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.
Jerusalem Artichoke
watkuhsakeʼtótha̲ʼ (wa - t - goo - sa - gei - DOAT)
Flower brings itself into sight
Burdock
olhohteʼkó: (ol - hoh - date - GO)
Big grove that attaches
Cattail
takó:s otáhsa̲ʼ (da - GOHS) (oh - DA - s) Catʼs tail
ohsaʼkʌtá:ke óhute̲ʼ (oh - sa - guh - DA - gei) (OH - hoo - t) Marsh plant
Chicory
olú:yaʼ niyotitsiʼtsyo:tú̲ : (oh - LUE - ya) (knee - yo - dee - geet - joe - d)
Blue flowers are standing upright
Red Clover
onikwʌ́htalaʼ áhsʌ niyonláhtute̲ʼ (oh - knee - GWUH - da - la) (AH - suh) (knee - yo - n - LAH - dute)
Red, three leaves are attached
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
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
kʌʼ nikanhohá: ohuteʼshúha̲ (guh) (knee - ga - n - hoh - HA) (oh - hoo - date - SUE)
Little door plants
Queen Anne's Lace
kwaʼok thi:wé:seʼ ohtehlakáhtu̲ʼ (gwao - k) (tee - WAY - zay) (oh - day - h - la - GOT)
Wild carrot
Stinging Nettle
teyakoweʼésta̲ʼ (day - ya - go - way - EI - st) It pricks, pokes, stings
yakohéhslahse̲ʼ (ya - go - HEY - slas) It has a citrusy smell
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
Dandelions
kʌ́:leks nikanawiló:tʌ̲ (GUH - liks) (knee - ga - na - we - LOAT)
Lionʼs tooth
Oxeye Daisy
owísklaʼ nikatsistu:tú̲: (oh - WISK - glot) (knee - ga - gees - stoon - d)
White stars are attached
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
Leeks
aʼnukkó: (ot - nuke - GO)
Wild onion, Big onion
Milkweed
onitshehwʌ́:ta̲ʼ (oh - neat - say - WUHT)
Itʼs bloated
White Pine
yonlahtaseʼkó: (yo - n - lah - da - zay - GO)
New, fresh, big leaves
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.)
Sheep Sorrel
teyotska:lá:t nikayukwiló:tʌ̲ (day - yo - t - skā - LOT) (knee - ga - yoo - gwee - LOAT)
Sour/Bitter arrowhead
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