SSBMI Language Department

Miwok language games

Wélse’! (Go Fish!)

The SSBMI Language Department has created a Miwok version of the game Go Fish! called "Wélse’!", in which players compete to collect the most pairs of matching animal cards while speaking Northern Sierra Miwok. Here, you can learn and practice the Miwok language that you need to be able to play "Wélse’!". We encourage you to use as much Miwok as you feel comfortable with, and remember to have fun too!

You can use the links below to jump to a specific part of this webpage:

Animal names

Asking "Do you have _____?" and responding

More gameplay language (e.g. "Let's play!")

Do you want to know more?

Would you like a copy?

If you would like to download a copy of the instruction cards for "Wélse’!" which you can print at home, please click here.

Animal names

The "Wélse’!" cards feature 32 local animals. You can listen to audio recordings of the Miwok names for these animals below:

Hɨ́y’ɨksɨs aa? (Do you know?) When selecting animals to include in "Wélse’!", we chose quite a few animals that you can find on the rancheria grounds! Keep your eye out for animals like Paláttata (Acorn Woodpecker), Ṭíwwayɨ (Flicker), Ɨwɨ́ɨya (Deer), and Wóhholoote (Wild Turkey) as well as other local animals like Éplaali (Jackrabbit), Cíwkolu (Western Bluebird), Calákkukka (Dragonfly), and Sákkiṭi (Lizard)!

Asking "Do you have _______?" and responding

While playing "Wélse’!", players take turns asking a second player whether they have a specific card. If the second player has that card, then they must give it to the first player. If they do not have that card, then they tell the first player to "go fish" by drawing from the draw pile.

You can ask someone "Do you have _____?" in Miwok using the following phrase. All you need to do is fill in the blank with an animal's name:

The only exception among the animals in "Wélse’!" is "Cúku" (Dog), whose name you pronounce slightly differently when you add "-yakni’ aa":

Ménnantic! (Let's try it out!) Knowing this, how would you ask someone if they have the following animal cards? (highlight to see the answer):

If the second player has the card that the first player asked for, then they say "Hɨ́ɨ’ɨ" (Yes) and give that card to the first player. They can also say "I have _____" by adding "-yakte’" to the end of the name of that card, like so:

Once again, the name "Cúku" (Dog) is exceptional in that you pronounce it slightly differently when you add "-yakte’" to it:

Ménnantic! (Let's try it out!) Knowing this, how would you tell someone that you have the following animal cards? (highlight to see the answer):

If the second player does NOT have the card that the first player asked for, then they say "E’éh" (No). They can also say "I do not have _____" by adding "-’wat" to the end of the name of that card, like so:

Note that when you add "-’wat" to the name "Cúku" (Dog), stress shifts to the second "u" but the second "u" remains short rather than long:

Ménnantic! (Let's try it out!) Knowing this, how would you tell someone that you do not have the following cards? (highlight to see the answer):

Instead of saying "go fish", the second player then tells the first player "Wélse’!". This is a command to one person meaning "Go seek it!" in Miwok, instructing the first player to pick up a new card from the draw pile and add it to their hand.

More gameplay language

When you play "Wélse’!", you may want to use other "gameplay" language to talk to your opponents in Miwok. Here, you can learn how to tell them to take their turn, declare that you won, and more. We encourage you to use as much Miwok language as you feel comfortable with!

You can begin a game in Miwok using either of the following phrases. Note that the suffix "-ntic" means "Let's _____!" in both phrases:

You can declare whose turn it is using either of the following phrases. In Miwok, the verb "éntɨ-" means "to do" or "to be someone's turn":

You can tell another player to "take" a card or "give me" a card using the following phrases. Note that both phrases are directed to one person:

At the end of the game, you can declare that you won using the following phrase:

Finally, you can ask to play again using the following phrase:

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

If you would like to learn more about the Nisenan version of this game, called "Welk’óy!", please click here.

If you would like to learn more about how we created these games, including how we chose which animals to include, how we designed and obtained artwork for the cards, and who the language comes from, please click here or reach out to us at Language@ssband.org.

Would you like a copy?

If you would like a copy of the Nisenan "Welk’óy!" and/or Miwok "Wélse’!" cards to play at home, please contact us at language@ssband.org. Please understand that supplies are limited and we cannot guarantee copies for non-SSBMI Tribal Members.

If you would like to download a copy of the Miwok "Wélse’!" cards which you can print at home, please click here. (instructions)

Webpage last updated: 2024-09-18