by Manidoo | Last Updated: February 17, 2021The Fiero Writing System
Since Ojibwe doesn’t have a written form, the Fiero Writing system was invented. The Fiero Writing system was invented by Jesuits, which uses 19 letters of the Roman/English alphabet. It captures all the proper sounds used in Ojibwe. It does not use the following letters:
F, L, Q, R, U, V, X
Vowels
There are two vowel types in Ojibwe. Short vowels and long vowels.
Short Vowels
- A – Pronounced like “Ah”. Similar sound in the English word, “Cup”. Example Amik (Beaver) is Ah-mik
- O – Pronounced like “Ohh”. Similar sound in the English word, “Woman”. Example Shkode(Fire) is Shh-Kohh-de
- I – Pronounced like “Ih”. Similar sound in the English word, “Pit”. Example Zagime(Mosquito) is Za-gih-meh
Long Vowels
- Aa – Pronounced like “Aw”. Similar sound in the English word, “Saw”. Example Gaazhag(Cat) is Gaw-zhahg
- Oo – Pronounced like “Oa”. Similar sound in the English word, “Boat”. Example Mooz(Moose) is Moaz
- Ii – Pronounced like “Ee”. Similar sound in the English word, “Seed”. Example Makii(Frog) is Mah-kee
- E – Pronounced like “Eh”. Similar sound in the English word, “Wet”. Example Esbun(Racoon) is Ehs-bun
Nasal Sounds
Ojibwe tends to combine vowel sounds with consonants to create a nasal sound. This is often indicated by NH and preceded by a vowel sound. The N is silent
- Aanh – Gekaanh (Old Person)
- Enh -Baagaakwenh (Chicken)
- Iinh – Binoojiinh(Child)
- Oonh -Giigoonh(Fish)
Other nasal examples are shown with vowels, which are nasalized, and proceed NS, NZ, and NZH
- Ns -Makwoons(Little Bear)
- Nz -Kiwenziinh (Old man)
- Nzh – Skanzh (Fingernail or claw)
Glottal Stops
Glottal stops are marked with an apostrophe and typically omitted. Examples include G‘chi(Big or Great).
Double Vowel Song
aa ii oo e a i o
mii iw nake entaagwak (This is how these sound)
aa ii oo e a i o
mii iw nake entaagwak
baa bii boo be ba bi bo
chaa chii choo che cha chi cho
daa dii doo de da di do
gaa gii goo ge ga gi go
jaa jii joo je ja ji jo
kaa kii koo ke ka ki ko
maa mii moo me ma mi mo
naa nii noo ne na ni no
paa pii poo pe pa pi po
saa sii soo se sa si so
shaa shii shoo she sha shi sho
taa tii too te ta ti to
waa wii woo we wa wi wo
yaa yii yoo ye ya yi yo
zaa zii zoo ze za zi zo
zhaa zhii zhoo zhe zha zhi zho
aa ii oo e a i o
mii iw nake entaagwak
aa ii oo e a i o
mii iw nake entaagwak