Learn Oneida
Learn Oneida

The Repetitive Conjugation

In Oneida, a pre-pronominal prefix is used to indicate something "being the case again" and also "not being the case anymore". Below are a number of examples. The prefix that is added is dependent on the letter that it comes before. The rules are:
  • w, h, l, k: the prefix is s
  • y: the prefix is ts
  • some consonant clusters: the prefix is se or tsi
  • t: the prefix is tsi
EnglishTranslation
It is single
It is single again
watatwʌni·yó̲·
swatatwʌni·yó̲·
I am married
I am married again
wakenyákuʔ
swakenyá·kuʔ
He is single
He is single again
latatwʌni·yó̲·
shatatwʌni·yó̲·
He is married (to someone)
He is married (to someone) again
lonyákuʔ
shonyákuʔ
He doesn't know me
He doesn't know me anymore
yáh tehakyʌtelíˍ
yáh teshakyʌtelíˍ
I like it
I like it again
knú·wehse̲
sknú·wehse̲
I do not like you
I do not like you anymore
yáh teʔkunú·wehse̲
yáh teskunú·wehse̲
You like it
You like it again
snú·wehse̲
sehsnú·wehse̲
He loves her/them
He loves her/them again
shakonolúkhwa̲ʔ̲
seshakonolúkhwa̲ʔ̲
I do not like her/them
I do not like her/them anymore
yáh teʔkhenú·wehse̲
yáh tesekhenú·wehse̲
Someone and I are engaged
Someone and I are engaged again
yukninyákheʔ
tsyukninyákheʔ
I am not in a relationship (with someone)
I am not in a relationship (with someone) anymore
yáh teyáknehse̲
yáh tetsyáknehse̲
He loves her/them
He loves her/them again
yesanolúkhwa̲ʔ̲
tsyesanolúkhwa̲ʔ̲
You two are not married
You two are not married anymore
yáh tesninyákuʔ
yáh tetsisninyákuʔ
Are you two single?
Are you two single again?
tsyatatwʌni·yó· kʌ́
tsitsyatatwʌni·yó· kʌ́