ᐅᔅᒋ
osci
The English word 'canoe' is ᐅᔅᒋ in Cree.
ᐅᔅᒋ refers to a small, long and narrow boat.
Meaning: small long and narrow boat (noun)
Did you know?
- The English word 'canoe' is actually a loanword from the Caribbean languages of the Taíno people, but the Cree word ᐅᔅᒋ is indigenous to the Algonquian language family.
- In Cree culture, the construction of a ᐅᔅᒋ was often a spiritual process involving specific prayers and gratitude toward the birch tree that provided the bark.
- Depending on the specific Cree community, a ᐅᔅᒋ might be described using a verb-based structure that emphasizes the act of gliding rather than just the object itself.
Example conversation
Two people are standing by a lake.
- Aᐅᔅᒋ ᓂᐣᐤᐣᐣ ᒫᑲᔅᐑᓂᐣᐣᐣ.usci ninun mâkasininin.I have a canoe.
- Bᒫᑲᔅᐑᓂᐣᐣᐣ ᓂᐣᐤᐣᐣ ᐴᐣᐣ?mâkasininin ninun tun?Where is your canoe?
- Aᐅᔅᒋ ᒫᑲᔅᐑᓂᐣᐣᐣ ᐴᐣᐣ ᐴᐣᐣ.usci mâkasininin tun tun.The canoe is over there.
- Bᓂᐣᐤᐣᐣ ᒫᑲᔅᐑᓂᐣᐣᐣ ᐴᐣᐣ.ninun mâkasininin tun.I see your canoe.
