccoon (Set 1)

Pátkayɨ

'Raccoon'

Pátkayɨy heṭéeyɨs aa?

'Do you see the raccoon?'

Héssɨccɨɨ pátkayɨ’.

'The raccoon is resting.'

008 - Beaver (Set 1)

Hénnitɨ

'Beaver'

Heṭéeyɨs hénnitɨy aa?

'Do you see the beaver?'

Hénnitɨ’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.

'The beaver is eating.'

009 - Gray Squirrel (Set 1)

Méewe

'Gray Squirrel'

Méewey heṭéeye’!

'Look at the gray squirrel!'

Méewe’ héssɨccɨɨ.

'The squirrel is resting.'

010 - Cottontail (Set 1)

Hikáakɨ

'Cottontail'

Heṭéeyɨs hikáakɨy aa?

'Do you see the cottonail?'

Ɨwɨ́ɨ hikáakɨ’.

'The cottontail is eating.'

011 - Deer (Set 1)

Ɨwɨ́ɨya

'Deer'

Ɨwɨ́ɨyay heṭéeye’!

'Look at the deer!'

Mínto ɨwɨ́ɨya’?

'Where's the deer?'

012 - Goat (Set 1)

Cíiwa

'Goat'

Ṭolóoyus cíiway aa?

'Do you hear the goat?'

Héssɨccɨɨ cíiwa’.

'The goat is resting.'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Goats were introduced to California only in the last few centuries. Northern Sierra Miwok speakers borrowed the name cíiwa from the Spanish word chiva (female goat), adapting it to sound like a Miwok word.

013 - Horse (Set 1)

Kawáayu

'Horse'

Kawáayuy heṭéeyɨs aa?

'Do you see the horse?'

Kawáayu’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.

'The horse is eating.'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Horses were introduced to California only in the last few centuries. Northern Sierra Miwok speakers borrowed the name kawáayu from Spanish caballo (horse); many other Native California languages borrowed it from Spanish too.

014 - Donkey (Set 1)

Cékkesse

'Donkey'

Heṭéeye’ cékkessey!

'Look at the donkey!'

Ɨwɨ́ɨ cékkesse’.

'The donkey is eating.'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Donkeys were introduced to California only in the last few centuries. To name them, Northern Sierra Miwok speakers borrowed the word cékkesse from the English word jackass, i.e. a name for a male donkey.

015 - Dog (Set 1)

Cúku

'Dog'

Cukúy ṭolóoyus aa?

'Do you hear the dog?'

Mínto cukú’?

'Where's the dog?'

016 - Acorn Woodpecker (Set 1)

Paláttata

'Acorn Woodpecker'

Heṭéeye’ paláttatay!

'Look at the acorn woodpecker!'

Mínto paláttata’?

'Where's the acorn woodpecker?'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) The name paláttata is one of many bird names in Northern Sierra Miwok that are onomatopoetic, meaning that it resembles a call that the bird makes. You can learn more about onomatopoeia in bird names here.

017 - Northern Flicker (Set 1)

Ṭíwwayɨ

'Northern Flicker'

Ṭíwwayɨy ṭolóoyus aa?

'Do you hear the northern flicker?'

Ṭíwwayɨ’ héssɨccɨɨ.

'The northern flicker is resting.'

018 - Pileated Woodpecker (Set 1)

Pákpakɨ

'Pileated Woodpecker'

Heṭéeye’ pákpakɨy!

'Look at the pileated woodpecker!'

Pákpakɨ’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.

'The pileated woodpecker is eating.'

019 - Hummingbird (Set 1)

Líiciici

'Hummingbird'

Líiciiciy heṭéeyɨs aa?

'Do you see the hummingbird?'

Mínto líiciici’?

'Where's the hummingbird?'

020 - Dark-eyed Junco (Set 1)

Pusúukalɨ

'Dark-eyed Junco'

Heṭéeyɨs pusúukalɨy aa?

'Do you see the dark-eyed junco?'

Mínto pusúukalɨ’?

'Where's the dark-eyed junco?'

021 - Western Bluebird (Set 1)

Cíwkolu

'Western Bluebird'

Cíwkoluy heṭéeyɨs aa?

'Do you see the western bluebird?'

Ɨwɨ́ɨ cíwkolu’.

'The western bluebird is eating.'

022 - American Robin (Set 1)

Wíṭṭapɨ

'American Robin'

Ṭolóoyus wíṭṭapɨy aa?

'Do you hear the robin?'

Wíṭṭapɨ’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.

'The robin is eating.'

023 - Common Raven (Set 1)

Káakulu

'Common Raven'

Káakuluy heṭéeye’!

'Look at the raven!'

Héssɨccɨɨ káakulu’.

'The raven is resting.'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Some bird names are onomatopoetic, meaning they resemble a call the bird makes. However, these names often also take word-endings that obscure this relationship. Does any part of káakulu sounds like a raven's call to you?

024 - Golden Eagle (Set 1)

Wíppayaakɨ

'Golden Eagle'

Heṭéeye’ wíppayaakɨy!

'Look at the golden eagle!'

Ɨwɨ́ɨ wíppayaakɨ’.

'The golden eagle is eating.'

025 - Peregrine Falcon (Set 1)

Wékwekɨ

'Peregrine Falcon'

Wékwekɨy ṭolóoyus aa?

'Do you hear the peregrine falcon?'

Wékwekɨ’ héssɨccɨɨ.

'The peregrine falcon is resting.'

026 - Turkey Vulture (Set 1)

Hú’’usu

'Turkey Vulture'

Hú’’usuy heṭéeye’!

'Look at the turkey vulture!'

Hú’’usu’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.

'The turkey vulture is eating.'

027 - California Condor (Set 1)

Mólloku

'California Condor'

Heṭéeyɨs móllokuy aa?

'Do you see the california condor?'

Ɨwɨ́ɨ mólloku’.

'The california condor is eating.'

028 - Great Horned Owl (Set 1)

Túkkuuli

'Great Horned Owl'

Ṭolóoyus túkkuuliy aa?

'Do you hear the great horned owl?'

Mínto túkkuuli’?

'Where's the great horned owl?'

029 - Western Screech Owl (Set 1)

Ṭukúmmu

'Western Screech Owl'

Heṭéeye’ ṭukúmmuy!

'Look at the western screech owl!'

Ṭukúmmu’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.

'The western screech owl is eating.'

030 - Barn Owl (Set 1)

Wíicikiisɨ

'Barn Owl'

Wíicikiisɨy ṭolóoyus aa?

'Do you hear the barn owl?'

Héssɨccɨɨ wíicikiisɨ’.

'The barn owl is resting.'

031 - Canada Goose (Set 1)

Lówwotu

'Canada Goose'

Lówwotuy heṭéeye’!

'Look at the canada goose!'

Mínto lówwotu’?

'Where's the canada goose?'

032 - Tarantula (Set 1)

Kúttuulu

'Tarantula'

Heṭéeyɨs kúttuuluy aa?

'Do you see the tarantula?'

Kúttuulu’ héssɨccɨɨ.

'The tarantula is resting.'

033 - Black Widow (Set 1)

Pókkumu

'Black Widow'

Heṭéeye’ pókkumuy!

'Look at the black widow!'

Mínto pókkumu’?

'Where's the black widow?'

034 - Yellowjacket (Set 1)

Mélŋayɨ

'Yellowjacket'

Mélŋayɨy heṭéeye’!

'Look at the yellowjacket!'

Héssɨccɨɨ mélŋayɨ’.

'The yellowjacket is resting.'

035 - Honeybee (Set 1)

Háne

'Honeybee'

Heṭéeye’ hanéy!

'Look at the honeybee!'

Mínto hané’?

'Where's the honeybee?'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Honeybees were introduced to California only in the last few centuries. To name them, speakers of Northern Sierra Miwok borrowed the word háne from the English word honey, adapting it to sound like a Miwok word.

036 - Bumblebee (Set 1)

Mɨ́ɨlaṭi

'Bumblebee'

Mɨ́ɨlaṭiy heṭéeyɨs aa?

'Do you see the bumblebee?'

Mɨ́ɨlaṭi’ héssɨccɨɨ.

'The bumblebee is resting.'

037 - Butterfly (Set 1)

Hóllokkiṭiwwa

'Butterfly'

Hóllokkiṭiwway heṭéeyɨs aa?

'Do you see the butterfly?'

Ɨwɨ́ɨ hóllokkiṭiwwa’.

'The butterfly is eating.'

038 - Stink Ant (Set 1)

Ṭisíinayɨ

'Stink Ant'

Ṭisíinayɨy heṭéeye’!

'Look at the ant!'

Mínto ṭisíinayɨ’?

'Where's the ant?'

Heads-up: You can use the word ṭisíinayɨ as a generic term for ant too, but there are specific names for some other kinds of ants.

039 - Earthworm (Set 1)

Holóomeṭɨ

'Earthworm'

Holóomeṭɨy heṭéeyɨs aa?

'Do you see the earthworm?'

Mínto holóomeṭɨ’?

'Where's the earthworm?'

040 - Snail (Set 1)

Lɨ́ɨkɨ

'Snail'

Lɨ́ɨkɨy heṭéeye’!

'Look at the snail!'

Lɨ́ɨkɨ’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.

'The snail is eating.'

041 - Otter (Set 2)

Wá’’asɨ

'Otter'

Heṭéeyɨm wá’’asɨy wakáalɨm.

'I see an otter in the river.'

Mínto wá’’asɨ’?

'Where is the otter?'

042 - Elk (Set 2)

Hákkaaya

'Elk'

Heṭéeyɨm hákkaayay lúupayɨm.

'I see an elk on the hill.'

Mínto hákkaaya’?

'Where is the elk?'

043 - Antelope (Set 2)

Háalusu

'Antelope'

Heṭéeyɨm háalusuy lúupayɨm.

'I see an antelope on the hill.'

Mínto háalusu’?

'Where is the antelope?'

044 - Jackrabbit (Set 2)

Éplaali

'Jackrabbit'

Heṭéeyɨm éplaaliy límmem.

'I see a jackrabbit in the brush.'

Mínto éplaali’?

'Where is the jackrabbit?'

045 - Badger (Set 2)

Tíwwikɨ

'Badger'

Heṭéeyɨm tíwwikɨy hóllawɨm.

'I see a badger in a burrow.'

Mínto tíwwikɨ’?

'Where is the badger?'

046 - Gopher (Set 2)

Sɨ́wwɨtɨ

'Gopher'

Heṭéeyɨm sɨ́wwɨtɨy hóllawɨm.

'I see a gopher in a burrow.'

Mínto sɨ́wwɨtɨ’?

'Where is the gopher?'

047 - Ground Squirrel (Set 2)

Upúksu

'Ground Squirrel'

Heṭéeyɨm upúksuy hóllawɨm.

'I see a ground squirrel in a burrow.'

Mínto upúksu’?

'Where is the ground squirrel?'

048 - Bat (Set 2)

Úllele

'Bat'

Heṭéeyɨm úlleley hóllawɨm.

'I see a bat in a cave.'

Mínto úllele’?

'Where is the bat?'

049 - Cat (Set 2)

Tónci

'Cat'

Heṭéeyɨm tónciy kocám.

'I see a cat in the house.'

Mínto tónci’?

'Where is the cat?'

050 - Pig (Set 2)

Kóoci

'Pig'

Heṭéeyɨm kóociy póocam.

'I see a pig in the grass.'

Mínto kóoci’?

'Where is the pig?'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Pigs were introduced to California only in the last few centuries. Speakers of Northern Sierra Miwok borrowed the name kóoci from Spanish cuchi (pig); many other Native California languages borrowed this word from Spanish too.

051 - Sheep (Set 2)

Woṭéeka

'Sheep'

Heṭéeyɨm woṭéekay pɨ́ɨlayɨm.

'I see a sheep in the meadow.'

Mínto woṭéeka’?

'Where is the sheep?'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Sheep were introduced to California only in the last few centuries. Northern Sierra Miwok speakers borrowed this name from Spanish borrega (female sheep); many other Native California languages borrowed it from Spanish too.

052 - Cow (Set 2)

Páaka

'Cow'

Heṭéeyɨm páakay pɨ́ɨlayɨm.

'I see a cow in the meadow.'

Mínto páaka’?

'Where is the cow?'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Cows were introduced to California only in the last few centuries. Northern Sierra Miwok speakers borrowed this name from Spanish vaca (cow); many other Native California languages borrowed this word from Spanish too.

053 - California Quail (Set 2)

Hékkekke

'California Quail'

Heṭéeyɨm hékkekkey pɨ́ɨlayɨm.

'I see a california quail in the valley.'

Mínto hékkekke’?

'Where is the california quail?'

054 - Mountain Quail (Set 2)

Kúyyakka

'Mountain Quail'

Heṭéeyɨm kúyyakkay lúupayɨm.

'I see a mountain quail on the hill.'

Mínto kúyyakka’?

'Where is the mountain quail?'

055 - Sparrow (Set 2)

Síisoose

'Sparrow'

Heṭéeyɨm síisoosey límmem.

'I see a sparrow in the brush.'

Mínto síisoose’?

'Where is the sparrow?'

056 - Goldfinch (Set 2)

Lutúulaṭɨ

'Goldfinch'

Heṭéeyɨm lutúulaṭɨy límmem.

'I see a goldfinch in the brush.'

Mínto lutúulaṭɨ’?

'Where is the goldfinch?'

057 - Mourning Dove (Set 2)

Húlluuwi

'Mourning Dove'

Heṭéeyɨm húlluuwiy wállim.

'I see a mourning dove on the ground.'

Mínto húlluuwi’?

'Where is the mourning dove?'

058 - Meadowlark (Set 2)

Pí’na

'Meadowlark' (northern dialects)

Heṭéeyɨm pí’nay pɨ́ɨlayɨm.

'I see a meadowlark in the meadow.'

Mínto pí’na’?

'Where is the meadowlark?'

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) Pí’na comes from speakers of the northern dialects of Northern Sierra Miwok (spoken in places like Fiddletown and Ione). Speakers of southern dialects call them yúkkulu, which may be related to their Central Sierra Miwok name.

Yúkkulu

'Meadowlark' (southern dialects)

059 - Magpie (Set 2)

Ác’acɨ

'Magpie'

Heṭéeyɨm ác’acɨy pɨ́ɨlayɨm.

'I see a magpie in the valley.'

Mínto ác’acɨ’?

'Where is the magpie?'

060 - Scrub-jay (Set 2)

Ṭáyṭi

'Scrub-jay'

Heṭéeyɨm ṭáyṭiy léekam.

'I see a scrub-jay in the tree.'

Mínto ṭáyṭi’?

'Where is the scrub-jay?'

061 - Steller's Jay (Set 2)

Káykayya

'Steller's Jay'

Heṭéeyɨm káykayyay léekam.

'I see a Steller's jay in the tree.'

Mínto káykayya’?

'Where is the Steller's jay?'

062 - Red-tailed Hawk (Set 2)

Súyyu

'Red-tailed Hawk'

Heṭéeyɨm súyyuy léekam.

'I see a red-tailed hawk in a tree.'

Mínto súyyu’?

'Where is the red-tailed hawk?'

063 - Burrowing Owl (Set 2)

Ṭókkokko

'Burrowing Owl'

Heṭéeyɨm ṭókkokkoy hóllawɨm.

'I see a burrowing owl in a burrow.'

Mínto ṭókkokko’?

'Where is the burrowing owl?'

064 - Dragonfly (Set 2)

Calákkukka

'Dragonfly'

Heṭéeyɨm calákkukkay póllayɨm.

'I see a dragonfly at the pond.'

Mínto calákkukka’?

'Where is the dragonfly?'

065 - Fly (Set 2)

Homóomayɨ

'Fly'

Heṭéeyɨm homóomayɨy kocám.

'I see a fly in the house.'

Mínto homóomayɨ’?

'Where is the fly?'

066 - Mosquito (Set 2)

Ɨyɨ́ɨkɨsɨ

'Mosquito'

Heṭéeyɨm ɨyɨ́ɨkɨsɨy háyyettim kíkkɨm.

'I see mosquitos near the water.'

Mínto ɨyɨ́ɨkɨsɨ’?

'Where are the mosquitos?'

067 - Horned Lizard (Set 2)

Éttekkiliwwa

'Horned Lizard'

Heṭéeyɨm éttekkiliwway wállim.

'I see a horned lizard on the ground.'

Mínto éttekkiliwwa’?

'Where is the horned lizard?'

068 - Gartersnake (Set 2)

Wála

'Gartersnake'

Heṭéeyɨm waláy póllayɨm.

'I see a gartersnake at the pond.'

Mínto walá’?

'Where is the gartersnake?'

069 - Kingsnake (Set 2)

Láanakassa

'Kingsnake'

Heṭéeyɨm láanakassay póocam.

'I see a kingsnake in the grass.'

Mínto láanakassa’?

'Where is the kingsnake?'

070 - Rattlesnake (Set 2)

Wákkaali

'Rattlesnake'

Heṭéeyɨm wákkaaliy wállim.

'I see a rattlesnake on the ground.'

Mínto wákkaali’?

'Where is the rattlesnake?'

071 - Turtle (Set 2)

Awánnaṭa

'Turtle'

Heṭéeyɨm awánnaṭay póllayɨm.

'I see a turtle in the pond.'

Mínto awánnaṭa’?

'Where is the turtle?'

072 - Tadpole (Set 2)

Úttukkiniisɨ

'Tadpole'

Heṭéeyɨm úttukkiniisɨy póllayɨm.

'I see tadpoles in the pond.'

Mínto úttukkiniisɨ’?

'Where are the tadpoles?'

073 - Lamprey Eel (Set 2)

Kawáksɨ

'Lamprey Eel'

Heṭéeyɨm kawáksɨy cólkam.

'I see lamprey eels in the waterfall.'

Mínto kawáksɨ’?

'Where are the lamprey eels?'

074 - Salmon (Set 2)

Ṭukúunu

'Salmon'

Heṭéeyɨm ṭukúunuy wakáalɨm.

'I see salmon in the river.'

Mínto ṭukúunu’?

'Where are the salmon?'

075 - Sturgeon (Set 2)

Hóllomayɨ

'Sturgeon'

Heṭéeyɨm hóllomayɨy wakáalɨm.

'I see sturgeon in the river.'

Mínto hóllomayɨ’?

'Where are the sturgeon?'

Language Notes

About the language on these cards

Northern Sierra Miwok is the northern-most of the three Miwok languages spoken in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It is spoken from the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River southward to the area between the Calaveras River and Angels Camp. It is distinct from Central Sierra Miwok and Southern Sierra Miwok, which are spoken further south, as well as from Plains Miwok, which is spoken in the valley south of Sacramento.

The language on these cards comes from Northern Sierra Miwok speakers who lived throughout what are now Amador and Calaveras counties. They include Eph Cummings and others who worked with C. Hart Merriam in the early 1900s, and Queenie Miller, Elena McCauley, and Nicolas Villa Sr. who worked with linguist Catherine Callaghan on the Northern Sierra Miwok dictionary (1987).

Dialect and language variation

Sometimes the northern and southern dialects of Northern Sierra Miwok have different words for the same animal.

Example:   Words for Fox

Northern Sierra Miwok, northern dialects: Wáccihha

Northern Sierra Miwok, southern dialects: Yúwwelɨ

Example:   Words for Meadowlark

Northern Sierra Miwok, northern dialects: Pí’na

Northern Sierra Miwok, southern dialects: Yúkkulu

Although "Miwok" is often talked about like it is one language, it is really a family of languages. The differences between Miwok languages, like Plains, Northern Sierra, & Central Sierra Miwok, are far greater in number. For example, here is one name that differs across Miwok languages:

Example:   Words for Coyote

Plains Miwok: Olétti

Northern Sierra Miwok: Olé’cu

Central Sierra Miwok: Aṣéeli

Object marking in Northern Sierra Miwok

Each animal flashcard has two bonus sentences. In the first bonus sentence on every card, the animal is the object of the sentence. That means that the action of the sentence (looking, hearing, etc.) is happening to the animal.

Example:   I see an elk on the hill.

Here the elk is being seen, so it is the object of the sentence.

Example:   Look at the yellowjacket!

Here the yellowjacket is being looked at, so it is the object of the sentence.

Example:   Do you hear the wolf?

Here the wolf is being heard (potentially), so it is the object of the sentence.

The object of a sentence gets a special suffix in Northern Sierra Miwok: -y. If you look carefully at the first bonus sentence on all the cards, you will notice that the animal name always ends in this suffix:

Examples:   Ɨwɨ́ɨyay heṭéeye’!   'Look at the deer!'     (ɨwɨ́ɨya = 'deer')

Heṭéeye’ olé’cuy!   'Look at the coyote!'     (olé’cu = 'coyote')

Ṭíwwayɨy ṭolóoyus aa?   'Do you hear the northern flicker?'     (ṭíwwayɨ = 'northern flicker')

Ṭolóoyus paláttatay aa?   'Do you hear the acorn woodpecker?'     (paláttata = 'acorn woodpecker')

Heṭéeyɨm tónciy kocám.   'I see a cat in the house.'     (tónci = 'cat')

A side-effect: In English, we rely on the order of the words in a sentence to tell us which word is the object. For example, the sentence "The dog licked the boy" means something very different than "The boy licked the dog", and we know this because the order of the words is different.

However, in Northern Sierra Miwok the 'object suffix' we just talked about tells you which word is the object of the sentence. Because of this, you can put the words in almost any order without confusion. You'll notice a lot of variation in the order of words on the bonus cards.

Subject marking in Northern Sierra Miwok

Each animal flashcard has two bonus sentences. In the second bonus sentence on every card, the animal is the subject of the sentence. That means that the action of the sentence (resting, eating, etc.) is being done by the animal.

Example:   The wolf is resting.

Here the wolf is the one doing the resting, so it is the subject of the sentence.

Example:   The black bear is eating.

The black bear is the one doing the eating, so it is the subject of the sentence.

Example:   Where is the otter?

The otter is the one being somewhere, so it is the subject of the sentence.

Just like the object, the subject of a sentence gets a special suffix in Northern Sierra Miwok: -’. If you look carefully at the second bonus sentence on all the cards, you will notice that the animal name always ends in this suffix:

Examples:   Kawáayu’ ɨwɨ́ɨ.   'The horse is eating.'     (kawáayu = 'horse')

Ɨwɨ́ɨ hikáakɨ’.   'The cottontail is eating.'     (hikáakɨ = 'cottontail')

Méewe’ héssɨccɨɨ.   'The squirrel is resting.'     (méewe = 'gray squirrel')

Héssɨccɨɨ káakulu’.   'The raven is resting.'     (káakulu = 'raven')

Mínto éplaali’?   'Where is the jackrabbit?'     (éplaali = 'jackrabbit')

A side-effect: Because the 'subject suffix' tells you which word is the subject of the sentence, you can put the words in almost any order without confusion. Because of this, you'll notice a lot of variation in the order of words on the bonus cards.

Location marking in Northern Sierra Miwok

You can put the word-ending -m on the name of a location to mean 'in, at, or on' that location. Here are a few examples from the Set 2 cards:

Examples:   wállim   'on the ground'     (wálli = 'ground')

póllayɨm   'in or at the pond'     (póllayɨ = 'pond')

léekam   'in the tree'     (léeka = 'tree')

For some words, like wakáalɨ (river), there are two ways to say 'in, at, or on' that location.

Example:   wakáalɨm / wakálmɨ’   'in or at the river'     (wakáalɨ = 'river')

The second bonus sentence on every Set 2 flashcard is the question "Where is the ____?" You can answer this by pairing the word ucúu (it is located) with the location+m from the first bonus sentence. For example:

Bonus 1:   Heṭéeyɨm tónciy kocám.   'I see a cat in the house.'

Bonus 2:   Mínto tónci’?   'Where is the cat?'

Answer:   Ucúu kocám.   'It's in the house.'

Here's what this would look like for each of the locations mentioned in these flashcards:

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨ’saynɨs aa ecá’? (Do you want to know more?)

For more help reading these words and phrases, please consult our Guide to the SSBMI Miwok Alphabet.

If you have any questions about the language or about receiving a copy of the cards, please contact us at language@ssband.org.

Webpage last updated: 2026-05-15