Diminutive simply means small. When the following sounds are put on the end of the word, it makes someone or something small. The sounds are "anhs", "aanhs", "enhs", "inhs", "iinhs", "onhs", "oonhs". Actually, it is the “s” sound that completes the term, because some words have the nasal sound in it already. Only a fluent speaker of Anishinaabemowin knows which sound to attach to the end of the word. You have to remember that the plural term is always the last part of a word.
Animal | Large | Singular | Small | Plural | Small & Plural |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dog | Kchi | Animosh | Animoonhs | Animoshak | Animoonhsak |
*Dog | Kchi | Animokaajiinh | Animokaajiinhs | Animokaajiinhak | Animokaajiinhsak |
Cat | Kchi | Gaazhag | Gaazhagenhs | Gaazhagak | Gaazhagenhsak |
Horse | Kchi | Bezhigogshii | Bezhigogshiinhs | Bezhigogshiik | Bezhigogshiinhsak |
Cow | Kchi | Bizhiki | Bizhikiinhs | Bizhikok | Bizhikiinhsak |
Deer | Kchi | Wawashkesh | Wawashkeshiinhs | Wawashkeshak | Wawashkeshiinhsak |
Rabbit | Kchi | Waaboz | Waabozoonhs | Waabozok | Waabozoonhsak |
Skunk | Kchi | Zhagaag | Zhagaagoonhs | Zhagaagak | Zhagaagoonhsak |
Wolf | Kchi | Mahiingan | Mahiingaanhs | Mahiinganak | Mahiingaanhsak |
Fox | Kchi | Waagosh | Waagoshenhs | Waagoshak | Waagoshenhsak |
Seagull | Kchi | Gyashk | Gyashkenhs | Gyashkak | Gyashkenhsak |
Crow | Kchi | Aandeg | Aandegoonhs | Aandegak | Aandegoonhsak |
Loon | Kchi | Maang | Maangoonhs | Maangak | Maangoonhsak |
Duck | Kchi | Shiishiibenh | Shiishiibenhs | Shiishiibenhak | Shiishiibenhsak |
Bee | Kchi | Aamo | Aamoonhs | Aamoik | Aamoonhsak |
Spider | Kchi | Ezibikenh | Ezibikenhs | Ezibikenhak | Ezibikenhsak |
Mosquito | Kchi | Zgimenh | Zgimenhs | Zgimenhak | Zgimenhsak |
Fish | Kchi | Giigonh | Giigonhs | Giigonhik | Giigonhsak |
Trout | Kchi | Nmegos | Nmegosenhs | Nmegosak | Nmegosenhsak |
Whitefish | Kchi | Dikmeg | Dikmegonhs | Dikmegak | Dikmegonhsak |
Bass | Kchi | Shigan | Shigaanhs | Shiganak | Shigaanhsak |
Pike | Kchi | Gnoozhe | Gnoozhenhs | Gnoozhek | Gnoozhenhsak |
Perch | Kchi | Saawe | Saawenhs | Saawek | Saawenhsak |
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Anishinaabemowin Program, Manistee, MI
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