Shipibo Foundations · Module 3: People and Possession · Lesson 4 of 5

Three kinds of water

By the end you can name the three kinds of water and say which one you mean.

4 new words · about 8 minutes

Jakón yantán! Good afternoon! — Xáwe is with you for Module 3.

English has 'water.' Shipibo, a river people's language, is more precise: páro — the river; jene — wild water; ompax — gathered water. The river itself has a name: Okayari, the Ucayali.
Culture note. A river people's language treats water precisely — the three-way distinction is basic vocabulary, not poetry. Even 'Ucayali' began as Shipibo: the name describes the river where the oka — small black birds that descend in flocks on riverbank rice — are found, later reshaped by Spanish speakers.
✓ sourced Chat 1-1 00:53 · nothing invented

The words

Read each one. The next screen hides the meaning so you can test yourself.

pároriver
jenewild water
ompaxgathered water
Okayarithe Ucayali river

Cover the meaning

Say it before you flip. Be honest — "again" brings it back.

tap to reveal
tap to flip back

Match the pairs

Tap a Shipibo word, then its meaning.

In a sentence

Try translating each line yourself before you tap.

Metsá paro.
tap to translate
Beautiful river.
Try it. Next time you see water, classify it: páro, jene, or ompax?

Now you write it

Accents optional while you learn — jakon = jakón.

Check yourself

'gathered water' is…
Okayari is…
Xáwe
✓

Lesson complete

Xáwe approves — Jakonshaman!

You can now name the three kinds of water and say which one you mean.

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