igmú
The Lakota word for cat is igmú.
igmú is used to refer to the domestic species of cat.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
Did you know?
- Domestic cats were not present in the Great Plains until introduced by European settlers, which is why igmú is a borrowed term.
- The accent mark on the ú in igmú is not just a pronunciation guide but indicates a high tone that can change the meaning of a word in Lakota.
- Lakota nouns like igmú often take different forms depending on whether the animal is acting as a subject or an object in a sentence.
Example conversation
Winona and Curtis are looking at a pet in the house.
- WinonaIgmú waunűla.The cat is sleeping.
- CurtisIgmú waűűnčhe?Is the cat cute?
- WinonaHā, igmú waűűnčhe.Yes, the cat is cute.
- CurtisIgmú wažé.The cat is here.
