Lenape Language

The “Lenape Talking Dictionary” provides an extensive searchable dictionary of Lenape words, sentences, stories, grammar, songs, and lessons spoken by a number of native speakers of Lenape. Some recordings were made as early as 1928 and more in 1937. We have also made improvements to the dictionary recently to make it more user friendly to use on a cellphone.

Recent Stories from the Talking Dictionary!

• I Can Make It Rain…
• When One Wants to Marry Someone…
• Delaware Corrections and Sayings…
• What The Rabbit Said…

Go to the Talking Dictionary!

• Talking Dictionary

Lenape is an eastern Algonquian language originally spoken in eastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York, all of New Jersey, and northern Delaware. This brief introductory section provides some examples of the Lenape language. These pages give common words and phrases in Lenape spoken by Nora Thompson Dean, and the other section has the Lenape names for various birds.

• Common Words and Phrases
• Bird Names in Lenape
• Lenape Names for Animals (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Birds (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Houses (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Tools (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Modes of Transportation (PDF)
• Lenape Names at Seashore (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Traditional Clothing (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Modern Clothing (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Food (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Fish (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Insects (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Things in the Kitchen (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Wooden Things (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Reptiles & Amphibians (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Different Tribes (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Weapons (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Things in the Sky (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Land Formations (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Birds and Their Songs (PDF)
• Lenape Dances (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Garden Items (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Games (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Fruit and Nut Trees (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Other Trees (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Ways to Travel (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Metals (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Occupations (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Weather (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Tree Parts (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Flowing Water (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Other Terms for Water (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Roads (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Things of Rock or Stone (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Things of Paper (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Wheeled Vehicles (PDF)
• Lenape Names for the Head (PDF)
• Lenape Names for the Hand (PDF)
• Lenape Names for the Arms and Body (PDF)
• Lenape Names for the Legs and Feet (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Internal Organs (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Other Body Parts (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Activities (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Things People Do (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Other Things People Do (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Things at Home (PDF)
• Lenape Names for the Times of Day (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Flowers (PDF)
• Lenape Names of Non-Native Animals (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Jewelry and Accessories (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Things Made of Hides (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Money (PDF)
• Lenape Words as Interjections (PDF)
• Lenape Names for Ages of People (PDF)