''Ainu For Beginners'' (Unilang, 2009)

Ainu for Beginners
Kane Kumagai
Translated by Yongdeok Cho (Noir)
Translator’s Notes
This is an English rendition of Kane Kumagai’s Ainu language lessons, based on the lecture texts prepared for the Sapporo TV Radio
Lessons in 2006. While I have not modified any of the example sentences, I had to change and edit various parts of the explan atory
materials in order to make it useful to the English speakers. In terms of the use of the grammatical terms, I have largely followed the
example of Kirsten Refsing’s The Ainu Language: The Morphology and Syntax of the Shizunai Dialect when appropriate.
Lesson 1: Simple Sentences -1
Sentences
ウパシル。
Upas ru.
Snow melts.
アチャポエク。
Acapo ek
Uncle comes.
Pronunciation
Ainu ク is a sound that does not exist in Japanese, it is simply final consonant -k instead of normal Japanese Katakana pronunciation of -
ku. Ainu allows consonant finals while Japanese does not (with the exception of -n) and a set of Katakana extensions have been created to
be used to write Ainu. Although they are now in Unicode, it would require a special font to view the Katakana extension prope rly and
hence I just have used the smaller font size.
Those who are not familiar with the Katakana may just stick to the Roman Ainu. Roman Ainu is fairly phonetic, but note that c (as in
"acapo") is pronounced similar to ch as in English "church". But it will be helpful to learn Katakana as well as although both Roman and
Katakana are used to write Ainu, Katakana is more common.
Japanese loanwords and proper names may remain in Japanese Kanji even in Ainu when it is written in Katakana.
More examples using Ainu Katakana:
チシ Cis To cry
コシネ Kosne To be light
イルシカ Iruska To be angry
アク Ak Younger brother
ホク Hok To buy, purchase
タクネ Takne To be short
Exercises
Exercises: Translate to Ainu
1) Whale rises
2) Rain falls.
Solutions
1)フンペヤン humpe yan
2)ルヤンペアシ ruyanpe as
Vocabulary
アチャポ Acapo Uncle
ウパシ Upas Snow
エク Ek To come
ル Ru To melt. Road.
ヤン Yan To rise
フンペ Humpe Whale
アシ As To fall
ルヤンペ Ruyanpe Rain
Lesson 2: Simple Sentences - 2

Sentences
タントレラアシ。
Tanto rera as.
The wind blows today.
タネメアン。
Tane mean.
Now (it is) cold.
Grammar
The basic word order of Ainu is Subject-Object-Verb, similar to Japanese. Ainu verbs do not conjugate according to the time tense, and
this led to a certain disagreement in the linguistic analysis. While some linguists (Chiri, Shibatani) maintain that the Ainu basic verb form
is best translated as past tense, there are the others (Refsing) who disagree with the idea. In most cases the context is sufficient enough to
determine whether the tense is past or present, and the specific words are added to clarify the time phrase when it is necess ary.
"アシ as" from the last lesson has many meanings. Rain falls, snow falls, wind blows, and in other natural phenomena in general. When it
is used to describe an action of a person, it means "to stand." "アシ as" used in the sentence is translated as "to blow", but in Ainu context
it is permissible to translate it simply as "to do."
Pronunciation
Ainu accents are different from Japanese. Ainu pronounced with Japanese (or any other foreign accent for that matter) would s till be
understood, but it won’t be natural. Ainu stress often falls on the second syllable.
タネ Tane Now
チセ Cise House
シタ Sita Dog
ポロ Poro To be big, large
ヌカル Nukar To see, look at
Exercises
1) Today is cold.
2) Snow falls a lot this year.
Solutions
1) タントメアン tanto mean
2) タントウパシポロ tanto upas poro
Vocabulary
アシ As To blow
タネ Tane Now
タント Tanto Today (tan "this" + to "day")
メアン Mean To be cold
レラ Rera Wind
ウパシ Upas Snow
ポロ Poro To be big, much
タンパ Tanpa This year
Lesson 3: Past
Sentences
ヌマンルヤンペアシ。
Numan ruyanpe as.
Yesterday rain fell.
ウクランカムイフムアシ。
Ukran kamuyhum as.
Last evening thunder stroke.
Grammar
Continuing from lesson 2, Ainu verbs do not change their forms in the past tense. Instead, Ainu simply adds temporal adverbs s uch as
ukran, numan when it is necessary to specify when in the past the event occurred.
Pronunciation
Ainu Katakana ム is not a full syllable like normal Katakana ム (mu), but only as final consonant -m.
イサム Isam Not to exist, to die
コマム Komam Falling leaf
リムセ Rimse Dance, to dance
Depending on the region, words like "numan" may be pronounced as "numan" (accent on the first syllable) but "numan" is more natural
and widespread.
Also in words like ルヤンペ ruyanpe・ウクラン ukran・カムイフム kamuyhum the first syllables are not accented.
Exercises
1) Yesterday the wind was strong.
2) Two days ago snow fell.
Solutions
1) ヌマンレラルイ numan rera ruy
2) ホシカヌマンウパシアシ hoskanuman upas as
Vocabulary
ヌマン Numan Yesterday
レラ Rera Wind
ルイ Ruy To be strong
ウパシ Upas Snow
ホシカヌマン Hoskanuman Two days ago
(rain, snow) falls, (wind) blows, (something)
アシ As
rings/sounds, (something) is heard.
ウクラン Ukran Last evening, last night.
Thunder. (kamuy "bear, god" + hum
カムイフム Kamuyhum
"sound")
ルヤンペ Ruyanpe Rain. (apt in some dialects)
Lesson 4: Objects
Sentences
ヘカチイタンキエヤプキリ。
Hekaci itaki eyapkir.
Boy throws a dish.
ウナルペスマオテルケ。
Unarpe suma oterke.
Aunt steps on a stone.
Grammar
Basic Ainu word order is Subject + Object + Verb. Unlike Japanese, Ainu does not use the case particles to mark the subject or the objec t
of the sentence. (But it uses particles for other things.) "The dog bites the man" and "the man bites the dog" differ in the word order in
English, and it is also the case in Ainu.
Notes on Pronunciation
Small プ is pronounced as -p. (Unlike full Katakana プ, pu)
チェプ Cep Fish
チカプ Cikap Bird
シネプ Sinep One
Small リ is pronounced as -ri but much softer than usual Japanese ri. One may drop -i sound as well.
ピリカ Pirka Good, beautiful
チキリ Cikir Foot
キキリ Kikir Worm
Small ル is pronounced as –r as well.
ケル Ker Shoe
エトル Etor Nasal mucus
テルケ Terke Jump
This is largely a spelling convention, and one may see リ, ラ, ロ, レ and ル used interchangeably. Kar "to make" may be either カル or
カラ, ermun "mouse" エルムン or エレムン, and korkoni "butterbur" コルコニ or コロコニ. How one may choose to spell something is
largely the choice of the writer. Roman Ainu remains the same.
Exercises
1) Uncle buys drink.
2) Dog eats bone.
Solutions
1) アチャポトノトホク acapo tonoto hok.
2) シタポネエ sita pone e
Vocabulary
トノト Tonoto Alcoholic drink
アチャポ Acapo Uncle, middle-aged man
ポネ Pone Bone
シタ Sita Dog
エ E To eat
イタンキ Itanki Dish
ウナルペ Unarpe Aunt, middle-aged woman
エヤプキリ Eyapkir To throw
オテルケ Oterke To step on
スマ Suma Stone
ヘカチ Hekaci Boy
Lesson 5: "My.." - 1
Sentences
クパケアルカ。
Ku=pake arka.
My head hurts. (I have a headache.)
クチキリタンネ。
Ku=cikir Tanne.
My leg is long.
Grammar
There are two ways of saying possession in Ainu, and we introduce the first one in this lesson. It depends on whether the item is
considered to be inalienable from the possessor (such as body parts) or alienable (most other things). The inalienable posses sions are
expressed by using the pronominal prefixes, first of which is ku. Ku is the first person singular pronominal prefix.
クナヌ Ku=namu My face
クエトゥ Ku=etu My nose
クテケ Ku=teke My hand
クホニ Ku=honi My stomach
Pronunciation
アルカ arka, "to hurt" may be pronounced and written as アラカ araka as well. And note that クチキリ ku=cikir is pronounced as one
word, don't break between ku and cikiri. The use of equal sign (=) in Roman Ainu is to make the morphology more easily understood, and
some writers do not use this sign at all.
And pay attention to the accent. The stress falls on the second syllable.
クパケ ku=pake
クテケ ku=teke
Exercises
1) My leg hurts.
2) My stomach is full.
Solutions
1) クチキリアルカ ku=cikir arka
2) クホニシク ku=honi sik
Vocabulary
ク Ku= I, my
アルカ Arka Hurt
チキリ Cikir Leg
ホニ Honi Stomach
シク Sik Full
タンネ Tanne Long
パケ Pake Head
End Of Part One
This is the end of part one. You can continue with part II of this course.
Continue to part II
Ainu for Beginners - Part 2
Lesson 6: "My.." (2)
Sentences
クコルマキリエエン。
Ku=kor makiri een.
My knife is sharp.
クコルウナルペイルシカ。
Ku=kor unarpe iruska.
My aunt is angry.
Grammar
Ku= is a first person pronominal prefix attached before the verb –kor, which means "to have, to bear something." The phrase "ku=kor ..."
literally translates as "... that which I have", which translates again as "my..." This is another way of saying possession in Ainu for
alienable possessions. As it is explained in the last lesson, the direct attachment ku= is used to express inalienable possessions such as the
body parts, as in "ku=pake", "my head." "Ku=kor pake" would not be an idiomatic Ainu usage.
Most family members and relatives are considered to be alienable:
クコルエカシ ku=kor ekasi My grandfather
クコルフチ ku=kor huci My grandmother
クコルアチャ ku=kor aca My father
クコルハポ ku=kor hapo My mother
クコルアチャポ ku=kor acapo My uncle
クコルウナルペ ku=kor unarpe My aunt
But "my father" and "my mother" can also be said as "ku=aca" and "ku=hapo" as well.
Pronunciation
The word エエン een, "sharp" is not pronounced as a "long" E. Two e are pronounced separately, with the accent on the second syllable.
エエン een
Exercises
1) My horse is big.
2) My father came.
Solutions
1) クコルウンマポロ Ku=kor umma poro.
2) クコルアチャエク Ku=kor aca ek.
Vocabulary
ウンマ Umma Horse
クコル Ku=kor My
ポロ Poro Big
エク Ek To come
アチャ Aca Father
イルシカ Iruska Angry
ウナルペ Unarpe Aunt
エエン Een Sharp
マキリ Makiri Knife
Lesson 7: "I do.." (1)

Sentences
クシノツ。
Ku=sinot.
I play. (as in having fun, not sports or music.)
ボロンノクアプカシ。
Poronno ku=apkas.
I walk a lot.
Grammar
Pronominal affixes must be marked in Ainu in all times, unlike Japanese and other languages where the personal pronoun may be omitted
in contexts. The same pronominal prefix discussed in previous two lessons, "ku" is attached before the main verb when the subject is first
person singular.
The adverbs like "poronno" and the words that mark the time phrase (today, yesterday, etc) are placed before th e verb.
Pronunciation
Pay attention to the small ッ tsu. Although this exists in the standard Katakana set, it is still hard for most Japanese to pronounce as
Japanese phonotactics does not allow small tsu to appear at the end of the word. However, it does in Ainu. This would not be difficult for
the English speakers.
サッ Sat To dry
クッ Kut Belt
アペソコッ Apesokot Hearth, fireplace
Many place names in Hokkaido that end with ~別 ~betsu come from Ainu ペッ pet, meaning "river."
The personal prefix ku is never pronounced as an independent word. Pronounce it as if it were one word and the accent is always placed in
the second syllable.
クシニ Ku=sini I rest
クミナ Ku=mina I laugh
クモコル Ku=mokor I sleep
クエク Ku=ek I come
Exercises
1) I come today
2) I played yesterday.
Solutions
1) タントクエク Tanto ku=ek.
2) ヌマンクシノッ Numan ku=sinot.
Vocabulary
ク Ku= I
タント Tanto Today
エク Ek To come
シノッ Sinot To play
アプカシ Apkas To walk
ポロンノ Poronno A lot, many, much
Lesson 8: "I do.." (2)

Sentences
ワッカクク。
Wakka ku=ku.
I drink water.
ヌマンハンバーガークエ。
Numan hambaga ku=e.
Yesterday I ate hamburger.
"Foreign words" (gairaigo) that entered Japanese are usually written in Katakana. They are used the same way in Ainu as well.
Grammar
As explained in the previous lesson, the pronominal prefix ku= is attached before the verb, and it is not separated and placed in front of
the sentence.
I go tomorrow.
○ ニサッタクオマン。 Nisatta ku=oman.
× クニサッタオマン。 Ku nisatta oman.
I ride a horse.
○ ウンマクオ Umma ku=o.
× クウンマオ Ku umma o.
Also there are many words that are essential in modern life that just don't exist in Ainu. Japanese makes a heavy use of the foreign
loanwords (gairaigo) to solve this problem such as バス(basu: bus), インターネット(intanetto, internet), ラジオ(rajio, radio) and such
words can be used the same way in Ainu as well.
Exercises
1) I have a lot of money.
2) I drink a little bit of hot water.
Solutions
1) イチェンポロンノクコル Icen poronno ku=kor.
2) ウセウポンノクク Usew ponno ku=ku.
Vocabulary
ク Ku= I
コル Kor To have, hold
イチェン Icen Money
ポロンノ Poronno A lot of, many, much
ウセウ Usew Hot water
ク Ku To drink
ポンノ Ponno A little bit of
エ E To eat
ハンバーガー Hambaga Hamburger
ワッカ Wakka Water
Lesson 9: Continuous
Sentences
ハポモンライケカネアン。
Hapo monrayke kane an.
Mother is working.
アチャ映画1 ヌカル2 カネアン。
Aca eiga nukar kane an.
Father is watching a movie.
1. "映画" eiga is a Japanese word, and thus written in Kanji. There are many words from Japanese, and they may still be written in Kanji.
2. ヌカル nukar may be written and pronounced as ヌカラ nukara as well.
Grammar
In this lesson ~カネアン ~kane an is used to make a continuous sense of the verb an, to be. It can also be ~コルアン ~kor an or its
shorter form ~コラン ~koran depending on the dialect. The latter forms may be used in Samani (様似) area as well, ~kane an is more
common. This lesson focuses on the Samani dialect. There is no third person singular pronominal affix in Ainu.
The word for "father" differs in different regions. In Samani, アチャ aca is used, and also in Urakawa, Mitsuishi, Shizunai, Hiroo,
Shiranuka, Kushiro, Akan, Bihoro, Wakkanai and many other areas. Same word is used in some areas of Sakhalin, with a slightly
different pronunciation: アーチャ a:ca.
Another word ミチ mici means father as well, but a dead father. But there are regions where two words are used interchangeably. And
aca may mean an "uncle" in many regions as well.
"Mother" is less complex, it is ハポ hapo in most areas of Hokkaido, including Samani.
Pronunciation
It is commonly said that Ainu has no voiced consonants, but in fact it has. In Samani, the word for mother hapo is often pronounced as
habo.
Voiced/Voiceless do matter in Japanese, as it can change the meaning: kaki (persimmon) and kagi (key) are different words. These are
free variants in Ainu, meaning that it doesn't change the meaning. Ruyanpe (rain) can be ruyanbe, hunpe (whale) can be hunbe, etc. k/g,
t/d, p/b are the common allophones in Ainu.
How one should pronounce a word depends on the individual habit and the region, but the most accepted pronunciation is to pro nounce
them voiceless, and it is advised for the learners to pronounce them voiceless.
Exercises
1) Dog is swimming.
2) Aunt is making dango.
Solutions
1) シタマカネアン Sita ma kane an.
2) ウナルペシトカネアン Unarpe sito kane an.
Vocabulary
マ Ma To swim
カネ Kane ~ing, continuous
シタ Sita Dog
アン An To be
シト Sito Dango (kind of a Japanese delicacy)
カル Kar To make
映画 Eiga Movie
ヌカル Nukar To look
ハポ Hapo Mother
モンライケ Monrayke To work
Lesson 10: Plural Verbs

Sentences
スマアン。
Suma an.
(There) is a stone.
スマオカイ。
Suma okay.
(There) are stones.
Grammar
Ainu is grammatically similar with Japanese in many aspects, but there are notable differences. Using different verbs to mark the plural is
one of it.
A Japanese sentence "魚がいる" (sakana ga iru, "there is/are fish") may mean there is one fish or more. Ainu makes this differentiation
from using plurals not on the noun, but on the verb. If there were only one fish, the Ainu verb would be an, if two or more, the verb would
be okay.
There are a number of such verbs, and here is a short list of them.
オマン Oman パイエ Paye To go
エク Ek アルキ Arki To come
アフン Ahun アフプ Ahup To enter
ソイネ Soyne ソイエンパ Soyenpa To go outside
サン San サプ Sap To appear, to go down (the river, etc)
ホプニ Hopuni ホプンパ Hopunpa To wake up, to rise, to fly
ホシピ Hosipi ホシッパ Hosippa To return, to come back
But not all Ainu verbs have distinct plural forms, such as シノッ sinot "to play, have fun" applies to both singular and plural subjects.
And while Japanese has two different verbs "to exist, to be there", such as いる iru for animate subjects and ある aru for the inanimate
subjects, Ainu makes no distinction between them.
カネ kane from the last lesson can be used as kane an and kane okay to make the continuous sense of these verbs.
English uses subjects like "it" or "there" when there is an ambiguous subject as English grammar does not allow a sentence to be without
an apparent subject, but this is not necessary in Ainu.
Pronunciation
As it has been emphasized in the previous lessons, Ainu accent falls on the second syllable. It is suma, not suma.
Exercises
1) There is a deer.
2) There are a lot of people.
Solutions
1) ユクアン Yuk an.
2) アイヌポロンノオカイ Aynu poronno okay.
Vocabulary
アン An To be, to exist (sg.)
ユク Yuk Deer
アイヌ Aynu Person
オカイ Okay To be, to exist (pl.)
スマ Suma Stone
End Of Part Two

This is the end of part two. You can continue with part III of this course.
Continue to part III
Lesson 11: Declarative
Sentences
タパンペプクサネ。
Tapanpe pukusa ne.
This is ramsons.
トオンペカンガルーネ。
Toonpe Kangaroo ne.
That is a kangaroo.
Ramsons is a type of plant that is used in Ainu cuisine.
Grammar
The standard Ainu copula is ネ ne, and this is used a lot. In order to say "A is B", the basic Ainu construction would be "A B ne." For
example, a statement like "My uncle is a judge" in Ainu would be "クコルアチャポ裁判官ネ ku=kor acapo saihankan ne." Ainu has
no articles.
Another example, "This is a cell phone that I bought yesterday" would be: "タパンペヌマンクホク携帯電話ネ Tapanpe numan kuok
keitaidenwa ne", literally "this-yesterday-I buy-cell phone-to be."
Note that any complex Japanese word may take place in Ainu if the word is not likely to be used in traditional Ainu life and yet essential
in modern days, such as "Saihankan" or "Keitaidenwa." You may just treat them as Ainu words as long as you stick to Roman Ainu, but
they may or may not be written in Kanji (characters) in Katakana Ainu, so beware of that. (From what I have seen, Katakana Ai nu is more
popular)
Exercises
1) This is my school.
2) That is a bear.
Solutions
1) タパンペクコルカッコネ Tapanpe ku=kor kakko ne.
2) トオンペキムンカムイネ Tapanpe kimunkamuy ne.
Vocabulary
カッコ Kakko School (From Japanese 学校 Gakkou)
ネ Ne Copula (To be)
タパンペ Tapanpe This
クコル Ku=kor My
キムンカムイ Kimunkamuy Bear
トオンペ Toonpe That
カンガルー Kangaruu Kangaroo
トオンペ Toonpe That
プクサ Pukusa Ramsons
Lesson 12: Topic Marker

Sentences
タントアナクリリユプケ。
Tanto anak rir yupke.
Today the sea wave is rough.
タンコタンアナクネソンノフシコ。
Tan kotan anakne sonno husko.
This village is very old.
Grammar
Anak and anakne are the topic markers and the two words can be used interchangeably. In the first sentence "タントアナクリリ
ユプケ tanto anak rir yupke", what is strong is the wave, not the day, but still the topic of interest is what the wave is like today. It could
be roughly translated into English as "speaking of today, the sea wave is rough" or so. The emphasis is on today, not the sea.
Exercises
1) Ice is cold.
2) This road is good.
Solutions
1) コンルアナクヤム Konru anak yam.
2) タンルアナクネピリカ Tan ru anakue parke.
Vocabulary
ヤム Yam Cold
コンル Konru Ice
アナク Anak Topic marker
ル Ru Road, path
プリカ Pirka Good
アナクネ Anakne Topic marker
タン Tan This
コタン Kotan Village, town
ソンノ Sonno Very, truly, really
フシコ Husko Old
ユプケ Yupke Rough, tough, strong
リリ Rir Sea wave
Lesson 13: Locative

Sentences
テエタ等じゅ院アナクネオコタヌシタアン。
Teeta Touzyuin anakne okotanusi ta an.
A long time ago, Touzyuin was in Okotanusi.
ペッオシケタチェプオカイ。
Pet oske ta cep okay.
(There) are fish in the stream. (lit: in the middle of stream)
等じゅ院 "Touzyuin" is a proper name of a temple. "じゅ" as in "等じゅ院" is supposed to be in an obscure Kanji, 樹 minus 木 plus 水.
Don't worry if you can't imagine how the Kanji is supposed to be like. It's just a proper name.
Grammar
Ainu タ ta is a locative particle which roughly corresponds to Japanese に ni. It means the subject or topic of the sentence is in or at
something, whether in space or in time.
A particle is a small grammatical word that is placed after the noun it modifies, and you can think of it either as an add -on to change the
case of the word, or a postposition instead of a preposition. The topic markers that we looked at, anak, anakne are particles as well,
although it does not carry any case. Ainu particles are largely postpositional, they are placed directly after the word: comp are English in
Sapporo and Ainu Satporo ta.
It can be used with other particles to deliver more specific information: oske ta "in the midst of", soy ta "outside of", ka ta "on top of" etc.
More examples:
クコルアチャチセソイタアン。
Ku=kor aca cise soy ta an.
My-father-house-outside-(locative)-to be.
My father is outside of house.
ニカタチカプレウ。
Ni ka ta cikap rew.
Tree-above-(locative)-bird-to stop
The bird stops on top of the tree.
クコルウナルペサッポロタアン。
Ku=kor unarpe Satporo ta an.
My-aunt-Sapporo-(locative)-to be.
My aunt is in Sapporo.
Exercises
1) (There) is kombu on the coast
2) (There) is a big fort on top of the mountain.
Solutions
1) ピシタコンプヤン Pis ta kompu yan.
2) ヌプリカタポロチャシアン Nupuri ka ta poro casi an.
Vocabulary
ヤン Yan To rise
タ Ta Locative particle
ピシ Pis Shore, coast
コンプ Kompu Kombu (A type of edible sea kelp)
チャシ Casi Fortification, castle
ポロ Poro Big
カ Ka Above
アン An To be (singular)
ヌプリ Nupuri Mountain
オカイ Okay To be (plural)
オコタヌシ Okotanusi Okotanusi (place name)
オシケ Oske In, in the midst of
チェプ Cep Fish
テエタ Teeta Olden times, before
ペッ Pet River, stream
Lesson 14: Allative

Sentences
クコルアチャインドエンオマン。
Ku=kor aca Indo en oman.
My father goes to India.
ペッオシケエンチカプアフン。
Pet oske en cikap ahun.
Bird goes into the river.
インド Indo is Japanese name for India. As this is a foreign loanword as well, this is used in Ainu the same way it is used in Japanese.
Grammar
エン en is an allative case particle. It signifies the destination of a movement: to where. It is permissible to leave this out in Ja panese, but
not in Ainu.
○ サッポロエンクオマン Satporo en ku=oman.
× サッポロクオマン Satporo ku=oman.
Depending on the region, this エン en may become ウン un, エネ ene, or エコタ ekota, particularly in Eastern Hidaka. Kirsten Refsing
notes the form オルン orun in her book as well.
Pronunciation
Small プ in チカプ cikap doesn't have the -u vowel that full Katakana プ pu has.
チプ Cip Ship
セプ Sep Wide
ポプテ Popte To spend
シリカプ Sirkap Marline (A type of fish)
イトゥンナプ Itunnap Ant
タプカル Tapkar Dance
タプコプ Tapkop Mountain bump
Exercises
1) Yesterday aunt went to Tokachi.
2) I climb to the mountaintop.
Solutions
1) ヌマンウナルペトカプチエンオマン Numan unarpe Tokapci en oman.
2) ヌプリカエンクリキン Nupuri ka en ku=rikin.
Vocabulary
エン En Allative particle
オマン Oman To go
トカプチ Tokapci Tokachi (Place name)
ク Ku= I
カ Ka Above
リキン Rikin To climb
アフン Ahun To enter, to go into
インド Indo India
オシケ Oske Middle, midst
コル Kor To have, to hold
シカプ Cikap Bird
ペッ Pet River, stream
Lesson 15: Ablative

Sentences
ヌプルペッワクエク。
Nupurpet wa ku=ek.
I come from Noboribetsu.
ニカワりんごトゥイ。
Ni ka wa ringo tuy.
Apple falls from the treetop.
Grammar
Wa is the ablative case particle,: from somewhere. We have seen three case particles related to the motion: stationary ta (locative),
direction en (allative), and ablative wa.
Pronunciation
ッ t as in ヌプルペッ nupurpet is a small "tsu" but it is not pronounced as such, but as a final consonant -t. This is a difficult sound for
Japanese as Japanese phonotactics doesn't allow such sound to come at the end (though they can have it in the middle of a word).
Exercises
1) I come from Shizunai.
2) Uncle came outside from the inside of the house.
Solutions
1) シピチャルワクエク Sipicar wa ku=ek.
2) チセオシケワアチャポソイネ Cise oske wa acapo soyne.
Vocabulary
ワ Wa Ablative particle
エク Ek To come
シピチャル Sipicar Shizunai (place name)
ク Ku= I
ソイネ Soyne To come outside
オシケ Oske Middle, midst
チセ Cise House
コッ Kot Hole, concave
ハッ Hat Mountain grapes
ニサッ Nisat Daybreak
オオワッ Oowat To go back, to return
ポロペッ Poropet Horobetsu (place name)
フッネ Hutne Narrow
マッネシリ Matnesir Mount Yotei (place name)
シンリッ Sinrit Root, ancestor
アペソコッ Apesokot Hearth, fireplace
カ Ka Above, top
To fall, to drop, or to stop falling (rain, snow
トゥイ Tuy
etc).
ニ Ni Tree
ヌプルペッ Nupurpet Noboribetsu. (place name)
リンゴ Ringo Apple. (Japanese loanword)
The place name Noboribetsu derives from Ainu Nupurpet, meaning deep-coloured (Nupur) stream (Pet).
End Of Part Three

This is the end of part three. You can continue with part IV of this course.
Continue to part IV
Lesson 16: Copula
Sentences
ウェンクルクネ。
Wenkur ku=ne.
I am poor.
オンネエカシクネ。
Onne ekasi ku=ne.
I'm an old uncle.
Grammar
Ne is the standard Ainu copula, and it can combine with the pronominal prefix ku= to express "I am." However, unlike English, ku=ne is
used mostly to express the identity: I am something. Pay attention not to say "クウェンクルネ ku wenkur ne" instead of "ウェンク
ルクネ wenkur ku=ne."
Pronunciation
ウェ we is not pronounced as two distinct syllables. This is another pronunciation that may cause troubles to a Japanese learn er, who
might say ウエ ue with two distinct syllables. It is more like "whe" as in "where" in English.
Examples:
ウェン Wen Bad
ハウェ Hawe Voice
ルウェ Ruwe Trace
ウェンテ Wente To break, invade
ウウェカルパ Uwekarpa To collect
And note that the stress falls on the second syllable in all cases.
kune (X)
kune (O)
Exercises
1) I am a woman.
2) I am a college student from Muroran.
Solutions
1) メノコクネ Menoko ku=ne.
2) モルランワエク大学生クネ Moruran wa ek Daigakusei ku=ne.
Vocabulary
ネ Ne Copula (to be)
ク Ku= I
メノコ Menoko Woman
エク Ek To come
モルラン Moruran Muroran
大学生 Daigakusei College student (Japanese loanword)
ワ Wa From
ウェンクル Wenkur A poor person
エカシ Ekasi Uncle, a grown-up man
オンネ Onne Old, aged
Lesson 17: "Your.." (1)

Sentences
エエトゥポロ。
E=etu poro.
Your nose is big.
エチセクヌカル。
E=cise ku=nukar.
I see your house.
Grammar
E= is the second person singular pronominal prefix. This is used to express the inalienable possession, analogous to ku= in lesson 5. Note
that "house" cise is considered as an inalienable possession.
Pronunciation
トゥ tu may be written as ト゜ or ツ゜ depending on the writer, as this is a sound that doesn't exist in normal Japanese. However, this
"tu" has been introduced to Japanese through various English loanwords such as "today" or "tonight", and トゥ became the standard
spelling for this sound.
Examples:
エトゥイ Etuy Sea
エトゥ Etu Nose
トゥイマ Tuyma Far
トゥシ Tus Net, network
トゥプ Tup Two
トゥク Tuk To feed, raise (children, etc)
トゥカル Tukar Seal (animal)
トゥルセ Turse To fall down
There is a type of red coloured bird called "puffin" known in Japanese as "エトピリカ Etopirika", but the real Ainu name would be "エト
ゥピリカ Etupirika." This is an Ainu loanword into Japanese. Here, "etu" means not a rose, but (reasonably enough) a beak.
Exercises
1) Your hair is white.
2) I wash your shoes.
Solutions
1) エエトピレタル E=etopi retar.
2) エケリクフライエ E=keri ku=huraye.
Vocabulary
エトピ Etopi Hair
レタル Retar White
エ E= You
フライェ Huraye To clean, wash
ケリ Keri Shoes
ク Ku= I
エトゥ Etu Nose
チセ Cise House
ヌカル Nukar To see
ポロ Poro Big
Lesson 18: "Your.." (2)

Sentences
エコルハポポロンノモンライケ。
E=kor hapo poronno monrayke.
Your mother works a lot.
エコルカメラソンノピリカ。
E=kor kamera sonno pirka.
Your camera is very good.
Grammar
E=kor is used to express the alienable possession of the second person, analogous to ku=kor in lesson 6. This literally translates as
"(something) that you have/hold."
Note that e=kor is not used for the body parts such as "エコルエトゥ e=kor etu" (your nose) or "エコルパケ e=kor pake " (your
head). Body parts are expressed with simple e= instead, as they are considered to be inalienable.
Exercises
1) Your earrings are beautiful.
2) Yesterday your aunt danced.
Solutions
1) エコルニンカリピリカ E=kor ninkari pirika.
2) ヌマンエコルウナルペリムセ Numan e=kor unarpe rimes.
Vocabulary
コル Kor To have, to hold
ニンカリ Ninkari Earrings
ピリカ Pirka Beautiful, good
エ E= You
リムセ Rimse Dance
カメラ Kamera Camera
ソンノ Sonno Very, truly
ハポ Hapo Mother
モンライケ Monrayke Work, to work
Lesson 19: "You do.." (sg.)

Sentences
ウポポエイェ。
Upopo e=ye.
You sing a song.
ピリカ車エコル。
Pirka kuruma e=kor.
You have a good car.
Grammar
The pronominal prefix e= could be placed before a verb to mark the subject of the predicate as well, analogous to the usage of ku= in
lessons 7 and 8. Ainu verbs has no time tense, and additional temporal adverbials are added to indicate the time when it is necessary.
Exercises
1) You see a big mountain.
2) You will arrive in London tomorrow.
Solutions
1) ポロヌプリエヌカル Poro nupuri e=nukar.
2) ニサッタロンドンタエシレパ Nisatta London ta e=sirepa.
Vocabulary
エ E= You
ポロ Poro Big
ニサッタ Nisatta Tomorrow
ロンドン Rondon London
タ Ta Locative case particle
シレパ Sirepa To arrive
イェ Ye To say, speak, sing
ウポポ Upopo Song
車 Kuruma Car (Japanese loanword)
Lesson 20: Independent Pronoun "I" (1)

Sentences
クアニクオマン。
Kuani ku=oman.
I go.
クアニポロンノクアプカシ。
Kuani poronno ku=apkas.
I walk a lot.
Grammar
Ainu has the independent pronouns beside the pronominal prefixes. The first person pronominal suffix is ku=, and the independent
pronoun is kuani or its contracted form kani. (Kani form is used more often in Saru, Mukawa and Chitose areas.) This is analogous to
French moi or Latin ego, and the Ainu independent pronouns are used in a similar way to emphasise the subject pronoun.
But you can't omit the pronominal prefix even if you have an independent pronoun, just like you can't say *Moi suis instead of Moi, je
suis in French.
・ I go.
○ クアニクオマン。 Kuani Ku=oman.
× クアニオマン。 Kuani oman.
○ クオマン。 Ku=oman.
・ I walk a lot.
○ クアニポロンノクアプカシ。 Kuani poronno ku=apkas.
× クポロンノアプカシ。 Ku poronno apkas.
× クアニポロンノアプカシ。 Kuani poronno apkas.
○ ポロンノクアプカシ。 Poronno ku=apkas.
Exercises
1) I play a lot.
2) I am very tired.
Solutions
1) クアニポロンノクシノッ Kuani poronno ku=sinot.
2) クアニソンノクシンキ Kuani sonno ku=sinki.
Vocabulary
シノッ Sinot To play (having fun)
クアニ Kuani I
ク Ku= I
シンキ Sinki To be tired
ソンノ Sonno Very
End Of Part Four

This is the end of part four. You can continue with part V of this course.
Continue to part V
Lesson 21: Independent Pronoun "I" (2)
Sentences
クアニアナクテレビクヌカル。
Kuani anak Terebi ku=nukar.
I watch TV.
クアニアナクネポロウンマクオ。
Kuani anakne poro umma ku=o.
I ride a big horse.
Grammar
The independent pronoun kuani may be used by itself, but it is more often accompanied by the topic marker particle anak or anakne,
which were introduced in lesson 12. This is used to emphasise the subject of the sentence, it is "I" who is watching the TV (while the
others might be doing other things). There is an implied sense of relativity.
Pay attention to the pronominal affix ku as well, it has to be used in all cases.
・ I watch TV.
○ クアニアナクネテレビクヌカル。 kuani anakne terebi ku=nukar.
× クアナクネテレビヌカル。 ku anakne terebi nukar.
× クアニアナクネテレビヌカル。 kuani anakne terebi nukar.
○ テレビクヌカル。 terebi ku=nukar.
・ I ride a big horse.
○ クアニアナクポロウンマクオ。 Kuani anak poro umma ku=o.
× クアニアナクポロウンマオ。 Kuani anak poro umma o.
× クアナクポロウンマオ。 Ku anak poro umma o.
○ ポロウンマクオ。 Poro umma ku=o.
Anak and anakne are mutually interchangeable. The additional ne is thought to be derived from the copula ne.
Exercises
1) I am listening to radio.
2) I come from Sapporo.
Solutions
1) クアニアナクラジオクヌ Kuani anak Radio ku=nu.
2) クアニアナクネサッポロワクエク Kuani anakne Satporo wa ku=ek.
Vocabulary
ク Ku= I
ラジオ Rajio Radio
ヌ Nu To hear, listen to
クアニ Kuani I
サッポロ Satporo Sapporo
ワ Wa From
エク Ek To come
ウンマ Umma Horse (from Japanese 馬 uma.)
テレビ Terebi Television. (from Japanese)
ヌカル Nukar To look, watch
ポロ Poro Big
オ O To ride
Lesson 22: Independent Pronoun "You" (sg.)

Sentences
エアニチエプエコイキ。
Eani cep e=koyki.
You catch a fish.
エアニアナクアナウンサーエネ。
Eani anak Anaunsa e=ne.
You are an announcer.
Grammar
Eani is the independent pronoun for the second person singular, analogous to kuani. The corresponding pronominal suffix for it is e=,
which must be present even when eani is used.
Exercises
1) You drink beer.
2) You are a boy.
Solutions
1) エアニビールエク Eani Beer e=ku.
2) エアニアナクネヘカチエネ Eani anakne hekaci e=ne.
Vocabulary
ビール Biru Beer. (a Dutch loanword in Japanese)
ク Ku To drink
エ E= You
エアニ Eani You
ネ Ne Copula
ヘカチ Hekaci Boy, young man
アナウンサー Anaunsa Announcer. (from Japanese)
コイキ Koyki To take, catch, annoy, pile.
チェプ Cep Fish
Lesson 23: Connector "wa" (1)

Sentences
ルヤンペアシワルテイネ
Ruyanpe as war u teyne.
Rain fell and the road is wet.
ヘリコプターエクワヘカッタルウウェカルパ。
Herikiputa ek wa hekattar uwekarpa.
A helicopter came and the children gathered.
Grammar
Wa is a connector which links two sentences together, best translated as "and" in English. A more literal translation of the first sentence
would be "the road became wet as it was raining", and a sense of spontaneity is implied. Wa can become ma after a word ending in n or m.
サクアンマシリセセク。
Sak an ma sirsesek.
Summer came and it became hot.
メアンマクテケヤム。
Mean ma ku=teke yam.
It became cold and my hand is cold.
Exercises
1) Wind blows and the wave is rough.
2) Father is angry and the daughter cries.
Solutions
1) レラアシワリリユプケ Rera as wa rir yupke.
2) アチャイルシカワマッネポチシ Aca iruska wa matnepo cis.
Vocabulary
ワ Wa "And"
リリ Rir Sea wave
アシ As To blow, fall
レラ Rera Wind
ユプケ Yupke Strong, rough
チシ Cis To cry
マッネポ Matnepo Daughter
ウウェカルパ Uwekarpa To gather
エク Ek To come
テイネ Teyne To become wet
ヘカッタル Hekattar Children
ヘリコプター Herikoputa Helicopter (from Japanese)
ル Ru Road, pathway
Lesson 24: Connector "wa" (2)

Sentences
コンドルホプニワオマン。
Kondoru hopuni wa oman.
Condor flew and went.
トノトクホクワクエク。
Tonoto ku=hok wa ku=ek.
I bought alcohol and came.
Grammar
Wa as a connector in lesson 23 was translated as "and". It is also used to describe a sequence of actions: a condor first flies and goes
somewhere and I buy alcohol and comes back. Note that the example sentences are both translated in th e past tense. Ainu verbs have no
time tense, and it is customary to translate them into the past tense unless the time is specified otherwise. Not everyone ag rees with this
convention, and it is up to the translator to translate them as one sees fit.
Exercises
1) Uncle rode the car and went.
2) I walked a lot and became tired.
Solutions
1) アチャポ車オワオマン Acapo Kuruma o wa oman.
2) ポロンノクアプカシワクシンキ Poronno ku=apkas wa ku=sinki.
Vocabulary
ワ Wa "And"
オ O To ride
車(クルマ) Kuruma Car (from Japanese)
ク Ku= I
シンキ Sinki To come
エク Ek To come
コンドル Kondoru Condor
トノト Tonoto Alcoholic drink
ホク Hok To buy
ホプニ Hopuni To fly, to wake up from sleep
Lesson 25: Imperative

Sentences
エムコタオマン。
Emkota oman.
Go quickly.
ワッカタワエク。
Wakkata wa ek.
Ladle water and come.
Grammar
There are no special verb forms for the imperative in Ainu, and it is formed by using the base form of the verb without the p ronominal
affix.
Exercises
1) Go to the railway tomorrow.
2) Get up quickly and wash the face.
Solutions
1) ニサッタクスルエンオマン Nisatta kusur en oman.
2) エムコタホプニワヤシケ Emkota hopuni wa yaske.
Vocabulary
クスル Kusur Railway
エン En "To" Allative case particle.
エムコタ Emkota Quickly, early
ホプニ Hopuni To wake up, rise
ワ Wa "And"
ヤシケ Yaske To wash face
エク Ek To come
ワッカタ Wakkata To ladle water. Wakka (water) + ta (ladle)
End Of Part Five

This is the end of part five. You can continue with part VI of this course.
Continue to part VI
Lesson 26: Negation
Sentences
フチヘンネモコル
Huci henne mokor.
Grandmother doesn't sleep.
タパンペシタヘンネネ。
Tapanpe sita henne ne.
This is not a dog.
Grammar
Ainu word of negation is henne, whether it is not or it does not. Henne comes before the verb it negates. It does not affect the pronominal
affixes, and they must be present in the verb in negation as well. The above two sentences show no affixes as the third perso n is marked
by the absence of the affix. The pronominal affixes will be present in the first and second person, such as henne ku=oman (I don’t come)
and henne e=nukar (you don’t see).
Henne may be used in a manner similar to English un (as in undo) or im/in (as in impossible). Henne pirka would mean something is not
good.
Exercises
1) My father is not having a meal.
2) You are not a man.
Solutions
1) クコルアチャヘンネイペ Ku=kor aca henne ipe.
2) エアニアナクオッカイヘンネエネ Eani anak okay henne e=ne.
Vocabulary
イペ Ipe To have, eat a meal
ク Ku= I
ヘンネ Henne Negation
エ E= You
ネ Ne Copula
エアニ Eani You
オッカイ Okkay Man, male
シタ Sita Dog
タパンペ Tapanpe This
フチ Huci Grandmother
モコル Mokor To sleep
Lesson 27: Genitive (1)

Sentences
タパンケルアナククケリヒネ。
Tapan ker anak ku=kerihi ne.
These shoes are my shoes.
エナエフソンノピリカ。
E=nanuhu sonno pirka.
Your face is very beautiful.
Grammar
The word ker in the first sentence means a pair of shoes in its base form, and kerihi is the genitive form of it. The shoes and other cloth
items attached immediately on the body is considered to be inalienable, so it takes the pronominal suffixes ku= or e=, and either ker or
kerihi is permissible in the third person, which takes no pronominal suffix. (unarpe ker/kerihi, "aunt’s shoes") Notice that Ainu genitive
applies to the item which is possessed, not the possessor.
Not all Ainu nouns have this genitive forms. The nouns which have genitive parts include body parts, clothing, animals, plants and tools.
Nichihi in makiri nicihi "grip of a small blade" is the genitive of nit, "grip", and nanuhu in the second sentence above is "face of", whose
base form is nan.
More examples:
Nominal Genitive
キサル Kisar Ear キサラ, キサラハ Kisara, Kisaraha Ear of…
アサム Asam Bottom アサマ、アサマハ Asama, Asamaha Bottom of…
エトプ Etop Hair エトピ、エトピヒ Etopi, Etopihi Hair of…
シク Sik Eye シキ、シキヒ Siki, Sikihi Eye of…
レク Rek Beard レキ、レキヒ Reki, Rekihi Beard of…
ピリ Pir Wound ピリ、ピリヒ Piri, Pirihi Wound of…
クル Kur Shadow クリ、クリヒ Kuri, Kurihi Shadow of…
フム Hum Sound フミ、フミヒ Humi, Humihi Sound of…
マッ Mat Wife マツ、マツヒ Matu, Matuhi Wife of…
ナン Nan Face ナヌ、ナヌフ Nanu, Nanuhu Face of…
ラプ Rap Leaf ラプ、ラプフ Rapu, Rapuhu Leaf of…
カプ Kap Hand カプ、カプフ Kapu, Kapuhu Hand of…
ハム Ham Voice ハム、ハムフ Hamu, Hamuhu Voice of…
テク Tek Hand テケ、テケヘ Teke, Tekehe Hand of…
ハウ Haw Voice ハウェ、ハウェヘ Hawe, Hawehe Voice of…
アタイ Atai Price アタイェ、アタイェヘ Ataye, Atayehe Price of…
チャル Car Mouth チャロ、チャロホ Caro, Caroho Mouth of…
オソル Osor Hip オソロ、オソロホ Osoro, Osoroho Hip of…
Exercises
1) Your eyes are small.
2) My legs are slim.
Solutions
1) エシキヒポン E=sikihi pon.
2) クチキリヒソンノアネ Ku=cikirihi sonno ane.
Vocabulary
シキヒ Sikihi Eye of…
エ E= You
ポン Pon Small
アネ Ane Slim, narrow
チキリヒ Cikirihi Leg of…
ク Ku= I
ケリヒ Kerihi Shoes of…
ケル Ker Shoes
タパン Tapan This
ナヌフ Nanuhu Face of…
ネ Ne Copula
ピリカ Pirka Beautiful, good
Lesson 28: Genitive (2)

Sentences
クコルアチャポエトゥフポロ。
Ku=kor acapo etuhu poro.
My uncle's nose is big.
クマッネポエトピフレ。
Ku=matnepo etopi hure.
My daugter's hair is red.
Grammar
Etuhu in the ` of etu, meaning "nose of…" Certain nouns such as body parts can be possessed without being in genitive as well, so e=etu
and e=etuhu are both acceptable. This applies to family members as well, so matnepo in the second sentence becomes either ku=matnepo
or ku=matnepoho.
Nominal Genitive English
フラ Hura フラ、フラハ Hura, Huraha Smell
ケラ Kera ケラ、ケラハ Kera, Keraha Taste
トゥサ Etu トゥサ、トゥサハ Tusa, Tusaha Sleeve
パ Pa パ、パハ Pa, Paha Year
チンキ Cinki チンキ、チンキヒ Cinki, Cinkihi Lower end of a clothing
ホク Hok ホク、ホクフ Hok, Hokuhu Husband
エトゥ Etu エトゥ、エトゥフ Etu, Etuhu Nose
チセ Cise チセ、チセヘ Cise, Cisehe House, home
パケ Pake パケ、パケヘ Pake, Pakehe Head
レ Re レ、レヘ Re, Rehe Name
ポ Po ポ、ポホ Po, Poho Child, son
マッネポ Matnepo マッネポ、マッネポホ Matnepo, Matnepoho Daughter
ミッポ Mitpo ミッポ、ミッポホ Mitpo, Mitpoho Grandchild
ト To ト、トホ To, Toho Day
The genitives ending with p, t, k, s, m, r, n, y, w, or in Katakana, small ク, プ, ッ, シ, ム, リ, ル or ン, イ, ウ undergo vowel changes in
genitive, as they were presented in the last lesson. The other words that end with a vowel get genitive affixes after them. ハ ha after the
nouns ending with -a, ヒ hi after -i, フ hu after -u, ヘ he after -e and ホ ho after -o .
Exercises
1) The smell of ramsons is strong.
2) My dog is smart. (lit. "to have a good head.")
Solutions
1) プクサアナクフラハルイ Puksa anak huraha ruy.
2) クコルシタパケピリカ Ku=kor sita pake pirka.
Vocabulary
ルイ Ruy Strong
プクサ Pukusa Ramsons
フラハ Huraha Smell of…
ク Ku I
パケ Pake Head
シタ Sita Dog
コロ Kor To have, hold
エトゥフ Etohu Nose of…
エトピ Etopi Hair of…
フレ Hure Red
ポロ Poro Big
マッネポ Matnepo Daughter
Lesson 29: Nominalizer

Grammar
Ainu nominalizers pe and p are attached at the end of the word to make nouns. They roughly correspond to the English affixes like –ness
(after noun), -ing (after verb), -ity (after adjective or adverb), -er (after person), etc. Ainu nominalizers are more general, it could also be
used to create a place name "place where … occurs."
Pe is used after words that end with a small Katakana, or p, t, k, s, m, r, n, y or w in Roman Ainu. (Or, anything else than a, e, i, o, u.)
Examples:
イタクペ Itakpe Thing which speaks
アプカシペ Apkaspe Thing which walks
イサムペ Isampe Thing which doesn’t exist
レタルペ Retarpe Thing which is white
ポンペ Ponpe Thing which is small
オカイペ Okaype Things which are
P is used after the words that end with a big Katakana (including イェ or ウォ) or a, e, i, o, u in Roman Ainu.
シニプ Sinip Thing which rests
ピリカプ Pirikap Thing which is good
テルケプ Terkep Thing which jumps
リムセプ Rimsep Thing which dances
ワッカクプ Wakkakup Thing which drinks water
クイェプ Ku=yep "I", "whom I call myself"
Exercises
1) There are lots of tasty things.
2) This obon is a thing that my uncle carved.
Solutions
1) ケラアンペポロンノオカイ Keraan pe poronno okay.
2) タパンイタアナクアチャポヌイエプネ Tapan ita anak acapo nuyep ne.
Vocabulary
ポロンノ Poronno A lot, much, many
ケラアン Keraan Tasty
オカイ Okay To be (pl.)
ヌイェ Nuye To carve
イタ Ita Obon (Lanton Festival)
イェ Ye To call
エ E= You
ク Ku= I
自転車（ジテンシャ） Zitensha Bicycle
ネ Ne Copula
ピリカ Pirka Good, beautiful, right
プ P Nominalizer
ペ Pe Nominalizer
ホク Hok To buy
Lesson 30: "You do.." (pl.)

Sentences
エチミナ。
Eci=mina.
You laugh. (pl.)
チェプコイキクルエチネ。
Cepkoykikur eci=ne.
You are fishers. (pl.)
Grammar
Eci= is the second person plural pronominal suffix. Like all pronominal affixes, eci= can never occur independently.
You are eating meat. (pl.)
× エチカムエ。 Eci kam e.
○ カムエチエ。 Kam eci=e.
Eci= is also used to denote the genitive relationships, that something belongs to "those of you."
エチテケ／エチテケヘ
eci=teke / eci=tekehe "your hands"
エチケリ／エチケリヒ
eci=ker / eci=kerihi "your shoes"
エチケウトゥム／エチケウトゥムフ
eci=keutum / eci=keutumhu "your hearts"
Exercises
1) You (pl.) walk a lot.
2) I see your heads.
Solutions
1) ポロンノエチアプカシ Poronno eci=apkas.
2) エチナヌフクヌカル Eci=nanuhu ku=nukar.
Vocabulary
エチ Eci You (pl.)
ク Ku I
ナヌフ Nanuhu Head of…
チェプコイキクル Cepkoykikur Fisher
ネ Ne Copula
ミナ Mina To laugh
End Of Part Six

This is the end of part six. You can continue with part VII of this course.
Continue to part VII
Lesson 31: Independent Pronoun "You" (pl.)
Sentences
エチオカイフランスエンエチパイェ。
Eciokay France en eci=paye.
You go to France.
エチオカイアナクネアタイコルステーキエチエ。
Eciokay anakne ataykor steak eci=e.
You eat expensive steaks.
Grammar
Eciokay is the second person plural independent pronoun. Its usage is analogous to eani, second person singular. The pronominal affix
eci= must be retained when eciokay is used.
Examples:
"You go to France" (pl.)
× エチオカイフランスエンパイェ。 Eciokay France en paye.
○ エチオカイフランスエンエチパイェ。 Eciokay France en eci=paye.
You eat expensive steaks. (pl.)
× エチオカイアナクネアタイコルステーキエ。 Eciokay anakne ataykor steak e.
○ エチオカイアナクネアタイコルステーキエチエ。 Eciokay anakne ataykor steak eci=e.
Note that some Ainu verbs change their forms entirely in plural, and the word for "to go" in the above example is paye instead of oman.
Eci=oman* is grammatically incorrect.
Exercises
1) You sleep well. (pl.)
2) You are elementary school students. (pl.)
Solutions
1) エチオカイピリカノエチモコル Eciokay pirkano eci=mokor.
2) エチオカイアナク小学生エチネ Eciokay anak Shougakusei eci=ne.
Vocabulary
モコル Mokor To sleep
エチ Eci= You (pl.)
ピリカノ Pirkano Well (adv.)
エチオカイ Eciokay You (pl.)
ネ Ne Copula
小学生（ショウガクセイ） Shougakusei Elementary school student
アタイコル Ataykor Expensive
エ E To eat
エン En To, towards
ステーキ Sute-ki Steak
パイェ Paye To go (pl.)
フランス Furansu France
Lesson 32: "We do.." (1)

Sentences
モコルアン。
Mokor=an.
We sleep.
ヌマンイシカルエンパイェアン。
Numan Iskar en paye=an.
We went to Ishikari yesterday.
Grammar
Let’s review the three pronominal affixes we’ve met so far: ku= is the first person singular, e= and eci= are the second person, singular
and plural. They all acted as prefixes, but the first person plural =an acts as a suffix.
More examples:
アルキアン Arki=an We come
シンキアン Sinki=an We are tired
リムセアン Rimse=an We dance
ハウキアン Hauki=an We speak
テルケアン Terke=an We jump
ペウレアン Peure=an We are young
オンエアン Onne=an We grow old
ポロアン Poro=an We are big
サプアン Sap=an We descend (down the river, etc)*
ラプアン Rap=an We descend (from somewhere high)*
オカイアン Okay=an We are, we exist*
ポンアン Pon=an We are small*
サプアン sap=an, ラプアン rap=an, オカイアン okay=an, and ポンアン pon=an may be shortened as サパン sapan, ラパン rapan,
オカヤン okayan/オカアン okaan, or ポナン ponan in speech.
Note that Ainu has no adjectives in the strict sense. Instead, Ainu has corresponding verbs for "to be such" and they act as if they were
verbs: the copula "to be" is largely incorporated in them. They also mean "to become such", and you must rely on the context to figure out
what exactly is meant.
Conventionally, Ainu sentences are translated into past tense unless the contextual cues tell otherwise. Not everyone agrees with this,
though. Shibatani in the Ainu chapter of his book The Languages of Japan maintains this position, while Kirsten Refsing in her The Ainu
Language questions this practice.
Exercises
1) We take a little break.
2) We come from Shiranuka.
Solutions
1) ポンノシニアン Ponno sini=an.
2) シラリカワアルキアン Sirarika wa arki=an.
Vocabulary
アン =an We
シニ Sini To rest, take a break
ポンノ Ponno A little
シラルカ Sirarka Shiranuka (pn.)
アルキ Arki To come
ワ Wa From
イシカル Iskar Ishikari (pn.)

Sentences
ドレスアンミ。
Dress an=mi.
We wear dress.
ケシトＣＤアンヌ。
Kesto CD an=nu.
We listen to the CD everyday.
Grammar
In the last lesson, the pronominal affix =an was attached at the end of the verb. That was when the verb was intransitive, that is to say the
verb does not take a direct object. When the verb is transitive, the same affix is attached before the verb, making it an=. Example words
are mi "to wear", nu "to listen to", e "to eat", kor "to have, hold", nukar "to look at" etc.
Note that "transitive" and "intransitive" mean slightly different things in English and Ainu. English defines "transitive" at a more strict
sense, that is the object has to be acted upon in some way while in Ainu (and Japanese) a purely mental activity like "wanting" i s
sufficient enough to become transitive, because it takes an object after all.
More examples:
アンエ An=e We eat
アンコル An=kor We have
アンネ An=ne We are
アンヌカル An=nukar We look at
アンカル An=kar We make
アンク An=ku We drink
アンヌ An=nu We listen to
アンミ An=mi We wear
アンヌイェ An=nuye We write
アンオ An=o We ride
An= as a prefix is translated as "our" when attached before a noun. A noun may or may not take its genitive form in this case.
アンシキ／アンシキヒ
An=siki / An=sikihi "Our day"
アンパケ／アンパケヘ
An=pake / An=pakehe "Our head"
アンチセ／アンチセヘ
An=cise / An=cisehe "Our house"
アンマッネポ／アンマッネポホ
An=matnepo / An=matnepoho "Our daughter"
Exercises
1) We eat meat.
2) We drink wine a little.
Solutions
1) カムアンエ Kam an=e.
2) ポンノワインアンク Ponno Wine an=ku.
Vocabulary
アン An= We
カム Kam Meat
エ E To eat
ク Ku To drink
ワイン Wain Wine
ケスト Kesto Everyday
Dress (Formal female outfit in Japanese
ドレス Doresu
usage)
ヌ Nu To listen to
ミ Mi To wear

Sentences
ウシケシワアルキアシ。
Uskes wa arki=as.
We come from Hakodate.
ポロンノアプカシアシワシンキアシ。
Poronno apkas=as wa sinki=as.
We walked a lot and got tired.
Grammar
Ainu makes a distinction between inclusive and exclusive first person plural. Inclusive "we" includes the listener, "you and I", while
exclusive "we" does not; "I and others, but not you". An in the previous two lessons are inclusive, and the exclusive takes a different affix:
as. Although they both translate as "we" in English, the distinction has to be made in Ainu.
Exercises
1) We have a meal together. (excl.)
2) Tomorrow we go to Osaka. (excl.)
Solutions
1) ウトゥラノイペアシ Uturano ipe=as.
2) ニサッタ大阪エンパイエアシ Nisatta Osaka en paye=as.
Vocabulary
アシ =as We
イペ Ipe To eat, have a meal
ウトゥラノ Uturano Together
大阪（オオサカ） Osaka Osaka (pn.)
アルキ Arki To come (pl.)
ウシケシ Uskes Hakodate (pn.)*
シンキ Sinki To be tired
ワ１ Wa From
ワ２ Wa And
Uskes is the indigenous name for the modern city of Hakodate(函館). Unlike many place names in Hokkaido, "Hakodate" is not derived
from Ainu name. It was also known as Ushorkes or Usorkes as well.

Sentences
パソコンチコル。
Pasokon ci=kor.
We have a (personal) computer.
サラリーマンヘンネチネ。
Salaryman henne ci=ne.
We're not the corporate employees. ("salaryman")
Grammar
This lesson introduces the last form of first person plural pronoun: ci=. It is exclusive first person plural pronominal for the transitive
verbs. To summarize:
Inclusive Exclusive
Transitive -an ci-
Intransitive -an -as
As you can see, -an is used for the inclusive first person plural, for both transitive and intransitive verbs, and Ainu makes a distinction
between first person plural transitive ci and intransitive as in exclusive.
Examples:
チコタヌ／チコタヌフ
Ci=kotanu / ci=kotanuhu "Our village"
チケリ／チケリヒ
Ci=ker / ci=kerihi "Our shoes"
チテケ／チテケヘ
Ci=tek / ci=tekehe "Our hands"
チミッポ／チミッポホ
Ci=mitpo / ci=mitpoho "Our grandchild"
And ci is also used for "people in general", similar to French on or German man. This aspect of ci is most noticeable in compound nouns,
personal and place names. For example, the word cironnup is composed of three parts: ci-ronnu-p, "what people kill" with –p being the
nominalizer. This word means "fox."
More examples:
チカルカルペ cikarkarpe (Embroidered clothing)
チ・カルカル・ペ ci=karkar=pe "What people embroider"
チエイワンケプ cieyunkep (Tool)
チ・エイワンケ・プ ci=eyunke=p "What people use"
チタタプ citatap (An Ainu dish made of bashing a salmon's head)
チ・タタ・プ ci=tata=p "What people bash"
チノミシリ cinomisir (A holy land)
チ・ノミ・シリ ci=nomi=sir "Where people pray"
Exercises
1) We eat fish.
2) We are young youth.
Solutions
1) チェプチエ Cep ci=e.
2) ペウレオッカイポチネ Pewre okkaypo ci=ne.
Vocabulary
エ E To eat
チェプ Cep Fish
シ Ci= We
ペウレ Pewre To be young
ネ Ne Copula
オッカイポ Okkaypo Youth
サラリーマン Sarariman "Salaryman", a corporate employee.
パソコン Pasokon Personal computer
ヘンネ Henne Negation (Not)
End Of Part Seven

This is the end of part seven. You can continue with part VIII of this course.
Continue to part VIII
Lesson 36: "If.. then"
Sentences
エエクヤクンクホシピ。
E=ek yakun ku=hosipi.
If you come, I come back.
ルヤンペアシヤクンヘンネクオマン。
Ruyanpe as yakun henne ku=oman.
If it rains, I don't go.
Grammar
Yakun is a conditional particle which is best translated as "if" in English. But unlike English, yakun is placed at the end of the conditional
clause: instead of "if X, Y" the Ainu equivalent would be "X yakun, Y." The second sentence "ruyanpe as yakun henne ku=oman" may be
broken down as "ruyenpe as yakun" (if rain falls) with yakun connects the conditional to the main clause "henne ku=oman" (I don't/won't
go.)
The usage of yakun is strictly limited in a situation where the result "then" is determined given the condition "if" is satisfied. This means
yakun will not be used in a prediction, such as "it will become warm if spring comes." Nor in a subjunctive sentence like "I wish if I
were.." either, as this is a wish, not a determined action under specific conditions.
Exercises
1) If snow comes, mother rides bus.
2) If father is angry, I apologize.
Solutions
1) ウパシアシヤクンハポバスオ Upas as yakun hapo Bus.
2) アチャイルシカヤクンクヤウナシケ Aca iruska yakun ku=yawnaske.
Vocabulary
オ O To ride
ヤクン Yakun Conditional
バス Basu Bus
アシ As To fall
ハポ Hapo Mother
ウパシ Upas Snow
ヤウナシケ Yawnaske To apologize
ク Ku= I
エ E= You
エク Ek To come
ホシピ Hosipi To come back, go back
Lesson 37: "I suppose.."

Sentences
ニサッタウパシアシナンコル。
Nisatta upas as nankor.
I suppose it would snow tomorrow.
オヤパカナダエンパイェアンナンコル。
Oyapa Canada en paye=an nankor.
I supposed we would go to Canada next year.
Grammar
Nankor is a suppositional particle which expresses a guess or prediction about the future or current event. It may be used to expres s
something is expected from people or things depending on the context. In Katakana it may be spelt either as ナンコル or ナンコロ,
depending on the habit of the speaker.
トマコマイエンエオマンナンコル。
Tomakomay en e=oman nankor.
You would go to Tomakomai.
クイェイタクエチヌナンコル。
Ku=ye itak eci=nu nankor.
You would listen to what I say.
Exercises
1) I suppose the wind would blow strong today.
2) I suppose you would see lots of stars if you go outside.
Solutions
1) タントレラユプケナンコル Tanto era yupke nankor.
2) エソイネヤクンノチウポロンノエヌカルナンコル E=soyne yakun nociw poronno e=nukar nankor
Vocabulary
ユプケ Yupke To be strong
レラ Rera Wind
ナンコル Nankor Suppositional
ノチウ Nociw Star
ソイネ Soyne To go outside
エ E= You
ヌカル Nukar To look at
ヤクン Yakun Conditional
アシ As To blow, to fall
アン =An We
ウパシ Upas Snow
オヤパ Oyapa Next year
カナダ Kanada Canada
Lesson 38: Object Pronoun "Me"

Sentences
クユポエンキク。
Ku=yupo en=kik
My brother beat me.
クコルハポチョコレートエンコレ。
Ku=kor hapo chocolate en=kore.
My mother gave me chocolate.
Grammar
En= is another first person pronominal affix in the objective case, while ku= is the subjective. The subject of the verb is still the agent of
the action, and en is there to mark the object of the action, as something is done to "me."
Exercises
1) A big dog bites me.
2) My aunt scolds me.
Solutions
1) ポロシタエンクパパ Poro sita en=kupapa.
2) クコルフチエンコイキ Ku=kor huci en=hoyki.
Vocabulary
シタ Sita Dog
クパパ Kupapa To bite
エン En= Me
ポロ Poro To be big
フチ Huci Aunt
コイルシカ Koiruska To scold
ク Ku= I, my
キク Kik To beat
コレ Kore To give
チョコレート Chokoreto Chocolate
ハポ Hapo Mother
ユポ Yupo Brother
Lesson 39: Connector "korkay"

Sentences
ウパシアシコルカイシリポプケ。
Upas as korkay sirpopke.
Snow falls, but it is warm. /It is warm though it's snowing.
タパンキムチチャルカルコルカイケラアン。
Tapan kimchi carkar korkay keraan.
This kimchi is hot, but it tastes good. / This kimchi tastes good though it is hot.
Grammar
Korkay is a word which connects two clauses. A korkay B is translated as "A, but B" or "B, although A." The main clause follows the
subordinate clause, and this is a feature shared by both Japanese and Ainu. Depending on the dialect and habit of the speaker , korkay may
be コロカイ korokay, コルカ korka or コロカ koroka.
Exercises
1) I eat sherbet, although it is cold.
2) We dance, although we are tired.
Solutions
1) メアンコルカイシャーベットクエ Mean korkay Sherbet ku=e.
2) シンキアシコルカイリムセアシ Sinki=as korkay rimse=as.
Vocabulary
コルカイ Korkay Although
エ E To eat
シャーベット Shabetto Sherbet
ク Ku= I
リムセ Rimse To dance
アシ１ =as We
シンキ Sinki Tired
アシ２ As To fall, blow
ウパシ Upas Snow
キムチ Kimuchi Kimchi
ケラアン Keraan To be tasty
シリポプケ Sirpopke To become warm
チャルカル Carkar To be hot, spicy.
Lesson 40: "Let us.." (1)

Sentences
イペアンノ。
Ipe=an no.
Let us have a meal.
ウラカパクノアプカシアンノ。
Uraka pakno apkas =an no.
Let us walk to Urakawa.
Grammar
The suggestive "let us" in Ainu is expressed by the particle no attached at the end of the clause. スイウヌカルアンノ suy
unukar=an no is a common "good bye" expression in Ainu, literally meaning "let us meet again!"
This no may become ロ ro, ロク rok , or ナ na depending on the dialect.
Exercises
There are no exercises for this lesson.
Vocabulary
アン =an We
イペ Ipe To eat, have a meal
ウラカ Uraka Urakawa (pn.)
ノ No Suggestive
パクノ Pakno Up to, even, all the way to
End Of Part Eight

This is the end of part eight. You can continue with part IX of this course.
Continue to part IX
Lesson 41: "Let us.." (2)
Sentences
ポロリムセアンキノ。
Pororimse an=ki no.
Let us dance pororimse.
ヤマウアンカルワアンエノ。
Yamaw an=kar wa an=e no.
Let us make yamaw and eat.
Pororimse, known as Waodori in Japanese, is a traditional dance in a circle after a festival. The Ainu word pororimse literally means
"Great Dance", and the Japanese waodori means "Circled Dance." Yawaw is a traditional Ainu dish, which literally means "cold (yam)
soup (ohaw)."
Grammar
The suggestive sentences used in Lesson 40 with particle no were all intransitive, and the pronominal affix =an was placed after the verb.
However, when the sentence takes an object and the verb made transitive, then the affix is placed before the verb as an=. The pronominal
affix can never be omitted.
"Let us watch a movie"
○ 映画アンヌカルノ。 Eiga an=nukar no.
× 映画ヌカルノ。 Eiga nukar no.
In addition, no may cause a sound change in the preceding word. If the preceding word ends with a small Katakana ラリルレロ or an r in
Roman Ainu, this r is dropped and nasalized as ン(n) to ease the pronunciation.
アンカルノ An=kar no "Let us make..."
-> アンカンノ An=kan no
アンヌカルノ An=nukar no "Let us see..."
-> アンヌカンノ An=nukan no
Exercises
1) Let's ride metro.
2) Let's go to Tomakomai and find a cheap room.
Solutions
1) 地下鉄アンオノ Chikatetsu an=o no.
2) トマコマイエンパイェアンワアタイサクトゥンプアンエシタンノ Tomakomai en paye=an wa ataysak tumpu
an=estan no
Vocabulary
オ O To ride
アン An= We
ノ No Suggestive
地下鉄（チカテツ） Chikatetsu Metro, subway
トゥンプ Tumpu Room
トマコマイ Tomakomai Tomakomai (pn.)
アタイサク Ataysak To be cheap
エシタン Estan To find, search
ワ Wa And
エ E To eat
カル Kar To make
キ Ki To do
Lesson 42: Particle "na"

Sentences
タントメアンナ。
Tanto mean na.
Today is cold.
カンピソシポロンノクコルナ。
Kampisos poronno ku=kor na.
I have a lot of books.
カンピソシ kampisos "book" is a compound noun made of kampi "paper" and sos, a rarely used word for collection of flimsy materials.
Some speakers may just say "hon" (本) as a Japanese loanword.
Grammar
The assurance particle na does not carry any semantic meaning, and the above examples make sense even if na is removed. This is used
when the speaker provides information which the speaker wants the listener to pay attention: cf. "You know, it’s cold outside." This
roughly corresponds to Japanese particle yo.
Like no from lesson 41, na may cause a sound change if the preceding word ends in small Katakana ラリルレロ or an r. R in the
preceding word is then nasalized and becomes ン / n.
クコルナ -> クコンナ
ku=kor na -> ku=kon na
Exercises
1) This melon is cheap but tastes good (and I assure you)
2) As for me, I understand Ainu language a little (so that you know)
Solutions
1) タパンメロンアタイサクコルカイケラアンナ Tapan Melon ataysak korkay keraan na.
2) クアニアナクアイヌイタクポンノクエラムアンナ Kuani anak aynuitak ponno ku=eramuan na.
Vocabulary
ナ Na Assurance particle
メロン Meron Melon
コルカイ Korkay Although
ケラアン Keraan To taste good, to be tasty
ク Ku= I
アイヌイタク Ainuitak Ainu language
エラムアン Eramuan To understand
クアニ Kuani I
ポロンノ Poronno A little
Lesson 43: Particle "ya"

Sentences
鉛筆エコルヤ？
Enpitsu e=kor ya?
Do you have a pencil?
ウクランイメルアッヤ？
Ukuran imeru at ya?
Did lightning strike last night?
At is "to appear" or "occur", such as light, smoke, smell or gas. It is also found in compound nouns such as urarat "to become misty",
huraat "to become fragrant", nupekiat "light appears, shine" or supyaat "smoke appears."
Imeru is "lightening", as opposed to kamuyhum , "thunder". It is made of i "that (of god)" and meru "brightness."
Grammar
Ya is an interrogative particle attached at the end of the sentence to make it a question, roughly corresponding to Japanese ka. This can be
omitted if you just raise the tone at the end of the sentence.
ワッカエク？ Wakka e=ku?
You drink water?
アイヌイタクエチエランペテク？ Ainu itak eci=eranpetek?
You (pl.) know Ainu language?
Exercises
1) Is your aunt's house big?
2) Do you (pl.) work every day? (lit. Do you be while working every day?)
Solutions
1) エコルウナルペチセヘポロヤ E=kor unarpe cisehe poro ya.
2) ケシトエチモンライケカネエチオカイヤ Kesto eci=monrayke kane eci=okay ya.
Vocabulary
ヤ Ya Interrogative particle
ポロ Poro To be big
エ E= You (sg.)
シセヘ Cisehe Home, house (genitive)
カネ Kane While
ケシト Kesto Everyday
モンライケ Monrayke To work
オカイ Okay Copula (pl.)
オクラン Ukuran Last night, yesterday evening
鉛筆（エンピツ） Enpitsu Pencil
Lesson 44: Particle "rusuy"

Sentences
アルバイトクキルスイ。
Arbeit ku=ki rusuy.
I want to get (lit. "do") a part time job.
ルルモッペエンパイェアシルスイ。
rurmotpe en paye=as rusuy.
We want to go to Rumoi.
Grammar
Rusuy is a desiderative particle, roughly translated as "to want to do something." Without rusuy, the example sentences mean "I do a part
time job" and "we go to Rumoi."
Rusuy is often used in compound words as well, as in iperusuy "to be hungry" (lit. to want to dine), mokonrusuy "to be sleepy" (lit. to
want to sleep) and konrusuy "to want to have." Notice the sound changes of mokor and kor to mokon and kon here.
Exercises
1) I want to buy a new watch.
2) Do you want to go to Sakhalin?
Solutions
1) アシリ時計クホクルスイ Asir Tokei ku=hok rusuy.
2) エチオカイカラプトエンエチパイエルスイヤ Eciokay Karapto en eci=paye rusuy ya.
Vocabulary
アシリ Asir To be new
ク Ku= I
ルスイ Rusuy Desiderative particle
時計（トケイ） Tokei Watch
カラプト Karapto Karafuto, Sakhalin (pn.)
エチオカイ Eciokay You (pl.)
アシ =as We (exclusive)
アルバイト Arubaito A part-time job, from German "Arbeit"
キ Ki To do
Rumoi (pn.) Rur "ocean", mo "silence", ot
ルルモッペ Rurmotpe "to be", pe "place." "Where the silence of
ocean is"
Lesson 45: Particle "kusu"

Sentences
ソンノメアンクスワッカルプシ。
Sonno mean kusu wakka rupus.
Water froze because it is very cold.
スキーチキクスパイェアシルスイ。
Ski ci=ki kusu paye=as rusuy.
We want to go to ski.
Grammar
Kusu is a causal particle attached at the end of the clause. Water froze because the weather was cold, and we want to go in order to (or,
"because") we ski. Note that the word order is different from English: "A because B" would translate as "B kusu A" in Ainu. B is the
reason or goal, and A is the reason. Keep in mind that the subordinate clause comes before the main clause in Ainu.
A common expression using kusu includes "… kusu ne." Literally it would mean "because it is so...", but in idiomatic usage this means "I
am going to / planning to do."
Example:
韓国エンクオマンクスネ。
Kankoku en ku=oman kusu ne.
I am going to Korea. (I have planned to do so.)
In the second sentence you find ci= and =as used in the same sentence. They are both first person plural exclusive pronominal affixes,
that the "we" does not include the listener. Ki takes transitive ci= because it has an object (ski), while paye doesn't because there is no
destination (object) specified, thus intransitive =as.
Exercises
1) Now I'm going back because I am tired.
2) We want to go to Hawaii for surfing.
Solutions
1) クシンキクスタネクホシピ Ku=sinki kusu tane ku=hosipi.
2) サーフィンチキクスハワイエンパイエアシルスイ Surfing ci=ki kusu Hawaii en=paye as rusuy.
Vocabulary
ク Ku= I
クス Kusu Causal particle
ホシピ Hosipi To return
タネ Tane Now
シンキ Sinki Tired
アシ =As We (intransitive exclusive)
ハワイ Hawai Hawaii
サーフィン Safin Surfing
チ Ci= We (transitive exclusive)
Ski. Ski was used by Sakhalin Ainu to move
スキー Suki around in the snow-piled mountains, but it is
unlikely that it was so in Hokkaido.
ルプシ Rupus To freeze
ワッカ Wakka Water
End Of Part Nine

This is the end of part nine. You can continue with part X of this course.
Continue to part X
Lesson 46: «Tuytak»
Text
( Beginning of the story )
ハー
ha
イシカルコタン
Iskar kotan
Village of Ishikari
コタンエトコ
Kotan etoko
Hill of the village
アコホラリワオカヤン
A=kohorari wa okay=an
I was living.
パウパウハエエエエエ (Refrain)
Paw paw haeeeee
イシカルコタン
Iskar kotan
Village of Ishikari
コタンエトコ
Kotan etoko
Hill of the village
アコホラリオカヤンアワ
A=kohorari okay=an awa
I was living there, but
ポコインネアンマ
Pokoinne=an ma
I had a lot of children
アンポウタル
An=po utar
My children
アンレスクス
An=resu kusu
In order to raise them
トアニンマタアニンマ
Toaninma taaninma
Here and there
テルケテルケアンカネ
Terketerke=an kane
I was flying about
パイェカイアンマ
Payekay=an ma
I was walking about
アンポウタリ
An=poutari
My children
アンエレクンペ
An=ere kun pe
Something to feed them
アンエモマシヌワ
An=emomasnu wa
I collected
アンルラワ
An=rura wa
I carried
アンポウタリ
An=poutari
My children
アンレスカネオカヤン
An=resu kane okay=an.
I was raising.
English translation
I was living in village of Iskar, on the hill of the village.
The place I was living, was village of Iskar, on the hill of the village. I had lots of children, and in order to raise my children, I flied
around and walked around here and there.
I collected things (which ought to) feed my children, carried them, and raised my children.
Exercises
Vocabulary
ア A= (Variant of An=)
アワ Awa Where (Not interrogative)
アン An= I
アン =An I
イシカル Iskar Ishikari (pn.)
Plural particle. "People" as an independent
ウタル Utar
word.
エトコ Etoko Hillside (genitive), base form etok.
エモマシヌ Enomasnu To collect, gather
エレ Ere To feed
Contraction of オカイ・アン (unchanged in
オカヤン Okay=an
Roman)
カネ Kane While
クス Kusu Because, in order to
クン Kun Should, ought to do
コタン Kotan Village
コホラリ Kohorari To live in
タアニンマ Taaninma To hither (Taani + un + wa)
To fly around. Terke by itself means "to
テルケテルケ Terketerke
jump"
トアニンマ Toaninma To thither (Toani + un + wa)
ハー Ha- (Opening sound)
パイェカイ Payekay To walk around (pl.)
パウ Paw (Onomatopoeia of a dying fox)
ハエエエエエ Haeeeee (Meaning unknown)
ペ Pe Nominalizer
ポ Po Child
ポウタリ Poutari Children (Genitive). Base form Poutar.
To have many children. Po (children) + ko
ポコインネ Pokoinne
(to him/her) + inne (to be many)
マ Ma And, while. Variant of Wa.
ルラ Rura To carry
レス Resu To raise
ワ Wa And, while.
About Tuytak
Tuytak is a form of Ainu literature. This Tuytak was collected by Hiroshi Nakagawa (Chiba University) in 1985 from Ms. Yumi
Okamoto. We only introduced the beginning lines here.
Tuytak is a tale where the gods tell their stories in the first person narrative. Gods appear as heroes in forms of various animals and birds,
such as bear, rabbit, owl and crane. This form of narrative is generally known as shinyou (神謡) in Japanese. In Ainu, it is known as
Tuytak in Samani and Urakawa, Kamuy Yukar from Shizunai to Western Iburi, Oyna in Tokachi, Kushiro and Asahikawa. (Generally
known as "Yukar" in English.)
The word Tuytak is used in Tokachi, Kushiro and Asahikawa as well but there it means "Olden Tales." "Olden Tales" in Samani and
Urakawa is Isoytatki, and Uwepeker in Iburi.
The refrain (Ainu: sakehe saha) "paw paw haeeeee" is repeated every line, and it is a characteristic of Tuytak. (Some of the lines in the
text were combined to facilitate annotation) The refrain differs in different parts of the story.
The hero of this Tuytak is Pawsekamuy, a fox. This is very similar to the other tale collected by Shigeru Kayano in Biratori, which is
published as 『キツネのチャランケ(Kitsune no Charanke)』 and is a well-known tale.
Grammar
So far we have learned the basics of Ainu language. This Tuytak may have been a bit too difficult and it is because the language of the
oral literary tradition, Classical Ainu, differs from the Modern Colloquial Ainu.
For example, the first person singular pronominal is アン- an= or -アン =an instead of the familiar ク ku=. "I rest" in Modern Ainu is ク
シニ ku=nisi, but it is シニアン nisi=an in Classical Ainu. Notice that this =an looks same as the Colloquial =an for the first person
plural. The independent pronoun differs as well, Classical pronoun for "I" is アノカイ Anokay instead of Colloquial クアニ kuani.
The plural forms of the nouns (cf. Lesson 10) are used not only for the plural subjects, but singular subject " I" as well in Classical Ainu. "I
go" would be クオマン ku=oman in Colloquial, パイェアン paye=an in Classical.
Example: "I go down to the shore and catch fish"
Modern: クアニアナクピシタクサンマチェプクコイキ。
Modern: Kuani anak pisi ta ku=san ma cep ku=koyki.
Classical: アノカイアナクピシタサプアンマチェプアンコイキ。
Classical: Anokay anak pisi ta sap=an ma cep an=koyki.
Literally: I (topic marker) shore (to) go down-(I) and fish (I)-catch.
Lesson 47: Where?

Sentences
チヌカルクルネイタアン？
Cinukarkur ney ta an?
Where is Big Dipper?
ニサッタエノンエチパイェ？
Nisatta enon eci=paye?
Where do you (pl.) go tomorrow?
Grammar
Ney ta is used to ask "where" a person or a thing is located, while enon is used to ask the destination of a movement. A related word onon
is used to ask "from where."
Ney ta "Where" Locative
Enon "Whither" Allative
Onon "Whence" Ablative
オノンエチアルキ？
Onon eci=arki?
Where do you come from? (pl.)
Enon is used in Shizunai, Eastern Hidaka and Tokachi areas. It may be hunakun, hinakun, neyne or newn in other regions.
Exercises
1) Where is your father?
2) Where do you want to go tomorrow?
Solutions
1) エコルアチャネイタアン E=kor aca ney ta an.
2) ニサッタエノンエチパイエルスイ Nisatta enon eci=paye rusuy.
Vocabulary
アン An To be
ネイ Ney Where
エ E= You
エノン Enon Whither
The Big Dipper. Made of ci=nukar=kur,
"the one which we behold." The name comes
チヌカルクル Cinukarkur
from its function as a reference point to tell
the directions.
Lesson 48: What?

Sentences
ネプエエルスイ？
Nep e=e rusuy?
What do you want to eat?
ネプカイケラアンクワシクエルスイ。
Nep kay keraan kuwas ku=e rusuy.
I want to eat some tasty snacks.
Grammar
Nep is the basic interrogative to ask "what". It can form compounds with other particles as well, such as nep kay "something", nep kusu
"for what- why" and nep ta an pe "something, for what reason" etc.
Kay is not used independently, and it is used after an abstract word: nep kay "something" (what-certain) or enon kay "somewhere" (what-
place).
Exercises
1) What will you wear tomorrow?
2) Do you have some good ideas?
Solutions
1) ニサッタネプエミワエオマン Nisatta nep e=mi wa e=oman.
2) ネプカイピリカサンニヨエチコルヤ Nep kay pirka sanniyo eci=kor ya.
Vocabulary
ミ Mi To wear
What (Interrogative). Hemanta in some
ネプ Nep
dialects.
エ E= You
ワ Wa And
サンニヨ Sanniyo Thought, Idea
ピリカ Pirka To be good
ネプカイ Nep kay Something
ク Ku= I
Candy, snack. From Classical Japanese
クワシ Kuwas Kuwashi. Topenpe or Rurkorpe in some
dialects.
ケラアン Keraan To be tasty, to taste good
ルスイ Rusuy Desiderative particle.
Lesson 49: "Even so.."

Sentences
アンミプポロンノエミヤッカイエメウンナンコル。
Anmip poronno e=mi yakkay e=meun nankor.
You feel (lit. are) cold even if you wear a lot of clothes.
ニサッタウパシアシヤッカイモンライケアシクスネ。
Nisatta upas as yakkay monrayke=as kusu ne.
We will (lit. are decided) to work even if it snows tomorrow.
Grammar
Yakkay is a conjunction placed after the subordinate clause to express "even if so…" or "despite that…", in a manner similar to korkay in
lesson 39. Keep in mind that Ainu subordinate clauses come before the main clause.
Exercises
1) I am not even finding work.
2) I suppose my son doesn't run away even if I am angry.
Solutions
1) モンライケクエシタンヤッカイイサム Monrayke ku=estan yakkay isam.
2) クイルシカヤッカイクポホヘンネキラナンコル Ku=iruska yakkay ku=poho henne kira nankor.
Vocabulary
モンライケ Monrayke Work, to work
イサム Isam Not to exist
ク Ku= I
エシタン Estan To find, search
キラ Kira To run away
ポホ Poho Son (genitive)
ナンコル Nankor Suppositional particle
アシ As To fall
アシ =as We (exclusive)
アンミプ Anmip Clothing.
ウパシ Upas Snow
エ E= You
クス Kusu Because. Kusu ne "intended/planned to do"
ネ Ne Copula (to be)
ミ Mi To wear
メウン Meun To be cold. Merayke in some dialects.
ヤッカイ Yakkay "Despite, even if." Yakka in some dialects.
Lesson 50: «Yayrap»

Text
ネコンイキワ nekon iki wa
...in what way
シクプアワンペ sikup awan pe
one who was born
アンネイネ an=ne ine
I was, and
チオルクシテコ ciorkusketo
in such a place
アトゥイソカタ atuyso ka ta
on the ocean
モムモムアンカネ mommon=an kane
floating and floating
オカアンマ oka=an ma
was, and
アコヤイヌパ a=koyaynupa
I noticed there
アヨロロペ ayororope
ネコニキワ nekon iki wa
...in what way
シクプアワンペ sikup awan pe
one who was born
イパンネキテク ipan=ne ki tek
I was
タンヌプルアトゥイ tan nupur atuy
this great sea
アトゥイソカタ atuyso ka ta
on the ocean
モムモムアンカネ mommon=an kane
...floating and floating
オカヤンキワ okay=an ki wa
while I was
アコヤイヌパ a=koyaynupa
I noticed there.
English translation
I was one born in what way, (that I do not know). I was floating and floating on the ocean, and I noticed there. Ayororope, a yororope,
ayororope. I was born in what way, (that I do not know), I was floating and floating on the great ocean, and I noticed there.
Exercises
Vocabulary
ア A= I. Variant of =an.
アトゥイ Atuy Sea
アトゥイソ Atuyso Open sea. So "wide area"
アヨロロペ Ayororope (Has no meaning)
アワン Awan And
アン An= I
アン =An I
イキ Iki To do
イネ Ine And
イパン Ipan= I. (Appears only in tales)
オカ Oka To be, to exist. Variant of Okay.
カ Ka Above
カネ Kane …ing, while
キ Ki To do
コヤｙヌパ Koyaynupa To notice there.
シクプ Sikup To grow up
タン Tan This
チオルクシテコ Ciorkusteko In what way
テク Tek And
Spiritually powerful, great. To be of deep
ヌプル Nupur
color.
ネ Ne Copula
Contraction of ネコンイキ. (Change in
ネコニキ Nekoniki
Kana only)
ネコン Nekon In what way
ペ Pe Nominalizer
マ Ma And. Variant of Wa.
Floating and floating. Mom by itself is "to
モムモム Mommom
float"
ワ Wa And
Grammar
This is a sample of a Yayrap, a heroic epic narrative orally transmitted in Samani area. This Yayrap was performed by Ms. Yumi
Okamoto. It is a difficult task to sing Yayrap, one must practice to sing continuously for a prolonged time. The language itself is quite
difficult as well, as it employs Classical Ainu.
This Yayrap begins with chanting ayororope between the lines, but it has no meaning, it just lets the listeners to know that the narrative
begins. This occurs repeatedly between lines or phrases.
End Of Part Ten

This is the end of part ten. You can continue with part XI of this course.
Continue to part XI
Lesson 51: Ainu Theatre
Text
Man 1:
トパットゥミエクナ！
Topattumi ek na!
Invading army came!
Man 2:
ハヨクワトゥミエトコイキヤン！
Hayok wa tumi etokoyki yan!
Arm and prepare for a war!
Man 4：
アイシトマナ！メノコウタルネワヘカッタルアナクキムタキラワ
Ay=sitoma na! menoko utar newa hekattar anak kim ta kira wa
What a terrifying thing! Let the women and children run to the mountain
シヌイナクナンコル！イテッケソイェンパ！
Sinuynak nankor! itekke soyenpa!
and hide! You ought not to come outside!
Woman 1:
トパットゥミエクヤカイェ！
Topattumi ek yakaye!
It seems like the invading army came!
Woman 2:
キラアンクスネ！
Kira=an kusu ne!
Let us run away!
Woman 3:
ヘタクキラアンノ！
Hetak kira=an no!
Let us run away, quickly!
Woman 4:
オンネウタルネワヘカッタルアントゥラワキラアンノ！
Onne utar newa hekattar an=tura wa kira=an no!
Let us run away, taking the aged and the children with us!
Exercises
Vocabulary
アイ Ay= Variant of An=
アン An= We
アン =An We
イテッケ Itekke Do not, you ought not
ウタル Utar People
エク Ek To come (sg.)
エトコイキ Etokoyki To prepare for
オンエ Onne Aged, old
Mountain. Nupuri is generally used for a
キム Kim "this, or that mountain" while kim is more
usual when it comes to "to, into mountain."
キラ Kira To run away
クス Kusu Because
シトマ Sitoma To be terrified of
シヌイナク Sinuynak To hide, conceal oneself
ソイェンパ Soyenpa To come outside (pl.) Soyene in singular.
トゥミ Tumi War, fight
トゥラ Tura To take along
トパットゥミ Topattumi Invading army or a bandit gang
ナ Na Suggestive particle
ナンコル Nankor Suppositional particle
ネ Ne Copula
ネワ Newa And. This is used in enumerating items.
ノ No "Let us…"
ハヨク Hayok To arm
ヘカッタル Hekattar Children
ヘタク Hetak Quickly
メノコ Menoko Woman
"I heard…" or "it seems like...". Contracted
ヤカイェ Yakaye from Yak aye, and yakaye or hakaye in some
dialects.
ヤン Yan Imperative particle. "Do!"
ワ Wa And
Grammar
This is a sample of an Ainu play, Legend of Sand Whale(ホタフンペ Hotehunpe). It was performed by the students of Samani Ainu class
in the 19th Ainu Culture Festival held in Samani. The original version was performed by Mr. Soukichi Okamoto and published in History
of Samani Village(『様似町史』).
Topattumi is a recurring word in various Ainu tales, and it is a group of people with a malicious intent who attack the village and sack the
treasures. Topa is a group or a mass of people, and tumi means a feud or a war. Iskatumi means the same, from iska meaning "to steal".
Lesson 52: Conversation

Text
A: ウパシルワシリポプケナ。
upas ru wa sirpopke na.
Snow melts and it became warm, isn't it?
B: パイカルアンナ！クヌチャクテク。
paykar an na. ku=nucaktek.
It's spring! I'm feeling good.
A: ニサッタ日曜日ネクスエノンカイパイェアンノ！
nisatta NICHIYOUBI ne kusu enon kay paye=an no!
Tomorrow is sunday, so let us go somewhere!
B: ピリカ！車アンオワパイェアンノ！
pirka! KURUMA an=o wa paye=an no!
Good! Let us ride car and go! (i.e. Let us drive to somewhere)
A: エノンエオマンルスイ？
enon e=oman rusuy?
Where do you want to go?
B: オタルナイエンクオマンルスイ。
Otarunay en ku=oman rusuy.
I want to go to Otaru.
A: ピリカ。クアニウサクオマンルスイ。
pirka. kuani usa ku=oman rusuy.
Good. I want to go there too.
B: ヤクン、ウトゥラノパイェアンノ。
yakun, uturano paye=an no.
So, let's go together.
シンケヘ
sinkehe (Next day)
A: オタルナイタシレパアンルウェネ。
Otarunay ta sirepa=an ruwe ne.
We arrived in Otaru.
B: インネウタルオカイ！
inne utar okay!
There are lots of people!
A: クアニアナクピントロアリアンカルペクホクルスイ。
kuani anak pintoro ari an=kar pe ku=hok rusuy.
I want to buy some glass products.
B: ヤクン、トアンタパイェアンノ。
yakun, toanta paye=an no.
So, let's go there.
みやげ屋オシケタ
MIYAGEYA oske ta (At a souvenir shop)
A: インキアンペエコンルスイ？
inkianpe e=konrusuy?
What do you like?
B: オピッタソンノアタイコルナ。
opitta sonno ataykor na.
They're all expensive.
A: オヤクタパイェアンクスネ。
oyak ta paye=an kusu ne.
Then let's go to somewhere else.
B: パイェアンノ。
paye=an no.
Let's go.
オヤみやげ屋オシケタ
oya MIYAGEYA oske ta (At a different souvenir shop)
A: タンペソンノピリカナ。クホククスネ。
tanpe sonno pirka na. ku=hok kusu ne.
This is really beautiful. So I'm buying it.
B: クアニアナクタパンオルゴールクホクナ。フミヒソンノピリカ。
kuani anak tapan ORUGORU ku=hok na. humihi sonno pirka.
I'm buying this orgel. It sounds very beautiful.
みやげ屋オルワソイェンパ
MIYAGEYA or wa soyenpa (Leaving the souvenir shop)
A: トケシアンナ。イペアンノ。クイペルスイ。
tokes an na. ipe=an no. ku=iperusuy.
It's lunch time. Let's go eat. I'm hungry.
B: ネコンアンペエエルスイ？
nekon an pe e=e rusuy?
What do you want to eat?
A: クアニアナクラーメンクエルスイ。
kuani anak RAMEN ku=e rusuy.
I want to eat ramen.
B: オタルナイネクス寿司クエルスイ。
Otarunay ne kusu SUSI ku=e rusuy.
It's Otaru, so I want to eat Sushi.
A: クアニアナクネラーメンクエルスイコルカイ、
kuani anakne RAMEN ku=e rusuy korkay,
Though I want to eat ramen,
寿司エエルスイヤクン寿司ネヤッカイピリカ。
SUSI e=e rusuy yakun SUSI ne yakkay pirka.
but sushi is fine if you want to eat sushi.
B: イヤライケレ。ケラアンマアタイサクウシケアンエシタンノ。
iyayraykere. keraan ma ataysak uske an=estan no.
Thanks. Let's find somewhere good and cheap.
Exercises
Vocabulary
アタイコル Ataykor To be expensive
Instrumental particle, made of something, to
アリ Ari do something with X etc. Ani in some
dialects.
アン An To be, to exist.
アン An= We
アン =an We
イペ Ipe To have a meal
イペルスイ Iperusuy To be hungry
イヤイライケレ Irayraykere Thank you!
インキアンペ Inkianpe Which, which one
インエ Inne To be a lot of people, to be crowded
ウシケ Uske Somewhere, a place
ウサ Usa Too, as well
ウタル Utar People
ウトゥラノ Uturano Together
ウパシ Upas Snow
エ E To eat
エ E= You
エシタン Estan To find, search. Hunar in some dialects.
エノン Enon To where
オ O To ride
オシケ Oske Inside, in the midst of
オル Or Somewhere, a place
オカイ Okay To be, to exist (pl.)
オタルナイ Otarunay Otaru (pn.) Ota-ru-nay, "sand-road-field."
オピッタ Opitta All, everything
オヤ Oya Other, something else
オヤク Oyak Somewhere else
オルゴール Orugoru Orgel
カル Kar To make
カイ Kay Interrogative particle
クアニ Kuani I
ク Ku= I
クス Kusu Since, because, so
車（クルマ） Kuruma Car, automobile
ケラアン Keraan To be tasty, to taste good
コルカイ Korkay But, although
コンルスイ Konrusuy To want
シリポプケ Sirpopke To be warm
シレパ Sirepa To arrive
Next day (gen.) Base form sinke. Simke in
シンケヘ Sinkehe
some dialects.
寿司（スシ） Sushi Sushi
ソイェンパ Soyenpa To go outside (pl.)
ソンノ Sonno Really, truly
タンペ Tanpe This thing
トアンタ Toanta Over there
トケシ Tokes Daytime, lunchtime
ナ Na Suggestive particle
日曜日（ニチヨウビ） Nichiyoubi Sunday
To be envious of. Yaykopuntek, nupetne, or
ヌチャクテク Nucaktek
yayrenka in some dialects.
ネ Ne Copula
ネコン Nekon In what way
ノ No "Let us…"
パイカル Paykar Spring
ピリカ Pirka To be good, beautiful
Glass. Portuguese loanword into Japanese
ピントロ Pintoro
and Ainu.
フミヒ Humihi Sound (gen.) Base form Hum.
ペ Pe Nominalizer. Thing.
ホク Hok To buy
マ Ma Variation of Wa.
みやげ屋（ミヤゲヤ） Miyageya Souvenir shop.
ヤクン Yakun If then, so…
ヤッカイ Yakkay Even though, despite that…
ラーメン Ramen Ramen
ル Ru To melt
ルウェ Ruwe Thing (abstract)
ワ Wa From
ワ Wa And
Grammar
Be careful with the expression "pintoro ari an=kar pe". Although an= is used here, this does not mean "a thing that we made from glass",
but rather "something that is made of glass". Ruwe as in "ruwe ne" is a "thing", but ruwe ne as a whole as an idiomatic expression is "it
turned out such", "it is such a.." or "it is like.." to emphasize an event.
This concludes the year-long study of Ainu. This lesson might have been a little bit difficult, but it is meant to give you a sense of what
would an Ainu conversation sound like, so we came up with this dialogue with two travelers to Otaru, a town famous for sushi. There are
a few expressions that we didn't learn yet, but most of it is the application of what we have learned so far.
Iyayraykere!
End Of Part Eleven

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What is the basic word order of Ainu sentences?

What is the basic word order of Ainu sentences?

What are some examples of Ainu verbs provided in the text?

What are some examples of Ainu verbs provided in the text?

Ainu for Beginners

Lesson 2: Simple Sentences - 2

Lesson 7: "I do.." (1)

Lesson 8: "I do.." (2)

Lesson 10: Plural Verbs

End Of Part Two

Lesson 12: Topic Marker

Lesson 13: Locative

Lesson 14: Allative

Lesson 15: Ablative

End Of Part Three

Lesson 17: "Your.." (1)

Lesson 18: "Your.." (2)

Lesson 19: "You do.." (sg.)

Lesson 20: Independent Pronoun "I" (1)

End Of Part Four

Lesson 22: Independent Pronoun "You" (sg.)

Lesson 23: Connector "wa" (1)

Lesson 24: Connector "wa" (2)

Lesson 25: Imperative

End Of Part Five

Lesson 27: Genitive (1)

Lesson 28: Genitive (2)

Lesson 29: Nominalizer

Lesson 30: "You do.." (pl.)

End Of Part Six

Lesson 32: "We do.." (1)

Lesson 33: "We do.." (2)

Lesson 34: "We do.." (3)

Lesson 35: "We do.." (4)

End Of Part Seven

Lesson 37: "I suppose.."

Lesson 38: Object Pronoun "Me"

Lesson 39: Connector "korkay"

Lesson 40: "Let us.." (1)

End Of Part Eight

Lesson 42: Particle "na"

Lesson 43: Particle "ya"

Lesson 44: Particle "rusuy"

Lesson 45: Particle "kusu"

End Of Part Nine

Lesson 47: Where?

Lesson 48: What?

Lesson 49: "Even so.."

Lesson 50: «Yayrap»

End Of Part Ten

Lesson 52: Conversation

End Of Part Eleven

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