ᑲᓇᑕ
kanata
The English word "Canada" is written as ᑲᓇᑕ (kanata) in Cree.
ᑲᓇᑕ is the name used for the country in North America.
Meaning: country in North America (name)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kanata.
Did you know?
- The word ᑲᓇᑕ is an adaptation of the Iroquoian word kanata, which means 'village' or 'settlement'.
- While the name 'Canada' is used in Cree, the syllabics ᑲᓇᑕ are part of a writing system designed by James Evans in the 1840s to make literacy more accessible to Indigenous peoples.
- The syllabics used in ᑲᓇᑕ are unique because they represent sounds through changes in the orientation of a shape, such as a triangle or a line, rather than using traditional alphabetic letters.
Example conversation
Two people are talking about where they are from.
- Aᐄᐤᐤ ᑲᓇᑕ ᐅᐤᐤ ᓂᐯᐤᐤ.Aoo Canada oo neeoo.Yes, I live in Canada.
- Bᐄᐤᐤ, ᓂᐯᐤᐤ ᑲᓇᑕ ᒫᑲᐤᐤ ᓂᐤᐤᐤ.Aoo, neeoo Canada makau nioo.Oh, I want to go to Canada.
- Aᐄᐤᐤ, ᑲᓇᑕ ᐄᐤᐤ ᐤᐤᐤ.Aoo, Canada aoo uuu.Yes, Canada is very beautiful.
- Bᐄᐤᐤ, ᓂᐯᐤᐤ ᐄᐤᐤ ᒫᑲᐤᐤ.Aoo, neeoo aoo makau.Yes, I would like that.
