Beothuk language

Beothuk
Beothukan
Native to	Canada
Region	Newfoundland
Ethnicity	Beothuk
Extinct	June 6, 1829, with the death of Shanawdithit
Language family	Language isolate (Algonquian?)
Language codes
ISO 639-3	bue
Glottolog	beot1247
Pre-contact distribution of Beothuk language

Beothuk (/biːˈɒtək/ or /ˈbeɪ.əθʊk/), also called Beothukan, is an extinct language isolate once spoken by the indigenous Beothuk people of Newfoundland. The Beothuk have been extinct since 1829, and there are few written accounts of their language. Hence, little is known about it, with practically no structural data existing for Beothuk.

Classification

Claims of links with the neighbouring Algonquian language family date back at least to Robert Gordon Latham in 1862. From 1968 onwards, John Hewson has put forth evidence of sound correspondences and shared morphology with Proto-Algonquian and other better-documented Algonquian languages. If this is valid, Beothuk would be an extremely divergent member of the family.

Other researchers claimed that proposed similarities are more likely the result of borrowing than cognates. The limited and poor nature of the documentation means there is not enough evidence to draw strong conclusions. Owing to this overall lack of meaningful evidence, Ives Goddard and Lyle Campbell claim that any connections between Beothuk and Algonquian are unknown and likely unknowable.

Comparison with Proto-Algonquian

Below is a comparison of Beothuk words from Hewson (1978) with Proto-Algonquian lexical reconstructions from Hewson (2017).

gloss	Proto-Algonquian	Beothuk
head	*wiᐧši (his)	keawthaw; geothuk; keauthut, gonothun
hair	*wiᐧΘeʔsi	donna; drummet; drone-oock; dronna
eye	*neškiᐧnšekwi (my)	geegnyan; gwinya
ear	*nehtaᐧwakaᐧyi (my)	mismuth; mootchiman; mooshaman
nose	*nexkiwani (my)	g(h)een
tooth	*niᐧpiči (my)	outhermay
tongue	*wiᐧΘani (his)	memaza; mamadthuk (cf. mouth); memasuck
mouth	*wetoᐧni (his)	mamudthun; mameshook
hand	*neΘenčyi (my)	memen (hands or fingers); maelmed; memet
foot	*nesiči (my)	hodwitch; adyouth (cf. leg)
breast	*wetoᐧhšali	bemoot; bogomot
meat	*wiᐧyawehsi	ashauch
blood	*meçkwi	ashaboouth; arrowbauth; izzobauth, iggobauth
bone	*weΘkani	aenameen
person	*elenyiwa; *naᐧpeᐧwa; *niᐧmaΘawa	shawdtharut
dog	*aΘemwa	mammasamit; mammasameet
fish	*nameᐧwa, *nameᐧʔsa; *mesaya	poopusrout; baubooshrat
louse	*ehkwa	cusebee; kusebeet
tree	*-aᐧhtekw	annooee
leaf	*aniᐧpyi	madyua; madyna
water	*nepyi	ebauthoo; ebadoe
fire	*eškweteᐧwi	koorae; oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning); woodrat
stone	*aʔsenya	ou(ge)n; ahune 'rocks'

Recorded song

In 1910, American anthropologist Frank Speck recorded a 74-year-old Indigenous woman named Santu Toney singing a song purported to be in the language. The recording resurfaced at the very end of the 20th century. Some sources give the year 1929, but the 1910 date is confirmed in Speck's book Beothuk and Micmac (New York 1922, p. 67). The words are hard to hear and not understood. Santu said she had been taught the song by her father, named Kop, whose people called themselves osa'ɣana, which may be evidence that one person with a Beothuk connection was alive after the death of Shanawdithit in 1829 since Santu Toney was born about 1835). Contemporary researchers have tried to make a transcription of the song and to clean up the recording with modern methods. Native groups have learned the song.

James P. Howley, Director of the Geological Survey of Newfoundland, who for more than forty years was interested in the history of the Beothuk, doubted, in 1914, the truthfulness of Santu Toney.

Vocabulary

Beothuk is known only from several wordlists from the 18th and the 19th centuries by George C. Pulling (1792), Rev. John Clinch, Rev. John Leigh, and Hercules Robinson (1834). They contain more than 400 words that had been collected from speakers such as Oubee, Demasduit, and Shanawdithit, but there were no examples of connected speech. Wordlists had also been collected by W. E. Cormack (who worked with Shanawdithit), Richard King (whose wordlist had been passed on to Robert Gordon Latham), and James P. Howley (1915) (who worked with Jure, a widow from the islands of the Bay of Exploits).

The lack of any systematic or consistent representation of the vocabulary in the wordlists makes it daunting to establish the sound system of Beothuk, and words that are listed separately on the lists may be the same word transcribed in different ways. Moreover, the lists are known to have many mistakes. That, along with the lack of connected speech, leaves little upon which to build any reconstruction of Beothuk.

Combined lists

The wordlists have been transcribed and analyzed in Hewson (1978). The combined Beothuk wordlists below have been reproduced from Hewson (1978: 149–167).

Gloss	Beothuk (all lists combined)	Latham / King (1850)	Cormack (m.s.)	Clinch (m.s.)	Leigh (m.s.)	Robinson (1834)	Howley (1915)
afraid	cockaboset 'don't be afraid'	cockaboset 'don't be afraid'
alive	mamisut; mamseet	mamseet	mamisut
angry	assoyt		assoyt
ankle	geijebursut		geijebursut
arm	watheek; shedbasing wathik 'upper arm'; watheekee; memayet 'arms'	watheekee	watheek; shedbasing wathik 'upper arm'		memayet 'arms'
arrow	ashooging; dogemat	ashooging	ashooging		dogemat
asleep, dead	widdun						widdun
awake	amet		amet
baby	messiligethook	messiligethook
back	posson; possont			posson	possont
bad	mudty; mudeet 'bad man'; maudee, muddy, madich	maudee, muddy, madich	mudty; mudeet 'bad man'
bakeapples	abidemashick					abidemashick
bat	sosheet	sosheet
bead	baasick (cf. necklace)		baasick (cf. necklace)
bear	washawet; gwashuwet	washawet			gwashuwet
beast	obditch (cf. cat, seal)			obditch (cf. cat, seal)
beat	pugathuse beating; bukashowite			pugathuse beating	bukashowite
beaver	maumshet; mamshet	maumshet			mamshet
(go to) bed	boochauwhit (cf. sleep, lie down)	boochauwhit (cf. sleep, lie down)
belly	haddabatheek (cf. body)		haddabatheek (cf. body)
berries	manus; bibidigemidic	manus			bibidigemidic
birch	paushee 'birch rind or paper'; by-yeech 'birch tree'; boyish 'birch rind'	by-yeech 'birch tree'		paushee 'birch rind or paper'	boyish 'birch rind'
bird	deynyad, deynyadrook 'birds'		deynyad, deynyadrook 'birds'
bird (large)	popadish (cf. pigeon)			popadish (cf. pigeon)
bird (little)	obseet; ounermish		obseet	ounermish
birds' excrement	sugamith			sugamith
bite	bashoodite				bashoodite
black	maudzyke; mandzey	mandzey	maudzyke
blackbird	woodch		woodch
blankets	manaboret; manavorit	manaboret			manavorit
blind	kaesing-guinyeet		kaesing-guinyeet
blood	ashaboouth; arrowbauth; izzobauth or iggobauth		ashaboouth	arrowbauth	izzobauth or iggobauth
blow	deschudodoick		deschudodoick
blow the nose	shegame; shegamit			shegame	shegamit
blue	eeshang-eyghth		eeshang-eyghth
blunt	boas seek; mocothutt blunt-nosed fish		boas seek; mocothutt blunt-nosed fish
boat	adolthtek (cf. canoe, ship); adothe 'boat or vessel'	adolthtek (cf. canoe, ship)			adothe 'boat or vessel'
boat (large)	dhoorado	dhoorado
body	haddabothy; haddabothic			haddabothy	haddabothic
boil (as water)	oadjameet		oadjameet
boil (transitive)	moadamutt		moadamutt
bone	aenameen		aenameen
bonnet, hat	abodoneek; abadungeyk; abodonec	abadungeyk	abodoneek		abodonec
bosom	bodchmoot; boghmoot (cf. breast)	boghmoot (cf. breast)	bodchmoot
bow	hathemay; anyemen	anyemen		hathemay
boy (white)	bukashamesh; buggishamish; buggishamesh	buggishamesh	bukashamesh		bukashamesh		buggishamish
boy (Indian)	mossessdeesh; mogazeesh	mogazeesh	mossessdeesh
bread	maujebathook; annawhadya	annawhadya	maujebathook
break a stick	pugenon			pugenon
break wind	tediddle			tediddle
breast	bemoot (cf. bosom); bogomot		bemoot (cf. bosom)		bogomot
breath	gaboweete		gaboweete
bushes	maudeweech	maudeweech
buttons	aegumet; agamet 'buttons or money'	aegumet			agamet 'buttons or money'
candle	shapoth; shaboth	shapoth			shaboth
canoe	thubathew 'boat or canoe'; dapathook; tapathook	dapathook		thubathew boat or canoe	tapathook
cap	eeseeboon (cf. bonnet)	eeseeboon (cf. bonnet)
capelin	shamook; shaamoo; shamooth	shamook; shaamoo			shamooth
cat	obodish; abidesoot; abideeshook	abidesoot			abideeshook		obodish
cat (marten)	abidish	abidish			abidish
catching fish	eshbauth			eshbauth
cattle	methabeet; nethabete	methabeet			nethabete
cheek	weenoun	weenoun
chin	keoun; geoun; goun	geoun		keoun	goun
clothes	dhingyam; thingyam	dhingyam			thingyam
clouds	berroick				berroick
coal	methie 'coal, dirt'			methie		methie 'dirt'
cockle	sheedeneesheet	sheedeneesheet
codfish	bobboosoret (cf. fish)	bobboosoret (cf. fish)			bobboosoret (cf. fish)
cold	eenodsha; moidewsee	eenodsha			moidewsee
comb	edrathin				edrathin
come	touet; deiood	touet; deiood
come back again	nadyed	nadyed
come hither	dyoot thouret; dyoom; thooret	dyoom	dyoot thouret		thooret
comet	anin				anin
cream jug	nadalahet; motheryet	nadalahet			motheryet
cry	mautheauthaw; matheothuc			mautheauthaw	matheothuc
currants	shamye			shamye	shamye
cut	hadyusum; odishuik or odishuite			hadyusum	odishuik or odishuite
dancing	thubwedgie; badiseet			thubwedgie	badiseet
dead	gosset; gausep (cf. asleep)	gosset; gausep (cf. asleep)
deer	osweet; cosweet	cosweet			osweet		osweet
deer's horns	megorum; megorun	megorum			megorun
devil	ashmudyim; haoot	haoot	ashmudyim
dirt	yew-why			yew-why
dog	mammasamit; mammasameet	mammasameet			mammasameet		mammasamit
dogberries	menome			menome
dogwood, mountain ash	emoethook	emoethook			emoethook
drawing knife	moheshaudet; moeshwadet	moheshaudet			moeshwadet
drink	ebathook; ebathoot (cf. water)	ebathook; ebathoot (cf. water)
drinking cup	shoewan; shoewanyeesh (dim.)		shoewan; shoewanyeesh (dim.)
dry	gasook	gasook
duck	eesheet; boodowit	eesheet			boodowit
ducks and drakes	mameshet; howmeshet				mameshet	howmeshet
eagle	gobidin		gobidin
ear	mismuth; mootchiman; mooshaman	mootchiman		mismuth	mooshaman
eat	pugazoa; bocootyone; pokoodsoont; odoit	bocootyone; pokoodsoont		pugazoa	odoit
egg	deboin; debine	deboin			debine
elbow	moocus			moocus	moocus
Eskimo	ashwan	ashwan
eye	geegnyan; gwinya	geegnyan			gwinya
eyebrow	momeaugh; marmeuck			momeaugh	marmeuck
fall	koshet				koshet
fat	eeg	eeg
fear	geswat; cockaboset 'no fear'	geswat; cockaboset 'no fear'
feather	evenau; ewinon; abobidress 'feathers'	ewinon		evenau	abobidress 'feathers'
finger	onnus 'forefinger'; oddesamick 'little finger'; awadshibik 'middle finger'; wyabick 'ring finger'; hanyees	hanyees					onnus 'forefinger'; oddesamick 'little finger'; awadshibik 'middle finger'; wyabick 'ring finger'
fire	koorae; oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning); woodrat	oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning)		koorae	woodrat
fish	poopusrout; baubooshrat (cf. codfish)	baubooshrat (cf. codfish)		poopusrout
fish hook	adooch; adothook	adooch			adothook
fishing line	disup; edat			disup	edat
flea	kessyet			kessyet
flesh (meat)	ashauch	ashauch
flying	miawoth; miaoth			miawoth	miaoth
foot	hodwitch; adyouth (cf. leg)	adyouth (cf. leg)		hodwitch
forehead	doothun	doothun
fork	papade-aden; etheuwit			papade-aden	etheuwit
fowl	edgedoweshin						edgedoweshin
fox	dogajavick	dogajavick
fur, animal hair	peatha			peatha	peatha
gaping	abemite				abemite
get up	amshut; kinup; ganyess		amshut		ganyess		kinup
gimlet	quadranuck	quadranuck			quadranuck
girl (white)	imamuset; emamooset	emamooset			emamooset		imamuset
girl (Indian)	woaseesh	woaseesh
give me	dayhamin	dayhamin
(we) give thee a knife	wawashemet o-owin	wawashemet o-owin
glass	hadalahet (cf. cream jug); hadibiet	hadalahet (cf. cream jug)			hadibiet
gloves	obsedeek	obsedeek			obsedeek
go away	gayzhoot	gayzhoot
go home	baetha	baetha
go out	baeodut; enano	baeodut			enano
good	homedick; oomdzech; betheote 'good night'	homedick; oomdzech			betheote 'good night'
goose	yewone; odo-ezheet (cf. duck); odeusook	odo-ezheet (cf. duck)		yewone	odeusook
gooseberry	jiggamint				jiggamint
grass	shisth			shisth
grindstone	shewthake; aquathoont	shewthake			aquathoont
groaning	cheeashit; cheashit			cheeashit	cheashit
gull	asson	asson			asson
gun	harreen or huz-seen; adamadret	adamadret		harreen or huz-seen	adamadret
gun powder	beasothunt	beasothunt			beasothunt
hair	donna; drummet; drone-oock; dronna	drone-oock		donna	dronna		drummet
halibut, flatfish	hanawasutt	hanawasutt
hammer	iwish; mattuis	iwish			mattuis
hand	memen 'hands or fingers'; maelmed; memet	maelmed		memen 'hands or fingers'	memet
hare	odusweet	odusweet			odusweet
(make) haste	ishu; eeshoo	eeshoo					ishu
hatchet	nowaut; thinyun; dthoonanyen; thingaya	thinyun; dthoonanyen		nowaut		thingaya
head	keawthaw; geothuk; keauthut, gonothun	geothuk		keawthaw	keauthut, gonothun
hear	noduera	noduera
heart	bedoret; bogodoret	bedoret			bogodoret
heaven	theehone	theehone
herring	washemesh				washemesh
hiccups	mudyraw; madyrut			mudyraw	madyrut
hill	kaasook; keoosock	kaasook; keoosock
hoop	woin				woin
house	mae-adthike (cf. hut); mammateek	mae-adthike (cf. hut)			mammateek
hungry	dauoosett	dauoosett
(not) hurt	aoodrach	aoodrach
husband	zathrook (cf. man)				zathrook (cf. man)
hut	meothik (cf. house)	meothik (cf. house)
ice	ozrook; ozeru	ozrook			ozeru
Indian (red)	behathook; beothuck; beathook	behathook; beothuck			beathook
Indian cup	shucodidimet; shucodidimit	shucodidimet			shucodidimit
iron	mauageene; maudshinuk; mowageenite			mauageene	mowageenite		maudshinuk
islands	mammasheek				mammasheek
kill	whadicheme; bogathoowytch	whadicheme; bogathoowytch
(not) kill	datyuns	datyuns
kiss	sheboth; widumite			sheboth	widumite
knee	hodsmishit; hodamishit			hodsmishit	hodamishit
kneeling	abusthibe; abusthibit			abusthibe	abusthibit
knife	yewoin; iwo-in; aewaeen; hewhine; uine	aewaeen; hewhine		yewoin	uine		iwo-in
lamp	mondicuet; bobdiduishemet	mondicuet			bobdiduishemet
laugh	whoishme; wyeeth			whoishme	wyeeth
lead	goosheben				goosheben
lean, thin, sick	ashei	ashei
leaves	madyua; madyna			madyua	madyna
leg	cogadealla; aduse (cf. foot)			cogadealla	aduse (cf. foot)
lie	pisauwau; bituwait (cf. sleep)			pisauwau	bituwait (cf. sleep)
life	mamset (cf. alive)	mamset (cf. alive)
lightning	koorae; barodiisick (cf. fire and thunder)			koorae	barodiisick (cf. fire and thunder)
(I) like	adjeedisk	adjeedisk
lip	coosh; ooish			coosh	ooish
lobster	odjet	odjet			odjet
long	kannabuck	kannabuck
lord bird, harlequin duck	mammadrouit				mammadrouit
louse	cusebee; kusebeet			cusebee	kusebeet
lumpfish	aeshemeet		aeshemeet
mainland	gauzewook				gauzewook
man (white)	pushaman; buggishaman; bukashaman	buggishaman		pushaman	bukashaman		buggishaman
man (Indian)	shawdtharut (cf. husband)	shawdtharut (cf. husband)
Micmac	shanung	shanung
milk	madabooch	madabooch
moccasin	moosin; mosen	moosin; mosen
money	beodet	beodet
moon	kuus; keeose, washageuis; kius, washewiush	keeose, washageuis	kuus		kius, washewiush
mosquito	shema bogosthuc				shema bogosthuc
mouth	mamudthun; mameshook	mamudthun			mameshook
muscle (mussel)	owameet	owameet
nails	cush; quish			cush	quish
neck	tedesheet (cf. throat)			tedesheet (cf. throat)	tedesheet (cf. throat)
necklace	zeek (cf. beads); bethec	zeek (cf. beads)			bethec
needle	tuzmus; dosomite (cf. pin)			tuzmus	dosomite (cf. pin)
net	giggaremanet	giggaremanet			giggaremanet
night	washewch; washew	washewch			washew
nipper	bebadrook				bebadrook
no	newin	newin
nose	gheen; geen	gheen			geen
oakum	mushabauth			mushabauth	mushabauth
oar	poodybeac			poodybeac	poodybeac
ochre	odemen; odement	odemen			odement
oil	emet	emet			emet
otter	edachoom; edru	edachoom			edru
partridge	susut; zosoot; zosweet	zosoot		susut	zosweet
partridgeberries	shaudame			shaudame
pigeon (sea), (guillemot)	bobbodish (cf. bird)	bobbodish (cf. bird)			bobbodish (cf. bird)		bobbodish (cf. bird)
pin	tusmug; dosomite	dosomite		tusmug	dosomite
pitcher, cup, plate	manume; manune	manume			manune
pond	woodum	woodum
puffin	gwoshuawit				gwoshuawit
puppies	mammasameet (cf. dog)				mammasameet (cf. dog)
rain	pedthae; watshoosooch; badoese; bathuc	watshoosooch; badoese		pedthae	bathuc
raspberries	gauzadun					gauzadun
rat	gadgemish				gadgemish
red	deedrashow	deedrashow
river	shebon; shebin brook	shebon; shebin brook
rocks	ahune				ahune
rolling	odausot			odausot
rowing	huzzagan; osavate			huzzagan	osavate
run	wothamashee; ibadinnam; wothamashet	ibadinnam		wothamashee	wothamashet
sails	ejabathook	ejabathook			ejabathook
salmon	wasemook	wasemook			wasemook
saw	dedoweet; deddoweet	dedoweet			deddoweet
salt water	massoock	massoock
scab	pigathee			pigathee	pigathee
scallop	gowet				gowet
scalping the head	nomushrush keawthaw			nomushrush keawthaw
scissors	oseenyet; osegeeu	oseenyet			osegeeu
scratch	bashubet				bashubet
seal	momau; bidesuk; beedzuk; bidesook	bidesuk; beedzuk		momau	bidesook
seal sunk	aparet a bidesook				aparet a bidesook
seal skin bag	bochmoot 'seal skin sledge full'		bochmoot 'seal skin sledge full'
see	ejew	ejew
shake hands	meman momasthus; kawinjemeesh; meman monasthus	kawinjemeesh		meman momasthus	meman monasthus
ship, vessel	mamzhing; mamashee (cf. boat)	mamashee (cf. boat)	mamzhing
shoes	moosin (cf. mocassin)				moosin (cf. mocassin)
shoot	hodthoo 'shoot a gun'; outhaje-arrathunum 'shoot an arrow perpendicularly'; wadshoodet	wadshoodet		hodthoo 'shoot a gun'; outhaje-arrathunum 'shoot an arrow perpendicularly'
short	yeech	yeech
shoulder	momezabethon; momegemethon			momezabethon	momegemethon
shovel	hadowadet; godawick	hadowadet			godawick
silk handkerchief	egibiduish	egibiduish			egibiduish
sinew of deer	modthamook	modthamook
singing	tuauthaw; awoodet			tuauthaw	awoodet
sit	haddosdoding; athep	athep		haddosdoding	athep
sleep	puthuauth; bootzhawet; aoseedwit 'I am sleepy' (cf. lie, bed); isedoweet	bootzhawet; aoseedwit 'I am sleepy' (cf. lie, bed)		puthuauth	isedoweet
sleeve	wobesheet	wobesheet
smell	marot	marot
smoke	possthee; basdiek; besdic	basdiek		possthee	besdic
snail	aeueece	aeueece
sneezing	midyathew; adjith			midyathew	adjith
snipe	auojet				auojet
snow	(corrasoob); causabow; kaasussabook	causabow; kaasussabook		(corrasoob)
song	mamatrabet (a long?)	mamatrabet (a long?)
soon	jewmetcheen	jewmetcheen
sore throat	anadrick	anadrick			anadrick
sorrow	corrasoob (cf. snow)			corrasoob (cf. snow)	corrasoob (cf. snow)
speak	carmtack; jeroothack	carmtack; jeroothack
spear	anun; aaduth 'seal spear'; amina 'deer spear'; hannan		anun; aaduth 'seal spear'; amina 'deer spear'	hannan
spider	woadthoowin	woadthoowin
spoon	hanamait; adadiminte, andemin	adadiminte, andemin		hanamait
spouse	anwoyding	anwoyding
spruce	trawnasoo			trawnasoo	trawnasoo
spruce rind	sousot			sousot
standing	kingabie; kingiabit			kingabie	kingiabit
stars	so-ushzeth; shawwayet; adenishit	shawwayet		so-ushzeth	adenishit
stinking seal	mattik bidesook	mattik bidesook			mattik bidesook
stockings	gassek; gasset	gassek			gasset
stones	ougen; oun (cf. rocks)	oun (cf. rocks)		ougen
stooping	hedy-yan			hedy-yan	hedy-yan
sugar	shedothoon	shedothoon
sun, moon	dewis; keeose; keuse; magaragueis 'sun'; washageuis 'moon'; kius; maugerooius 'sun'; washewiush 'moon'	keeose; keuse; magaragueis 'sun'; washageuis 'moon'		dewis	kius; maugerooius 'sun'; washewiush 'moon'
swimming	tuwedgie; thoowidgee (cf. dancing)			tuwedgie	thoowidgee (cf. dancing)
sword	bidisoni	bidisoni			bidisoni
tea	butterweye (probably garbled)	butterweye (probably garbled)
teeth	outhermay; botomet outhermayet			outhermay	botomet outhermayet
thank you	thine				thine
thigh	ipeween; ipweena			ipeween	ipweena
thread	meroopish; meroobish (cf. twine)			meroopish	meroobish (cf. twine)
throat	tedesheet (cf. neck)			tedesheet (cf. neck)
throw a trap	shaubabuneshaw			shaubabuneshaw
throw	pugatho; pugathoite			pugatho	pugathoite
thumb	pooith; buit; boad; pooeth	boad		pooith	pooeth		buit
thunder	petothorish; barodiisick (cf. lightning)			petothorish	barodiisick (cf. lightning)
ticklace (kittiwake)	gotheyet	gotheyet			gotheyet
tickle (gut, sound, strait)	kaduishuite				kaduishuite
tinker (razorbill)	oothook				oothook
tobacco	nechwa	nechwa
tomorrow	maduck	maduck
tongue	memaza; mamadthuk (cf. mouth); memasuck	mamadthuk (cf. mouth)		memaza	memasuck
trap	tibethun; lathun; shebathoont	lathun		tibethun	shebathoont
tree, woods	annooee	annooee
trousers	mowead	mowead			mowead
trout	dottomeish	dottomeish			dottomeish
turr (murre)	geonet	geonet			geonet
twine	meroopish; madobeesh	madobeesh		meroopish
walk	woothyan; baysot (cf. run); woothyat			woothyan	woothyat		baysot (cf. run)
walking stick	cheething			cheething
warm	obosheen 'warming yourself'; boobasha	boobasha		obosheen 'warming yourself'	obosheen 'warming yourself'
watch	dewis; keeose (cf. sun, moon); kius	dewis; keeose (cf. sun, moon)			kius
water	ebauthoo; ebadoe; zebathoong 'water (drink)'	ebadoe; zebathoong 'water (drink)'		ebauthoo	ebauthoo
water bucket	guinyabutt (with vertical or sloping sides); sunong-guinyabutt (large at bottom, small at top)		guinyabutt (with vertical or sloping sides); sunong-guinyabutt (large at bottom, small at top)
wet	wabee (confusion with white)	wabee (confusion with white)
whale's tail	owasposhno-un		owasposhno-un
where do you go	becket	becket
white	wobee	wobee
whortle berries	mamoose (cf. berries)					mamoose (cf. berries)
wife	oosuck				oosuck
wife (white)	adizabad-zea	adizabad-zea
wind	tisewthun; gidgeathuc			tisewthun	gidgeathuc
wood	adiab			adiab	adiab
woodpecker	sheebuint; shebohoweet	shebohoweet	sheebuint		shebohoweet
wolf	moisamadrook				moisamadrook
woman	imamus; emamoose; woass-sut 'red Indian woman'	emamoose; woass-sut 'red Indian woman'			emamoose		imamus
yawning	tibeath; jibeath			tibeath	jibeath
yes	ethath; yeathun	ethath; yeathun

Numerals

Numerals in Beothuk:

Gloss	Cormack	Latham / King (1850)	Leigh
one	yaseek	yazeek	gathet
two	adzeich	adzeech	adasic
three	shendeek	shendee	shedsic
four	dabseek	dabzeek	abodoesic
five	ninezeek	nunyetheek	nijeek
six	bashedtheek	beshed	bigadosick
seven	oodzook	odeozook	oodosook
eight	aadazook	adosook	aodoosook
nine	yeothoduk	yeothoduck	yeothoduck
ten	shansee	shansee	theant
eleven	ee-zaziech
twelve	ee-adzide
thirteen	ee-shendeek
fourteen	ee-dabzook
fifteen	ee-ninezeek
sixteen	ee-beshedtheek
seventeen	ee-oodzook
eighteen	ee-aadazook
nineteen	ee-yeothoduck
twenty	adzeich dthoonut
thirty	shendeek dthoonut

Months

Months in Beothuk:

Gloss	Cormack list (from Shanawdithit)
January	cobshuneesamut
February	kosthobonong bewajoite
March	manamiss
April	wasumaweeseek
May	bedejamish bewajowite
June	wasumaweeseek
July	cowazaseek
August	wadawhegh
September	wasumaweeseek
October	godabonyegh
November	godabonyeesh
December	odasweeteeshamut

Santu Toney's words

The following words were recalled by Santu Toney as being from her father's language:

Gloss	Word
woman	beʼnɑ̦̀m
fat person	guʼwa
rain	gau
baby cradle, cradleboard	hɑ̦̀ᵍ
baby blanket	tuˑᵇ
prayer	seʼko
whale	siˑkaneʼˑsu

Legacy

The prehistoric cnidarian animal Haootia takes its name from the Beothuk word haoot 'demon'.

External links

• Text including Beothuk vocabulary
• About the Beothuk language
• OLAC resources in and about the Beothuk language