maajaa
The Ojibwe phrase for "go away" is maajaa.
maajaa is a verb meaning to depart or leave a place. You can use the base form as an exclamation, Maajaa!, to command someone to go away.
Meaning: to depart or leave a place (verb)
When do people say it?
When you use the exclamation Maajaa!, it serves as a common way to command someone to leave.
Did you know?
- Ojibwe uses a complex system of 'animacy' where nouns are categorized as animate or inanimate. This affects how verbs like maajaa are conjugated depending on who or what is leaving.
- Ojibwe is a polysynthetic language, meaning a single word can sometimes express an entire sentence's worth of information that English would require many words to convey.
- Ojibwe verbs often describe the 'manner' of an action, meaning there are different words for leaving if one is walking, running or driving away.
Example conversation
Winona wants Migizi to leave the room so she can study.
- WinonaMigizi, maajaa, nindaa-giizhiganaazaa.Migizi, go away, I need to study.
- MigiziAaniish, nindaa-wiidookaa.Wait, I want to help you.
- WinonaGichi-maajaa, migizi!Just go away, Migizi!
- MigiziEi, nindaa-maajaa.Fine, I will go away.
