Let’s test our knowledge of Wášiw Animals – How many can you name on your own?”
Below is a list of Animals and their Wášiw names, test your knowledge by seeing how many your recognize. Once you’ve mastered them all practice them with your family and friends!
The majority of these come from the work of Elders and Teachers at Wášiw Wagáyay Máŋal (the house where Washoe is spoken) and notes from Elder Speaker Roy James.
Birds of Prey
máɁwiɁ Hawk
paťálŋiɁ eagle
dímum Owl
dú∙t Great Horned Owl
ḱáwlak Snowy Owl
Game Birds
gówgow Snow Goose
luḱemhu Bittern
lámɨk goose
šáćil teal duck
madamátdiɁ mountain quail
ťéťɨl valley quail
ćúpum grouse
Ɂáŋaho dove (pigeon)
síyuk sage hen
dílek mallard duck
madá∙ťak mud hen
Other Birds
mémlew Hummingbird
díćem Flicker
ćašu Pinion Jay
hú∙šɨm Vulture/Buzzard
ťá∙ťat Magpie
ɁáɁa Crow
médukćáyćayiɁ Steller’s Jay (commonly reffered to as a blue jay)
šalemótdit Small bird, black-headed, gray body
dedzítdzidiɁ Snow bird
ćidó∙dokhu Robin
láɁlek Swan (grey, has long neck)
ćɨkćɨkhu Pelican
ḱá∙ḱaɁ Stork (heron)
gá∙giɁ small gray bird (similar to snow bird)
wé∙š Sparrow
Fish
Ɂáťabi fish
Ɂímgi big fish (Lahontan Cutthroat Trout)
maťóšawhu Whitefish
bákwanhu Sucker Fish
ɁaɁwaku Black Bass
ḱí∙ḱidi Silver Trout
šuɁwé∙k oysters (clams)
Reptiles
máɁkiɁ rattlesnake
múšgulhu water snake
Ɂawahó∙pi/ɁoɁhó∙pi bull snake
píteliɁ lizard
píteliɁ dasásgiɁ black lizard sp. (literally greasy looking)
ťá∙giltušúšuɁ Tagil dešušu horned toad
Amphibians
gó∙ťaɁ frog
gó∙ťaɁ deyćá∙biɁ bullfrog
gó∙ťaɁ ṕóṕoliɁ tadpole
ḱawánadaɁ/ḱawándadiɁ turtle
Mammals -Predators
tulí∙šiɁ wolf
ťá∙ba grizzly bear
mɨ∙de cinnamon bear/black bear
mó∙gop (type of) fox
géwe coyote
wátdziha fox
hilí∙za mountain lion
dumšé∙gɨl bobcat
Mammals - Domestic
deldélduweɁ Horse (descriptive of the hooves)
gawáyɨɁ Horse (derived from the Spanish word)
bá∙gaɁ cow (derived from the Spanish word)
sú∙kuɁ dog
bú∙Ʒi cat
gúšuɁ pet (blanket term for any animals that is a pet)
Mammals – Game
memdé∙wi deer
háŋamúyweɁi moose
Ɂáyɨs antelope
Ɂó∙gal mountain sheep
Ɂáṕɨl Mášiw mule tail deer, east range
táŋlelťiɁ memdé∙wi pacific deer
máyŋa fawn
mú∙daláɁ doe
péleɁ woodchuck
díteš prairie dog
pélew jackrabbit
ćáliɁ cottontail rabbit
mú∙ḱi mountain rabbit/snowshoe hare
Mammals - Rodents
bá∙sat gray squirrel
bí∙wiɁ tree squirrel
pawáwliɁ California blue squirrel
ɁućuliɁ daŋášuŋ copperhead squirrel (literally reddish)
ɁúćuliɁ chipmunk
ṕáša/ṕóɁlo woodrat
ṕušálaɁ mouse
bá∙muš muskrat
yóšoɁ broad footed mole
délem gopher
Mammals - Other
peɁwéćeliɁ weasel
tuṕíṕiwiɁ skunk, stinking
dáɁŋiš mink
bágumdálŋiɁ bat
séwɨt porcupine
ćímehel/ćímelhel beaver
tulúlu valley chipmunk