How to Say “Bed” in Cree

By Hannah Annie • Updated October 3, 2026

nipêwin

The Cree word for bed is nipêwin.

nipêwin is used to refer to the piece of furniture used for sleeping.

Meaning: piece of furniture (noun)

Did you know?

Because Cree is polysynthetic, a single expanded version of nipêwin can specify not just the bed, but exactly who is in it and their sleeping position.
If you were to describe a 'river bed' in Cree, you would not use nipêwin, as the language uses entirely different metaphorical roots for the bottom of a body of water.
The word nipêwin is derived from the verb nipê, meaning 'to sleep'. In Cree, many nouns for objects are formed by turning a related action into a noun.

Example conversation

A parent tells a child it is time to sleep.

A

nipêwin kî-wahkâsow.
nipêwin kî-wahkâsow.
The bed is made.
B

miyahwêya!
miyahwêya!
That's good!
A

nipêwin kî-mîcisow.
nipêwin kî-mîcisow.
Sleep in the bed.
B

êy, nipâwin.
êy, nipâwin.
Yes, I'm going to sleep.

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About The Author

Hannah Annie

Tân'si! I'm Hannah, a linguistic enthusiast, especially for the Cree language. When I'm not writing comprehensive guides on how to say diverse words in Cree, you might catch me wandering in the wilderness or diving into captivating animal documentaries. With passion as dynamic as a 'sawêsiw' (lynx) and a heart as warm as 'kîsikohk' (morning), I find joy in making bridges of communication. Empowered by 'kimâmowin' (respect), I'm determined to share the beauty of the Cree language, hoping the world will listen, one word at a time. Mi'kmaq is spoken not far from Cree, and it has become another language close to my heart, so you will now find my guides to Mi'kmaq here too. Kâ-nâkatêyihtahkik kinêtan-ayâyâstâhk ('always choose love') is my motto.

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