Skip to content
AYA! PEORIA BEGINNER 1 COURSE — ENROLL BY AUG. 17! · · · · · · · · · · ELDERS PEORIA LANGUAGE CLASS: TUES & THURS, 10AM–12PM, PEORIA CRC. IN-PERSON, NO REGISTRATION. 
Search
  • Pronunciation Guides
    • Vowels
    • Consonants
    • Consonant Clusters & Other Sounds
    • Preaspirated Consonants
    • Quick Explanations of the Sounds “ay” & “ke”
  • My Learning PLACE
    • Greetings & Departures
    • Everyday Words
    • Inside the House
    • Animals & Birds
    • Kitchen, drinking & eating items
    • Drinks, Soups And More
    • Animate & Inanimate Concepts
    • Peewaalia Verb Types
    • Verb Type Endings & Usage Aspects
  • Moons
  • Resources
    • Childrens Number Book
    • Go and Find Him Card Game
    • Go and Find Him Coloring Pages
    • Peoria Calendar
    • Peewaalia Memrise course
    • Student Course Information
    • Reclaiming Stories Symposium
  • Contact
  • Pronunciation Guides
    • Vowels
    • Consonants
    • Consonant Clusters & Other Sounds
    • Preaspirated Consonants
    • Quick Explanations of the Sounds “ay” & “ke”
  • My Learning PLACE
    • Greetings & Departures
    • Everyday Words
    • Inside the House
    • Animals & Birds
    • Kitchen, drinking & eating items
    • Drinks, Soups And More
    • Animate & Inanimate Concepts
    • Peewaalia Verb Types
    • Verb Type Endings & Usage Aspects
  • Moons
  • Resources
    • Childrens Number Book
    • Go and Find Him Card Game
    • Go and Find Him Coloring Pages
    • Peoria Calendar
    • Peewaalia Memrise course
    • Student Course Information
    • Reclaiming Stories Symposium
  • Contact

Eekami Waapanki Kaloosiona

Everyday Words

It’s good to have you here exploring and learning the Peoria language. This page is a chance to learn simple words you can use every day. You can begin by replacing a few English words with these short and easy Peoria words. They are quick to learn and do not take much time. Use the audio on this page and the pronunciation guides to help you with the sounds of Peewaaliaataweenki.

On this page, you will find everyday words sorted by type. The main goal is to help you use Peoria words instead of English words in your daily life, but understanding these word types can also deepen your learning. You will be able to see what the words are and how to use them, and you can find more information and examples on other pages. Keep in mind that Peoria has some unique word types (grammatical categories) that do not exist in English, and this page offers just a first glimpse into that part of the language. Make it a habit to use Peoria words every day with your family and friends. Enjoy your learning journey.

Let’s start with a simple word type: the interjection.

Table of Contents

interjection

Peewaalia

English

Audio

aya

hello, hi (general greeting)

iihi

yes

hoci

(used as an attention getter)
(similar to saying Hey! in English)

neewe

thank you

particles

words that cannot be inflected (uninflected words) that add additional information to verbs, nouns, phrases, questions, or sentences

Peewaalia

English

Audio

ci

and

eehi

where (statement use)

eehkwi

while, during, before

eehpiši

ago, time, when
(when: statement use)

neehi

and

moohci

no, not

interrogatives

a word used in a question.
W/H question words.
These will always be at the beginning of the Peoria question.

Peewaalia

English

Audio

aweena

who ( for an animate noun )

aweeniiki

who ( plural, for animate nouns )

keetwi

what, what thing
(what thing, for an inanimate noun & default usage)

keetwiila

what things ( for inanimate nouns )

keetweenci

why

taaniši

how, where to

taanonci

where from, from where

taaninhswi

how many, how much, how far, a quantity of place, objects, time

taanaaha

where about, when
(when: must add words. For question use.)

taanaaha aawiki

when (in the past)

taanaaha kati aawiki

when (in the future)

adverbs

a word which modifies a verb.
Peoria adverbs are most usually preverbal.

Peewaalia

English

Audio

aalime

must, surely, bound to

aapooši

also, again

aašite

in turn
(as in: aašite kiila = your turn)

alaake

yesterday

ayoolhka

more

ceeki

all

eekami

every, each

kaahkiihkwe

day

kiihsakonakahke

in a few days

kiihsinswi

a little (of something)

kiinte

just, also, recently,
‘ Wait!, Hold On/Up! when used as instruction ‘

kinšimi

soon, swiftly

loohki

next, again

laapiši

likewise, also, too

maalami

too much

maawi

the most, the very

mahtami

earlier, first

mayaawi

really, actually, very (used as an intensifier)

meehci

after, finish

meemeekwa

maybe, perhaps

milohta

before, in front(of) {as in location/spatial}

moošaki

always, continuously, all the time

niiyaaha

there about (less specific)

noonki

now

oowaaha

here, located

oowiši

in this direction, this way

peehki

very, moral, good

piici

must be, apparently

šaaye

already, come to pass, goodbye, farewell

šayiipaawe

morning, in the morning

teepi

ability, enough, sufficient,
‘Quit That! when said as an instruction ‘

tikawi

a little, a little bit (for activities & quantities)

tipeewe

good, gladly, pleasing

waapanke

tomorrow

wiihsa

many, much

animate transitive verbs

Peewaalia

English

Audio

eeweemilaani

I am related to you, { my relative }

neewaki

I see him, I see her

neewaahsiiwaki

I don’t see him, I don’t see her

neeyolaani

I see you [singular]

teepaalilaani

I love you [singular]

neeyolakakoki

I see you(plural)

teepaalilakakoki

I love you(plural)

aalimiihtoolakoki

I cook for you(plural)

animate intransitive verbs

Peewaalia

English

Audio

aalankwiaani

I am tired, I am exhausted

eeyiihkwiaani

I am hungry

meehkimwiaani

I am working

meentamaani

I am sick

myaaleelimwiaani

I am sad, I’m distressed

weešihšinaani

I am going to bed, I am lying down

weeyaakiteehiaani

I am happy

weeyaakiteeheeyani

you are happy

instructions

animate intransitive verb instructions

Peewaalia

English

Audio

aapweelo

You come back! You return!

ayaataawi

Let’s Go! (to a place)

maacaataawi

Let’s go/leave/depart! (less specific)

poonilo

You stop!

pyaalo

You come!

wiihsinitaawi

Let’s eat!

inanimate transitive verbs

Peewaalia

English

Audio

eehtwaani

I have it, I put it (for inanimate objects)

eehtooyani

you have it, you put it (for inanimate objects)

inanimate intransitive verbs

Peewaalia

English

Audio

aahsanteeki

it is sunny, the sun shines

aalahkwahki

it is cloudy

kiišikahki

it is such a day, it is such weather

kooniki

there is snow on the ground, it is snowy (on the ground/surface)

peehkonteeki

it is dark, it is night

teepahki

it’s sufficient, it’s enough, it’s good

animate nouns

Peewaalia

English

Audio

Keešihiwia

Creator, God

kiilhswa

sun, moon, month, clock

kiilhsooki

suns, moons, months, clocks

tipehki kiilhswa

moon

waahseekiilhswa

sun

manetwa

snow (the substance)

waahkwa

fish egg

animate dependent nouns

Peewaalia

English

Audio

niihka

Friend! (friend of the same sex) [addressing form]

niihkaana

my friend (friend of the same sex)

inanimate nouns

Peewaalia

English

Audio

ašiihkiwi

Earth, land, soil, dirt

kiišikwi

sky

koteewi

fire

miicioni

food

miihkimooni

work (noun)

miincipi

corn

nipi

water

šooli

money

waawi

egg

inanimate dependent nouns

Peewaalia

English

Audio

niiki

my house

kiiki

your house

demonstratives

terms that convey the notion of ‘this’, ‘these’, ‘that’, or ‘those’

Peewaalia

English

Audio

oonaana

this (animate, in reach)

ooneeki

these (animate, in reach)

iinaana

that (animate, out of reach)

iineeki

those (animate, out of reach)

ooniini

this (inanimate, in reach)

ooneela

these (inanimate, in reach)

iiniini

that (inanimate, out of reach)

iineela

those (inanimate, out of reach)

Practice & Play

Living Your Day in Peoria

Try this short routine at home using the everyday words on this page. You do not need a partner — just yourself, your voice, and your daily life.

Start Your Morning.

When you wake up, say “weeyaakiteehiaani ” — I am happy. Let this be the first Peoria word you speak each day. Then look outside at the sun or moon and greet the sun or moon: “aya kiilhswa .” Start the day in your language.

Use It at the Table.

Before your family sits down to eat, say “wiihsinitaawi ” — let’s eat. When you pour yourself a glass of water, say “nipi .” These small moments add up quickly.

Say What?

Throughout the day, every time you need to ask “what?” — say “keetwi ” instead. The more you reach for this word, the more natural it will become.

Give Thanks.

When someone does something kind for you, say “neewe ” — thank you. Before bed, take a quiet moment to think of the Creator and say “Keešihiwia .” Let gratitude close your day the way happiness opened it.

Express Your Love to Someone Today.

Before your loved one leaves the room, or before you say sleep well, say “teepaalilaani ” — I love you or “teepaalilakakoki ” — I love you(plural). Let your loved ones hear it in Peoria.

Keep coming back to this routine and add a new word each time. Confidence grows one word at a time, and every word you speak matters.

Play the Game

How to Play:
Tap card to flip
Listen to pronunciation
Navigate cards
Card 1
1 / 113

Tap to reveal translation

Peewaalia

Neewe! Well done!

0%

0 of 0 correct

Keep learning — Choose your next Peewaalia lesson

Learn More →

Lesson 4

Animals & Birds

Learn More →

Lesson 7

Animate & Inanimate Concepts

Learn More →

Lesson 6

Drinks, Soups And More

Peewaalia Language and Cultural Revitalization is an initiative of the Peoria Language Program and Cultural Preservation Department of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

Copyright © 2021 – 2026 Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.  All Rights Reserved. |  About Peewaalia |  Privacy Notice | Terms | Copyright Notice |  Website Design by Capulin Creative

All Language content is copyright, Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.