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HOME : Diehtu : Siida : Reindeer : Glossary to Poem No. 272

Glossary to Nils-Aslak Valkeapää’s Poem No. 272 From The Sun, My Father

(numbers refer to the actual pages in printed version with 1 being the first page, etc.)

A - B C - D E - G H - L M - O P - S T - Z

Original Sámi English Translation
alla (5) high up
aláhallá (5) high up
áldobiellu (3) the bell of a reindeer cow who has had a cow that year
báddebahá (5) difficult to lead when tied
báraideame (2) standing out against the sky
bárusteame (2) undulating
beaiveluosttat (6) reindeer (pl.) with a streak of lighter hair along the side with thicker, more even hair than on the rest of its body, this streak only appearing in the reindeer’s third year
bealljebealli (5) half of an ear which is divided lengthwise or (as part of an earmark) a long cut from the tip and almost to the root of the ear
beavránit (4) to walk off on long legs
biddojuolgi (5) a reindeer with white on part(s) or all of its leg(s)
biegganjunit (6) wind nose (metaphor for reindeer: they follow of move against the wind)
biekka (6) wind
[biekka sula] having the character of wind
bielloáldu (3) a bell female reindeer that has a calf in the current year
biellobalvan (3) like a cloud of bells
bielloheargi (3) a bell draft reindeer
bielloráhta (6) the rather loud noise of bells
bielloskálla (6) bell noise
bihceguolgan (6) a reindeer with a coat that looks frosty because the tips of the hairs are of a lighter shade here and there
boazolihkku (6) reindeer luck
boazolohku (6) number of reindeer
boazorikkis (6) rich in reindeer
boazovázzi (6) a reindeer herder

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Original Sámi English Translation
cielahit (6) to cause to bark, bolt (food)
cirgut (4) to run quickly (of a large herd in close formation or over a hill)
časkilit (6) to set off to find reindeer and drive them back into the herd
čazat (4) mountain passes
čáhppesjuolgi (5) a light reindeer with black feet
čearru (5) rather flat, usually wide tract high up in the mountains, with little vegetation and long stretches of nothing but gravel and stones
čearru (5) rather flat, usually wide tract high up in the mountains, with little vegetation and long stretches of nothing but gravel and stones
čoarvemearran (3) like a sea of antlers
čoarvin (3) like horns
čohkkaoaivi (5) pointed head
čorut (6) moraines
čuodjá (5) rings
čuoskulit (5) try to gallop, gallop once, gallop several times
čuovvulit (5) begin to follow, follow a little while
dapmá (6) resounds
davásjohtin (6) migration toward the ocean (north or west)
davviguovllu (4) northerly direction
dávggáid (6) Big Dipper
[dávggáid vuolde] under the Big Dipper
dávgin (6) bow
dielkobahta (5) reindeer with (lighter or darker) spots on one or both legs
doali (6) a winter path covered by snow
doallá (6) stays on
doalvá (6) trots
doalvi (4) trotting
doalvvástit (4) to trot a little
dolvvásteame (4) being a steady companion on a trip back and forth
dolvvedit (4) to begin to trot
duhát (4) a thousand
[duhát eallun duottar eallá] like a herd of a thousand animals the tundra comes alive (the basis of life of the northern area)
duoddarat (2) high mountains, tundra
[duoddarat eallun bárusteame báraideame máraideame] the tundra, like a reindeer herd, undulates, stands out against the sky and flows so that it rumbles
duolbačoarvi (5) broad, flat antlers
duottar (4) tundra
duottarboazu (4) a tundra reindeer
duottarmiessin (6) a reindeer calf who has been in the mountains for the first part of its life

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Original Sámi English Translation
eaidánis (5) a reindeer that avoids others
eallá (4) animals (reindeer), wakes up
eallenvuođđu (4) bottom layer or layer underneath
ealli (5) animal (reindeer)
eallima (2) animals
eallogoahkka (6) a reindeer herder
ealloravda (6) edge of the herd
eallu (5) herd
eallun (2, 4) reindeer herd
eanan (6) land
gahčá (5) slips, falls
galáŋ (6) a sound
gaŋká (6) stretches the neck
gapmá (6) instinct
gáhttosealgin (5) a reindeer with some white on either side of the backbone
gálbbenjunni (5) a reindeer with white on its nose or a reindeer calf nose with a white stripe from between the antlers to the mouth
gállá (5) leaves, gets dark
geahčadit (6) to look at
geaiggobeallji (5) a reindeer with an earmark where the tip of the ear has not been cut away
geallu (5) beauty
gearddočoarvi (4) a reindeer with a small, extra antler
gearráda (5) shiny
[gearráda čearru skierreoaivin uvjačielgin gáhttosealgin] the tundra shines in the shape of the three reindeer types mentioned
geavlin (6) arc, ring
gierddočalbmi (4) a dark reindeer with a white ring around the eyes or the reverse
gihčá (5) rubbing, rubs
giljanas (6) shriek
giljádit (6) to howl once
gilkkan (5) small, poor bell
gilkkanas (5) ringing sound
gilkkas (5) ringing
gilljut (6) to set a dog on reindeer (when the dog is far away)
girjebahta (5) rump with spot(s) of a different color
girjjohallá (3) makes things variegated
goalkkanas (6) a single feeble stroke of a bell
goalkkas (6) feeble ringing
goalkká (6) rings feebly
goallá (5) a reindeer female that never gets antlers
goláŋ (6) a sound
goloŋ (6) a sound
gomogazzii (4) at full speed
goŋkalan (6) sound
goŋká (6) hollow sound
goŋkoloŋ (6) hollow sound
guŋká (1, 6) makes a sound
guođoheaddji (6) herder
guolbanat (3) heaths
[guolbanat čoarvin sugadeame sojadeame ruvgaleame] the heaths undulate like horns (of a row of reindeer running after each other)
gupmá (6) muffled sound coming from a great distance or reindeer moss
gurgalit (4) to walk in a row
guzatmuzet (5) a dark brownish reindeer with lighter hair tips here and there

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Original Sámi English Translation
hai (6) word used to drive the herd
háikit (6) to shout
heargebiellu (3) a draft reindeer bell
hillagabba (6) a snow white reindeer with reddish antlers
hohccalit (6) to set a dog on (used when the dog is near)
hoi (6) word used to drive the herd
huv (6) interjection in falsetto voice that reindeer driver uses to make the herd go faster
huvkit (6) animal not looking where it is going
iđat (6) a strange reindeer appearing in the herd
iđihit (6) to come into view
illun (5) joy
jahca (5) creaking sound like a heavily laden sleigh
japmá (6) loud noise
jazaidit (5) to creak like a heavily laden sleigh
jáfogáibi (5) “honey chin,” a reindeer with light hair from the corner of its mouth and down the chin
jállu (5) brave, bold
jiellat (5) to blow gently
johtola (2) area of migration
jollá (5) gnaws around a lump of reindeer moss
juhca (5) a rushing sound
jullá (6) crashes, booms
latnjagalban (6) the lowest part of an antler with skin covering peeling off in layers
latnjariessančoarvegeahči (5) a reindeer with loose fringe on the antler tips
láidesteaddji (1) a lead reindeer led by a herder to get others to follow
láđđečáhput (5) a glossy black reindeer, light under the belly
lávdá (5) spreads out widely
leaškkas (5) creaking noise of hoofs of reindeer when they walk
leavvedolgin (3) “lucky feather” = ability to find food
liidneoaivi (5) a reindeer with a white head, but not one whose body is spotted
loaškkas (5) straight ahead
lottegazza (5) bird claw
luksajohtin (6) southward migration in the autumn

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Original Sámi English Translation
manjuš (6) back side?
máraideame (2) flowing so that it rumbles
máttaboazu (4) southern reindeer
menodahkes (5) avoiding being held onto
[menodahkes, eaidánis ealli] a reindeer that avoids others and doesn’t like to be held onto
mieškkas (5) cracking
muorjegirjjat (6) berry-colored spot
nammaláhpat (5) a male reindeer that is seven years old, or older if an untamed reindeer
násttegállu (6) a reindeer with a blaze
njárgaboazu (4) a promontory reindeer
njárggahas (6) from a promontory
njolgá (6) jog-trots
njolggásteame (4) jog-trotting along
njolggástit (4) to jog-trot along a little
njolggedit (4) to begin to jog-trot along
njolggiidallá (6) jog-trots moderately
njolgi (4) a jog-trotting
njunuš (2) the vanguard (of a herd), the foremost ones in a row
njunušgoahkka (2) large knife at front
njunušmanni (2) walking at the front
oaivugas (2) leading
oaguhit (5) to hunt, pursue
ohcalit (6) to miss, seek
olla (5) onomatopoetic
oppasrievttat (6) a draft reindeer going straight even if there is no path
ovdamanni (2) walking ahead

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Original Sámi English Translation
ravdaboazu (6) a reindeer that keeps at the edge of the herd (especially females)
ravdaceaggá (6) defiance
ravdaguoran (6) a (often female) reindeer that usually follows a track
ravgat (5) to bolt suddenly to one side or (get frightened) and dash away
roahpebiellu (1) (a reindeer cow with) a bell having four sides and a coarse sound
[roahpebiellu guŋká] the four-sided bell makes a coarse sound
ruoškkas (5) a creaking of reindeer feet
ruoššajievja (5) a light brown reindeer with a relatively long, rough coat (of a different breed from the ordinary reindeer, descended from a marked female reindeer that came from Russia once upon a time; it has a larger belly and shorter legs than usual, much resembles a cow and is often very fat)
[ruovggadit čorut duottarmiessin bihceguolgan latnjagalban] the moraines grunt like tundra reindeer calves
ruvgaleame (3) dashing off in a long, thin line
sarvvačoarvin (4) a reindeer with flat antlers with most of the tines pointing forward
sevdnjesmuzečuoivvat (3) a reindeer with a yellowish gray color and dark under the belly
sietnjanjunni (4) reindeer with the hair nearest to its nostrils of a different color than you would expect in view of the color of the rest of its hair
silbasiidu (4) a reindeer with shiny, silvery hair on its sides
skavgalit (4) to chase away
skierreoaivin (5) shy reindeer head
skiŋká (6) a bell with a high sound tinkles
sojadeame (3) undulating
spirtamuzet (3) a coal-black reindeer
sugadeame (3) with a swaying gait
suolohas (6) from an island
sula (6) character
šávihit (4) to come rushing along with a lot of noise
šelgesčuoivvat (5) a reindeer with a layer of hair as shiny as that of a white reindeer

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Original Sámi English Translation
uđámat (5) an untamed reindeer
umáhttu (5) unskilled, inexperienced
uvjačielgin (5) a reindeer with fine, unusually long hair on its back
váccašit (5) to walk back and forth
váillahit (6) to miss
viggat (5) to want to go somewhere, strive
vuolde (6) under
vuovdeboazu (4) a forest reindeer

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