zhaagnaash
The Ojibwe phrase for white man is zhaagnaash.
The term zhaagnaash is used to refer to a person of European descent.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the English phrase specifies gender, zhaagnaash is often used as a general noun for a person of European descent regardless of whether they are male or female.
Did you know?
- Ojibwe has multiple words for 'white' depending on what is being described, but zhaagnaash does not use the standard word for the color white.
- In some dialects, zhaagnaash can be used to describe someone who has adopted Western ways or values, regardless of their actual ancestry.
- In many Ojibwe-speaking communities, calling someone a zhaagnaash might not be an insult, but simply a descriptive way to identify a newcomer or stranger.
Example conversation
Winona and Bemizii are discussing a new neighbor.
- WinonaBemizii, anishinaabe aaniish aa zhaagnaash?Bemizii, is he an Indigenous person or a white man?
- BemiziiZhaagnaash aaniish.He is a white man.
- WinonaAaniish giizhigad aaniish?When did he arrive?
- BemiziiGichi-giizhigad zhaagnaash gimiwan.The white man arrived yesterday.
