Weber Ute Vocabulary

From John Wesley Powell’s manuscripts on the Numic peoples of Western North America, 1868-1880, published in Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology no. 14, 1971.

By 1868 the tribes that had suffered the most severe displacement were the so-called “Weber Ute.” They were probably Central Numic speaking people whose territory included the sites of Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Bountiful, Utah.

[…] For 1877, Powell simply reports, “my own field season was short, and was devoted to correlating the work and to some studies in geology and ethnography.” He apparently spent some time in northern Utah, during which time the “Weber River Ute” vocabulary (MS 836-e; p. 271) was collected.

Weber River Ute Vocabulary [MS 836-e]

Salt Lake, Fall of 1877

[Information about informant(s) was not given.]

Tai-nup = Man

Waip = Woman

Tso-go’-puts = Old Man

Hu-wit-jots = Old Woman

Tu-i-vits = Young man

Nai-vi = Young woman

Tu-at-si = Boy

Pai-zits = Girl

Ti-a-pu-its = Infant

Kwi-wot = Widower

Kwa’-po-at = Widow

Na’-na tsu-go-puts = Bachelor (old)

Nan-he-vi-jots = Maid (old)

Na-sa-ga-pu = Man, children all dead

Ta-ga-pu-waip = Woman, children all dead

Pam-pi = Head

Pam’-pe = Hair

Ku’-a = Crown of head

Ko-vwe = Face

Mu-vi-mo-tso = Mustache

Kai = Forehead

Pu’-i = Eye

Tu-pu’-I = Pupil of the eye

Pu’-vu-siv = Upper eyelash

To’-so-pu-ur = Lower eyelash

Kai-va = Eyebrow

Tum-pwu-u-pop = Upper eyelid

Tum-pwu-u-kunt = Lower eyelid

Nun-ki-pi-kwis = Lower part of ear lobe

Nun-ki = Ear

Nang-ki-tain = Opening of ear

Ma-nung’-ga-chi-tu-ak = Perforation in ear

Nung-ki-mai-i-nun-ki = Back of ear

Mu-vi = Nose

Ta-mu’-tin-nu = Ridge of nose

Mu-vin-tain = Nostril

Mu’-vi-nats-aik = Septum of nose

Nung-ki-kwa-nuk = Inner groove of ear

Mu’-vin-to-na = Perforation of septum of nose

Nung-ki-to-tsa = Upper part of lobe of ear

Ta-a-sav = Cheek

Mo-tso = Beard

Tum-pai’ = Mouth

Tan-guts’-chu-kop = Upper lip

Tan-gup-in-gwish = Lower lip

Ta-ma = Tooth

Aikh = Tongue

Kan-ku-na-tsaip = Inner surface of lip

Ta-a-vim ta-ma = Double tooth

A-rai-u-kunt = Tooth ache

Sho’-kop = Saliva

Ma-dus = To spit

Yum-put = Palate

Ta-we’-yu-tung-ain = Throat

Ku-pin-go = Chin

To-yo = Neck

Gu’-ich-po-to-ni = Adam’s apple

Ta-ant’ = Shoulder

Taik = Shoulder blade

Nin-nap’ = Breast of a man

Kin-na-pi-chup = Breast of a woman

Pi-chi’-ko = Nipples

Tun-tsi-ump = Hip

Shap = Belly

Yam-a-ga = Navel

Ta’-na-sho-taing = Arm-pits

Tso-up = Arm above elbow

Kip = Elbow

Ta-mau’-wiuts = Arm below elbow

Ta-mau-wi-at = Wrist

Mo = Hand

Mut’-tu-vwan = Palm of hand

Mu’-kwai = Back of hand

Mut-tok = Thumb

Mut’-tsits-chuk = First finger

Mu-tiv-i-nant = Second finger

Mii’-to-a = Third finger

Mu-ti-mots = Small finger

Mus-si-du = Small finger nail

Na-tsi-mi-na = Finger knuckles

Mon-te-ro-ti-gwa = Knuckles on back of hand

Pi-tuk = Rump

To’-hop = Leg above knee

Ta-nup = Knee

Ta-o’ = Leg

A collection of documents, excerpts, and photographs relevant to the so-called Weber Ute people of Northern Utah. Not a complete history — research aid only.