SSBMI Language Department - Games

Dice Game Language

The SSBMI Language Department made this webpage to share Nisenan language for playing acorn or walnut dice game. Below, you can listen to the Nisenan language in the Haa Lumaydí (Dice Game at Big Time) zine that the Language Department shared at the walnut dice game tournament during the Shingle Springs Rancheria's Lumáy (Big Time) in 2025.

You can also read more about acorn dice and see photos of acorn dice sets on this webpage.

To request a copy of the zine or to ask questions, please email us at language@ssband.org or visit our offices in the Tribal Admin building (copies of the zine are limited).

Listen to the language

You can use the controls below to search for and listen to all of the Nisenan phrases in the dice game language zine. You can also use the copy button ( ) to copy the phrase to your clipboard and the more info button ( ⓘ ) to learn more about some phrases.

Nisenan		English
haahaahaa		acorn dice, dice game
haam c’aahaam c’aahaam c’aa		counter sticks for dice game
tewtewtew		winnowing basket / gambling tray
Haatodaak’am ni!Haatodaak’ám ni!Haatodaak’ám ni!		I want to play dice game!
Haatodaak’abe mi?Haatodaak’ábe mi?Haatodaak’ábe mi?		Do you want to play dice game? (said to 1 person)
Haatopɨ!Haatopɨ́!Haatopɨ́!		Let's play dice game! (said to 1 person)
Hoyyapɨ!Hoyyapɨ́!Hoyyapɨ́!		Let's begin! (said to 1 person)
Mi k’aak’e.Mi k’aak’é.Mi k’aak’é.		It's your turn. (said to 1 person)
Nɨn!Nɨn!Nɨn!		Roll! (said to 1 person)
Haa nɨnim ni.Haa nɨním ni.Haa nɨním ni.		I'm rolling the dice.
Meem ni witteem haam c’aa.Meem ni wítteem haam c’aa.Meem ni wítteem haam c’aa.		I'm taking one counter stick.
Meem ni peenim haam c’aa.Meem ni peením haam c’aa.Meem ni peením haam c’aa.		I'm taking two counter sticks.
Halem ni!Halém ni!Halém ni!		I win!
Halemeyim ni.Halemeyím ni.Halemeyím ni.		I lose.

Nisenan
haahaahaa acorn dice, dice game
haam c’aahaam c’aahaam c’aa counter sticks for dice game
tewtewtew winnowing basket / gambling tray
Haatodaak’am ni!Haatodaak’ám ni!Haatodaak’ám ni! I want to play dice game!
Haatodaak’abe mi?Haatodaak’ábe mi?Haatodaak’ábe mi? Do you want to play dice game? (said to 1 person)
Haatopɨ!Haatopɨ́!Haatopɨ́! Let's play dice game! (said to 1 person)
Hoyyapɨ!Hoyyapɨ́!Hoyyapɨ́! Let's begin! (said to 1 person)
Mi k’aak’e.Mi k’aak’é.Mi k’aak’é. It's your turn. (said to 1 person)
Nɨn!Nɨn!Nɨn! Roll! (said to 1 person)
Haa nɨnim ni.Haa nɨním ni.Haa nɨním ni. I'm rolling the dice.
Meem ni witteem haam c’aa.Meem ni wítteem haam c’aa.Meem ni wítteem haam c’aa. I'm taking one counter stick.
Meem ni peenim haam c’aa.Meem ni peením haam c’aa.Meem ni peením haam c’aa. I'm taking two counter sticks.
Halem ni!Halém ni!Halém ni! I win!
Halemeyim ni.Halemeyím ni.Halemeyím ni. I lose.

What is haa (acorn dice game)?

Acorn dice is a traditional game played by Nisenan and neighboring Native people. Dice games vary across time and space in how many dice are used and how points are scored, but a typical Nisenan dice game uses four dice made by splitting the meats of two acorns in half lengthwise.

The document below summarizes information about dice games played by the SSBMI Community's Nisenan Ancestors; it also includes photos of acorn dice made by neighboring Miwok and Pomo peoples. You can also download and print a copy of the summary document.

You can click on the image below to download a document summarizing information about dice games played by the SSBMI Community's Nisenan Ancestors; it also includes photos of acorn dice made by neighboring Miwok and Pomo peoples.

Do you want to know more?

The SSBMI Community has ancestral ties to the Valley and Southern Hill dialects of the Nisenan language through the Tribe's Matriarchs, Pamela Cleanso Adams and Annie Hill Murray Paris. Pamela spoke the Valley dialect and she, her brother Tom Cleanso, and her daughter Lillie Williams are responsible for passing on most of the knowledge we have of Valley Nisenan today. We have less direct information about Annie’s language; based on where she was from and documented language from her relations and associates, she likely spoke Southern Hill Nisenan.

The language that we share on this website comes primarily from speakers of the Valley and Southern Hill dialects of Nisenan, such as Pamela Cleanso Adams & Tom Cleanso (Valley Nisenan) and Ida Hill Starkey, William Joseph, & Charlie Hunchup (Southern Hill Nisenan).

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

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

Webpage last updated: 2026-01-14