Crow Morphology Guide

Nominalizers

Morphemes that change a verb, or other part of speech, into a noun.

ala-

locative, temporal, or manner nominalizing prefix

place where ___ OR time when _______

example word	morphology	gloss
alachiwakáauashe	ala + chiwwakíi(aa) + u + ashí	church
alihkaluusúu	ala + ihká + duushí(ss) + uu	Easter

Sáapii díiluk Jews kooté alasheelúua Akbaatatdía alachiwakáauasheesh kuttáchkaatak duu?

Why do you Jews say that the only place where we should pray to God is at the temple in Jerusalem?'

amma-

locative, temporal, or manner nominalizing prefix

place where ___ OR time when _______

example word	morphology	gloss
ammaailáau	ala + baa + ilíi(aa) + u	meeting hall
ammaáchuulituua	ala + baáchuu + dichí + PL	July

Baaaxuawishé ammaaIuusúua bikkée awuússeeIak.

She put hay inside the animals' feeding trough.

ak-

agent nominalizing prefix

someone who does _____

example word	morphology	gloss
akdisshé	ak + disshé	dancer
akbaalía	ak + baa + día	doctor
akbaachimmé	ak + baa + chimmí	student

Hileen akdisshéesh hinne iisáaksheesh kuássaalakkatak.

These dancers brought this young man out into the middle.

baa-

indefinite nominalizing prefix

something that is/has

example word	morphology	gloss
baachikúa	baa + chikúa	sugar
baaapáale	baa + apáali	plant
baaiihulishoopé	baa + iihulí + shoopá	table

Henry baaté shúakaatuulak dúttak baaihulishoopé áakasseeIak.

Henry got some blue dishes and put them on the table

ii-

instrumental nominalizing prefix

noun that does X

example word	morphology	gloss
iilíak	ii + día	to use
iiíisuua	ii + íis + uu	water bucket
iiwilishpítisshiio	ii + bilishpíta + isshíi + PL	coffee cup

Úuxbishke chíisuua iía kúh iilíailuk.

They would use the hair from the tail of the white-tail deer.

bale-

depossessing prefix

allows an inalienable noun to not be possessed

example word	morphology	gloss
balewaaaxuássee	bale + baa + aaxuá + ssee	clothing
balealawáache	bale + ala + awáachi	chair
baleiichiweé	bale + ii + chiweé	story

Balewaaaxúasseelak baleammaaIuushéIak ammaaiiwalewilaxpáake baannátchiihaak ii dihchiwaailísheassaalah.

Don't worry about clothes, what you will eat, how you will live, don't be upset these things.

Derived Nouns

Prefixes, infixes, or suffixes that when added change the meaning of, but are still related to (derived from), the original word.

-aachí, -aat-

approximative suffix

sort of, like

example word	morphology	gloss
buluhpaaché	buluhpá + aachi	pear
shíipaache	shíipa + aachi	banana
iikóosaache	iikóoshi + aachí	trumpet

Basáam hilaá iisáaksaatdeem awan dúxxiilaaum héeleen déek.

One autumn when he was still a young man, they were going on a war party on foot; he went with them.

-lichí, -lit (plural)

approximative suffix

rather like, kind of, sort of

example word	morphology	gloss
akilíiliche	ak + ilíi + lichi	radio
sheeliché	shée + lichí	to faint
ahpéetaaliche	ahpée + taa + lichi	headstall
iiwaanníalituua	iiwaannía + lichi + PL	festival

Cheéte bishkachichéelituuk.

Wolves sort of resemble dogs.

-kaáshi

augmentative suffix

really; to a great extent

example word	morphology	gloss
úuxkaashe	úuxa + kaáshi	antelope
iichíilikaashe	iichíili + kaáshi	elk
xakúpkaashe	xakúpa + kaáshi	canyon

Kalakoon kan úuxalak iichíilikaashilak ko dappeém isdúkuua ahúk.

Then he killed deer and elk; they had a lot of meat.

-káata

derivational suffix

little; diminutive; dear; mere

example word	morphology	gloss
shikáakkaate	shikáaka + káata	little boy
chilíakaate	chilía + káata	cool
dakáakshuakaate	dakáaka + shúa + káata	bluebird

Shikáakkaatam bitáalasshia alítchian iikusták.

The little boy came out from behind the lodge screen.

-kísshi

derivational suffix

in a casual or carefree manner

example word	morphology	gloss
baawuushkísshe	baa + duushí + kísshi	feast
ítchikisshi	ítchi + kísshi	pretty
ashkísshilissuua	ashí + kísshi + disshí + PL	sundance

Aashúua aalalóolak bahkuleekísshiwik.

If you bring his head, I will be happy to have it.

-kísshi

derivational suffix

imitative

example word	morphology	gloss
áapiikisshe	áapa + ií + kisshi	necktie
baaapáalikisshe	baa + apáali + kisshi	flower
bíakisshe	bía + kísshi	girl doll

Éehk baaapáalikisshe ítchikisshik.

That flower is pretty.

-táa(hi)li

derivational suffix

real, genuine; completely, totally

example word	morphology	gloss
ashtáahile	ashí + táahili	tipi
baleikkúhpataahile	bale + ikkúhpa + táahili	warbonnet
koottáahile	kootá + táahili	correct, true

IkkuhpataaleIak iskakéeIak áakeen dúushiim.

He laid his warbonnet and coup stick on top of it.

-aahi

distributive suffix

here and there; different places, in

example word	morphology	gloss
xalaxálaahe	redupl. of xalaaá + aahi	rain, large drops, rain a little here and there
sáasaaheeta	sáashii + aahi + eeta	sparkling, glittering
shuusshúaahe	shúa (reduplicated) + aahi	to be black and blue

Alíianneetaa baaléem iílaaleewisaahim awákaak

Going along the road I saw some cars here and there.

-htaa, -ht

coordinating suffix

even though, even if,

example word	morphology	gloss
hehtáa	he + htáa	but
kootáhtaa	kootá + htaa	in other words
íkuxxaattaa	íkuxxa + aachí + htaa	at the same time

Daxpitcheehísshish baaisáakaashissaa koolassáak hehtaa alakoolássee kúh baatcháachik.

Red Bear died while he was still a relatively young man, but the way he died was quite unusual.

Derived Verbs

Prefixes, infixes, or suffixes that when added change the meaning of, but are still related to (derived from), the original word.

i-

stativizer

to be X, creates a state of being

example word	morphology	gloss
ílashi	i + dáashi	be named
ílichi	i + dichí	be hit

Uuwat-isaa huuash Iisaxpúatahcheaashe ii ílashik.

The Big Horn River got its name because of Big Metal.

aa-

portative

makes a motion verb transitive

example word	morphology	gloss
aawasáa	aa + basáa	run a horse in a race, exercise a horse
aaláakua	aa + dáakua	take home
aalasshipí	aa + dasshipí	exaggerate, go too far

Hinne sáakeesh koom "hileen baaisáakaashe sáaphiluulak aalasshipúuk hée?" haak.

It was this frog, "What are these great big ones doing, they're going too far," he said.

-áhi, áh

punctual aspective

adds immediacy or emphasis to a verb

example word	morphology	gloss
dashkaáhi	dáshku + áhi	knock out (a tooth)
kooxaáhi	kooxií + áhi	move up (slightly)
aweekoáhi	awá + ko + áhi	lower (adverb)

Aa ooppíik bileelissaáhah.

That one [lodge] is smoking, don't go in.

-ee

punctual aspective

adds immediacy or emphasis to a verb

example word	morphology	gloss
bileennée	biléeli + ee	enter
duttée	dútchi + ee	take
pummée	pummí + ee	short
xappée	xapí + ee	lie down

Jeffreysh isbaaxía ko pumméek.

Jeffrey's aunt is shorter.

-oo

punctual aspective

adds immediacy or emphasis to a verb

example word	morphology	gloss
bakóo	bakú + oo	give me
awelakóo	awela + ko + óo	outside area

Bíam ashím awelakóo koolíilak.

A woman was just outside the lodge.

-shta

augmentative suffix

very

example word	morphology	gloss
chiichíashta	chiichía + shta	very light blue
hawátashta	hawáta + shta	important one
heetáshta	héeta + shta	better

Marysh íilaaleem íaschileesh ítchishtak.

The car Mary bought runs very well.

-hili, -hil

augmentative suffix

really; extremely

example word	morphology	gloss
xusshíhili	xussí + hili	very fast
ilápitchihili	ilápitchi + hili	a very good shot

Xusshíhilak ilápitchihilak baaannía xaxúa baatcháachik.

He was a very swift runner and an excellent shot; everything he did was outstanding.

-káata

derivational suffix

color (genuine, exactly that color) time (exactly that time)

example word	morphology	gloss
bimmaáhchiikaata	bimmaáhchi + kaata	green
shipítkaata	shipíta + kaata	black
chíakaata	chía + kaata	white

Basbáasho bimmaáhchiikaataIak shipítkaatalak chíakaatalak koóuk.

My feathers are green, black, and white.

-aachí, -aat-

derivational suffix

sort of, like

example word	morphology	gloss
kuhkaachí	kuhká + aachí	reach as far as
íkuxxaachi	íkuxxa + aachi	each, individually
baleelaasittaachi	balee-Iaas-itt-aachi	to feel pretty good

Kalakoon isshiiá alakúkaahuuleettaa apáalak iláshpe kuhkaachík.

Then suddenly his hair grew; it reached as far as his shoulders.

-ttata

derivational suffix

cover with

example word	morphology	gloss
íilittata	íili + ttata-k	covered with blood
áachiiwilittata	áachiiwili + ttata	covered with milk
shipíattata	shipía + ttata	covered with mud

-eeta

derivational suffix

resembles

example word	morphology	gloss
áhteeta	áhta + eeta	appears to be near
eénneeteeta	eelá + deeta + eeta	flat stomach
sáasaaheeta	sáashii + aahi + eeta	sparkling

Kalíhchiia sáasaaheetam awákaak.

I can see the lightning flashing.

-ta

approximative suffix

appear to, seems to

example word	morphology	gloss
ilísshita	ilísshi + ta	wild
iháata	iháa + ta	appear different, change
asíita	asíi + ta	be famous

Apsáalookisawuua kaliakaatáak iísko ammilaxpáakuuash kúh kaliháatam.

Now the Crows' land was smaller and the old way of living had changed.

-ta

distributive plural

applies to each member of a class referenced by the noun

example word	morphology	gloss
Ashshitchíte	ashí + shitchí + ta	Big Lodge Clan
iilúaihaate	iilúa + iháa + ta	Appaloosa horse
Isáate	isáa + ta	Winnebago tribe

áxpa-

comitative verb

be with, accompany, add to

example word	morphology	gloss
áxpiichiwee	áxpa + ii + chiweé	talk to each other
áxpihche	áxpa + hche	add to
axpákaawe	axpí + akaawá	sixteen

Isbáalee axpáwakaawam iichíilataalak déelaa isbáalee axpíluupahpim kan dáakshe diták.

When he was sixteen he stole horses; then when he was eighteen he counted coup.

-bishí, -wishi, -mishi

impersonal verb

to exit, to have

example word	morphology	gloss
baaxawuatámmishe	baa + xawuá + taláa + bishi	frybread
hutbishí	huchí + bishí	windy
daásbishi	daáse + bishí	good hearted
baaaxuawishé	baa + axúa + bishi	animal

Bilaxpáake ahúm it isashtáaluuwishim ítchik.

There are many people; it is good that they still have teepees

-deetá, -leetá, -neetá

impersonal verb

does not exist; without

example word	morphology	gloss
ahpaáxdeeta	ahpaaxá + deetá	clear sky
iluúleeta	iluú + deeta	weak
akbaahínneete	ak + baa + hilí + deeta	unemployed person

Balapáale ahúk awaasúuleetak íilaaleeleetak bilaxpáakdeetak baláxxiileetak.

There were lots of trees-no houses, no cars, no people, no guns.

-chichée

impersonal verb

seem, resemble

example word	morphology	gloss
bisheetchichée	bisheechí + chichée	rice
ashuhpattachichée	ashí + uhpá + attá + chichée	pyramid
dakáakapkisshichichee	dakáaka + apá + kísshi + chichée	purple

Cheéte bishkachichéelituuk.

Wolves sort of resemble dogs.

Modal Verbs

Auxiliary verbs that incorporate with verb stems to express a necessity or possibility.

-immaachi, -immah, -imma

modal verb

will, would (future)

example word	morphology	gloss
bakkúwimmaachik	bakkú + b + immaachi -k	I will come back
diiwahkuxshíwimmaachik	dii-bah-kuxshi-b-immaachi-k	I will help you
baleeláappeelimmaachik	balee-dappee-d-immaachi-k	you will kill us
hawiimmachiik	hawa + immaachi + k	some will

Áashiisaalitdak bakkúwimmaachik.

I will come back around dawn.

-ii-

modal verb

want to, intend to

example word	morphology	gloss
bákbiik	bá-k(u)-b-ii-k	I intend to give
dalóolii?	da-Ióo-l-ii	will you come?
biiáxpimmiok	bii-axpim-mi-o-k	they intend to compete

Ammaawéesh xaxúa chúussaa baawaatcheeshkáate bákbiik.

I intend to give half of everything I own to the poor.

-bía, wía,

modal verb

want to, be going to

example word	morphology	gloss
kakawíkaawiawaak	kaka + w + íkaa + wia + waa + k	want to see again
sáapdialaawialaa?	saap-dia-laa-wia-laa	what do you want to do?
dachiweewialaalak	da-chíwee-wia-Iaa-lak	you want to tell
dahpiwiom	dahpi-wí-o-m	they want to enter

Balaakbacheekáate kakawíkaawiawaak.

I want to see my son again.

-isshi-

modal verb

need to, ready to

example word	morphology	gloss
baaIéewisshik	baa + lée + w + isshi + k	ready to leave

Hinne awám ítchikaasheesh awíhchiss baaIéewisshissaak.

I am not ready to leave this beautiful land.

-ishdaachi-

modal verb

should, ought to

example word	morphology	gloss
dichíishdaache	dichí + ishdaachi	should hit
ammawuúshbilushdaache	ammaa-wuúsh-b-i-lu-shdaachi	food we should eat
kootiishdaachi	koota-ishdaachi	should like that

Hilíilak annáakshe dichíishdaache koon dúushiik.

He purposely left him in a place where he would count coup'.

-ih, -oh (plural)

modal verb

may, might

example word	morphology	gloss
daachíih	daachí + ih	maybe remains
diiittéeih	dii-itt-ee-ih	you might feel better
awóochiawoh	aw-óochia-w-oh	we might stop

Aaláa hawattan alíaxxowisak ihchalíinneetak daachiih.

Perhaps he is lying wounded and helpless somewhere.

-dee, -bee (1st Person)

modal verb

become

example word	morphology	gloss
ilússhipdeewiak	ilúsship-dee-wia-k	want to become untied
háchkaweewiawaak	háchka-wee-wia-waa-k	I want to become tall
átdeek	at-dee-k	become a member

Hinne bishké kúk ilússhipdeewiak.

This dog wanted to get loose.

-deelee, beewee (1st Person)

modal verb

pretend to (reduplication of dee- {become})

example word	morphology	gloss
ditaátdeeleem	dit + aát + deelee + m	pretend to hit
heelitdeeleek	hee-lit-deelee-k	lie, pretend to say

Alaxchíiaahush iitché aák daákshe ditaátdeeleem.

Plenty Coups pretended to count coup with his cane.

Causatives

A morpheme added to a verb that indicates that an agent, person or thing, causes or allows something to happen. Direct causatives most often combine with stative verbs and the agent directly brings about the effect. Indirect causatives typically combine with active verbs where the agent allows or permits the action to take place.

-ee- (-aa-)

direct causative suffix

directly bring about effect

example word	morphology	gloss
úutchee	úuchi + aa	to dry
héeleelee	héela + la + aa	to live among
koosáhtee	koos + áhta + aa	get near
óosshee	óoshi + aa	to cook
dáakee	dáaka + aa	adopt

Hinne bía kúk húulaa istamnée baché ii íishuwak isshiiá ii úutcheek.

As for this woman, she came and washed my feet with her tears, she dried them with her hair.

-hche-, -hkaa- when adding a suffix that begins with -a, -hkuu (plural)

indirect causative suffix

allow, permit

example word	morphology	gloss
baatalíahche	baa + talía + hche CAUS	harvest
bilihpíhche	bilihpí + hche	baptize

Baaawuússiiak baatalíahkaak eekulushíissuuahtaa, hinne bacheé Jesus akbaakawíihile ko sapíhkaak áxbaaluushik

Even though they do sow or reap or lay aside provisions, this man Jesus favors sinners and eats with them

bach/bat-

reciprocal prefix

two parties act upon each other

example word	morphology	gloss
batbakálaa	bach + bakálaa	criss-cross
batbaáliichiwaau	bach + baal + ii + chiweé + PL	telling stories about one another
bacháxpiluua	bach + áxpili + PL	game

Batbaskoochíiwuua kalakoómmaak batbahkuxsák.

Let's stop being enemies, let's help each other.

ku-

reflexive

repeated, returning

example word	morphology	gloss
kuluschí	ku + dúschi	restore
kulushkúa	ku + dúschi	snatch
kulushíi	ku + dúushii	store

Iháahcheche isawusúuliak kuhchée eekulusáak.

They make their dens in different places and store their food here and there.

chi-

reflexive

repeated, returning

example word	morphology	gloss
bilíchiili	bilí + chi + biléeli	go back inside
chichíkaa	chi + íkaa	look over again
chilakaá	chi + dakáa	drive (vehicle)
áhchipaale	áhpaali + chi (infix)	grow again

Mr. Latch hinne chóoseesh áaxxeetaa déelitak chichíkaaIitak dahkúk.

Mr. Latch went around this grey and kept looking it over.

ihchi-, ihk-, ihku-,

reflexive prefix

to cause action to myself, yourself, itself

example word	morphology	gloss
ihkalaaxtá	ihchi + alaaxtá	be surprised
ihkuluxáa	ihchi + dúuxaa	relax
ihchiwaailíshee	ihchi + baalíshee	be upset, anxious

Iichíilaakinneet isshiiá ihchishóocheen dúushiiik.

When he rode horseback he would let his hair down in front of him.

Imperatives

A suffix that forms a command or request

-ah

imperative suffix

create a command from a verb

example word	morphology	gloss
íkaah	íkaa + h	look!
íassiiah	íassee + ah	watch!
diláah	d + iláa + h	speak!

Ottosh baakussikaak "Joe íkaah íilak ihkám xapík” helak.

Otto looked up and said, "Joe, look! That star is falling'"

-aala

plural imperative suffix

create a plural command from a verb

example word	morphology	gloss
bachkuxsáalah	bach-kuxs-aala-h	help each other!
díikukkaalah	d-íikukk-aala-h	listen!
díluualah	d-íluu-ala-h	stand!

Díixaxua diiwaatcháatuuhtaa díishoopuuam diiwuluttúuIak bachkuxsáalah.

All of you are outstanding, but I am picking four of you; help each other!

-kawe + h

polite imperative suffix

create a polite command from a verb

example word	morphology	gloss
huukaweh	huu-kawe-h	(please) come!
diháwikaweh	d + iháwi + kawe + h	(please) sleep!
disshikáweh	disshi + káwe + h	(please) dance

Huukaweh Deaxkaashdaawii.

Three Eagles come here!

-ssaa + h

negative imperative suffix

create a negative command from a verb

example word	morphology	gloss
dappaxíssaah	dappaxi-ssaa-h	do not split!
biléelissaah	biléeli-ssaa-h	do not enter!
díiwissaah	d-íiwi-ssaa-h	do not cry!

Dáasuua ashkawúuan hulé dappaxíssaah.

Don't split bones inside your lodge.

-wa + h

emphatic imperative suffix

create an emphatic command from a verb

example word	morphology	gloss
diháwiwah	d-iháwi-wa-h	sleep!!!
biléeliwah	biléeli-wa-h	enter!!!
isshíiwah	isshii-wa-h	drink!!!
óowah	óo + wa + h	bring it!!!

Óowah sáapdak haawaachiláauIeetam huuk.

Bring it, whatever it is; we’re not afraid of anything.

Negations

Morphemes that express a lack of something, or an opposite meaning when added to a word.

-ssaa

negative suffix

not, no, unable

example word	morphology	gloss
shíassaa	shía + ssaa	not long
inníissaa (aa)	inníi + ssaa	not speak to
koolássaa	koolá + ssaa	absent

Biishíassaaimmaachik.

I won't be long.

-ssuu

negative plural suffix

not, no, unable

example word	morphology	gloss
kussdéehchessuuk	kuss-dée-hche-ssuu-k	forbid to go
óolapissuuk	óolapi-ssuu-k	they did not find
kootássuuk	kootá-ssuu-k	not like that

Ashtáalim shiché alítchialam kussdéehchessuuk.

He forbade them to go to a teepee that was behind the hill.

Adverbials

Morphemes that typically modify words in terms of time, location, or manner.

-(h)aa

temporal and manner adverb

describes time or behavior

example word	morphology	gloss
baappaá	baapí + haa	daytime
ittákkaa	ittáchi + haa	only, just
chichiáxxaa	chichiáxi + haa	circular

Baappaalissúua kuúak isbilaxpáake kussaachisshíihkuuk.

They gave him the Day Dance and had him take it back to his people.

-saa

temporal adverb

toward the time of

example word	morphology	gloss
áhpaasaa	ahpáa + saa	afternoon, towards evening
háaksaa	háaka + saa	finally
áashiisaa	áashii + saa	towards dawn

Áashiisaalitdak bakkúwimmaachik.

I’ll come back around dawn.

-sh

temporal adverb

past

example word	morphology	gloss
baapéesh	baapí + sh	today
shóottaleesh	shóotalee + sh	when (past)
chiláaksheesh	chiláakshee + sh	this morning (past)

Baapéesh baapúxte illápuum iiwaanníom awákaak.

Today I saw two otters playing.

-dak

temporal adverb

future

example word	morphology	gloss
shóohtannak	shóota + dak	when (future)
koottannák	kootta + dak	then (future)
chiláakshilak	chiláakshi + dak	tomorrow

Chiláakshilak baawahchimmiwaaléewiik shóota?

How would it be if I go to school tomorrow?

-ko

temporal adverb

at that time, from that time

example word	morphology	gloss
hilíatko	hilíata + ko	from now on
húuliko	húuli + ko	from yesterday
kusskó	kuss + ko	formerly

-hchee

locative adverb

here and there; different places, in

example word	morphology	gloss
hawahchée	hawá + hchee	here and there
awiháhchee	awá + iháa + hchee	in different places
kuhchéeluushiila	kuhchée-luushii	lay down here and there

Iaxpáalia kuhchéeluushiilak.

He laid his medicines down in different spots, here and there'.

kala-, kam-, kan

temporal adverb

now, already

example word	morphology	gloss
kalashía	kala + shia	long time
kalakoón	kala + koó + n	then
kalatchí	kala + chí	again
kammasáa	kala + basáa	already autumn

Éehk daláakuua baailíshe chía kalashíak kannáakuawahchewook.

That child of yours has been suffering too long; let's send him home now'.

sasá-, sas-

temporal adverb

not long, soon

example word	morphology	gloss
saskáata	sasá + káata	early
sasákaa	sasá + kaa	beforehand

Saskáat báalaaimmachik hée?

Winter is coming soon, isn't it?

-i

habitual suffix

naturally or regularly reoccurring action

example word	morphology	gloss
baaíasseeik	baa + íassee + i +k	regularly watch
saschihpashíik	sas-chihpashí-i-k	gets dark early

Uuxkáashe baaluusúut hawáteet baaíasseeik.

When antelope eat, one of them keeps watch'.

-ilu

habitual suffix (pural)

naturally or regularly reoccurring action

example word	morphology	gloss
itchiiluk	itchi + ilu + k	they are regularly good
kuléewiailuk	kulée + wia+ ilu + k	they habitually chase

Hutbishíshtakaatat báachiia uhpé shiliawatchít biháwuut itchiiluk.

When there is a very little breeze, and the tips of the pine trees make a rustling noise and we fall asleep there, it is good.

-t

temporal, habitual

when, whenever

example word	morphology	gloss
báalaat	báalaa + t	when it is winter...
baaluusúut	baa + duushi + úu + t	when they eat...
bahchiwakíit	bah-chiwakíi-t	when I pray...

Uuxkáashe baaluusúut hawáteet baaíasseeik.

When antelopes eat, one of them keeps watch.

-dahtaa, -daht

adverbial, conditional

probably, even if

example word	morphology	gloss
shóotdaht	shóo + daht	probably, somehow
sáapdahtaa	sáapa + dahtaa	whatever
sapéelahtaa	sapée + dahtaa	anyone, even if

Shóotdaht iichíilitchim akíaschimmishiihmaachik.

Somehow there should be a buyer for a good horse.

-dak, -lak, -nak

temporal, future, hypothetical

when, while

example word	morphology	gloss
biikoonnak	bii + koon + nak	while I am there
kuulák	kuu + lak	when he/she returns

Baaxawuaashé biikoonnak baasúua chichíkaawakuh.

Watch my house for me while at Crow Agency.

-sh

temporal, past, realized

when, after

example word	morphology	gloss
iláaattuuash	ilíi + attuua + sh	after they talked
kusschisshíiash	kuss + chisshíia +sh	after he/she returned

Hinne Jesus Galilee kusschisshíiash kalakoon kalahawassdaawak.

After Jesus returned to Galilee he traveled around.

-m

temporal, simultaneous

when, while

example word	morphology	gloss
baailáaum	baa-iláa-u-m	while they were talking...
híim	híi + m	while he/she arrived...

Baaisáate baailáaum baakáate awéeleetaa iiwaanníok.

While the adults were talking the children were playing outside.

-bassee

temporal

when for the first time

example word	morphology	gloss
íkaawassee	íkaa + bassee	see for the first time

Úuxeesh awákaawassee iluuák daachík.

When I first saw the deer, it was standing still.

Quantifiers

Morphemes that indicate amount or quantity when added to a word.

ii-

ordinal number

example word	morphology	gloss
iilúupe	ii + dúupa	second
iishoopé	ii + shóopa	fourth
iipiishilée	ii + piishilée	following

Baape iishoopé kan baapaaléem kalakoón sapéeolak iláawattuum iikukkúk.

On the fourth day at dawn he heard some people talking.

-tatchée

quantifying suffix

each; every

example word	morphology	gloss
baaptatchée	baapí + tatchée	everyday
óotchiatatchee	óotchia + tatchée	every night
baáhkutatchee	baáhku + tatchée	daily

Baaptatchée dík biialáxpak diihileeták.

As for you, you are with me everyday.

-tatchia

quantifying suffix

each; every

example word	morphology	gloss
bilaxpáaktatchia	bilaxpáaka + tatchía	everyone
Apsáalooktatchia	Apsáalooka + tatchía	all of the Crow

Bahchiwakíit Apsáalooktatchia bahchiwakáawakkaatbaaik.

Whenever I pray I pray for all the Crows'.

Determiners

Morphemes added to nouns that express their reference in context. Examples of these in English these are 'the, a, or an'.

-sh

definite determiner

used when referring to something uniquely identifiable to both speaker and listener

example word	morphology	gloss
úuxeesh	úuxa(ee) + sh	the deer

Kalakoón John úuxeesh oóxpik.

Then John shot the deer.

-m

indefinite specific determiner

used when introducing something uniquely identifiable to both speaker and listener

example word	morphology	gloss
úuxam	úuxa + m	a deer

Húuleesh John úuxam íkaak.

John saw a deer yesterday.

-(ee)m

indefinite nonspecific determiner

used when the existence of something is not yet realized

example word	morphology	gloss
biléem	bilí(ée) + m	some water

Biléem húuhkaah.

Bring me some water.

Positionals

Morphemes added to nouns that show their position, (usually location, path, source, or distribution) in relation to other words in the sentence.

-ssaa-

postposition

to, towards, from

example word	morphology	gloss
kussée	ku + ssaa	to go forward

Hinne bilaxdituuash aliikukkó kussaaliché dáalawe.

He kept going in the direction of the drumming.

-ss(aa)-

postposition

to, towards, from

example word	morphology	gloss
ammuússdee	ammuú + ss + dée	to descend
báakussdee	báaku + ss + dée	to go up (as in flying)
awásspaachile	awá + ss + páachile	to push down, oppress
kussdée	kuss + dée	go to, be destined for

Hinne iisáakshikaateesh awán ashísschisshiik huuk.

This young man went back home on foot, they say.

-taa

postposition

along

example word	morphology	gloss
héeleetaa	héelee + taa	be among
binnáaskeetaa	bilí + dáaskee + taa	along the water's edge

Binnaaskeetaa biisák húuk.

He came crawling along the river bank.

-n

postposition

example word	morphology	gloss
héelapeen	héelapee + n	in the middle
baléeleen	bal(á) + (h)éelee + n	in among the woods

Basahkáale éehk baléeleen issashpítdak baapeék.

Grandmother I killed a rabbit in those woods.

-kaa

postposition

from

example word	morphology	gloss
shóokaa	shóo + kaa	from where
kukaá	ku + kaa	from

Akukaawahchisshíilak diiiíwishdiawaawiik.

When I return from there I will pay you.

-htée

postposition

at (specific location)

example word	morphology	gloss
kuhtée	ku + htée	at (a specific location)
hilihtée	hili + htée	here (specific location)
shóohte	shóo + htée	where (specific location)

Hinne awé alakusskashéesh kuhtée xalaássaak.

In this country that he had moved to there was no rain.

-chiisa

postposition

at (specific location)

example word	morphology	gloss
hilíchiisaa	hilí + chiisaa	on the other hand
ishóotchiisaa	ishóochi + chiisa	in front of
píischiisaa	píishi + chiisaa	after, afterward
akchiisaalée	akú + chiisaa + la + áhi	further

-ko

postposition

at (area or region)

example word	morphology	gloss
annáahkiisko	annáahku + iisá + ko	saddlehorn
ashbáakko	ashí + báaku + ko	upstairs of house
iláhchisko	iláhchisa + ko	to the left
píishko	píish + ko	area behind

-xii

incorporates relational nouns

move in a direction

example word	morphology	gloss
háakxii	háaka + xii	move to the last place

Ihchihaakxiiáhak isbaawatbakálee chiiák kala biipíisshe húuimmachik.

He will deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.

hili-

proximate demonstrative prefix

here

example word	morphology	gloss
hilihtée	hili + htáa	right here
hileen	hili + n	here
hilíko	hili + ko	here, in this area

DaláakkuIak hilihtée daláalak baxúa biiláhkukak.

When you come back, when you arrive here, you will give me back my body.

Declaratives

Suffixes that create a statement from a word.

-k

declarative

declares a word or phrase as statement

example word	morphology	gloss
kuleék	kuleé + k	He/she is holding.
duushík	duushí + k	He/she is eating.
díilik	díili + k	He/she is waking.

Johnnysh búupchesh kuleék.

Johnny is holding the ball.

-sho

indirect evidential declarative

statement based on circumstatial evidence

example word	morphology	gloss
kalashéesho	kala + shée + sho	already died
kuleelitshóo	kuleé + litchi + shó	he/she must have
isítchesho	isítche + sho	he/she must like

Ala bachuukéesh kalashéesho kalahúusseesh shíak.

Well, my younger brother must have died, he has not come back for a long time.

-sht

strong assertion declarative

statement is true beyond a doubt

example word	morphology	gloss
baleelasshipísht	balee + dasshipí + sht	he surpassed us
biiwacheésht	bii + bacheé + sht	of course I am a man
éwahchesht	é + wa + hche + sht	I know for sure

Baaisshíim éwahchesht awákaasht.

I know that he drinks, I saw him.

-wis

weak declarative

probably right, perhaps true

example word	morphology	gloss
ítchiwis	ítchi + wis	it is probably good
kootáwis	kootá + wis	it is probably so

-wik

exclamative declarative

marks an emphatic statement

example word	morphology	gloss
Sasdachíleechicheewík	sas + da + chílee + chicee + wik]	sas + da + chílee + chicee + wik]

Sasdachíleechicheewík.

It seems you have gotten up early!

-hcheilu

reportative declarative

found in traditional narratives or commentary

example word	morphology	gloss
kalammilaxpáakaatuuhcheiluk	kal + am + milaxpáak + aat + uu + hcheilu + k]	kal + am + milaxpáak + aat + uu + hcheilu + k]

Kalammilaxpáakaatuuhcheiluk.

That is how they lived then.

-bah

attitude declarative

obviously

example word	morphology	gloss
baachiweéwookbah	baa + chiweé + woo + k + bah	obviously tell them all
baaawákaleetakbah	baa + aw + ákaa + leeta + bah	I obviously didn't see anything

Baák ákian hawéesee baachiweéwookbah.

Obviously we should go tell the rest of them.