This is where you can learn how to wish other people well in Arapaho, both in the traditional way and in the modern way.

 

Traditional Way

 

1. Remember that heetih- indicates 'I/we wish that...' or 'let it be that...' So one traditional thing to say in Arapaho is:

 

Heetíh-nííni'cowo'oo-n = 'I/we that you get along well'

Heetíh-nííni'cowo'óó-nee = 'I/we hope that you (pl) get along well'

     If the wish works out right, then the person can tell you later:

 

Nííni'cowo'oo-noo = I am getting along well

Nííni'cowo'oo-ni' = we are geting along well

Nííni'cowo'oo-t = he, she is getting along well

 

2. You can adapt this to modern (casino!) times by saying:

Heetíh-'óyei-n = 'I/we hope that you win'

Heetíh-'oyéí-nee = 'I/we hope that you (pl) win'

 

3. More serious and formal would be to say:

Heetih-kou3-iine'etii-n = may you live a long life

Heetih-niini'-iine'etii-n = may you live a good life

Heetih-'iiyoo3-iine'etii-n = may you live a clean, pure life

 

     These are very serious wishes, and you don't just say them casually - you have to mean what you say and say it sincerely. The person could answer back later:

 

Konou3-iine'etii-noo = I am living, have lived a long life

Niini'-iine'etii-noo = I am living a good life

Heniiyoo3-iine'etii-noo = I am living a clean, pure life

 

Modern Way

 

In English, people say 'happy birthday,' 'happy New Year,' 'merry Christmas,' and so on. You can do this in Arapaho too:

 

Hóónobee' wónooyoo' cec = Happy New Year

Hóónobee' hoonóu3oot = Merry Christmas

Hóónobee' hetiisííneb = Happy Birthday

 

You can use this for any holiday you want. The word hóónobee-' means 'it is happy, merry, joyous.' Something else you could say would be heetih-'onobee-', 'let us be merry, happy.'