ᓂᐢᑌᐢ
nistes
The Cree word for brother is ᓂᐢᑌᐢ (nistes).
This noun is used to refer to a male sibling.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
nistes
Did you know?
- The syllables in ᓂᐢᑌᐢ are written in a syllabic script, which was adapted to help Cree speakers achieve high literacy rates quickly.
- The Cree language has different words for 'brother' depending on whether the speaker is male or female.
- The concept of brotherhood in Cree culture often extends beyond biological siblings to include much wider networks of community members through ritual kinship.
Example conversation
A is introducing their family to B.
- Aᒫᓯᐎᐎᐎᐎ ᓂᐢᑌᐢ ᓂᐎᐎᐎᐎᐎ.mâsîpîpî nistês nîpîpîpî.This is my brother.
- Bᑕᐎᐎᐎᐎ ᑭᐎᐎᐎᐎ ᓂᐎᐎᐎᐎ.tâpîpî kipîpî nîpîpî.Nice to meet him.
- Aᓂᐢᑌᐢ ᓇᐎᐎᐎᐎ ᒫᓯᐎᐎᐎᐎ.nistês napîpî mâsîpîpî.My brother is a good person.
- Bᐎᐎᐎᐎ ᓂᐎᐎᐎᐎ ᒫᓯᐎᐎᐎᐎ.pîpî nîpîpî mâsîpîpî.That is wonderful.
