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Palmer's Journal of Travels Over the Rocky Mountains, 1845-1846

Volume 30 — WORDS USED IN THE CHINOOK JARGON

Reading edition

This is a tongue spoken by a few in each of the tribes residing in the middle and lower divisions of Oregon. It is also used by the French, and nearly all the old settlers in the country.

Aach Ekik Hu-e-hu

Sister Fish-hook Swap, exchange

Aha Elitah Hol

Yes Slave Drag, or pull

Alka Esick Ilips

Future, by and by Paddle First

Alta Esil Ith-lu-el, or Ituel

Present, now Corn Meat, flesh

Ala Geleech I-yak

I wonder Grease Quick, or hurry

Ankote Halo Il-a-he

Past time None Soil, dirt

Chawko Hankachim Ichwet

Come Handkerchief Bear

Chee Hous Is-kum

New House Take

Chinkamin How In-a-ti

Iron, chain Let us Overdress

Chuck Hoel-hoel Ith-lu-k-ma

Water Mouse Gamble

Deob High-you I-wa

Satan Quantity, many Beaver

Delie High-you-k-wah Ips-wet

Dry Ring Hide

Ekih Hul-u-e-ma Ik-ta

Brother-in-law Strange, different What

Kah K-wathen Kilaps

Where Bell Turn over

K-u-ten K-macks Klips

Horse Dog Upset

Kaw-lo-ke-lo Klugh Ko-el

Goose Split, or Plough Cold

Ka-luck Ko-pet Kap-wah

Swan Done, finished Alike

K-puet Kop-po Kon-a-maxt

Needle Older brother Both

Kot-suck Kow Kla-hum

Middle Is to tie Good-bye

Kap-o K-wat Kla-hi-you

Coat Hit How do you do

Ka-nim Kop-shut Kaw-a-nassim

Canoe Broken Always

Ka-ta Ko Kla-ha-na

Why Arrived Out

Kap-su-alla Kim-to Klim-in-wit

Theft, steal Behind A falsehood

K-liten Kollo Krap-po

Lead Fence Toad

Kaw-kaw Kutt Klose

Crow Hard Good

Klat-a-wah Klimin Klas-ko

Go, Walk Fine Them, those

Kul-a-kulla Kle-il Ka-so

Fowl Black Rum

Kum-tux Ka-was Ko-pa

Know, or understand Afraid There

Ke-a-wale Kom-suck Kit-lo

Love Beads Kettle

Ka-wah-we Ko-ko-well Klone-ass

All Eel I do not understand

Klow-e-wah Klaps Klop-sta

Slow Find Who

K-wallen Kow-ne-aw Klouch-man

The ear How many Female

Kee-kool La-sel Le-lu

Down Saddle Panther

Lepo-lo Le-lo-im Le-pul

Pan Sharp Chickens

Le-por-shet Le-poim Lecorset

Fork Apple Trunk

Lehash La-bush Laport

Axe Mouth Door

Leg-win Le-da Le-pip

Saw Teeth Pipe

Lima Le-ku Lo-lo

The hand Neck Carry, or tote

Lita Le-mora Leb-ya

Head Wild Old woman

Le-pe-a Lashimney La-lure

Feet Chimney Hoe

Lo-ma-las Lemitten La-cope

Molasses Mitten White

Lemon-to La-ha-la La-cre-me

Sheep Feel Yellow

Lavest Le-le Mas-a-tro

Jacket, or vest A long time Bad

La-ep Las-well Met-lite

Rope Silk Residence, Sitting down, &c.

Lep-lash La-tem

Boards Table

Lep-wa Lep-o-lip Mal-ha-na

Peas Boil As, in the river; or, push off the boat

Lep-well Le-sit-well Man

Skillet Stars Male

La-win Le-mit-rem Mow-etch

Oats Medicine Deer

La-ram Le-shaw Mu-lack

Oar, for boats Shoe Elk

Le-wash Le-sack Muse-a-muse

Snow Sack, or bag Cattle

Lemonti Le-quim Me-si-ka

Mountain White bear Plural of you

Muck-a-muck O-ep-can Papo

Provisions, eat Basket Father

Musket O-ep-in-pin Pil

Rifle, or gun Skunk Red

Moon O-e-lile Pe-chi

Month Berries Green

Mo-kah O-e-pick Pat-le

Buy Both Full

Mim-a-loosheb O-elk Poo

Die, or dead Snake Shoot

Mal-hu-ale O-lo Pe-teck

Back Hungry The world

Mi-ka Oel-hin Pilton

You Seal Foolish

Ni-ka O-koke Pal-a-k-lo

I, or me This, or that Night

Nan-ach Pi-yah Pes-hocks

Look, or see Fire Thickety

Na-ha Pos-ton Pis-say-ukes

Mother Americans French

New-ha Pee Quack-quack

Let And Duck

Now-it-k Pus Si-wash

Yes, certainly If Indians

Ne-si-ka Puss Swas

We, us Cat Rain

Nein Pish-hash Sah-lee

Name Polecat High

O-es-km Pos-seas Stick

Caps Blanket Wood

Oel-man Pot-latch Seck-um

Old Give Swim

O-pet-sa Pole-ally Si-yaw

Knife Powder Far

O-pes-wa Po-et Sap-a-lil

Wonder, astonishment Boat Flour

Ow Pa-pa Su-ga

Brother Paper Sugar

Sec-a-lukes Shot To-lo

Pantaloons Shot Win, or gain

Sap-a-pul Sup-ner Te-ma-has

Hat Jump Poison

Sto-en Til-a-kum Ti-pee

Rock People An ornament

Sil Tit-the-ko-ep Te-kah

Shirting Cut Want

Sko-kum Tum-tum Till

Strong, stout The heart Heavy, or tired

Sec-pee Te-o-wit Toc-ta

To miss Leg Doctor

See-ah-os-ti Tum-pe-lo Wah-wah

Face, or eyes Back Talk, conversation

Sam-mon Tam-o-lack Wake

Fish Barrel No, not

Sto-gon Ti-ye Wap-a-to

Sturgeon Master, or chief Potato

Son-dra Tes-um Win

Roan Pretty Wind

Salt To-lo-bus Wam

Salt Wolf Warm

Shu-es Te-ko-ep Wetch

Shoes White More

Sun Te-mo-lo Ya-ka

Sun, or day To-morrow Him, she, it

Silk-um Tu-lusk Yaw-wah

Half, or a part Milk Yonder

Smo-ek Tip-so Yok-sa

Smoke Grass Hair

Sul-luks Tum-tuk Ya-ha-la

Mad, angry Water-falls Name

Six Ton-tle-ke Yult-cut

Friends Yesterday Long

Sick T-sit-still You-till

Sick, or sore Buttons, or tacks Glad, proud

Shut Tee-see

Shirt Sweet

Chinook mode of computing numbers

Iht 1 Dilo-p-sin-a-maxt 17

Makst 2 Dilo-p-sow-skins 18

Klone 3 Dilo-p-k-wi-etst 19

Lakst 4 Tath-la-hun makst 20

K-win-nim 5 Tath-la-hun klone 30

Ta-hum 6 Tath-la-hun lakst 40

Sina-maxt 7 Tath-la-hun k-win-ma 50

Sow-skins 8 Tath-la-hun ta-hum 60

K-wi-etst 9 Tath-la-hun sin-a-maxt 70

Tath-la-ham 10 Tath-la-hun sow-skins 80

Dilo-pe-iht 11 Tath-la-hun k-wi-etst 90

Dilo-p-maxt 12 Tak-o-mo-nuxt 100

Dilo-p-klone 13 Tak-o-mo-maxt 200

Dilo-p-lakst 14 Tak-o-mo-nuxt klone 300

Dilo-p-k-winnim 15 Tak-o-mo-nuxt lakst 400

Dilo-p-ta-hum 16 Tak-o-mo-nuxt k-win-nim 500

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