How to Say “Wait” in Lakota

By Warren Edward • Updated October 2, 2026

ahé

The Lakota verb ahé means to wait or to delay until a specific event occurs.

ahé is used to express the action of waiting or delaying an action until a certain point in time or until something else happens.

Meaning: delay until some event (verb)

Did you know?

Many Lakota verbs are 'polysynthetic', meaning a single word related to waiting can be expanded with prefixes and suffixes to describe who is waiting and for whom in one long word.

Example conversation

Joyce and Darrell are getting ready to leave the house.

Joyce

Ahé, mní tȟúka.
Wait, I need water.
Darrell

Héčha, wačhíču.
Okay, I am waiting.
Joyce

Míyansun, tȟáka tȟé.
I am ready, let's go.
Darrell

Hú, waúŋya.
Yes, let's leave.

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About The Author

Warren Edward

Hello there! My name is Warren, or as I might introduce myself in Lakota, "Warren mitakuye oyasin." Yes, I'm passionate about the Lakota language and culture, and I've carved out a niche for myself teaching others through my blog posts. I've covered everything from colors like "ska" (white) to animals like "šunkawakhan" (horse). Interestingly, you'll also find me diving into emotional expressions and daily life phrases. In my spare time, I'm hiking, engaging in animal photography, or sipping "wičháȟpi kičhíyuzapi" (Lakota for ‘cold coffee’) while contemplating my next topic. Over here, it's all about learning and sharing - Let's dive in!

Warren EdwardHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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