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Plant Names in Oneida

We are grateful to have received the Oneida (Onyota’a:ká:) names for the plants included in the curriculum, along with phonetic pronunciations, audio recordings, and English translations from Chelsea Jocko, Oneida Indian Nation’s Language Instructor. Use this resource alongside New York’s Natural Resources 4-H Wild Edibles: A Guide to Tradition, Safety, and Conservation to explore the beauty and diversity of plant life while learning the Oneida names for these plants. Whether you’re a language learner, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious, you’ll find opportunities to learn and practice the language while developing a deeper connection to the plants and the language used to describe them.

To learn more about Oneida language, visit https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/language-preservation

Quick Guides

Quick pronunciation guide for vowel sounds in Oneida

-a- is pronounced like -a- in Father.

-e- is pronounced like -ei- in Vein and Eight.

-i- is pronounced like -i- in Ski or Machine.

-o- is pronounced like -o- in Hope or Low (with the -p- and -w- sound never being pronounced).

-u- is pronounced like -u- in Tune, but is nasalized more than the usual English sounds.

-Ʌ- is pronounced like -un- in Sun, but the -n- is half pronounced and nasalized.


Quick pronunciation guide for consonant sounds in Oneida

-h- is pronounced like -h- in Hat (a -h- is always pronounced).

-k- is pronounced like -g- in Bingo or with an "h" in the sound blend of "kh," making like -k- in Hike.

-n- is pronounced like -n- in No.

-l- is pronounced like -l- in Like, and it can also be pronounced like -l- in Ball.

-s- is pronounced like -z- in Was or with an "h" in the sound blend of "sh," making like -s- in Saw.

-t- is pronounced like -d- in Dog or with an "h" in the sound blend of "th," making like -t- in Tone.

-w- is pronounced like -w- in Way or Water.

-y- is pronounced like -y- in Yes.


Quick guide for diacritical marks in Oneida

Diacritical marks in Oneida signify where the word is stressed.

Up stress – á /é /í /ó /ú /Ʌ́ it signifies that the vowel is stressed quickly; raises the vowel sound).

Colons – a: /e: /i: /o: /u: /Ʌ: (it signifies that the vowel is stressed; it makes a long vowel sound).

Glottal – a’/e’/i’/o’/u’/Ʌ’ is a similar version of the English apostrophe mark, but a glottal makes a voiceless stop - ’ -, which is pronounced like -t- in the word "Gut" and has a similar sound to "uh oh!"

Underlines – a /e /i/o/u/Ʌ (are signified as whispered endings which are breathed out rather than spoken).

Think of how the Spanish and Italians stress their words; it is similar to that.

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Jerusalem Artichoke

watkuhsakeʼtótha̲ʼ (wa - t - goo - sa - gei - DOAT)

 

Flower brings itself into sight

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Burdock

olhohteʼkó: (ol - hoh - date - GO)

Big grove that attaches

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Cattail

takó:s otáhsa̲ʼ (da - GOHS) (oh - DA - s)  Catʼs tail

ohsaʼkʌtá:ke óhute̲ʼ (oh - sa - guh - DA - gei) (OH - hoo - t) Marsh plant

Image by vadszeder

Chicory

olú:yaʼ niyotitsiʼtsyo:tú̲ : (oh - LUE - ya) (knee - yo - dee - geet - joe - d)

 

Blue flowers are standing upright

Image by EVGEN SLAVIN

Red Clover

onikwʌ́htalaʼ áhsʌ niyonláhtute̲ʼ (oh - knee - GWUH - da - la) (AH - suh) (knee - yo - n - LAH - dute)

 

Red, three leaves are attached

Elderberry-flowers-leaves-fruit.jpeg

Elderberry (Black elder)

ala:sék (ah - lā - SIK) New berries

oʼswʌ́:taʼ kʌʼ niwahyá:sa̲ʼ (oht - ZWUH - da) (guh) (knee - wa - HYA - s) Small black berries

evening_primrose_7_23_19.jpg

Common Evening Primrose

otsí:nkwalaʼ nikastaló:tʌhse̲ʼ (oh - JEAN - gwa - la) (knee - ga - sta - LOW - duh - s) Yellow droplets

otáhalaʼ nikastaló:tʌhse̲ʼ (oh - DA - ha - la) (knee - ga - sta - LOW - duh - s) Sun droplets

Purslane.jpg

Purslane

kʌʼ nikanhohá: ohuteʼshúha̲ (guh) (knee - ga - n - hoh - HA) (oh - hoo - date - SUE)

Little door plants

QueenAnnesLace.jpg

Queen Anne's Lace

kwaʼok thi:wé:seʼ ohtehlakáhtu̲ʼ (gwao - k) (tee - WAY - zay) (oh - day - h - la - GOT)

 

Wild carrot

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Stinging Nettle

teyakoweʼésta̲ʼ (day - ya - go - way - EI - st) It pricks, pokes, stings

yakohéhslahse̲ʼ (ya - go - HEY - slas) It has a citrusy smell

staghornsumac.jpg

Staghorn Sumac

yohlatóhale̲ (yoh - la - DOU - hall) Cobs have been impaled/hooked

kanikwʌhtalahú:tsiʼ niwahyó:tʌhse̲ʼ (ga - knee - gwuh - da - la - HOO - geet) (knee - wa - HYO - duh - s) Darkened red berries

Image by Corinne Bliss

Dandelions

kʌ́:leks nikanawiló:tʌ̲ (GUH - liks) (knee - ga - na - we - LOAT)

 

Lionʼs tooth

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Oxeye Daisy

owísklaʼ nikatsistu:tú̲: (oh - WISK - glot) (knee - ga - gees - stoon - d)

 

White stars are attached

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Lamb's Quarters

owísklaʼ káhuk niwahsiʼtó:tʌ (oh - WISK - gla) (GA - hoo - k) (knee - wa - sea - DOAT) White goose foot

​kwaʼok thiku:né:seʼ onlahtakáhtu̲ʼ (gwao - k) (tee - goo - NAY - zay) (ohn - lah - da - GAHT) Wild spinach

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Leeks

aʼnukkó: (ot - nuke - GO)

 

Wild onion, Big onion

Image by Lasclay

Milkweed

onitshehwʌ́:ta̲ʼ (oh - neat - say - WUHT)

 

Itʼs bloated

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White Pine

yonlahtaseʼkó: (yo - n - lah - da - zay - GO)

 

New, fresh, big leaves

Image by Liana S

Plantain

ahtahnékha̲ (ah - dah - NAY - k)
 

Travels on the shoe (It's in reference to a
settlerʼs shoe, because the plant isn't native to here.)

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Sheep Sorrel

teyotska:lá:t nikayukwiló:tʌ̲ (day - yo - t - skā - LOT) (knee - ga - yoo - gwee - LOAT)

 

Sour/Bitter arrowhead

Image by Ella Heineman

Wood Sorrel

teyotska:lá:t awelaʼshúha̲ (day - yo - t - skā - LOT) (ah - weil - la - SUE) Sour/bitter hearts

teyotska:lá:t áhsʌ niyonláhtute̲ʼ (day - yo - t - skā - LOT) (AH - suh) (knee - yo - n - LAH - dute) Sour/bitter clover

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Land Acknowledgement

Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state, and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' people, past and present, to these lands and waters.

This land acknowledgment has been reviewed and approved by the traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' leadership. Learn more

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