Editing Beothuk language

{{Short description|Extinct language of Canada}}{{Cleanup lang|date=February 2025|iso=bue}}{{Infobox language
| name             = Beothuk
| nativename       = Beothukan
| state            = [[Canada]]
| region           = [[Newfoundland]]
| ethnicity        = [[Beothuk]]
| extinct          = 6 June 1829, with the death of [[Shanawdithit]]
| familycolor      = american
| family           = unclassified ([[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]]?)
| iso3             = bue
| linglist         = bue
| glotto           = beot1247
| glottorefname    = Beothuk
| map              = Beothuk language map.png
| mapcaption       = Pre-contact distribution of Beothuk language
}}

'''Beothuk''' ({{IPAc-en|b|iː|ˈ|ɒ|t|ə|k}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|eɪ|.|ə|θ|ʊ|k}}), also called '''Beothukan''', is an extinct language once spoken by the indigenous [[Beothuk]] people of [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]]. The Beothuk have been extinct since 1829, and there are few written accounts of their language. Hence, little is known about it, with practically no structural data existing for Beothuk.

==Classification==
Claims of links with the neighbouring [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian language]] family date back at least to [[Robert Gordon Latham]] in 1862. From 1968 onwards, John Hewson has put forth evidence of sound correspondences and shared morphology with Proto-Algonquian and other better-documented Algonquian languages. If this is valid, Beothuk would be an extremely divergent member of the family.<ref>{{cite journal|last = Hewson | first =John | title = Beothuk Consonant Correspondences | journal = International Journal of American Linguistics |volume=37 |issue=4 |date =1971 |pages=244–249 | doi =10.1086/465172 | jstor =1264516 | s2cid =145190678 }}</ref>

Other researchers claimed that proposed similarities are more likely the result of borrowing than cognates.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Voegelin |first1=C.F. |last2=Voegelin |first2=E.W. |editor=Johnson, F. |chapter=Linguistic considerations of northeastern North America |title=Man in Northeastern North America |pages=178–194 |publisher=Philip's Academy |location=Andover, MA |date=1946}}</ref> The limited and poor nature of the documentation means there is not enough evidence to draw strong conclusions.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mithun |first=Marianne |title=The Languages of Native North America |url=https://archive.org/details/languagesnativen00mith |url-access=limited |edition=First paperback |year=2001 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |isbn=0-521-23228-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/languagesnativen00mith/page/n199 368]}}</ref> Owing to this overall lack of meaningful evidence, [[Ives Goddard]] and [[Lyle Campbell]] claim that any connections between Beothuk and Algonquian are unknown and likely unknowable.<ref>{{cite book |last=Campbell |first=Lyle |title=American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America |url=https://archive.org/details/americanindianla00camp |url-access=limited |year=1997 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-509427-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/americanindianla00camp/page/n304 290]}}</ref>

==Recorded song==
In 1910, American [[anthropologist]] [[Frank Speck]] recorded a 74-year-old native woman named Santu Toney singing a song purported to be in the language. The recording resurfaced at the very end of the 20th century. Some sources give the year 1929, but the 1910 date is confirmed in Speck's book ''Beothuk and Micmac'' (New York 1922, p.&nbsp;67). The words are hard to hear and not understood. Santu said she had been taught the song by her father, which may be evidence that one person with a Beothuk connection was alive after the death of Shanawdithit in 1829 since Santu Toney was born about 1835). Contemporary researchers have tried to make a transcription of the song and to clean up the recording with modern methods. Native groups have learned the song.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.lportepilot.ca/News/2008-09-10/article-1423205/Santus-Song/1 | last = Perry | first = SJ | title = Santu's Song: Memorable day for Beothuk Interpretation Centre | work = Porte Pilot | date = 2008-09-10 | access-date = 2010-01-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120309041803/http://www.lportepilot.ca/News/2008-09-10/article-1423205/Santus-Song/1 | archive-date = 2012-03-09 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[James P. Howley]], Director of the [[Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador|Geological Survey of Newfoundland]], who for more than forty years was interested in the history of the Beothuk, doubted (in 1914) the truthfulness of Santu Toney.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-26 |title=View of Santu's Song {{!}} Newfoundland and Labrador Studies |url=https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/nflds/article/view/10104/10365 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426191237/https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/nflds/article/view/10104/10365 |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=journals.lib.unb.ca}}</ref>

==Vocabulary==
Beothuk is known only from several wordlists from the 18th and the 19th centuries by George C. Pulling (1792),<ref>Pulling, George C. 1792. ''A few facts by G.C. Pulling respecting the Native Indians of the Isle of Newfoundland''. Manuscript in [[British Museum]], additional MSS 38352.</ref> Rev. [[John Clinch]], Rev. John Leigh, and Hercules Robinson (1834).<ref>Robinson, Sir Hercules. 1834. "Vocabulary of the Natives of Newfoundland." ''Royal Geographical Society Journal'' 4:218-220.</ref> They contain more than 400 words that had been collected from speakers such as Oubee, [[Demasduit]], and [[Shanawdithit]], but there were no examples of connected speech. Wordlists had also been collected by [[W. E. Cormack]] (who worked with Shanawdithit), Richard King (whose wordlist had been passed on to [[Robert Gordon Latham]]<ref>Latham, Robert G. 1850. ''Natural History of the Varieties of Man''. London: J. Van Voorst.</ref>), and [[James P. Howley]] (1915)<ref>{{cite book|last=Howley|first= James P.|author-link=James P. Howley|year= 1915|title=The Beothucks or Red Indians|publisher= [[Cambridge University Press]]}}</ref> (who worked with Jure, a widow from the islands of the [[Bay of Exploits]]).<ref name="Hewson-Vocabularies"/>

The lack of any systematic or consistent representation of the vocabulary in the wordlists makes it daunting to establish the sound system of Beothuk, and words that are listed separately on the lists may be the same word transcribed in different ways. Moreover, the lists are known to have many mistakes. That, along with the lack of connected speech leaves little upon which to build any reconstruction of Beothuk.

===Combined lists===
The wordlists have been transcribed and analyzed in Hewson (1978). The combined Beothuk wordlists below have been reproduced from Hewson (1978: 149–167).<ref name="Hewson-Vocabularies">Hewson, John. 1978. ''Beothuk Vocabularies''. (Technical Papers of the Newfoundland Museum, 2.) St. John's: Newfoundland: [[Newfoundland Museum]]. 178pp.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%"
! Gloss !! Beothuk (all lists combined) !! [[Robert Gordon Latham|Latham]] / King (1850) !! [[William Cormack|Cormack]] (m.s.) !! [[John Clinch|Clinch]] (m.s.) !! Leigh (m.s.) !! Robinson (1834) !! [[James Patrick Howley|Howley]] (1915)
|-
| afraid || cockaboset ''don't be afraid'' || cockaboset ''don't be afraid'' ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| alive || mamisut; mamseet || mamseet || mamisut ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| angry || assoyt ||  || assoyt ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| ankle || geijebursut ||  || geijebursut ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| arm || watheek; shedbasing wathik ''upper arm''; watheekee; memayet ''arms'' || watheekee || watheek; shedbasing wathik ''upper arm'' ||  || memayet ''arms'' ||  || 
|-
| arrow || ashooging; dogemat || ashooging || ashooging ||  || dogemat ||  || 
|-
| asleep, dead || widdun ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || widdun
|-
| awake || amet ||  || amet ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| baby || messiligethook || messiligethook ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| back || posson; possont ||  ||  || posson || possont ||  || 
|-
| bad || mudty; mudeet ''bad man''; maudee, muddy, madich || maudee, muddy, madich || mudty; mudeet ''bad man'' ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[bakeapple]]s || abidemashick ||  ||  ||  ||  || abidemashick || 
|-
| bat || sosheet || sosheet ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| bead || baasick (cf. necklace) ||  || baasick (cf. necklace) ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| bear || washawet; gwashuwet || washawet ||  ||  || gwashuwet ||  || 
|-
| beast || obditch (cf. cat, seal) ||  ||  || obditch (cf. cat, seal) ||  ||  || 
|-
| beat || pugathuse beating; bukashowite ||  ||  || pugathuse beating || bukashowite ||  || 
|-
| beaver || maumshet; mamshet || maumshet ||  ||  || mamshet ||  || 
|-
| (go to) bed || boochauwhit (cf. sleep, lie down) || boochauwhit (cf. sleep, lie down) ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| belly || haddabatheek (cf. body) ||  || haddabatheek (cf. body) ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| berries || manus; bibidigemidic || manus ||  ||  || bibidigemidic ||  || 
|-
| birch || paushee ''birch rind or paper''; by-yeech ''birch tree''; boyish ''birch rind'' || by-yeech ''birch tree'' ||  || paushee ''birch rind or paper'' || boyish ''birch rind'' ||  || 
|-
| bird || deynyad, deynyadrook ''birds'' ||  || deynyad, deynyadrook ''birds'' ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| bird (large) || popadish (cf. pigeon) ||  ||  || popadish (cf. pigeon) ||  ||  || 
|-
| bird (little) || obseet; ounermish ||  || obseet || ounermish ||  ||  || 
|-
| birds' excrement || sugamith ||  ||  || sugamith ||  ||  || 
|-
| bite || bashoodite ||  ||  ||  || bashoodite ||  || 
|-
| black || maudzyke; mandzey || mandzey || maudzyke ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[New World blackbird|blackbird]] || woodch ||  || woodch ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| blankets || manaboret; manavorit || manaboret ||  ||  || manavorit ||  || 
|-
| blind || kaesing-guinyeet ||  || kaesing-guinyeet ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| blood || ashaboouth; arrowbauth; izzobauth ''or'' iggobauth ||  || ashaboouth || arrowbauth || izzobauth ''or'' iggobauth ||  || 
|-
| blow || deschudodoick ||  || deschudodoick ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| blow the nose || shegame; shegamit ||  ||  || shegame || shegamit ||  || 
|-
| blue || eeshang-eyghth ||  || eeshang-eyghth ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| blunt || boas seek; mocothutt ''blunt-nosed fish'' ||  || boas seek; mocothutt ''blunt-nosed fish'' ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| boat || adolthtek (cf. canoe, ship); adothe ''boat or vessel'' || adolthtek (cf. canoe, ship) ||  ||  || adothe ''boat or vessel'' ||  || 
|-
| boat (large) || dhoorado || dhoorado ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| body || haddabothy; haddabothic ||  ||  || haddabothy || haddabothic ||  || 
|-
| boil (as water) || oadjameet ||  || oadjameet ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| boil (transitive) || moadamutt ||  || moadamutt ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| bone || aenameen ||  || aenameen ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| bonnet, hat || abodoneek; abadungeyk; abodonec || abadungeyk || abodoneek ||  || abodonec ||  || 
|-
| bosom || bodchmoot; boghmoot (cf. breast) || boghmoot (cf. breast) || bodchmoot ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| bow || hathemay; anyemen || anyemen ||  || hathemay ||  ||  || 
|-
| boy (white) || bukashamesh; buggishamish; buggishamesh || buggishamesh || bukashamesh ||  || bukashamesh ||  || buggishamish
|-
| boy (Indian) || mossessdeesh; mogazeesh || mogazeesh || mossessdeesh ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| bread || maujebathook; annawhadya || annawhadya || maujebathook ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| break a stick || pugenon ||  ||  || pugenon ||  ||  || 
|-
| break wind || tediddle ||  ||  || tediddle ||  ||  || 
|-
| breast || bemoot (cf. bosom); bogomot ||  || bemoot (cf. bosom) ||  || bogomot ||  || 
|-
| breath || gaboweete ||  || gaboweete ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| bushes || maudeweech || maudeweech ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| buttons || aegumet; agamet ''buttons or money'' || aegumet ||  ||  || agamet ''buttons or money'' ||  || 
|-
| candle || shapoth; shaboth || shapoth ||  ||  || shaboth ||  || 
|-
| canoe || thubathew ''boat or canoe''; dapathook; tapathook || dapathook ||  || thubathew ''boat or canoe'' || tapathook ||  || 
|-
| cap || eeseeboon (cf. bonnet) || eeseeboon (cf. bonnet) ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[capelin]] || shamook; shaamoo; shamooth || shamook; shaamoo ||  ||  || shamooth ||  || 
|-
| cat || obodish; abidesoot; abideeshook || abidesoot ||  ||  || abideeshook ||  || obodish
|-
| cat ([[marten]]) || abidish || abidish ||  ||  || abidish ||  || 
|-
| catching fish || eshbauth ||  ||  || eshbauth ||  ||  || 
|-
| cattle || methabeet; nethabete || methabeet ||  ||  || nethabete ||  || 
|-
| cheek || weenoun || weenoun ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| chin || keoun; geoun; goun || geoun ||  || keoun || goun ||  || 
|-
| clothes || dhingyam; thingyam || dhingyam ||  ||  || thingyam ||  || 
|-
| clouds || berroick ||  ||  ||  || berroick ||  || 
|-
| coal || methie; methie ''dirt'' ||  ||  || methie ||  || methie ''dirt'' || 
|-
| [[cockle (bivalve)|cockle]] || sheedeneesheet || sheedeneesheet ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| codfish || bobboosoret (cf. fish) || bobboosoret (cf. fish) ||  ||  || bobboosoret (cf. fish) ||  || 
|-
| cold || eenodsha; moidewsee || eenodsha ||  ||  || moidewsee ||  || 
|-
| comb || edrathin ||  ||  ||  || edrathin ||  || 
|-
| come || touet; deiood || touet; deiood ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| come back again || nadyed || nadyed ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| come hither || dyoot thouret; dyoom; thooret || dyoom || dyoot thouret ||  || thooret ||  || 
|-
| comet || anin ||  ||  ||  || anin ||  || 
|-
| cream jug || nadalahet; motheryet || nadalahet ||  ||  || motheryet ||  || 
|-
| cry || mautheauthaw; matheothuc ||  ||  || mautheauthaw || matheothuc ||  || 
|-
| [[Ribes|currants]] || shamye ||  ||  || shamye || shamye ||  || 
|-
| cut || hadyusum; odishuik ''or'' odishuite ||  ||  || hadyusum || odishuik ''or'' odishuite ||  || 
|-
| dancing || thubwedgie; badiseet ||  ||  || thubwedgie || badiseet ||  || 
|-
| dead || gosset; gausep (cf. asleep) || gosset; gausep (cf. asleep) ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| deer || osweet; cosweet || cosweet ||  ||  || osweet ||  || osweet
|-
| deer's horns || megorum; megorun || megorum ||  ||  || megorun ||  || 
|-
| devil || ashmudyim; haoot || haoot || ashmudyim ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| dirt || yew-why ||  ||  || yew-why ||  ||  || 
|-
| dog || mammasamit; mammasameet || mammasameet ||  ||  || mammasameet ||  || mammasamit
|-
| [[Cornus|dogberries]] || menome ||  ||  || menome ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[dogwood]], [[rowan|mountain ash]] || emoethook || emoethook ||  ||  || emoethook ||  || 
|-
| drawing knife || moheshaudet; moeshwadet || moheshaudet ||  ||  || moeshwadet ||  || 
|-
| drink || ebathook; ebathoot (cf. water) || ebathook; ebathoot (cf. water) ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| drinking cup || shoewan; shoewanyeesh (dim.) ||  || shoewan; shoewanyeesh (dim.) ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| dry || gasook || gasook ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| duck || eesheet; boodowit || eesheet ||  ||  || boodowit ||  || 
|-
| ducks and drakes || mameshet; howmeshet ||  ||  ||  || mameshet || howmeshet || 
|-
| eagle || gobidin ||  || gobidin ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| ear || mismuth; mootchiman; mooshaman || mootchiman ||  || mismuth || mooshaman ||  || 
|-
| eat || pugazoa; bocootyone; pokoodsoont; odoit || bocootyone; pokoodsoont ||  || pugazoa || odoit ||  || 
|-
| egg || deboin; debine || deboin ||  ||  || debine ||  || 
|-
| elbow || moocus ||  ||  || moocus || moocus ||  || 
|-
| [[Eskimo]] || ashwan || ashwan ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| eye || geegnyan; gwinya || geegnyan ||  ||  || gwinya ||  || 
|-
| eyebrow || momeaugh; marmeuck ||  ||  || momeaugh || marmeuck ||  || 
|-
| fall || koshet ||  ||  ||  || koshet ||  || 
|-
| fat || eeg || eeg ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| fear || geswat; cockaboset ''no fear'' || geswat; cockaboset ''no fear'' ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| feather || evenau; ewinon; abobidress ''feathers'' || ewinon ||  || evenau || abobidress ''feathers'' ||  || 
|-
| finger || onnus ''forefinger''; oddesamick ''little''; awadshibik ''middle''; wyabick ''ring''; hanyees || hanyees ||  ||  ||  ||  || onnus ''forefinger''; oddesamick ''little''; awadshibik ''middle''; wyabick ''ring''
|-
| fire || koorae; oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning); woodrat || oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning) ||  || koorae || woodrat ||  || 
|-
| fish || poopusrout; baubooshrat (cf. codfish) || baubooshrat (cf. codfish) ||  || poopusrout ||  ||  || 
|-
| fish hook || adooch; adothook || adooch ||  ||  || adothook ||  || 
|-
| fishing line || disup; edat ||  ||  || disup || edat ||  || 
|-
| flea || kessyet ||  ||  || kessyet ||  ||  || 
|-
| flesh (meat) || ashauch || ashauch ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| flying || miawoth; miaoth ||  ||  || miawoth || miaoth ||  || 
|-
| foot || hodwitch; adyouth (cf. leg) || adyouth (cf. leg) ||  || hodwitch ||  ||  || 
|-
| forehead || doothun || doothun ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| fork || papade-aden; etheuwit ||  ||  || papade-aden || etheuwit ||  || 
|-
| fowl || edgedoweshin ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || edgedoweshin
|-
| fox || dogajavick || dogajavick ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| fur, animal hair || peatha ||  ||  || peatha || peatha ||  || 
|-
| gaping || abemite ||  ||  ||  || abemite ||  || 
|-
| get up || amshut; kinup; ganyess ||  || amshut ||  || ganyess ||  || kinup
|-
| [[gimlet (tool)|gimlet]] || quadranuck || quadranuck ||  ||  || quadranuck ||  || 
|-
| girl (white) || imamuset; emamooset || emamooset ||  ||  || emamooset ||  || imamuset
|-
| girl (Indian) || woaseesh || woaseesh ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| give me || dayhamin || dayhamin ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| (we) give thee a knife || wawashemet o-owin || wawashemet o-owin ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| glass || hadalahet (cf. cream jug); hadibiet || hadalahet (cf. cream jug) ||  ||  || hadibiet ||  || 
|-
| gloves || obsedeek || obsedeek ||  ||  || obsedeek ||  || 
|-
| go away || gayzhoot || gayzhoot ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| go home || baetha || baetha ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| go out || baeodut; enano || baeodut ||  ||  || enano ||  || 
|-
| good || homedick; oomdzech; betheote ''good night'' || homedick; oomdzech ||  ||  || betheote ''good night'' ||  || 
|-
| goose || yewone; odo-ezheet (cf. duck); odeusook || odo-ezheet (cf. duck) ||  || yewone || odeusook ||  || 
|-
| [[gooseberry]] || jiggamint ||  ||  ||  || jiggamint ||  || 
|-
| grass || shisth ||  ||  || shisth ||  ||  || 
|-
| grindstone || shewthake; aquathoont || shewthake ||  ||  || aquathoont ||  || 
|-
| groaning || cheeashit; cheashit ||  ||  || cheeashit || cheashit ||  || 
|-
| gull || asson || asson ||  ||  || asson ||  || 
|-
| gun || harreen ''or'' huz-seen; adamadret || adamadret ||  || harreen ''or'' huz-seen || adamadret ||  || 
|-
| gun powder || beasothunt || beasothunt ||  ||  || beasothunt ||  || 
|-
| hair || donna; drummet; drone-oock; dronna || drone-oock ||  || donna || dronna ||  || drummet
|-
| [[halibut]], [[flatfish]] || hanawasutt || hanawasutt ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| hammer || iwish; mattuis || iwish ||  ||  || mattuis ||  || 
|-
| hand || memen ''hands or fingers''; maelmed; memet || maelmed ||  || memen ''hands or fingers'' || memet ||  || 
|-
| hare || odusweet || odusweet ||  ||  || odusweet ||  || 
|-
| (make) haste || ishu; eeshoo || eeshoo ||  ||  ||  ||  || ishu
|-
| hatchet || nowaut; thinyun; dthoonanyen; thingaya || thinyun; dthoonanyen ||  || nowaut ||  || thingaya || 
|-
| head || keawthaw; geothuk; keauthut, gonothun || geothuk ||  || keawthaw || keauthut, gonothun ||  || 
|-
| hear || noduera || noduera ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| heart || bedoret; bogodoret || bedoret ||  ||  || bogodoret ||  || 
|-
| heaven || theehone || theehone ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[herring]] || washemesh ||  ||  ||  || washemesh ||  || 
|-
| hiccups || mudyraw; madyrut ||  ||  || mudyraw || madyrut ||  || 
|-
| hill || kaasook; keoosock || kaasook; keoosock ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| hoop || woin ||  ||  ||  || woin ||  || 
|-
| house || mae-adthike (cf. hut); mammateek || mae-adthike (cf. hut) ||  ||  || mammateek ||  || 
|-
| hungry || dauoosett || dauoosett ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| (not) hurt || aoodrach || aoodrach ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| husband || zathrook (cf. man) ||  ||  ||  || zathrook (cf. man) ||  || 
|-
| hut || meothik (cf. house) || meothik (cf. house) ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| ice || ozrook; ozeru || ozrook ||  ||  || ozeru ||  || 
|-
| Indian (red) || behathook; beothuck; beathook || behathook; beothuck ||  ||  || beathook ||  || 
|-
| Indian cup || shucodidimet; shucodidimit || shucodidimet ||  ||  || shucodidimit ||  || 
|-
| iron || mauageene; maudshinuk; mowageenite ||  ||  || mauageene || mowageenite ||  || maudshinuk
|-
| islands || mammasheek ||  ||  ||  || mammasheek ||  || 
|-
| kill || whadicheme; bogathoowytch || whadicheme; bogathoowytch ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| (not) kill || datyuns || datyuns ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| kiss || sheboth; widumite ||  ||  || sheboth || widumite ||  || 
|-
| knee || hodsmishit; hodamishit ||  ||  || hodsmishit || hodamishit ||  || 
|-
| kneeling || abusthibe; abusthibit ||  ||  || abusthibe || abusthibit ||  || 
|-
| knife || yewoin; iwo-in; aewaeen; hewhine; uine || aewaeen; hewhine ||  || yewoin || uine ||  || iwo-in
|-
| lamp || mondicuet; bobdiduishemet || mondicuet ||  ||  || bobdiduishemet ||  || 
|-
| laugh || whoishme; wyeeth ||  ||  || whoishme || wyeeth ||  || 
|-
| lead || goosheben ||  ||  ||  || goosheben ||  || 
|-
| lean, thin, sick || ashei || ashei ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| leaves || madyua; madyna ||  ||  || madyua || madyna ||  || 
|-
| leg || cogadealla; aduse (cf. foot) ||  ||  || cogadealla || aduse (cf. foot) ||  || 
|-
| lie || pisauwau; bituwait (cf. sleep) ||  ||  || pisauwau || bituwait (cf. sleep) ||  || 
|-
| life || mamset (cf. alive) || mamset (cf. alive) ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| lightning || koorae; barodiisick (cf. fire and thunder) ||  ||  || koorae || barodiisick (cf. fire and thunder) ||  || 
|-
| (I) like || adjeedisk || adjeedisk ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| lip || coosh; ooish ||  ||  || coosh || ooish ||  || 
|-
| lobster || odjet || odjet ||  ||  || odjet ||  || 
|-
| long || kannabuck || kannabuck ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| lord bird, [[harlequin duck]] || mammadrouit ||  ||  ||  || mammadrouit ||  || 
|-
| louse || cusebee; kusebeet ||  ||  || cusebee || kusebeet ||  || 
|-
| [[lumpfish]] || aeshemeet ||  || aeshemeet ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| mainland || gauzewook ||  ||  ||  || gauzewook ||  || 
|-
| man (white) || pushaman; buggishaman; bukashaman || buggishaman ||  || pushaman || bukashaman ||  || buggishaman
|-
| man (Indian) || shawdtharut (cf. husband) || shawdtharut (cf. husband) ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[Mi'kmaq|Micmac]] || shanung || shanung ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| milk || madabooch || madabooch ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[moccasin]] || moosin; mosen || moosin; mosen ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| money || beodet || beodet ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| moon || kuus; keeose, washageuis; kius, washewiush || keeose, washageuis || kuus ||  || kius, washewiush ||  || 
|-
| mosquito || shema bogosthuc ||  ||  ||  || shema bogosthuc ||  || 
|-
| mouth || mamudthun; mameshook || mamudthun ||  ||  || mameshook ||  || 
|-
| muscle (mussel) || owameet || owameet ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| nails || cush; quish ||  ||  || cush || quish ||  || 
|-
| neck || tedesheet (cf. throat) ||  ||  || tedesheet (cf. throat) || tedesheet (cf. throat) ||  || 
|-
| necklace || zeek (cf. beads); bethec || zeek (cf. beads) ||  ||  || bethec ||  || 
|-
| needle || tuzmus; dosomite (cf. pin) ||  ||  || tuzmus || dosomite (cf. pin) ||  || 
|-
| net || giggaremanet || giggaremanet ||  ||  || giggaremanet ||  || 
|-
| night || washewch; washew || washewch ||  ||  || washew ||  || 
|-
| [[nipper (tool)|nipper]] || bebadrook ||  ||  ||  || bebadrook ||  || 
|-
| no || newin || newin ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| nose || gheen; geen || gheen ||  ||  || geen ||  || 
|-
| [[oakum]] || mushabauth ||  ||  || mushabauth || mushabauth ||  || 
|-
| oar || poodybeac ||  ||  || poodybeac || poodybeac ||  || 
|-
| [[ochre]] || odemen; odement || odemen ||  ||  || odement ||  || 
|-
| oil || emet || emet ||  ||  || emet ||  || 
|-
| otter || edachoom; edru || edachoom ||  ||  || edru ||  || 
|-
| [[partridge]] || susut; zosoot; zosweet || zosoot ||  || susut || zosweet ||  || 
|-
| [[Vaccinium vitis-idaea|partridgeberries]] || shaudame ||  ||  || shaudame ||  ||  || 
|-
| pigeon (sea), ([[guillemot]]) || bobbodish (cf. bird) || bobbodish (cf. bird) ||  ||  || bobbodish (cf. bird) ||  || bobbodish (cf. bird)
|-
| pin || tusmug; dosomite || dosomite ||  || tusmug || dosomite ||  || 
|-
| pitcher, cup, plate || manume; manune || manume ||  ||  || manune ||  || 
|-
| pond || woodum || woodum ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[puffin]] || gwoshuawit ||  ||  ||  || gwoshuawit ||  || 
|-
| puppies || mammasameet (cf. dog) ||  ||  ||  || mammasameet (cf. dog) ||  || 
|-
| rain || pedthae; watshoosooch; badoese; bathuc || watshoosooch; badoese ||  || pedthae || bathuc ||  || 
|-
| [[raspberry|raspberries]] || gauzadun ||  ||  ||  ||  || gauzadun || 
|-
| rat || gadgemish ||  ||  ||  || gadgemish ||  || 
|-
| red || deedrashow || deedrashow ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| river || shebon; shebin ''brook'' || shebon; shebin ''brook'' ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| rocks || ahune ||  ||  ||  || ahune ||  || 
|-
| rolling || odausot ||  ||  || odausot ||  ||  || 
|-
| rowing || huzzagan; osavate ||  ||  || huzzagan || osavate ||  || 
|-
| run || wothamashee; ibadinnam; wothamashet || ibadinnam ||  || wothamashee || wothamashet ||  || 
|-
| sails || ejabathook || ejabathook ||  ||  || ejabathook ||  || 
|-
| salmon || wasemook || wasemook ||  ||  || wasemook ||  || 
|-
| saw || dedoweet; deddoweet || dedoweet ||  ||  || deddoweet ||  || 
|-
| salt water || massoock || massoock ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| scab || pigathee ||  ||  || pigathee || pigathee ||  || 
|-
| scallop || gowet ||  ||  ||  || gowet ||  || 
|-
| scalping the head || nomushrush keawthaw ||  ||  || nomushrush keawthaw ||  ||  || 
|-
| scissors || oseenyet; osegeeu || oseenyet ||  ||  || osegeeu ||  || 
|-
| scratch || bashubet ||  ||  ||  || bashubet ||  || 
|-
| seal || momau; bidesuk; beedzuk; bidesook || bidesuk; beedzuk ||  || momau || bidesook ||  || 
|-
| seal sunk || aparet a bidesook ||  ||  ||  || aparet a bidesook ||  || 
|-
| seal skin bag || bochmoot ''seal skin sledge full'' ||  || bochmoot ''seal skin sledge full'' ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| see || ejew || ejew ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| shake hands || meman momasthus; kawinjemeesh; meman monasthus || kawinjemeesh ||  || meman momasthus || meman monasthus ||  || 
|-
| ship, vessel || mamzhing; mamashee (cf. boat) || mamashee (cf. boat) || mamzhing ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| shoes || moosin (cf. mocassin) ||  ||  ||  || moosin (cf. mocassin) ||  || 
|-
| shoot || hodthoo ''shoot a gun''; outhaje-arrathunum ''shoot an arrow perpendicularly''; wadshoodet || wadshoodet ||  || hodthoo ''shoot a gun''; outhaje-arrathunum ''shoot an arrow perpendicularly'' ||  ||  || 
|-
| short || yeech || yeech ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| shoulder || momezabethon; momegemethon ||  ||  || momezabethon || momegemethon ||  || 
|-
| shovel || hadowadet; godawick || hadowadet ||  ||  || godawick ||  || 
|-
| silk handkerchief || egibiduish || egibiduish ||  ||  || egibiduish ||  || 
|-
| sinew of deer || modthamook || modthamook ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| singing || tuauthaw; awoodet ||  ||  || tuauthaw || awoodet ||  || 
|-
| sit || haddosdoding; athep || athep ||  || haddosdoding || athep ||  || 
|-
| sleep || puthuauth; bootzhawet; aoseedwit ''I am sleepy'' (cf. lie, bed); isedoweet || bootzhawet; aoseedwit ''I am sleepy'' (cf. lie, bed) ||  || puthuauth || isedoweet ||  || 
|-
| sleeve || wobesheet || wobesheet ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| smell || marot || marot ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| smoke || possthee; basdiek; besdic || basdiek ||  || possthee || besdic ||  || 
|-
| snail || aeueece || aeueece ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| sneezing || midyathew; adjith ||  ||  || midyathew || adjith ||  || 
|-
| snipe || auojet ||  ||  ||  || auojet ||  || 
|-
| snow || (corrasoob); causabow; kaasussabook || causabow; kaasussabook ||  || (corrasoob) ||  ||  || 
|-
| song || mamatrabet (''a long?'') || mamatrabet (''a long?'') ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| soon || jewmetcheen || jewmetcheen ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| sore throat || anadrick || anadrick ||  ||  || anadrick ||  || 
|-
| sorrow || corrasoob (cf. snow) ||  ||  || corrasoob (cf. snow) || corrasoob (cf. snow) ||  || 
|-
| speak || carmtack; jeroothack || carmtack; jeroothack ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| spear || anun; aaduth ''seal spear''; amina ''deer spear''; hannan ||  || anun; aaduth ''seal spear''; amina ''deer spear'' || hannan ||  ||  || 
|-
| spider || woadthoowin || woadthoowin ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| spoon || hanamait; adadiminte, andemin || adadiminte, andemin ||  || hanamait ||  ||  || 
|-
| spouse || anwoyding || anwoyding ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[spruce]] || trawnasoo ||  ||  || trawnasoo || trawnasoo ||  || 
|-
| spruce rind || sousot ||  ||  || sousot ||  ||  || 
|-
| standing || kingabie; kingiabit ||  ||  || kingabie || kingiabit ||  || 
|-
| stars || so-ushzeth; shawwayet; adenishit || shawwayet ||  || so-ushzeth || adenishit ||  || 
|-
| stinking seal || mattik bidesook || mattik bidesook ||  ||  || mattik bidesook ||  || 
|-
| stockings || gassek; gasset || gassek ||  ||  || gasset ||  || 
|-
| stones || ougen; oun (cf. rocks) || oun (cf. rocks) ||  || ougen ||  ||  || 
|-
| stooping || hedy-yan ||  ||  || hedy-yan || hedy-yan ||  || 
|-
| sugar || shedothoon || shedothoon ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| sun, moon || dewis; keeose; keuse; magaragueis ''sun''; washageuis ''moon''; kius; maugerooius ''sun''; washewiush ''moon'' || keeose; keuse; magaragueis ''sun''; washageuis ''moon'' ||  || dewis || kius; maugerooius ''sun''; washewiush ''moon'' ||  || 
|-
| swimming || tuwedgie; thoowidgee (cf. dancing) ||  ||  || tuwedgie || thoowidgee (cf. dancing) ||  || 
|-
| sword || bidisoni || bidisoni ||  ||  || bidisoni ||  || 
|-
| tea || butterweye (''but probably garbled'') || butterweye (''but probably garbled'') ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| teeth || outhermay; botomet outhermayet ||  ||  || outhermay || botomet outhermayet ||  || 
|-
| thank you || thine ||  ||  ||  || thine ||  || 
|-
| thigh || ipeween; ipweena ||  ||  || ipeween || ipweena ||  || 
|-
| thread || meroopish; meroobish (cf. twine) ||  ||  || meroopish || meroobish (cf. twine) ||  || 
|-
| throat || tedesheet (cf. neck) ||  ||  || tedesheet (cf. neck) ||  ||  || 
|-
| throw a trap || shaubabuneshaw ||  ||  || shaubabuneshaw ||  ||  || 
|-
| throw || pugatho; pugathoite ||  ||  || pugatho || pugathoite ||  || 
|-
| thumb || pooith; buit; boad; pooeth || boad ||  || pooith || pooeth ||  || buit
|-
| thunder || petothorish; barodiisick (cf. lightning) ||  ||  || petothorish || barodiisick (cf. lightning) ||  || 
|-
| ticklace ([[kittiwake]]) || gotheyet || gotheyet ||  ||  || gotheyet ||  || 
|-
| tickle (gut, sound, strait) || kaduishuite ||  ||  ||  || kaduishuite ||  || 
|-
| tinker ([[razorbill]]) || oothook ||  ||  ||  || oothook ||  || 
|-
| tobacco || nechwa || nechwa ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| tomorrow || maduck || maduck ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| tongue || memaza; mamadthuk (cf. mouth); memasuck || mamadthuk (cf. mouth) ||  || memaza || memasuck ||  || 
|-
| trap || tibethun; lathun; shebathoont || lathun ||  || tibethun || shebathoont ||  || 
|-
| tree, woods || annooee || annooee ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| trousers || mowead || mowead ||  ||  || mowead ||  || 
|-
| trout || dottomeish || dottomeish ||  ||  || dottomeish ||  || 
|-
| turr ([[murre]]) || geonet || geonet ||  ||  || geonet ||  || 
|-
| twine || meroopish; madobeesh || madobeesh ||  || meroopish ||  ||  || 
|-
| walk || woothyan; baysot (cf. run); woothyat ||  ||  || woothyan || woothyat ||  || baysot (cf. run)
|-
| walking stick || cheething ||  ||  || cheething ||  ||  || 
|-
| warm || obosheen ''warming yourself''; boobasha || boobasha ||  || obosheen ''warming yourself'' || obosheen ''warming yourself'' ||  || 
|-
| watch || dewis; keeose (cf. sun, moon); kius || dewis; keeose (cf. sun, moon) ||  ||  || kius ||  || 
|-
| water || ebauthoo; ebadoe; zebathoong ''water (drink)'' || ebadoe; zebathoong ''water (drink)'' ||  || ebauthoo || ebauthoo ||  || 
|-
| water bucket || guinyabutt (''with vertical or sloping sides''); sunong-guinyabutt (''large at bottom, small at top'') ||  || guinyabutt (''with vertical or sloping sides''); sunong-guinyabutt (''large at bottom, small at top'') ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| wet || wabee (''confusion with white'') || wabee (''confusion with white'') ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| whale's tail || owasposhno-un ||  || owasposhno-un ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| where do you go || becket || becket ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| white || wobee || wobee ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[whortleberry|whortle berries]] || mamoose (cf. berries) ||  ||  ||  ||  || mamoose (cf. berries) || 
|-
| wife || oosuck ||  ||  ||  || oosuck ||  || 
|-
| wife (white) || adizabad-zea || adizabad-zea ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| wind || tisewthun; gidgeathuc ||  ||  || tisewthun || gidgeathuc ||  || 
|-
| wood || adiab ||  ||  || adiab || adiab ||  || 
|-
| woodpecker || sheebuint; shebohoweet || shebohoweet || sheebuint ||  || shebohoweet ||  || 
|-
| wolf || moisamadrook ||  ||  ||  || moisamadrook ||  || 
|-
| woman || imamus; emamoose; woass-sut ''red Indian woman'' || emamoose; woass-sut ''red Indian woman'' ||  ||  || emamoose ||  || imamus
|-
| yawning || tibeath; jibeath ||  ||  || tibeath || jibeath ||  || 
|-
| yes || ethath; yeathun || ethath; yeathun ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|}

===Numerals===
Numerals in Beothuk:<ref name="Hewson-Vocabularies"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Gloss !! [[William Cormack|Cormack]] !! [[Robert Gordon Latham|Latham]] / King (1850) !! Leigh
|-
| one || yaseek || yazeek || gathet
|-
| two || adzeich || adzeech || adasic
|-
| three || shendeek || shendee || shedsic
|-
| four || dabseek || dabzeek || abodoesic
|-
| five || ninezeek || nunyetheek || nijeek
|-
| six || bashedtheek || beshed || bigadosick
|-
| seven || oodzook || odeozook || oodosook
|-
| eight || aadazook || adosook || aodoosook
|-
| nine || yeothoduk || yeothoduck || yeothoduck
|-
| ten || shansee || shansee || theant
|-
| eleven || ee-zaziech
|-
| twelve || ee-adzide
|-
| thirteen || ee-shendeek
|-
| fourteen || ee-dabzook
|-
| fifteen || ee-ninezeek
|-
| sixteen || ee-beshedtheek
|-
| seventeen || ee-oodzook
|-
| eighteen || ee-aadazook
|-
| nineteen || ee-yeothoduck
|-
| twenty || adzeich dthoonut
|-
| thirty || shendeek dthoonut
|}

===Months===
Months in Beothuk:<ref name="Hewson-Vocabularies"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Gloss !! [[William Cormack|Cormack]] list <br/>(from [[Shanawdithit]])
|-
| January || cobshuneesamut
|-
| February || kosthobonong bewajoite
|-
| March || manamiss
|-
| April || wasumaweeseek
|-
| May || bedejamish bewajowite
|-
| June || wasumaweeseek
|-
| July || cowazaseek
|-
| August || wadawhegh
|-
| September || wasumaweeseek
|-
| October || godabonyegh
|-
| November || godabonyeesh
|-
| December || odasweeteeshamut
|}

==Comparison with Proto-Algonquian==
Below is a comparison of Beothuk words from Hewson (1978) with [[Proto-Algonquian]] lexical reconstructions from Hewson (2017).<ref>Hewson, John. 2017. ''[https://protoalgonquian.atlas-ling.ca/ Proto-Algonquian online dictionary]''. Algonquian Dictionaries Project.</ref>

:{| class="wikitable sortable"
! gloss !! Proto-Algonquian !! Beothuk
|-
! head
| *wiᐧši (his) || keawthaw; geothuk; keauthut, gonothun
|-
! hair
| *wiᐧΘeʔsi || donna; drummet; drone-oock; dronna
|-
! eye
| *neškiᐧnšekwi (my) || geegnyan; gwinya
|-
! ear
| *nehtaᐧwakaᐧyi (my) || mismuth; mootchiman; mooshaman
|-
! nose
| *nexkiwani (my) || g(h)een
|-
! tooth
| *niᐧpiči (my) || outhermay
|-
! tongue
| *wiᐧΘani (his) || memaza; mamadthuk (cf. mouth); memasuck
|-
! mouth
| *wetoᐧni (his) || mamudthun; mameshook
|-
! hand
| *neΘenčyi (my) || memen (hands or fingers); maelmed; memet
|-
! foot
| *nesiči (my) || hodwitch; adyouth (cf. leg)
|-
! breast
| *wetoᐧhšali || bemoot; bogomot
|-
! meat
| *wiᐧyawehsi || ashauch
|-
! blood
| *meçkwi || ashaboouth; arrowbauth; izzobauth, iggobauth
|-
! bone
| *weΘkani || aenameen
|-
! person
| *elenyiwa; *naᐧpeᐧwa; *niᐧmaΘawa || shawdtharut
|-
! dog
| *aΘemwa || mammasamit; mammasameet
|-
! fish
| *nameᐧwa, *nameᐧʔsa; *mesaya || poopusrout; baubooshrat
|-
! louse
| *ehkwa || cusebee; kusebeet
|-
! tree
| *-aᐧhtekw || annooee
|-
! leaf
| *aniᐧpyi || madyua; madyna
|-
! water
| *nepyi || ebauthoo; ebadoe
|-
! fire
| *eškweteᐧwi || koorae; oodrat; boobeeshawt (cf. lightning); woodrat
|-
! stone
| *aʔsenya || ou(ge)n; ahune 'rocks'
|}

==Legacy==
The prehistoric [[cnidarian]] animal ''[[Haootia]]'' takes its name from the Beothuk word for "demon".<ref name=liu>{{cite journal|last1=Liu|first1=A. G.|last2=Matthews|first2=J. J.|last3=Menon|first3=L. R.|last4=McIlroy|first4=D.|last5=Brasier|first5=M. D.|title=Haootia quadriformis n. gen., n. sp., interpreted as a muscular cnidarian impression from the Late Ediacaran period (approx. 560 Ma)|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|year=2014|volume=281|issue=1793|page=20141202|doi=10.1098/rspb.2014.1202|pmid=25165764|pmc=4173675}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{sister project |project=wiktionary |text=[[Wiktionary]] has a word list at '''''[[Wiktionary:Appendix:Beothuk word list|Appendix:Beothuk word list]]'''''}}
*[https://www.mun.ca/rels/native/beothuk/beo2gifs/texts/HOW19c.html Text including Beothuk vocabulary]
*[https://archive.org/stream/beothucksorredin00howlrich#page/302/mode/2up About the Beothuk language]
*[http://www.language-archives.org/language/bue OLAC resources in and about the Beothuk language]

{{Languages of Canada}}
{{North American languages}}

[[Category:Algonquian languages]]
[[Category:Language isolates of North America]]
[[Category:Indigenous languages of the North American eastern woodlands]]
[[Category:First Nations languages in Canada]]
[[Category:Extinct languages of North America]]
[[Category:Beothuk|Language]]
[[Category:Languages extinct in the 1820s]]
[[Category:1820s disestablishments in North America]]