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Compiled byConstantine H^melnitskiFather! ate', ate'waye kiN, my father, my father's brother (niya'te, your ~; atku'ku kiN, his ~; ate'yA, to have as father, ate'waye, he is my ~).
See also phapa', Lakhota parents
A child (mic^hiN'c^a kiN, my ~; nic^hiN'c^a kiN, your ~; uNki'c^hiNc^a kiN, our (mine and my spouse's) child(ren); c^hiNc^a'yA, to have for a child, adopt as a child, c^hiNc^a'wic^hawaye, they are my children).
See also wakhaN'hez^a
Son!, a son, a man's brother's son, a woman's sister's son (c^hiNks^i', mic^hiN'ks^i, my ~; nic^hiN'ks^i, your ~; c^hiNks^i'tku kiN, c^hiNhiN'tku kiN (B&D), his/her son; c^hiNks^i'yA, to have as son, c^hiNks^i'waye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota sons & daughters
A man's elder brother, my elder brother; male cousin from the father's side older than oneself (c^hiye', c^hiye'waye kiN, my ~; nic^hi'ye, your ~; c^hiye'ku kiN (Santee c^hiN'c^u), his ~; c^hiye'yA, to have for a ~, c^hiye'waye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
Daughter!; a daughter; a man's brother's daughter, a woman's sister's daughter (c^huNks^i', mic^huN'ks^i, my ~; nic^huN'ks^i, your ~; c^huNwiN'tku kiN, his/her ~; c^huNks^i'yA, to have as daughter, c^huNks^i'waye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sons & daughters
A woman's elder sister, female cousin from the mother's side older than oneself (c^huwe', c^huwe'waye kiN (Santee c^huNwe', mic^huN'), my ~; nichu'we, your ~; c^huwe'ku kiN (Santee c^huNwe'ku, c^huN'ku), her ~; c^huwe'yA, to have for a ~, c^huwe'yaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
"A man's/woman's elder/younger sister" (Buechel); "his sisters and female cross-cousins, her brothers and male cross-cousins" (Boas&Deloria) ( maha'kata, my ~; niha'kata, your ~; haka'taku kiN, his/her ~; haka'tayA, to have for a sister, haka'tawaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers, thawinoh^tiN
Man's sister-in-law = 1) a sister of: wife / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a wife of: sibling / cousin; (haNkaN', haNka', haNkaN'waye kiN, my ~; nihaN'kaN, nihaN'ka, your ~; haNka'ku kiN, his ~; haNka'yA, to have for a ~, haNka'yaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakhota in-laws
A man's female cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's daughter; (haNkaN's^i, haNkaN's^iwaye kiN, my ~; nihaN'kaNs^i, your ~; haNka's^itku kiN, his ~; haNka's^iyA, to have for a ~, haNka's^iyaye, she is your ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Husband (no address form except wic^ha'h^c^a!, old man!) (mihiN'gna, my ~ (very formal, B&D) also wic^ha's^a mitha'wa; mitha'wic^has^a is used jokingly for "my fellow"); nihiN'gna, your ~; hiNgna'ku kiN, her ~; hiNgna'yAN, to have as husband, hiNgna'waye, he is my~; hiNgna'thuN, to have a husband, be married, hiNgna'wathuN, I am married).
See also thawi'c^u
An ancestor; huNka'ke, an ancestor, an immediate relative (mihuN'kake, my ~; huNka'keyA, to have for an ancestor, huNka'kewaye, he is my ~); HuNka'lowaNpi, a ceremony of Making of Relatives; huNka'yA, to consider & honor as a hunka, huNka'waye, he is my hunka
Brother (mihuN'kawaNz^i, my ~; huNka'waNz^itku, his ~; huNka'waNz^ikic^hiyapi, brotherhood).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
His/her mother. See ina'
Mother!, mother's sister (Also ina' c^ik?ala little mother, ina' ih^a`haN make believe mother, terms for mother's sister.) (ina', ina'waye kiN, my ~; nihuN', your ~; huN'ku kiN, his/her ~; ina'yAN, to call her "mother", have as mother, ina'waye, she is my ~).
See also mama'!
Granddad! See also thuNka's^ila
Friend!, man's friend (mitha'khola, my ~; nitha'khola, your ~; thakho'laku kiN, his ~; khola'yA, to have as ~, khola'waye, he is my ~; khola'kic^hiyapi, friendship, they are friends). Syn. kic^hu'wa (out-fashioned). Woman's female friend is ma's^ke, was^e'.
The word khola is included in the list because it has the form thakho'laku "his friend" with a kinship -ku suffix.
His/her mother-in-law. See uNc^i's^i.
Paternal grandmother (khuNs^i'waye kiN, my ~; nikhuN's^i, your ~; khuNs^i'tku, khuN's^itku kiN, his/her ~; khuNs^i'yA, to have as ~, khuNs^i'waye, she is my ~).
See also uNc^i'
Mother's brother -- blood uncle, my ~. One's father's brother is called ate (leks^i', leks^i'waye kiN, (Yankton, Santee. also mide'ks^i B&D), my~; nile'ks^i, your ~; leks^i'tku kiN, his/her ~; leks^i'yA, to have for an uncle, leks^i'waye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Uncle by marriage -- mother's/father's sister's husband (R&T) (leks^i'layA, to have as ~; leks^i'lawaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Male's brother-in-law. Designates particular companionship. ( mas^e'yA, to have as ~, mas^e'waye, he is my ~).
See also thaNhaN, was^e', khola'
Female friend of a woman. ( mitha'mas^ke, mas^ke'waye kiN, my ~; nitha'mas^ke, your ~; thama's^keku kiN, her ~ (Buechel); mas^ke'yA, to have as ~, mas^ke'waye, she is my ~).
See also was^e', mas^e', khola'
Mom! See also ina'
My little brother! See suNka'
My relatives!. See taku'yA
My wife. See thawi'c^u
The two fathers of husband and wife call each other by this title; and the mothers as well. (oma'wahithuN (mitha'wa), my ~; nitho'mawahithuN, oma'wahithuN nitha'wa, your ~; tho'mawahithuNku kiN, his/her ~). This is a term of direct address, used regardless of sex between the parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents of a person, when speaking of/to his/her spouse's parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents (oma'wahithuNkic^hiyapi, they have each other for oma'wahithuN: oma'wahithuN?uNkic^hiyapi, we have..., oma'wahithuNyec^hiyapi, you have...; oma'wahithuNyAN, to have for ~, oma'wahithuNwaye, he/she is my ~)
Dad! See also ate'
Stepmother. (s^aNkhe'yA, to have as ~, s^aNkhe'waye, she is my ~).
See also thawa'g^aN.
Woman's sister-in-law -- 1) a sister of: husband / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a wife of: sibling / cousin; (c^e'phaN, sc^e'phaN, s^c^e'phaN, j^e'phaN (s)c^e'phaNwaye kiN, my ~; nic^e'phaN, nisc^e'phaN, nis^c^e'phaN, your ~; c^e'phaNku / sc^e'phaNku / s^c^e'phaNku kiN, her ~; (s)c^e'phaNyAN, j^e'phaNyAN, to have as ~, (s)c^e'phaNwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota in-laws
Woman's female cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's daughter ((s)c^e'phaNs^i, (s)c^e'phaNs^iwaye kiN, my ~; ni(s)c^e'phaNs^i, your ~; (s)c^e'phaNs^itku kiN, her ~; (s)c^e'phaNs^iyA, to have as ~, (s)c^e'phaNs^iwaye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's brother-in-law -- 1) a brother of: husband / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a husband of: sibling / cousin; (s^ic^?e', s^ic^?e'waye kiN, my ~; nis^i'c^?e, your ~; s^ic^?e'ku kiN, s^ic^?e'c^u kiN, her ~; s^ic^?e'yA, to have as ~, s^ic^?e'waye, he is my~).
See also Lakhota in-laws
Woman's male cross-cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's son (s^ic^?e's^i, s^ic^?e's^iwaye kiN, my ~; nis^i'c^?es^i, your ~; s^ic^?e's^itku kiN, her ~; s^ic^?e's^iyA, to have as ~, s^ic^?e's^iwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
MisuN'! my younger brother! (man/woman speaking), man's younger cousin from the father's side, woman's younger cousin from the mother's side ( misuN'(kala), my ~; nisuN'ka(la), your ~; suNka'ku kiN, his/her ~; suNka'yA, to have as ~, suNka'waye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
To have somebody for a relation, taku'waye, he/she is my relative; taku'kic^hiyapi, they are relatives, taku'?uNkic^hiyapi, I and you are relatives, taku'yec^hiyapi, you are relatives; taku'ye, a relative, his relative (mita'kuye, my ~, mita'kuye oya's?iN, all are my relatives; nita'kuye, your ~; uNki'takuyepi, our ~), ota'kuye, brotherhood, relations, kinship (ota'kuye tha'wa, his consanguinal/affinal relatives (group term)); thi'takuye, the immediate relatives (mithi'takuye, my ~; nithi'takuye, your ~).
Son-/daughter-in-law (mitha'kos^, my ~; nitha'kos^(ku), your ~; thako's^ku kiN, his/her ~; thako's^yA, to have as ~, thako's^waye, he/she is my ~).
See also Lakhota in-laws
Grandchild (thako'z^a, mitha'koz^a, grandchild!, my ~; nitha'koz^a, your ~; thako'z^akpaku kiN, his/her ~; thako'z^ayA, to have as ~, thako'z^awaye, he/she is my ~)
Stepchild (thawa'g^aNwaye kiN, my ~; nitha'wag^aNku, thawa'g^aNyaye kiN, your ~; thawa'g^aNku kiN, his/her ~; thawa'g^aNyAN, to have for ~). (WEDD:) (Santee) atku'ku / huN'ku / c^hiNhiN'tku / c^hiNye'ku / tha'winoh^tiN thawa'g^aN kiN step- father / mother / son / brother / sister; thawa'g^aNyaN c^hiNc^a' step-child.
See also s^aNkhe'
His wife (mitha'wiN, mitha'wic^u, my wife; nitha'wiN, nitha'wic^u, your wife; thawi'c^u kiN, his ~; thawi'c^uyA, to have as ~, thawi'c^uwaye, she is my ~).
See also hiNgna', the'ya
Sister. See also Lakhota sisters & brothers, haka'ta
Man's brother-in-law -- 1) a brother of: wife / sibling's spouse / cousin's spouse; 2) a husband of: sibling / cousin; (thaNhaN', thaNhaN'waye kiN, my ~; nithaN'haN, your ~; thaNhaN'ku kiN, his ~; thaNhaN'yAN, to have as ~, thaNhaN'waye, he is my ~). The term mas^e' is used if bros-in-law are on very good terms.
See also Lakhota in-laws
Man's male cousin -- blood aunt's/uncle's son (thaNhaN's^i, thaNhaN's^iwaye kiN, my ~; nithaN'haNs^i, your ~; thaNhaN's^itku kiN, his ~, thaNhaN's^iyA, to have as ~, thaNhaN's^iwaye, he is my ~).
See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's younger sister (mithaN'(kala), my ~; nithaN'kala, your ~; thaNka'ku kiN, Santee also thaN'ku, her ~; thaN'kayA, to have as ~, thaNka'waye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
Man's older sister (thaNke', thaNke'waye kiN, mithaN'ke, my ~; nithaN'ke, your ~; thaNke'ku kiN (Santee thaN'ku), his ~; thaNke'yA, to have as ~, thaNke'waye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
Man's younger sister (thaNks^i', mithaN'ks^ila, my ~; nithaN'ks^ila, your ~; thaNks^i'tku kiN, his ~; thaNks^i'yA, to have as ~, thaNks^i'waye, she is my ~).
See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
Cowife, another wife of her husband (the'yakic^hiyapi, they are both wives of one man, they are "teya"s to each other; the'yaku kiN, her teya; the'yayA, to have somebody for a teya, , she is my teya). Cowives call each other sister, cross-cousin, or mother of such and such a child.; the'yawaye kiN, the'yaku mayukhAN, I have her as a cowife is also used.
Woman's elder brother, woman's cousin from the mother's side older than herself (thiblo', thiblo'waye kiN, mithi'blo, my ~; nithi'blo, your ~; thiblo'ku kiN, her ~; thiblo'yA, to have as ~, thiblo'waye, he is my ~). See also Lakhota sisters & brothers
A band/clan of blood relatives. The oldest living ancestor is the head of the thiyoshpaye. His wife, his children, grandchildren etc. with their spouses are the rest members of the clan.
Woman's nephew -- brother's son / husband's sibling's son (thos^ka', thos^ka'waye kiN, mitho's^ka, my ~; nitho's^ka(la), your ~; thos^ka'ku kiN, his ~; thos^ka'yA, to have as ~, thos^ka'waye, he is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Woman's niece -- her brother's daughter / husband's sibling's daughter (thoz^aN', thoz^aN'waye kiN, mitho'z^aN, my ~; nitho'z^aN(la), your ~; thoz^aN'khu kiN, his ~; thoz^a'yA, thoz^aN'yAN, to have as ~, thoz^aN'waye, she is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Grandfather!, (mithuN'kas^ila, thuNka's^ila kiN, my ~; nithuN'kas^ila, your ~; thuNka's^itku kiN, his/her ~; thuNka's^ilayA, to have as ~, thuNka's^ilawaye, he is my ~). See also kaka'
Father-in-law and other men in his generation, who are relatives of the spouse; my ~ (mithuN'kaN(s^i), thuNkaN's^i, thuNka's^i, my ~; nithuN'kaN, nithuN'ka, your ~; thuNkaN'ku kiN, thuNka'ku kiN, his/her ~; thuNkaN'yAN, thuNkaN's^iyA, to have as ~, thuNkaN'waye, thuNkaN's^iwaye, he is my ~). See also Lakhota in-laws
Man's nephew -- sister's son / wife's sibling's son (thuNs^ka', thuNs^ka'waye kiN, (mithuN's^ka), my ~; nithuN's^ka(la), your ~; thuNs^ka'ku kiN, his ~; thuNs^ka'yA, to have as ~, thuNs^ka'waye, he is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Father's sister -- blood aunt, my ~ (mithuN'wiN, my ~; nithuN'wiN, your ~; thuNwiN'c^u thuNwi'c^u kiN, his/her ~; thuNwiN'yAN, thuNwi'c^uyA, to have as ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Aunt by marriage -- father's/mother's brother's wife (thuNwiN'layA, to have as ~, thuNwiNlawaye, she is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Man's niece -- sister's daughter / wife's sibling's daughter (thuNz^aN', thuNz^aN'waye kiN, (mithuN'z^aN), my ~; nithuN'z^aN(la), your ~; thuNz^aN'khu kiN, his ~; thuNz^a'yA, thuNz^aN'yAN, to have as ~, thuNz^aNwaye, she is my ~). See also Lakhota uncles, aunts, etc
Maternal grandmother (uNc^i'yA, to have as maternal grandmother, uNc^i'waye, she is my ~). See also khuNs^i'
Mother-in-law and other women of her generation who are relatives of the spouse; my ~ (uNc^i's^i, uNc^i's^iwaye kiN, my ~; nikhuN'ku, uNc^i's^i nitha'wa, your ~; khuN'ku kiN, his/her ~; uNc^i's^iyA, to have as ~; uNc^i's^iwaye, she is my ~). See also Lakhota in-laws
Child, children. See also c^hiNc^a'
Female friend of a woman; used only for those who are very intimate; often used by cross-cousins (mitha'was^e, my ~; nitha'was^e, your ~; thawa's^etku, her ~; was^e'yA, to have for a friend; was^e'kic^hiyA, to have each other for special friends). Cf. mas^e'.
Old man!, sometimes wives address so their husbands; wic^ha'h^c^ala mitha'wa kiN, my old man. See also winu'h^c^a
My husband; my lover. Mitha'wic^has^a is used jokingly for "my fellow". See also wiN'yaN mitha'wa
A son-in-law, my son-in-law (lit."the man who is staying owing to attraction") (wic^ha'woh^a nitha'wa kiN, your ~; wic^ha'woh^ayA, to have for ~, wic^ha'woh^awaye, I have him for ~).
See also wiwo'h^a kiN, mithakos^
Old woman!, sometimes husbands address so their wives; winu'h^c^ala mitha'wa kiN, my old lady. See also wic^ha'h^c^a
Our daughter-in-law (lit."the woman who is staying owing to attraction"). A woman who lives with her husband's relatives.
See also wic^ha'woh^a kiN, mithakos^
("very formal", B&D) My wife; my lover. "It is customary to say wiN'yaN mitha'wa my wife, not mitha'wiN because the latter points to sexual relations" (B&D). See also wic^ha's^a mitha'wa
Terms of relationship take the possessive pronouns expressing inseparable possession, mi-,ni-, uNki-. In addition take the suffix -ku; after terminal i,and iN, -tku or -c^u for the third person. The first personpossessive is omitted in many terms. On account of the numerous irregularities we give thelist of terms according to their forms.
| Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
| (his) elder brother | c^hiye' | nic^hi'ye | c^hiye'ku (1) | |
| (his) elder sister | thaNke' | nithaN'ke | thaNke'ku | |
| (her) elder sister | c^huwe' | nichu'we | c^huwe'ku | |
| (her) brother's son | thos^ka' | thos^ka', mitho's^ka | nitho's^ka(la) | thos^ka'ku |
| (his) sister's son | thuNs^ka' | thuNs^ka', (mithuN's^ka) | nithuN's^ka(la) | thuNs^ka'ku |
| (his) sister-in-law | haNka' | nihaN'ka | haNka'ku | |
| (her) husband | (wic^ha'h^c^a) | mihiN'gna(2) | nihiN'gna | hiNgna'ku |
| (his) brother-in-law | thaNhaN', mas^e' (3) | thaNhaN' | nithaN'haN | thaNhaN'ku |
| (her) sister-in-law | s^c^ephaN' | s^c^e'phaN | nis^c^e'phaN | s^c^ephaN'ku |
| (her) elder brother | thiblo' | nithi'blo | thiblo'ku | |
| child-in-law | thako's^ | mitha'kos^ | mitha'kos^ku (kiN) | thako's^ku |
| his sisters & female cross-cousins her brothers & male cross-cousins |
| miha'kata | miha'kata | haka'taku(4) |
(1) Santee c^hiN'c^uN.
(2) mihiN'gna is very formal. It is customary to say wiN'yaN mitha'wa, mywife, not mitha'wiN because the latter points to sexual relations; also wic^ha's^amitha'wa my husband. Mitha'wic^has^a is used jokingly for "myfellow".
(3) mas^e' designates particular companionship. Compare was^e'female friend of a woman.
(4) haka'taya he (she) has for his (her) sister (brother) or female (male)cross-cousin.
| Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
| Ending -tku | ||||
| grandfather | thuNkas^ila'(4a) | thuNka's^ila | nithuN'kas^ila(4b) | thuNka's^itku |
| (his) young sister | thaNks^i' | thaNks^i' (mithaN'ks^ila) | nithaN'ks^ila | thaNks^i'tku |
| (her) female cross-cousin | c^ephaNs^i' | c^e'phaNs^i | nic^e'phaNs^i | c^e'phaNs^itku |
| (his) male cross-cousin | thaNhaNs^i' | thaNhaN's^i | nithaN'haNs^i | thaNhaN's^itku |
| (his) female cross-cousin | haNkas^i' | haNka's^i | nihaN'kas^i | haNka's^itku |
| (her) male cross-cousin | s^ic^?es^i' | s^ic^?e's^i | nis^i'c^?es^i | s^ic^?e's^itku |
| mother's brother | leks^i' | leks^i' (5) | nile'ks^i | leks^i'tku |
| Ending -c^u | ||||
| father's sister | thuNwiN' | nithuN'wiN | thuNwiN'c^u | |
| wife | (wiNnu'h^c^a) | (mitha'wiN) (5a) | nitha'wiN | thawi'c^u |
| (his) elder brother | c^hiye' | c^hiN'c^u (6) | ||
| (his) brother-in-law | s^ic^?e' | nis^i'c^?e | s^ic^?e'c^u | |
(4a) Western Oglala children thuNka'la.
(4b) rarely a nasalized.
(5) Yankton and Santee use both deks^i' and mide'ks^i.
(5a) wiN'yaN mitha'wa kiN very formal,
(6) (Santee). Teton c^hiye'ku.
| Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
| father | ?ate' | niya'te | atku'ku | |
| (his/her) younger brother | misuN' | misuN'(kala) | nisuN'kala | suNka'ku |
| father-in-law | thuNkaNs^i'(7) | thuNkaN's^i | nithuN'kaN | thuNkaN'ku |
| son | c^hiNks^ (8) | mic^hiN'ks^i | nic^hiN'ks^i | c^hiNhiN'tku |
| daughter | c^huNks^ (8) | mic^huN'ks^i | nic^huN'ks^i | c^huNwiN'tku |
| mother | ?ina' (9) | nihuN' | huN'ku | |
| grandmother | ?uNc^i', khuN's^i | nikhuN's^i | khuN's^itku | |
| mother-in-law | ?uNc^is^i' | ?uNc^i's^i | nikhuN' | khuN'ku |
| her younger sister | mithaN' | mithaN'(kala) | nithaN'kala | thaNka'ku |
| grandchild | thakoz^a' | thako'z^a | nitha'koz^a | thako'z^akpaku |
| (his) sister's daughter | thuNz^aN' | thuNz^aN', (mithuN'z^aN) | nithuN'z^aN(la) | thuNz^aN'khu |
| her brother's daughter | thoz^aN' | thoz^aN', mitho'z^aN | nitho'z^aN(la) | thoz^aN'khu |
(7) Also thuNka's^i, nithuN'ka, thuNka'ku.
(8) Western Oglala c^hiNks^i' and c^huNks^i'.
(9) Also ina' c^ik?ala little mother, ina' ih^a`haN make believemother, terms for mother's sister.
When the form in address occurs in course of conversation the terms are withoutaccent; when the address is used as a call, the last syllable bears astrong accent.
For the use of the article with terms of relationship, see page 134.
The first person dual and plural is not expressed by means of thepossessive pronoun, but by the verbal expression ?uNyaN` pi kiN the one we havefor:
c^hiye'?uNyaN` pi kiN our (plural) elder brother.
For the first person dual of mitha'kos^ my child-in-law, the phrase
Plurals formed with pi express the plural as related to several individuals.
thoz^aN'khupi kiN the daughter of the brother of several women
thuNka's^itkupi kiN their (of a group of brothers, cousins) grandfather.
When the relatives (here brothers, grandfathers) are also plural an adjective like"all, many, several" must be added. If the possessor is singular the forms with -yato have, are used:
thoz^aN'-wic^ha`waye c^iN those I have for nieces (woman speking)
The same may also be expressed by the possessive form, if a definite or indefinitenumeral is added:
mitho'z^aN ?iyu'ha all my nieces (woman speaking)
or by adding pi to the verb:
mitho'z^aN kiN gli'pi? my nieces have come back; when known to the personaddressed kiN is omitted.
The third person plural possessive:
thakho'lakupi kiN haN'ske? their friend is tall
thakho'lakupi kiN haN'skaskapi? their friends are tall.
The terms with wic^ha (given by Riggs, p.16) are not possessive but refer tothe terms as belonging to human beings: wic^ha'c^iNc^a children of man (not ofanimals), wic^ha'atkuku (not wic^hi'atkuku, Riggs) father of humans, wic^ha'huNkumother of humans.
Here belong also wic^ho'we children of one family, wic^ho'ic^hag^egeneration.
More distant affinal relationship terms, and a few others expressing a close relationbased neither on consanguinity nor affinity take the ending ku and also theprefix tha expressing separable possession.
| Address | 1st person possessive | 2d person possessive | 3d person possessive | |
| parent of my child's spouse | oma'wahithuN | nitho'mawahithuN | tho'mawahithuNku | |
| stepchild | --- | thawa'g^aNwaye c^iN | nitha'wag^aNku, thawa'g^aNwaye c^iN | thawa'g^aNku (1) |
| her cowife | (2) | the'yaku | ||
| consanguinal relative | --- | mithi'takuye | nithi'takuye | thi'takuye |
| consanguinal/affinal relative | mita'kuyepi (4) | mita'kuye | nita'kuye | ota'kuye-thawa (group term) |
| male friend of a man | khola' | mitha'khola | nitha'khola | thakho'kaku |
| female friend of a woman | was^e' (5) | mitha'was^e | nitha'was^e | thawa's^etku |
| master (of a pet animal or guardian spirit) | --- | thi'h^iNyetku (5) | ||
(1) Santee nuNka's, nuNka'sku, obsolete in Riggs' time. thawa'g^aN-wayec^iN, the one whom I have as a stepchild.
(2) Cowives call each other sister, cross-cousin, or mother of such and such a child; the'yawayec^iN the one whom I have as a cowife; the'yaku mayu'khaN (her) cowifeexists for me, i.e., I have her as a cowife is also used.
(3) from thi' household and taku'ye, relative.
(4) This term is included here although it lack the prefux tha because thetheme is identical with the preceeding. The address is always plural.
(5) Used only for those who are very intimate; often used by cross-cousins. Compare
The term kic^hu'wa, comrade, from khuwa', to pursue, s going out ofuse. Riggs (p.15) gives the possessive form thaki'c^huwa.
...Terms of relationship in first and second person possessive have generally noarticle.
All the Dakota terms embrace more than one individual. Those distantly related,particularly when personally unknown, are given the article in the first personpossessive.
?ate' gli' my father came home
?ate' kiN gli' one whom I call father because he married one whom I callmother (except my own father) came home
For consanguineal relative the article is not used. Therefore the last example couldnot be used for father's brothers. When my father is not known to the persons addressed Imight say wic^ha's^a waN ?ate'waye c^iN a certain man the one whom I have formy father.
The only exception is mic^hiN'c^a kiN my children.
For affinal relatives the article is used particularly when they are not known ornot well known to the persons addressed. For mihiN'gna and mitha'wic^u myhusband, my wife, both forms are used
nitha'wic^u kic^hi' ?u' or nitha'wic^u kiN kic^hi' ?u' comewith your wife!
The expression nis^c^e'phaN kic^hi' ?u' come with your sister-in-law, wouldmean that the sister-in-law is a well-known, long-established member of the family; nis^c^e'phaNkiN kic^hi' ?u' would mean that she is the youngest sister-in-law, or quiterecently married and not yet well known.
The example mihiN'gna kiN le'c^hiya mni-?a'glagla yaNka'he? my husband issitting there by the water implies that the people addressed have never seen him.
In the third person possessive the article is generally used:
?atku'ku kiN heya' his father said
thi'takuye naN huNka'ke kiN ?e'pi her near relatives and her parents theywere
When the third person possessive is not followed by an article it is to be conceived asa verbal expression.
huN'ku hi'pi it is a parents-coming
?atku'ku gli'-uNspe`s^ni he does not know (how to act on) father-returning
c^hiye'ku gli'pi tkha's^ waN'c^ak ?owi'c^hakiyake? but on his brother'sreturn at once he told them.
For this reason the article is often omitted when the term of relationship is object ofan active verb.
huN'ku ?oki'le or contracted huNk-?o'kile he looks for hismother
huN'ku kiN oki'le his mother looks for him, or: he looks for his mother and notfor anybody else
c^huwe'ku ?uN's^ikila she loves her elder sister
However we find also:
c^hiye'ku kiN ?e'l ?e'thowic^haks^u? his brothers he piled up ther
leks^i'tku kiN thiwo'ks^aN wic^ha'uNpa he had laid his uncled around in thetipi
thuNka's^itkula kiN matho' thawi'c^u kiN ?ekta' yes^i' he ordered hisgrandfather to go to the bear's wife.
The use of the indefinite specific article waN 'a (certain)' with possessedkin terms versus a Stripped Noun [noun without any article, C.H^.] allows for animportant semantic contrast. In (127a), the implication is that he killed one of hiswives; this is to be compared to (127b), in which there is no such implication. Likewise,(128), with waN, implies that the speaker had other wifes.
(127a) thawi'c^u waN kikte' he killed [one of ] his wife
(127b) thawi'c^u kikte' he killed his wife
(128) wiN'yaN waN maki't?e a woman of mine died.
The word without prefix/suffix usu. means "my": ate' kiN (my father). The whole construction may usually consist of the following elements (note that in brackets are optional elements):
| [Whose?] | Who? | [his/her] | [of many] | [Article] | [Demonstrative] |
| Mary mi- "my" ni- "your" | thiblo' "younger sis" | -ku | pi | kiN "the" waN "a, some" waNz^i' "a, any" (k?)eya' "several" etaN' "any" | le' "this" lena' "these" he' "that" hena' "those" |
Note that the word pi (called "plural enclitic") in e.g atku'kupi kiN "their father" is used to denote the one father of manypeople, not fathers of one man. The plurality of fathers is shownusually on the verb: Niya'te the-ni'-h^ila pi. "Your fathers love you(your-father love-you plur.)". You can also use the forms of -yA verbs, seethe full set of terms using either possessive affixes or -yA verbs (iyu'hameans 'all'):
These are formed by the addition of the suffix -yA to the kinship term: ate+ yA = ateyA, etc. The meaning of these verbs is: "to have somebodyas one's relative", "to have one for...", for example ate'waye = ate+wa+ye= "father-I him-have.for", "he is my father". Followed with an article(kiN, waN, waNz^i') the whole construction is regarded a noun: ate'wayekiN "my father"; ate'waya waN "one of my fathers"; (youremember that Lakhotas may have numerous fathers and mothers?!).
Note 1. -ya changes to -yaN after nasal vowels /aN/, /iN/,/uN/, and after pronominal affixes -ma- "me", -ni-"you", and -uN- (we/us). E.g. Ina'yaN pi. She is theirmother. Ina'yaya pi. She is your(pl.) mother. Ina'mayaN pi. I amtheir mother / They have me for a mother.
Note 2. Uppercase A in -yA, -yAN means that the sound /a/or /aN/ changes to:
1. /iN/ before ktA, na, and na?iNs^: HiNgna'wayiNkte. "He will be my husband.";
2. /e/ in many positions, the most important of them are: before kiNarticle (ina'waye kiN "my mother"), at the end of a sentence (c^hiNks^i'c^hiye."You're my son."), and before 'yelo': Ate'yaye yelo."He's your father (man speaking)."
Note 3. In informal style of speech (ikc^e'ya wo'glakapi), some /w/,/y/, /?/, and /h/ are dropped. So Ina'yaye yelo'(She's your mother.) would turn into ina'aeelo'.
Just for case, I've put below the full paradigm of the verbs -yA (to havesomebody as (one's father, for example)):
| \ | MY | OUR | YOUR | YOUR(pl.) | HIS/HER | THEIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I AM | --- | -c^hiyA | -c^hiyapi | -wayA | -wic^hawayA | |
| I&YOU ARE | --- | -uNyAN | -wic^huNyAN | |||
| WE ARE | -uNniyAN | -uNniyaNpi | -uNyaNpi | -wic^huNyaNpi | ||
| YOU ARE | -mayayA | -uNyayapi | --- | -yayA | -wic^hayayA | |
| YOU(pl.)ARE | -mayayapi | -yayapi | -wic^hayayapi | |||
| HE/SHE IS | -mayAN | -uNyaNpi | -niyaN | -niyaNpi | -yA | -wic^hayA |
| THEY ARE | -mayaNpi | -niyaNpi | -yapi | -wic^hayapi | ||
In Lakhota society more people than in English one call each other "brother", "sister", "father", "mother", "son", and "daughter". This results from the fact that the brothers call each other's children sons and daughters, and the sisters also share their kids.
Let's fancy...Ten brothers love ten sisters from another clan. They get married and form ten families. Eventually each pair have got five sons and five daughters, giving 5x10=50 boys and 50 girls in total. Now look: Each man of the 10 brothers has 50 sons and 50 daughters. Each woman of the 10 sisters also has 100 kids in all. Each boy has 49 brothers, 50 sisters, 10 fathers, and 10 mothers. Each girl likewise has 50 brothers, 49 sisters, and 20 parents. This is Lakhota extended family!
Another example. My mother has a sister and a brother. My father also has one sister and one brother. How should I call mom's/pop's sisters, brothers with their spouses and children? How do my relatives and my spouse address each other? Let's look at the table.
I. How do I call my parents, uncles and aunts? | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mother's brother's wife | Mother's brother | Mother's sister's husband | Mother's sister | Mom | Dad | Father's brother | Father's brother's wife | Father's sister | Father's sister's husband |
| thuNwiN'la | leks^i' | leks^i'la | ina' | ate' | thuNwi'la | thuNwiN' | leks^i'la | ||
II. How do I call my brothers, sisters, and cousins? (1. I'm a man; 2. I'm a woman) | |||||||||
| Mother's brother's | Mother's sister's | Mom+Dad's | Father's brother's | Father's sister's | |||||
| son | daughter | sons & daughters | son | daughter | |||||
| 1.thaNhaN's^i 2.s^ic^?e's^i | 1.haNkaN's^i 2.sc^e'phaNs^i | These are my sisters and brothers | 1.thaNhaN's^i 2.s^ic^?e's^i | 1.haNkaN's^i 2.sc^e'phaNs^i | |||||
III. How do my parents, uncles, and aunts call me? (1. I'm a man; 2. I'm a woman) | |||||||||
| Mother's brother's wife | Mother's brother | Mother's sister's husband | Mother's sister | Mom | Dad | Father's brother | Father's brother's wife | Father's sister | Father's sister's husband |
| 1.thos^ka' 2.thoz^aN' | 1. thuNs^ka' 2. thuNz^aN' | 1. c^hiNks^i', "son" 2. c^huNks^i', "daughter" | 1. thos^ka' 2. thoz^aN' | 1.thuNs^ka' 2.thuNz^aN' | |||||
In Lakhota extended family you may have more than one father (ate') and more than one mother (ina'). My father is not only my biological father, but also all his "brothers"). Likewise, my mother is my biological mom plus any of her "Lakhota sisters").
In Lakhota extended family not only all the sons of my father are my brothers, but also the sons of persons whom my father calls "brother" and which are my "fathers"). Therefore many English-style cousins become my brothers in Lakhota extended family. Likewise, my sisters are those who are daughters of my mothers and also the daughters of all her "sisters" which are my "mothers". As a result, it's very hard to become an orphan among Lakhotas, as everybody typically has more than one father and more than one mother.
Other peculiarities: special terms for older and younger sister/brother, and different terms used by men and women. See the table below:
| / | Male's | Female's |
|---|---|---|
| Older brother | c^hiye' | thiblo' |
| Younger brother | misuN' | |
| Older sister | thaNke' | c^huwe' |
| Younger sister | thaNks^i' | thaNka' |
In Lakhota extended family a man calls c^hiNks^i', "son" not only hia biological sons but all the sons of his"brothers", and for a woman any daughter of her "sisters" is also regarded as her c^huNks^i', "daughter".
In Lakhota extended family terms thuNwiN' "aunt", leks^i' "uncle", and thaNhaN's^i / s^ic^?e's^i / haNkaN's^i / sc^e'phaNs^i "cousin" have narrower meaning as some English-style aunts and uncles are labeled mothers & fathers, and some English-style cousins are called sisters & brothers. Uncles and aunts by marriage are regarded as more distant relatives and possess a diminutive suffix -la (See Table of parents, uncles, and aunts).
The 4 terms of address for cousins are determined by the sex of a cousin and a sex of a person calling him/her:
| / | Male's | Female's |
|---|---|---|
| Son of a mother's brother / father's sister | thaNhaN's^i | s^ic^?e's^i |
| Daughter of a mother's brother / father's sister | haNkaN's^i | sc^e'phaNs^i |
Analogously there are 4 terms of address for nephews and nieces. See also
| / | Male's | Female's |
|---|---|---|
| Nephew | thuNs^ka' | thuNz^aN' |
| Niece | thos^ka' | thoz^aN' |
Traditionally, communication between parents-in-law and childrens-in-law is restricted. Rather, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are expected to maintain a light-hearted, "joking" relationship (D.Rood & A.Taylor, 16:23).
| / | Husband's | Wife's |
|---|---|---|
| Father-in-law | thuNkaN'(s^i) | |
| Mother-in-law | uNc^i's^i | |
| Son-/daughter-in-law | thako's^ | |
| Brother-in-law | thaNhaN' | s^ic^?e' |
| Sister-in-law | haNkaN' | sc^e'phaN |
Memorizing the kinship terms may help the rule that
bro/sis-in-law + -s^i = cousin, and
parent-in-law = grandparent (+ -s^i).
The similarity of some Lakhota terms In-law In-law Lakhota term Similar Lakhota term Father-in-law thuNkaN'(s^i) thuNka's^ila, grandfather Mother-in-law uNc^i's^i uNc^i', granmother Son-/daughter-in-law thako's^ thako'z^a, grandchild Husband's bro-in-law thaNhaN' thaNhaN's^i, male's male cousin Wife's bro-in-law s^ic^?e' s^ic^?e's^i, female's male cousin Husband's sis-in-law haNkaN' haNkaN's^i, male's female cousin Wife's sis-in-law sc^e'phaN sc^e'phaNs^i, female's female cousin
1. Franz Boas, Ella Deloria (1941). "Grammar of Dakota".
2. Rev. Eugene Buechel (1939). "Grammar of Lakota"
3."A Dictionary - Oie Wowapi Wan of Teton Sioux. Lakota-English : English-Lakota.Lakota-Ieska : Ieska-Lakota. (With Consideration given to Yankton and SanteeDialects)". (1970, 1983). Compiled by Rev. Eugene Buechel, S.J. Edited by Rev.Paul Manhart, S.J.
4. John Poage Williamson (1902). "An English-DakotaDictionary".