Chapter 1: Beginning ConversationWelcome to Chapter 1 of our new lesson series. This chapter will take you into the basics of Kumeyaay conversation, including how to greet people and introduce yourself.
Before you begin, you may want to read about Kumeyaay pronunciation and orthography so that you have some idea of how these words are pronounced. It is best to hear someone say these phrases in person to learn how they actually sound. As you read, do not try to understand everything from the very beginning. Many things will become clear as time goes on. There is no need to try to memorize every word, as with repeat exposure and practice on your part, these words will gradually sink into your long-term memory. Remember that the following represents but one way of speaking, specifically the Mesa Grande dialect as taught by Ted Couro, and there are many other valid ways of speaking 'Iipay Aa and Tiipay Aa that you may learn and encounter in real life. |
Recommended Accompaniments:
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Words & Phrases
Haawka
Hello 'Ich wiich mechuuhii? What is your name? (Lit. what do they call you?) ___ wii nyechuuhii. My name is ___. 'Ich wiich chuuhii? What is his name? ___ wiich chuuhii. His name is ___. Maava? And you? |
Memeyuu temewaa?
How are you? (Ask this if the person is sitting) Memeyuu temeyuuw? How are you? (Use this if the person is standing) Memeyuu temeyaq? How are you? (Use this if the person is lying down) Memeyuu tempaa? How have you been? Memeyuu temenyeway? How are you all? (Use to ask multiple people) |
'Aahan ta'waa.
I am well. (Use if you are sitting down) 'Aahan ta'yuuw. I am well. (Use if you are standing) 'Aahan ta'yaq. I am well. (Use if you are lying down) 'Aahan ta'paa. I have been well. 'Aahaan ta'nyeway. We are well. |
Mat Uchewayp - Conversation
'Emat: 'Iikwich 'ehinch siny 'ehin nyawihch hekwany 'iikwich mat aayumvi kepekuw.
Setting: A man meets a woman and her son at a gathering.
Setting: A man meets a woman and her son at a gathering.
'Iipay Aa:
'Iikwich: Haawka! Siny: Haawka! I: 'Ich wiich mechuuhii? S: Hwaana wii nyechuuhii. Maava, 'ich wiich mechuuhii? I: 'Enyaa Martiin wii nyechuuhii. 'Iikwichech 'elymaam 'iikwich ewuuw. The man looks at the boy. I: Peyaa maapchu? S: Peyaa 'ehekwany. I: Haawka! 'Ich wiich mechuuhii? 'Elymaam 'iikwich: Tomaas wii nyechuuhii. I: 'Ehan! S: Nya'naamh. I: Keyima kenaam. |
Notes:
'iikwich = man siny = woman Hwaana > Juana (assimilated from Spanish) Maava? And you? 'enyaa = me Martiin > Martín 'elymaam = little one, child 'elymaam 'iikwich = male child, boy ewuuw = sees, looks at peyaa = this maap = who; Maapchu? Who is it? hekwany = son or daughter of a woman Peyaa 'ehekwany = This is my child Tomaas > Tomás 'Ehan! Good! Nya'naamh = We're going (Goodbye, said by a group that's leaving) Keyima kenaam = Go on ahead (Goodbye, said to a group that's leaving) |
Words & Phrases
Nya'aamh.
I'm going. (Goodbye, said by one person who is leaving) Nyamaamh keyima! Go ahead and go! (Goodbye, said to one person who is leaving) Nyewuuwh. See you. (I'll see you) Nya'naamh. We're going. (Goodbye, said by one group that is leaving) Keyima kenaam. Go ahead and go. (Goodbye, said to a group that is leaving) Keyim kaam! Run along now! (Said to one person) |
Maap
Who Maapchu? Who is it? Peyaa maapchu? Who is this? Peyaa Antoon. This is Antonio. 'Uuch What 'Uuchechu? What is it? Peyaa 'uuchechu? What is this? Peyaa wetaph. This is a flower. |
Peyaa
This Nyip That (That you can see and point to) Puu That (In the distance or out of sight) The above can also mean he, she, or it. Pily Now Paataly His/her mother Paataat His/her father Hekwany Her son or daughter |
Mat Uchewayp
Migeel 'Angeliin kunyeway kepekuw. 'Angeliin paataat tewaam Migeelch ii way temaa.
Miguel meets his friend Angelina. Angelina's father is there, and Miguel tries to talk to him.
Miguel meets his friend Angelina. Angelina's father is there, and Miguel tries to talk to him.
M: Haawka 'Anheliin! Memeyuu tempaa? A: Haawka Migeel, 'aahan ta'paa, maava? M: 'Aahan ta'paa. Peyaa 'uuchechu? A: Peyaa tehiilly. M: 'Eshash! A: Haa, 'eshash. M: Lak, kurak nyip maapchu? A: Nyip 'etaatches. M: Metaat 'ich wiich chuuhii? A: Puu Hwaan wiich chuuhii. Migeel lawh wiich paataat kenaam. Miguel turns and calls out to her father. M: Lak, Hwaan, meyipa? H: 'E-en, 'eyip, 'uuchechu? M: Peyaa Migeel, memeyuu temewaa? H: Oo, puuk puwk. Maa maapchu? M: 'Enyaa Migeel! H: Matta? M: 'Enyaa MIGEEL wii nyechuuhii! H: Oo, 'ehan, haawka Migeel. Memeyuu temeyuuw? M: 'Aahan ta'yuuw. Nya'aamh pily. H: Hoo, keyim kaam. |
'Angeliin > Angelina tehiilly = dress (or clothes, or an article of clothing) 'eshash = is beautiful, pretty haa = yes Lak! Hey! kurak = old man; kurak nyip = that old man 'etaat = my father -ches = it is (optional suffix for emphasis) metaat = your father puu = him Hwaan > Juan Meyipa? Do you hear? 'e-en = yeah, uh huh 'eyip = I hear puuk puwk = so-so (it comes back from there) maa = you 'enyaa = me Matta? Huh? pily = now hoo = okay |
Hwaan pechaaych mat uchewayp.
Juan and his daughter talk to each other.
Juan and his daughter talk to each other.
H: Angeliin mewaa-a?
A: 'E-en, peyii 'ewaa! H: Metaly ewaa-a? A: Umaaw, peyii ewaah umaaw. H: Maay ewaa? A: 'Ewaavi ewaa. H: Metaly meyuu tewaa, 'ehan? A: Haa, 'ehan tewaa. Maava, memeyuu temeyaq, kurak? H: Lak, 'enyaa metaatches! Kurak peyaa maapchu? A: 'E-en. H: Oo, 'aahan ta'yaq. 'Emetaawar. A: Nyaapum kehma'! H: 'E-en, 'ehemaah. Nyewuuwh! |
Mewaa-a? Are you there?
-a: Question suffix (often left out) peyii = here Peyii 'ewaa! I'm here! metaly= your mother umaaw = no; -h umaaw = is not ewaa = is located somewhere Maay ewaa? Where is she? 'ewaavi = at home Meyuu tewaa? How is she/he? kurak = old man 'Enyaa metaatches! I'm your father! kurak peyaa = this old man 'emetaawar = I'm tired nyaapum = then Kehma'! Sleep! 'ehemaah = I will sleep nyewuuwh = See you later, I will see you |
Practice
Give your responses in the conversation below:
'Anheliin: Haawka! Memeyuu temewaa?
Maach (You): _______________________________ (Hi, I am well, and you?)
A: 'Ehan! 'Aahan ta'waa. 'Ich wiich mechuuhii?
M: _______________________________________ (My name is ___. And you, what is your name?)
A: 'Angeliin wii nyechuuhii. Peyaa maapchu?
M: _________________________________ (This is my son/daughter [assume you are a woman speaking].)
A: Siny nyip maapchu?
M: __________________________________ (That woman is my mother.)
A: 'Ich wiich chuuhii?
M: __________________________________ (Her name is Margaret.)
A: Metaat peyii tewaa-a?
M: __________________________________ (No, he is not here.)
A: Maay ewaa?
M: _________________________ (He's at home.)
A: Metaat 'ehan tewaa-a?
M: _________________________ (Yes, he is well.)
A: 'Ehan. Nya'aamh!
M: ____________________________ (Goodbye)
(Answers at bottom of page)
Maach (You): _______________________________ (Hi, I am well, and you?)
A: 'Ehan! 'Aahan ta'waa. 'Ich wiich mechuuhii?
M: _______________________________________ (My name is ___. And you, what is your name?)
A: 'Angeliin wii nyechuuhii. Peyaa maapchu?
M: _________________________________ (This is my son/daughter [assume you are a woman speaking].)
A: Siny nyip maapchu?
M: __________________________________ (That woman is my mother.)
A: 'Ich wiich chuuhii?
M: __________________________________ (Her name is Margaret.)
A: Metaat peyii tewaa-a?
M: __________________________________ (No, he is not here.)
A: Maay ewaa?
M: _________________________ (He's at home.)
A: Metaat 'ehan tewaa-a?
M: _________________________ (Yes, he is well.)
A: 'Ehan. Nya'aamh!
M: ____________________________ (Goodbye)
(Answers at bottom of page)
Ready to Read
You're now ready to read the Conversations from Lessons 1 and 2 in Let's Talk 'Iipay Aa, written by native speaker Ted Couro.
Nesoom! It's over!
You have reached the end of Chapter 1. Now, it's up to you to use these phrases in practice by conversing with other Kumeyaay learners and speakers. Watch Sam Brown's lessons on YouTube for help with pronouncing these phrases. Take the 'Intro to 'Iipay Aa Memrise course for help memorizing these expressions and more. Come back to this page after a few days to refresh your memory.
>>> Proceed to Chapter 2
>>> Proceed to Chapter 2
Practice Answers
'Anheliin: Haawka! Memeyuu temewaa?
Maach (You): Haawka, 'aahan ta'waa, maava?
A: 'Ehan! 'Aahan ta'waa. 'Ich wiich mechuuhii?
M: (Your name) wii nyechuuhii. Maava, 'ich wiich mechuuhii?
A: 'Angeliin wii nyechuuhii. Peyaa maapchu?
M: Peyaa 'ehekwany.
A: Siny nyip maapchu?
M: Siny nyip 'etaly(ches).
A: 'Ich wiich chuuhii?
M: Margaret (or Margariit) wiich chuuhii.
A: Metaat peyii tewaa-a?
M: Umaaw, peyii ewaah umaaw.
A: Maay ewaa?
M: 'Ewaavi ewaa.
A: Metaat 'ehan tewaa-a?
M: Haa, 'ehan tewaa.
A: 'Ehan. Nya'aamh!
M: Nyamaamh keyima!
'Anheliin: Haawka! Memeyuu temewaa?
Maach (You): Haawka, 'aahan ta'waa, maava?
A: 'Ehan! 'Aahan ta'waa. 'Ich wiich mechuuhii?
M: (Your name) wii nyechuuhii. Maava, 'ich wiich mechuuhii?
A: 'Angeliin wii nyechuuhii. Peyaa maapchu?
M: Peyaa 'ehekwany.
A: Siny nyip maapchu?
M: Siny nyip 'etaly(ches).
A: 'Ich wiich chuuhii?
M: Margaret (or Margariit) wiich chuuhii.
A: Metaat peyii tewaa-a?
M: Umaaw, peyii ewaah umaaw.
A: Maay ewaa?
M: 'Ewaavi ewaa.
A: Metaat 'ehan tewaa-a?
M: Haa, 'ehan tewaa.
A: 'Ehan. Nya'aamh!
M: Nyamaamh keyima!