Understanding Lakota Verb Classes
A comprehensive guide to the three verb classes in Lakota and how they determine conjugation patterns and meaning.
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Explore the beauty, depth, and wisdom of the Lakota language. Join us in preserving and revitalizing one of North America's most important indigenous languages for future generations.
Lakota (Lakȟótiyapi) is a Siouan language spoken by the Lakota people of the Sioux tribes. It is one of three closely related dialects that together form the Sioux language, alongside Dakota and Nakota.
Today, fewer than 2,000 fluent speakers remain, making language preservation critically important. Each word carries generations of wisdom, history, and a unique worldview shaped by life on the Northern Great Plains.
At Ohitika, we believe that preserving language means preserving identity, culture, and a way of understanding the world that enriches all of humanity.
Each Lakota word carries deep meaning, reflecting a worldview rooted in relationship with the land, community, and spirit.
A prayer and worldview expressing the interconnectedness of all living things. Used in ceremony and daily life as a reminder of our responsibility to all creation.
More than just customs or traditions, this encompasses the entire Lakota philosophy of living in harmony with natural law and community values.
A core Lakota value expressing mercy, pity, and deep compassion for others. One of the four cardinal virtues guiding Lakota life.
Knowledge gained through experience, observation, and the teachings of elders. Essential for leadership and living a good life.
Stars hold deep significance in Lakota cosmology. The Pleiades (Čhaŋpȟásapa Wakȟáŋ) guide seasonal ceremonies and connect the people to their origin stories.
A term of deep respect used for elders and also as a name for the Creator. Reflects the Lakota understanding of the sacred masculine and ancestral connection.
"The Lakota language is not just words. It is a way of thinking, a way of understanding the world, a way of being human."
— Lakota Elder Teaching
Language carries the accumulated wisdom of generations. When a language dies, we lose not just vocabulary, but unique ways of understanding relationships, nature, spirituality, and what it means to be human.
Our mission is to create accessible resources for Lakota language learners, support fluent speakers in passing on their knowledge, and build bridges between traditional wisdom and modern technology.
Learning Lakota opens doors to a rich culture and unique worldview. Start with these foundational areas.
Master the unique sounds of Lakota, including the distinctive aspirated consonants, glottal stops, and nasal vowels that give the language its characteristic sound.
Build your foundation with core words for family, nature, emotions, and daily life. Each word opens a window into Lakota culture and understanding.
Lakota verbs are the heart of the language, encoding not just action but relationships between speaker, subject, and object. Learn the elegant system of affixes.
Deepen your understanding with articles, stories, and resources for language learners at all levels.
A comprehensive guide to the three verb classes in Lakota and how they determine conjugation patterns and meaning.
Read More →Explore the Wóčhekiye - the seven core values that guide traditional Lakota life and community relationships.
Read More →How the Lakota people mapped their world through the stars and used celestial knowledge to guide ceremonies and seasons.
Read More →Learning a new language takes courage. Preserving a language takes community. Join us in keeping Lakota alive for generations to come.
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