This is an audio dictionary of 'Iipay Aa (Kumeyaay, also known as Diegueño) with recordings from:
The main purpose of this dictionary is to be an aid to pronunciation. It excludes words for which we have no audio. Please consult print resources or master speakers for clarification on the precise meanings of words.
This dictionary focuses on the 'Iipay or northern dialects of Kumeyaay. Some words are valid in multiple dialects, sometimes with different meanings, and some words are exclusive to the speaker's dialect. We will try to label words we believe to be specific to a certain dialect. If a word's dialect is not labeled, it is probably acceptable across multiple varieties of 'Iipay. Always look to the speaker to see which dialect a word is from.
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Search with an English word to see all the available Kumeyaay examples of that word. If at first you do not find the desired result, try searching for synonyms or similar words. Alternatively, you can search for a Kumeyaay word, or use part of a word to view the closest results. Make sure to scroll down, as the word you are looking for may not be among the first results. Some words may only be available as part of a phrase, or in particular forms such as second-person or imperative.
When searching for verbs, note that Kumeyaay verbs do not have an infinitive form (e.g. to do, to make, etc.). The default verb form for dictionary entries is instead the third-person singular (e.g. he does, she makes). Therefore, to find the word for "to fly", you may have to search for "flies" (as in, "he flies") rather than "fly".
Before using a new word, click on the entry to view any notes about its specific meaning or dialect. Always check for notes, as they may contain important details or additional meanings. You can also filter by speaker, to the right, to determine which speaker has provided the word you are listening to.
Visit the Grammar section, to the left, for information on Part of Speech, Singular and Plural, and more information on Kumeyaay grammar.
Kumeyaay can be split into two major dialect groups, 'Iipay in the north and Tiipay in the south ('Iipay and Tiipay are the words for "people" in the respective dialects), roughly divided by the San Diego River. Within each group are multiple specific dialects such as Barona, Mesa Grande, and Jamul, named after the place or reservation where the dialect's speakers are from. There are also dialects such as Campo and Los Conejos which do not fit neatly into either 'Iipay or Tiipay, but contain elements of both.
Most learners are interested in learning a specific dialect or adhering their speech to a particular dialect, such as the one they have the closest ancestral ties to. If you are aiming to speak a certain dialect, say, Barona, you would primarily search for and use words provided by a Barona speaker. If such a word is not available, you could possibly use a word provided by a speaker of another 'Iipay dialect such as Mesa Grande, which would likely be very similar if not identical to the word a Barona speaker would use.
As previously mentioned, entries in this dictionary that are not labeled for dialect are expected to be generally acceptable and understandable to most 'Iipay speakers, regardless of which speaker provided the audio recording. If a word is labeled for a specific dialect, however, such as "Campo", then the implication is that the word variant is only found in Campo, and may not be used in other places. This is based on us not being able to find any instance of that word being used by a speaker outside that dialect. Unless you are learning that specific dialect, you may not want to use that word.
Words labeled as Tiipay dialect have been attested in other sources, proving them acceptable in the speaker's dialect as well as one or more varieties of Tiipay (usually Jamul). The pupose of the Tiipay label is to indicate that such words are primarily Tiipay words and will most likely not be used by an 'Iipay speaker, though they may appear in intermediate dialects (e.g. Campo, La Posta, Los Conejos). Words with this label will not necessarily be acceptable across all dialects of Tiipay.
If you are aiming to speak an intermediate dialect (neither 'Iipay nor Tiipay), such as Campo, start by using words provided by a Campo speaker. Ignore any "Tiipay" labels on words from your speaker, which simply mean that the word is also used in other dialects of Tiipay, but not in 'Iipay. If the desired word is not available, you may use your best judgement in deciding to include words provided by other 'Iipay and Tiipay speakers in your speech.
Disclaimer:
Due to the extensive diversity and variability of Kumeyaay speech, any statements relating to dialect made within this dictionary are generalizations and cannot be accurate 100% of the time. Additionally, all information within this dictionary is intended to convey and clarify previous documentation and is not meant as instruction on how to speak, which is up to the discretion of each learner in consultation with his/her teacher(s). By using this dictionary you accept that it may contain inaccuracies and omissions for which you agree to hold the creator(s) faultless.