The terms "animate" and "inanimate" are convenient linguistic labels which reflect the two-way Cheyenne division of everything in the world. There may be better terms for Cheyennes to use for these two categories. For instance, one of the easiest ways to test whether a noun is animate or inanimate is for a Cheyenne speaker to say whether tse'tohe ('this/these,' animate) or he'tohe ('this/these,' inanimate) would be used with that word. For example, Cheyenne speakers will tell you that only tse'tohe can be used with vo'ėstane 'person'. And they will also tell you that only he'tohe can be used with semo 'boat.' So, for Cheyenne speakers, it may be more convenient to refer to the two types of nouns as "tse'tohe words" and "he'tohe words", rather than using the technical labels animate and inanimate.
As expected, animals and people are part of the animate group. So are spirits and trees, but not bushes, grass, leaves, or plants. The sun, moon, and stars are animate, and so are rocks. Some body parts (especially some, but not all, having to do with reproduction) and some clothing (especially clothing made with cloth) are animate, but other body parts and pieces of clothing are inanimate. Some items of food are animate, while others are inanimate.
Here are some animate and inanimate nouns:
ANIMATE INANIMATE
Cheyenne English Cheyenne English
people
vo'ėstane person
hē'e woman
hetane man
ka'ėškone child
ma'hahkeso old man
animals, birds, insects
poeso cat
vaotseva deer
ve'keso bird
hameško beetle (hameško spoon)
hahnoma bee
me'šemehne caterpillar
spirits
ma'heono spirit beings
Ma'heo'o God
seoto spirits (of the dead)
mȧhta'soomaho spirits (of people)
mestaeo'o ghosts/spooks
nesemoono spirit helpers
ANIMATE INANIMATE
Cheyenne English Cheyenne English
trees and related wood items
hoohtsėstse tree
šestoto'e pine vehpȯtse leaf
maxe log kȧhamaxe stick
hestoomo'ke bark hesotseve root of tree
celestial objects
eše'he sun
hotohke star
ANIMATE INANIMATE
Cheyenne English Cheyenne English
body parts
hestahpe brain me'ko head/hair
hestsetato kidneys he'e liver
hesta heart
he'po lung
heta'e glands hesta'he navel
mata'xevoto testicles vetoo'ȯtse penis
matana breast (matana milk)
matanāne breasts vohtane skin
ma'kēsta vagina vo'tanȯtse cheeks
mo'ēško finger (mo'ēško ring)
ma'ahtse forearm
mȧhtoohevo nail ma'ohta forehead
ve'henȯtse eyebrow ma'exa eye
ma'evo nose
mahtse mouth
hesevo calf (of leg) mȧhtse'ko leg
ma'eeme snot he'konȯtse bones
še'ėškema wart mȧhtovootȯtse ears
veveto horns he'pe rib
meeno feathers matsenoonȯtse wings
ANIMATE INANIMATE
Cheyenne English Cheyenne English
clothing
estse'he shirt/coat hohkėha'e hat
hoestoto dresses hoestato belt
heva'keehestoto scarves ho'ota choker
nėhpe'ėhestȯtse diaper
hone'komo button
mo'kėhanȯtse shoes
navohto my pants hohtohonȯtse leggings
ve'še'ėsenȯhestȯtse pants
geological objects
ho'honaa'e rock heseovo'e sand
ho'e land
o'he'e river
ANIMATE INANIMATE
Cheyenne English Cheyenne English
food
mesėhestoto potatoes mesėhestȯtse food
henene tomato
ma'xemeno apples
mȧhoo'o melon
he'ehesono rice penȯheo'o flour
hestovo'ėškono mushrooms
ho'enoono sweet potatoes mȧhaemenȯtse corn
monėškeho beans
mo'ȯhta'ene turnips
anonevee'tose carrots
ho'evohkȯtse meat
ame pemmican
kohkonȯheo'o bread
hohpe soup
ANIMATE INANIMATE
Cheyenne English Cheyenne English
toys hohtseme ball neto'ȯheo'o top no'ȯheo'o bat mene'keso doll ȧhko'a'haseono dominoes amo'keneo'o wagon tools, grooming implements tseene'eheono comb hohpo'easeehestȯtse barrette penȯhemenahtȯtse pounding stone peeneo'o grinder o'ėseena file eehaseo'o whetstone/file hahpaneo'o pliers hasoo'o crowbar hohkȯxe axe tȯhohko hammer