ǧi
The Lakota word for the English adjective "brown" is ǧi.
The word ǧi is an adjective used to describe something that has a brown color.
Meaning: having a brown color/colour (adj)
Which one should you use?
While ǧi is the adjective for the color brown, the noun for the color itself is ǧí and the verb meaning to cook something until it becomes brown is ǧiyÁ.
Related words
Did you know?
- The letter ǧ represents a voiced velar fricative, a sound that does not exist in standard English. It sounds like a gargle or a soft 'g' mixed with a 'h'.
- The relationship between the verb ǧiyÁ and the color ǧí suggests that for many Lakota speakers, 'brownness' is perceived as a result of transformation through heat.
- The adjective ǧi and the noun ǧí are distinguished only by a subtle change in pitch, known as tone. In Lakota, a high tone can change a word from a descriptor to a naming word.
Example conversation
Curtis and Rose are looking at a dog.
- Curtisǧi šúŋman kȟé.It is a brown dog.
- RoseHó. ǧi waúŋya héčha.Yes. Like a brown bird.
- Curtisǧi héčha šúŋman.A brown-like dog.
- RoseKȟé tȟókačha.It is very cute.
