ᐴᔒ
pooshii
The Cree word for cat is ᐴᔒ (pooshii).
ᐴᔒ is used to refer to the domestic species of cat.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term ᐴᔒ is a loanword adapted into Cree phonology from the English words 'puppy' or 'pussy'.
How do you pronounce it?
pooshii
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, the loanword ᐴᔒ might have been influenced by either the English word 'pussy' or the word 'puppy'.
- If you were to use a traditional Cree description for a cat instead of the loanword ᐴᔒ, you would likely have to describe its physical actions or behavior instead.
- The spelling ᐴᔒ uses Cree syllabics, a writing system developed in the 19th century to transcribe Indigenous languages.
Example sentences for Cree are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a pet.
- Aᐴᔒ ᓂᐯᐴᔒ ᒫᐴᐴ.kôsi nîkôsi mâtw.My cat is small.
- Bᐴᔒ ᐯᐴᐴᐴᐴᐴ.kôsi wâtwâtwâtw.Is the cat friendly?
- Aᐴᔒ ᐄ, ᐴᔒ ᓇᐹᔅᐅᐴᐴ.kôsi ê, kôsi napâskwâtêw.Yes, the cat is sleeping.
- Bᐴᔒ ᓂᐴᐴᐴᐴᐴ.kôsi nîtwâtwâtw.I like cats.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries ᐴᔒ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
