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Nevada Native Animal Words

Here are the American Indian names of six native animals of Nevada. We have given their names in three different Indian languages: Hualapai, Shoshone, and Southern Paiute.

Two of these Native Nevada languages are related to the Uto-Aztecan language family, and the other two are not. Can you guess which languages are relatives by looking at the animal names on this page? (Hint: Not every word will sound similar even in closely related languages, so you will need to look at several different animals to figure it out!) You can find the answer on this page: Uto-Aztecan languages.

Nevada Native Animal Names


Hualapai: kwak (pronounced kwock)
Shoshone: deheya' (pronounced duh-huh-yah)
Southern Paiute: tüiyü (pronounced tuh-ee-yuh)

Hualapai: kul (pronounced cool)
Shoshone: daa'bu (pronounced dah-boo)
Southern Paiute: tavu (pronounced tah-voo)

Hualapai: mthin (pronounced muh-theen)
Shoshone: quchu (pronounced koo-choo)
Southern Paiute: kuchü (pronounced koo-chuh)

Hualapai: kthar (pronounced kuh-tharr)
Shoshone: izhape' (pronounced ee-zhah-puh)
Southern Paiute: yog'ovü (pronounced yoh-goh-vuh)

Hualapai: asa (pronounced ah-sah)
Shoshone: kwinaa (pronounced kwee-nah)
Southern Paiute: kwana (pronounced kwah-nah)

Hualapai: 'yuu' (pronounced yoo)
Shoshone: mumbichi (pronounced moom-bee-chee)
Southern Paiute: muupüchi (pronounced moo-puh-chee)

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