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The Lakota Language
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The Lakota Kinship System
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father! até kin, my father, my father's brother
( niyáte, your ~; atkúku,
his ~; atéyA, to have as father, atéwaye, he is my ~).
See also p'apá; Lakota parents
a child ( mic'ínca, my ~; nic'ínca,
your ~; c'incáya, to have for a child, adopt as a child,
c'incáwic'awaye, they are my children).
See also wak'ánheja
son!, c'inkší kin, a son, a man's brother's son, a woman's sister's son
( mic'ínkši, my ~; nic'ínkši,
your ~; c'inkšítku, his/her son; c'inkší
ya, to have as son, c'inkšíwaye, he is my ~)
See also Lakota sons & daughters
a man's older brother, my older brother; male cousin from the father's side older
than oneself ( nic'íye, your ~; c'iyé
ku, his ~; c'iyéya, to have for
a ~, c'iyéwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
daughter!, my daughter; c'unkší kin, a daughter; a man's brother's
daughter, a woman's sister's daughter ( mic'únkši,
my ~; nic'únkši, your ~; c'unwí(n)
tku, his/her ~; c'unk_íya,
to have as daughter, c'unkšíwaye, she is my ~)
See also Lakota sons & daughters
a woman's older sister, female cousin from the mother's side
older than oneself, my ~ ( nic'úwe,
your ~; c'uwéku, her ~; c'uwé
ya, to have for a ~, c'uwéwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
a man's/woman's older/younger sister ( mahákata, my ~;
hakátaya, to have for a sister, hakátawaye,
she is my ~)
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
man's sister-in-law = 1) a sister of: wife / sibling's spouse /
cousin's spouse; 2) a wife of: sibling / cousin; my ~ (
nihá(n)ka, your ~; hanká
ku, his ~; hankaya,
to have for a ~, hankáwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota in-laws
a man's female cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's daughter; my ~ (
nihánka(n)ši, your ~; hankáši
tku, his ~; hankášiya,
to have for a ~, hankášiwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
a husband ( mihí(n)gna, my ~; ni
hí(n)gna, your ~; hi(n)gnáku, her ~;
hi(n)gnáyan, to have as husband, hi(n)gná
waye, he is my~; hi(n)gnát'un, to have a husband, be married,
hi(n)gnáwat'un, I am married)
See also t'awícu
an ancestor; hunkáke, an ancestor, an immediate relative
( mihúnkake, my ~; hunkake
ya, to have for an ancestor, hunkakewaye,
he is my ~); Hunkálowanpi, a ceremony of Making of Relatives;
hunkáya, to consider & honor as a
hunka, hunkáwaye, he is my hunka
his/her mother. See iná
mother!, mother's sister, my ~ ( nihún,
your ~; húnku, his/her ~; iná
yan, to call her "mother", have as mother,
ináwaye, she is my ~).
See also mamá!, Lakota parents
granddad! See also t'unkášila
friend!, man's friend ( mit'ák'ola, my ~; nit'ák'ola,
your ~; t'ak'ólaku, his ~; k'olá
ya, to have as ~, k'oláwaye, he is my ~;
kolákic'iyapi, friendship, they are friends). Syn. kicúwa.
Woman's female friend is máške, wašé
paternal grandmother ( nik'únši, your ~;
k'unšíya, to have as ~, k'unšíwaye,
she is my ~).
See also uncí
mother's brother -- blood uncle, my ~. One's father's brother is
called ate ( milékši, my~;
nilékši, your ~; lekší
tku, his/her ~; lekšíya,
to have for an uncle, lekšíwaye, he is my ~)
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
uncle by marriage -- mother's/father's sister's husband (
lekšílaya, to have as ~; lekšílawaye, he is my ~)
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
mom! See also iná
My little brother! See sunká
My relative. See takúya
My wife. See t'awícu
the two fathers of husband and wife call each other by this title;
and the mothers as well. ( omáwahit'un mit'áwa, my ~;
omáwahit'un nit'áwa, your ~; thómawahit'un, his/her ~).
This is a term of direct address, used regardless of sex between the parents,
aunts, uncles, and grandparents of a person, when speaking of/to his/her spouse's
parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents ( omáwahit'unkic'iyapi, they have
each other for omáwahit'un: omáwahit'un?unkic'iyapi, we have...,
omáwahit'unyec'iyapi, you have...; omáwahit'unyan,
to have for ~, omáwahit'unwaye, he/she is my ~)
dad! See also até
woman's sister-in-law -- 1) a sister of: husband / sibling's spouse /
cousin's spouse; 2) a wife of: sibling / cousin; my ~ ( ni
(s)cép'an, your ~; (s)cép'anku,
her ~; (s)cép'anyan, to have as ~,
(s)cép'anwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota in-laws
woman's female cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's daughter (
ni(s)cép'anši, your ~; (s)cép'anši
tku, her ~; (s)cép'anšiya,
to have as ~, (s)cép'anšiwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc
woman's brother-in-law -- 1) a brother of: husband / sibling's spouse /
cousin's spouse; 2) a husband of: sibling / cousin; my ~ (
nišíc?e, your ~; šic?éku,
her ~; šic?éya, to have as ~, šic?éwaye, he is my~).
See also Lakota in-laws
woman's male cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's son ( ni
šíc?eši, your ~; šic?éšitku, her ~;
šic?éšiya, to have as ~, šic?éšiwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
misún! my younger brother! (man/woman speaking),
man's younger cousin from the father's side, woman's younger cousin from
the mother's side ( misúnka(la), my ~;
nisunka(la), your ~; sunkáku,
his/her ~; sunkáya, to have as ~, sunkáwaye,
he is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
to have one somebody for a relation, takúwaye, he/she is my relative;
takúkic'iyapi, they are relatives, takú?unkic'iyapi, we are
relatives, takúyec'iyapi, you are relatives; takúye, a relative,
his relative ( mitákuye, my ~, mi
tákuye oyás?in, all are my relatives; ni
tákuye, your ~; unkítakuyepi, our ~; otákuye,
brotherhood, relations, kinship; t'ítakuye, the immediate relatives)
grandchild ( mit'ákoja, grandchild!, my ~;
nit'ákoja, your ~; t'akójakpaku,
his/her ~; t'akójaya, to have as ~, t'akójawaye,
he/she is my ~)
son-/daughter-in-law ( mit'ákoš, my ~;
nit'ákoš, your ~; t'akóšku,
his/her ~; t'akoš ya, to have as ~, t'akóšwaye,
he/she is my ~).
See also Lakota in-laws
man's brother-in-law -- 1) a brother of: wife / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse;
2) a husband of: sibling / cousin; my ~ ( nit'ánhan, your ~;
t'anhánku, his ~; t'anhányan,
to have as ~, thanhanwaye, he is my ~). The term mašé is used if bros-in-law
are on very good terms.
See also Lakota in-laws
man's male cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's son ( ni
t'ánhanši, your ~; t'anhánšitku, his ~,
t'anhánšiya, to have as ~, t'anhánšiwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
woman's younger sister ( mit'án, my ~;
nit'anhan, your ~; t'ankáku,
her ~; t'ánkaya, to have as ~, t'ankáwaye,
she is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
man's older sister ( mit'ánke, my ~;
nit'ánke, your ~; t'ankéku,
his ~; t'ankéya, to have as ~, t'ankéwaye, she is my ~)
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
man's younger sister ( mit'ánkši, my ~;
nit'ánkši, your ~; t'ankšítku,
his ~; t'ankšíya, to have as ~, t'ankšíwaye, she is my ~)
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
his wife ( mit'áwin, mit'áwicu, my wife; nit'áwin,
nit'áwicu, your wife; t'awícuya, to have as ~,
t'awícuwaye, she is my ~).
See also hi(n)gná
another wife of one's husband( t'éyakic'iyapi, they are both wives
of one man, they are "teya"s to each other; t'éyaku,
her teya; t'éyaya, to have somebody for a teya,
t'éyawaye, she is my teya)
woman's older brother, woman's cousin from the mother's side older than herself
( mit'íblo, my ~; nit'íblo,
your ~; t'iblóku, her ~; t'iblóya,
to have as ~, t'iblówaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota sisters & brothers
A band/clan of blood relatives. The oldest living member is the head of the tiyošpaye.
His wife, his children, grandchildren etc. with their spouses are the rest of members
of the clan.
woman's nephew -- brother's son / husband's sibling's son (
nit'óška, your ~; t'oškáku,
his ~; t'oškáya, to have as ~, t'oškáwaye, he is my ~)
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
woman's niece -- brother's daughter / husband's sibling's daughter (
nit'ója(n), your ~; t'ojá(n)ku,
his ~; t'ojáya, t'ojányan,
to have as ~, t'ojá(n)waye, she is my ~)
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
grandfather!, ( mit'únkašila, my ~; ni
t'úkašila, your ~; t'unkášitku, his/her ~; t'unkášila
ya, to have as ~, t'unkášilawaye, he is my ~).
See also kaká
father-in-law and other men in his generation, who are relatives of the spouse;
my ~ ( mit'únkan, my ~; nit'únkan,
your ~; t'unkánku, his/her ~; t'unkányan, t'unkáši
ya, to have as ~, t'unkanwaye, t'unkášiwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakota in-laws
man's nephew -- sister's son / wife's sibling's son ( ni
t'únška, your ~; t'unškáku, his ~; t'un_ká
ya, to have as ~, t'unškáwaye, he is my ~)
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
father's sister -- blood aunt, my ~ ( mit'únwin, my ~;
nit'únwin, your ~; t'unwicu, his/her ~; thunwin
yan, t'unwícuya, to have as ~)
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
aunt by marriage -- father's/mother's brother's wife ( t'unwínla
ya, to have as ~, t'unwinlawaye, she is my ~)
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
man's niece -- sister's daughter / wife's sibling's daughter (
nit'ujt'úja(n), your ~; t'unjá(n)
ku, his ~; t'unjáya,
t'unjányan, to have as ~, t'unja(n)waye, she is my ~)
See also Lakota uncles, aunts, etc.
maternal grandmother ( uncíya, to have as
maternal granmother, uncíwaye, she is my ~).
See also k'unší
mother-in-law and other women of her generation who are
relatives of the spouse; my ~ ( uncíši nit'áwa, your ~;
uncíšiya, to have as ~; uncíšiwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakota in-laws
child, children. See also c'incá
old man!, sometimes wives address so their husbands; wic'áĥcala
mit'áwa kin, my old man. See also winúĥca
my husband; my lover. See also wínyan mit'áwa
old woman!, sometimes husbands address so their wives; winúĥcala
mit'áwa kin, my old lady. See also wic'áĥca
my wife; my lover. See also wic'á
ša mit'áwa
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Grammar Tables
Most kinship terms use prefixes mi- "my", ni- "your", unkí- "our", and
suffixes -ku/-cu "his/her" to construct possessive forms "my", "his", etc "relative".
The word w/o prefix/suffix usu. means "my" if used with an article: até kin (my father).
The whole construction may usually consist of the following elements (in brackets are optional elements):
| The structure of a kinship term. |
| [Whose?] |
Who? |
[his/her] |
[of many] |
[Article] |
[Demonstrative] |
| Mary
mi- "my"
ni- "your"
unkí- "our" |
t'ibló
"younger sis" |
-ku |
pi |
kin "the"
wan "a, some"
wanjí "a, any" |
lé "this"
lená "these"
hé "that"
hená "those" |
Note that the word pi (called "plural enclitic") in, say, atkúku pi kin
"their father" is used to denote father of many people, not fathers of one man.
The plurality of father is shown usually on the verb: Atkúku kin t'ec'íĥila pi.
"The fathers love you."; or additionally with a demonstrative: Atkúku kin hená
t'ec'íĥila pi. "Those fathers love you."
| The typical forms for t'ibló "woman's elder brother". |
| / |
Using kinship affixes |
Using -ya verbs |
| My bro |
mit'íblo kin |
t'iblówaye kin |
| My bros |
mit'íblo kin (hená) |
t'iblówic'awaye kin |
| Our bro |
unkít'iblo pi kin |
t'iblóunyan pi kin |
| Our bros |
unkít'iblo pi kin (hená) |
t'iblówic'unyan pi kin |
| Your bro |
nit'íblo kin |
t'iblóyaye kin |
| Your bros |
nit'íblo kin (hená) |
t'iblówic'ayaye kin |
| Your(pl.) bro |
nit'íblo pi kin |
t'iblóyaya pi kin |
| Your(pl.) bros |
nit'íblo pi kin (hená) |
t'iblówic'ayaya pi kin |
| Her bro |
t'iblóku kin |
t'iblóye kin |
| Her bros |
t'iblóku kin (hená) |
t'iblówic'aye kin |
| Their bro |
t'iblóku pi kin |
t'iblóya pi kin |
| Their bros |
t'iblóku pi kin (hená) |
t'iblówic'aya pi kin |
These are formed by the addition of the suffix -ya to the kinship term :
ate + ya = ateya, etc. The meaning of these verbs is: to have somebody as one's
relative, for example atéwaye = ate+wa+ye = "father-I him-have as", "he is
my father". Followed with an article (kin, wan, wanjí) the whole construction
is regarded a noun: atéwaye kin "my father"; atéwaya wan "one of my
fathers"; atéwaya wanjí "any of my fathers" (you remember that Lakotas
may have numerous fathers and mothers?!).
Note 1. -yA changes to -yAn after nasal vowels /an/, /in/, /un/, and after
pronominal affixes -ma- "me", -ni- "you", and -un- (we/us). E.g. Ináyan pi.
She is their mother. Ináyaya pi. She is your(pl.) mother. Inámayan pi.
I am their mother / They have me for a mother.
Note 2. Uppercase A in -yA(n) means that the sound /a(n)/ changes to:
1. /in/ before ktA, na, and na?inš: Hignáwayin kte. "He will be my husband.";
2. /e/ in many positions, the most important of them are: before kin article
(ináwaye kin "my mother"), at the end of a sentence (C'inkšíc'iye.
"You're my son."), and before 'yelo': Atéyaye yelo. "He's your father (man speaking)."
Note 3. In informal style of speech (ikcéya wóglaka), some /w/,
/y/, /?/, and /h/ are dropped. So, Ináyaye yeló (She's your mother.)
would turn into, ináaeeló. Just for case, I've put below the
full paradigm of the verbs -yA (to have somebody as (one's father, for example)):
Conjugation of relation -yA verbs (e.g. ate-yA) |
| \ |
MY |
OUR |
YOUR |
YOUR(pl.) |
HIS/HER |
THEIR |
| I AM |
--- |
-c'iya |
-c'iyapi |
-waya |
-wic'awaya |
| I&YOU ARE |
--- |
-unyan |
-wic'unyan |
| WE ARE |
-unniyan |
-unniyanpi |
-unyanpi |
-wic'unyanpi |
| YOU ARE |
-mayaya |
-unyayapi |
--- |
-yaya |
-wic'ayaya |
| YOU(pl.)ARE |
-mayayapi |
-yayapi |
-wic'ayayapi |
| HE/SHE IS |
-mayan |
-unyanpi |
-niyan |
-niyanpi |
-ya |
-wic'aya |
| THEY ARE |
-mayanpi |
-niyanpi |
-yapi |
-wic'ayapi |
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In Lakota society more people than in English one call each other "brother",
"sister", "father", "mother", "son", and "daughter". This results from the fact
that the brothers call each other's children sons and daughters, and the sisters
also share their kids.
Let's suppose...Ten brothers love ten sisters from another clan. They get
married and form ten families. Eventually each pair have got five sons and five
daughters, giving 5x10=50 boys and 50 girls in total. Now look: Each man of the
10 brothers has 50 sons and 50 daughters. Each woman of the 10 sisters also has
100 kids in all. Each boy has 49 brothers, 50 sisters, 10 fathers, and 10 mothers.
Each girl likewise has 50 brothers, 49 sisters, and 20 parents. This is Lakota
extended family!
Another example. My mother has a sister and a brother. My father also has
one sister and one brother. How should I call mom's/pop's sisters, brothers with
their spouses and children? How do my relatives and my spouse address each
other? Let's look at the table.
In Lakota extended family you may have more than one father
(até) and more than one mother
(iná). My father is not only my biological father,
but also all his "brothers""Lakota sisters").
In Lakota extended family includes not only all the sons of my
father are my brothers, but also the sons of persons
whom my father calls "brother" and which are my "fathers").
Therefore many English-style cousins become my brothers in Lakota extended
family. Likewise, my sisters are those who are daughters of my mothers and
also the daughters of all her "sisters" which are
my "mothers". As a result, it's very hard to become an orphan among Lakotas,
as everybody typically has more than one father and more than one mother.
Other peculiarities: special terms for older and younger sister/brother,
and different terms used by men and women. See the table below:
In Lakota extended family a man calls c'inkší,
"son" all the sons of his "brothers", and for a woman any
daughter of her "sisters" is regarded as her
c'unkší, "daughter".
In Lakota extended family terms t'unwín
"aunt", lekší "uncle", and t'anhánši /
šic?éši / hankánši / scép'anši "cousin" have narrower
meaning as some English-style aunts and uncles are labeled
mothers & fathers, and some English-style cousins are
called sisters & brothers. Uncles and aunts by marriage
are regarded as more distant relatives and possess a diminutive suffix -la
(See Table of parents, uncles, and aunts).
The four terms of address for cousins are determined by the sex of a cousin
and the sex of a person calling him/her:
Lakota terms of address for cousins |
| / |
Male's |
Female's |
| Son of a mother's brother / father's sister |
t'anhánši |
šic?éši |
| Daughter of a mother's brother / father's sister |
hankánši |
Scép'anši |
Analogously there are four terms of address for nephews and nieces.
See also Table of uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.
Traditionally, communication between parents-in-law and children-in-law
is restricted. Rather, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are expected to maintain
a light-hearted, "joking" relationship .
|
Comparison of Birth-Order Names |
|
Order |
Santees
Male .......... Female |
Canadian Dakotas
Male .......... Female |
Oglalas
Male .......... Female |
First-born |
Caske |
Winona |
Teaské |
Winóne |
Caske |
Wi-tokape |
Second-born |
Hepan |
Hapan |
Hepó |
Hápe |
Hepan |
Hapan |
Third-born |
Hepi |
Hapistinna |
Hepí |
Hápsti |
Hepi |
Hepistanna |
Fourth-born |
Catan |
Wauske |
Watcáto |
Wiháki |
Catan |
Wanska |
Fifth-born |
Hake |
Wihake |
Haké |
Hapóna |
Hake |
Wi-hake |
Sixth-born |
____ |
____ |
Tatcó |
Hapstina |
Hakata |
Hakata |
Seventh-born |
____ |
____ |
____ |
Wihakéda |
Cekpa |
Cekpa |
SOURCE: Riggs, 1890; Wallis, 1947; Walker, 1914.
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