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Mohawk names

Here, you’ll find a list of plant names in Mohawk, complete with translations and phonetic pronunciations provided by Doris King. This resource is an excerpt from the curriculum, New York’s Natural Resources 4-H Wild Edibles: A Guide to Tradition, Safety, and Conservation, designed to help you explore the beauty and diversity of plant life through the lens of the Mohawk language. Whether you’re a language learner, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious, you’ll find valuable insights and practice opportunities to connect with the language and its cultural significance. 

Quick pronunciation guide for vowel sounds in Mohawk
-a- is pronounced like -aw- in Saw (with the -w- sound never being pronounced).
-e- is pronounced like -ay- in Hay (with the -y- sound never being pronounced).
-i- is pronounced like -ea- in Bead.
-o- is pronounced like -ow- in Bow (with the -w- sound never being pronounced).
-en- is pronounced like -un- in Sun but the -n- being half pronounced and nasal.
-on- is pronounced like -oon- in Moon but the -n- being half pronounced and nasal.
- ‘ - is pronounced like -t- in the word Gut.


Quick pronunciation guide for consonant sounds in Mohawk
-h- is pronounced like -h- in Hat (a -h- is always pronounced)
-i- is pronounced like -y- in Yes (in Eastern Mohawk the letter -i- has double duty).
-k- is pronounced like -g- in Get or like -k- in Hike.
-n- is pronounced like -n- in No.
-r- is pronounced like a Japanese -r- (think of the song “Domo Arigato… “) and it can also be pronounced like
-l- in Ball.
-s- is pronounced like -z- in Zone or like -s- in Miss.
-t- is pronounced like -d- in Dog or like -t- in Tone.
-w- is pronounced like -w- in Way.


Quick guide for diacritical marks in Mohawk
Diacritical marks in Mohawk signify where the word is stressed.
Up stress – á/é/í/ó/én/ón (it signifies that the vowel is stressed quickly).
Up stress with colon – á:/é:/í:/ó:/én:/ón: (it signifies that the vowel is stressed and held).
Down stress with colon – à:/è:/ì:/ò:/èn:/òn: (it signifies that the vowel is stressed and held but with a low tone.
Think of how the Italians stress their words, it is similar to that).

Jerusalem Artichoke

Jerusalem Artichoke

Oron’ónhta (ow-roon’-OONh-daw)

Translation – First sun flower

Cattail

Cattail

Onó:ta (ow-nOOw-daw),

Osháhrhe (ow-sAWr-hay),

Osha’kén:ta (ow-saw’-gUUN-daw)
Translation – Swamp/marsh plant

Red Clover

Red Clover

Tionerahtó:ken (jow-nay-rawh-dOOw-gun), Tewahiakwí:rare (day-waw-hyaw-gwEEA-raw-ray)
Translation – the leaves are split, it has toes on it.

Oxeye Daisy

Oxeye Daisy

Ennekerà:ke Watón:nis (un-nay-gay-rAAw-gay waw-dOONN-neas)
Translation – It grows on hay, dried grasses, dried plants

Leeks

Leeks

Kahrhakón:ha O’niónkseri (gawhr-haw-gOONN-haw ow’nyOONk-say-rea)
Translation – Original onion

White Pine

White Pine

Tsonerahtase’kó:wa (dzow-nay-rawh-daw-say’-gOOw-waw), Skaronhiase’kó:wa (sgaw-roonhyaw-
say’-gOOw-waw)

Translations – Great fresh leaf, a great fresh sky

Sheep Sorrel

Sheep sorrel

Okóntshera Onekwénhtare Ní:ioht (ow-koonts-ay-raw ow-nay-gwUNh-day-raw nEEA-yoht)
Translation – plant that is red colored

Burdock

Burdock

Ohrhohte’kó:wa (owr-howh-day’gOOw-waw)
Translation – Ohrhohte’ = bur;

kó:wa = great

Chicory

Chicory

Oròn:ia Niiotitsi’tsò:ten (ow-rOONN-yaw nea-yow-dea-dzea’-dzOOw-dun)
Translation – Its tail is blue

Dandelions

Dandelion

Kahonro’tótha Otsì:tsa (gaw-hoon-row’dOW-taw ow-dzEEA-dzaw)
Translation – A flower that stands up a pipe/tube

Lamb's Quarters

Lamb's Quarter

Teionhnhéhkwen (day-yoon-n-hAYh-gwun)
Translation – Double life

Milkweed

Milkweed

Otshehwén:ta (ow-ts-ayh-wUUn-daw), Kanon’tíneken’s (gaw-noon’-dEA-nay-kun’s)
Translation – Milk comes out, bitter sap

Plantain

Plantain

Atenhnéha (aw-tunh-nAY-haw)

Translation – on the road thing, shiny leaves

Wood Sorrel

Wood Sorrel

Teiohiò:tsist Óhonte (day-yow-hyOOw-dzeas OW-hoon-day)

Translation – Lemon vegetation

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