kimímila
The English word for butterfly is kimímila in Lakota. Wiktionary also lists kimímela.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lakota |
|---|
| kimímila |
| kimímela |
This noun refers to the insect known as a butterfly.
Which one should you use?
The two forms provided are kimímila and kimímela.
Did you know?
- In traditional Lakota belief, a butterfly is often seen as a vessel for the souls of ancestors rather than just a biological insect.
- A speaker could theoretically turn the noun kimímila into a long, complex sentence-word to describe a specific action, like a butterfly flying toward a certain flower.
- Because Lakota is a verb-heavy language, a speaker might describe a butterfly by using a word that means 'to be a butterfly' rather than using the noun kimímila.
Examples in context
- Kimímila wašté.The butterfly is beautiful.
- Kimímila tȟáŋka wašté.The big butterfly is beautiful.
- Kimímila oká.There is a butterfly.
Example conversation
Rose and Wayne are walking in a meadow.
- RoseHóu, kimímila waunšnî!Look, a beautiful butterfly!
- WayneHé, waunšnî wašté.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- RoseKimímila tȟókačha.The butterfly is flying.
- WayneWaunǧá tȟókačha.I see it flying.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “butterfly” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
