Michif

Michif is the name of the language originally spoken widely among Métis people all across the Métis homeland. There are different dialects in different areas of the homeland and word usage, spelling etc differ across the homeland.

As is the case with many Aboriginal languages, the number of people who can speak Michif today is small, because the colonization process usually included efforts to stamp out the use of languages other than English and French.

Efforts are now underway, however, to preserve Michif and introduce Métis youth to their heritage language. Below are links to recordings of Ontario Michif speakers stating words and phrases in Michif, English and French; by clicking on the links you can listen to the pronunciation of the indicated words, how they are used in a phrase or sentence, while also learning the spelling from the text. (Please note there is a short delay at the beginning of each recording before the audio begins.)

Christmas Vocabulary in Michif

(Please note there is a short delay at the beginning of each recording before the audio begins. Also, note that this page is only compatible with Internet Explorer.)

Recording One:
Language	Word	Sentence or Phrase
Michif French English	Tamate Tomate Tomato	Mémétre a faitge une soupe tamates. Grand-mére a fait une soupe aux tomates. Grandmother made tomato soup.
Michif French English	Méguouaine Louche Ladle	Mémére menyouaille crii la Méguouaine. Grand-mére m΄nevoie chercher la louche. Grandmother sent me to get the ladle.
Michif French English	Galette Banick Banick	Pépére mange li galette ΄èc du beur. Grand-pére mange le banick avec du beure Grandfather eats the banick with butter.
Michif French English	Katin Poupée Doll	Ma katin é belle. Ma poupé est belle. My doll is pretty.
Michif French English	Tadben (toudbin) Peut-être Maybe	Tadben (toudbin) ch΄t΄aime. Peut-être que je t΄aime. I may like (love) you.
Michif French English	J’mapel Mon nom est My name is	J’mapel Adèle. Mon nom est Adèle. My name is Adèle.
Michif French English	Pi Et And	La rob é blanche pi noewer. La robe est blanche et noire. The dress is white and black.
Michif French English	Mére(momowan) Mére Mother	La mere é parti crii ma soeur. Ma mere est parti cherchée ma soeur. My mother is gone to get my sister.
Michif French English	Squegoon Pantoufle Slipper	Passé moé mii squegoon, j΄ai frette au pies. Apporte moi mes pantoufles, j΄ai froid aux pieds. Bring me my slippers, my feet are cold.

Recording Two:
Language	Word	Sentence or Phrase
Michif French English		Ou΄s΄qui s΄en va? Ou΄qui va? A qu΄elle place vas-t΄il (ou elle)? Ou vas t΄il (ou elle)? Where is he (or she) going?
Michif French English	Inque Juste Just	Donne moé zen inque un peut. Donnez mois-en juste up peut. Give me just a bit of it.
Michif French English	Orniak Orignal Moose	M’en va a chasse d΄orniak. Je vais à al chasse d΄orignal. I am going moose hunting.
Michif French English	Ouananiche Saumon salar Landlock salmon	Ch΄péche et j΄poigne d΄la ouananiiche icitte Je péche et j΄attrape du saumon salar ici I am fishing and catching landlocked salmon.
Michif French English	Vien-t’en Venez Come	Vien-t΄en ake moé à messe a-soir. Venez á l΄église avec moi ce soir. Come to church with me tonight.
Michif French English	Er’gawd Regarde Look	Er’gawd moé c’te portrait la Regarde ce portrait. Look at this picture.
Michif French English	Sh’ai pas Je ne sais pas I do not know	Sh΄ai pas c΄que tsu΄m dit Je ne sais pas ce que tu me dis. I do not know what you are saying.
Michif French English	Dawn cave Dans le sous-sol In the basement	Va t΄en dan cave. Allez dans le sous-sol. Go to the basement.
Michif French English	Ben Beaucoup Much	T΄aime tsu ben ca? Est-ce que sa vous plait beaucoup? Does it please you much?

Recording Three:
Language	Word	Sentence or Phrase
Michif French English	Petack Patates Potatoes	Passé lii petack Passez les patates Passe the potatoes
Michif French English	Pétrave (bette) Betterave Beet	Pass moé lii pétraves. Passez les betteraves. Pass the beets.
Michif French English	Ouaouaron Rana catesbeiana Bull frog	Lii ouaouaron chante “passé-moé-ta-rame. Le rana catesbeiana chante “passez-moi votre rame. A bull frog sings “pass me your paddle.”
Michif French English	Mouille Pleut Raining	Y mouille icitte. Il pleaut ici. It is raining here.
Michif French English	Canter Appuyer Lean	LI΄échelle é canté su΄l mur. L΄échelle (l΄escabeau) est appuyée sur le mur. The ladder is leaning on the wall.
Michif French English	Gruger Mâcher Chew	Ma p΄tite gruge sa suce pace qu’a mal aux quiques (criques). Ma petite mâcher sa sucette parce qu’elle a mail aux dents. My little one is chewing because she has sore teeth.
Michif French English	Qu’ya Qui ne vas pas Wrong	Qu΄est ce qu”ya? Qu΄est ce qui ne vas pas? What is wrong?
Michif French English	Yamass Beaucoup Many	Yamasse du monde. Il y a beaucoup de personnes. There are many people.
Michif French English	Rognon Rein Kidney	Mé rognons font mai. J΄ai mal aux reins. My kidney hurts.
Michif French English	Toutouch Sein Breast	Té toutouchs son gros. Vous avez des gros seins You have big breasts.

Recording Four:
Language	Word	Sentence or Phrase
Michif French English	Yé Il est (ou elle) He is (she is)	Yé parti dewawr. Il (ou elle) est parti dehors. He (she is) is gone outside.
Michif French English	Asteur Ce moment Right now	M΄en va dewawr asteur. Je vais dehors en ce moment. I am going outside right now.
Michif French English	Tan minute Attend une minute Wait a minute	Tan minute j΄men vien. J΄arrive, attendez une minute. Wait a minute, I am coming.
Michif French English	M΄â Je vais I will	M΄â t΄eul dire ta l΄heur. Je vais te le dire plus tard. I will tell you later.
Michif French English	Ousse Où est ce Where is	Ousse qui va? Où est ce qu΄il (elle) va. Where is he (she) going?
Michif French English	Chevreux Chevreuils Deer	J΄veut juste acheter un permis pour lii chevreux. Je veux seulement acheter un permis pour les chevreuils I just want to buy a license for deer.
Michif French English	Skiaw Qui a t΄il What is it	Skiaw Jos? Qui a t΄il Jos? What is it Jos?
Michif French English	Suier Soulier Shoes	Mé suier son sal. Mes souliers sont souillés. My shoes are dirty.
Michif French English	Wayzo Oiseaux Bird	Wayzo yé mowr. L΄oiseaux est mort. The bird is dead.
Michif French English	Maniére Façon Way	Cé pas d΄bonne maniére Ce n΄est pas une bonne façon. This is not a good way.