ᐹᐹ
pâpâ
ᐹᐹ (pâpâ) is the Cree word for dad.
ᐹᐹ is an informal noun used to refer to a father.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
pâpâ
Did you know?
- In certain Cree communities, the term for 'father' is less about biological connection and more about a role within a larger kinship system that includes many uncles.
- Cree syllabics, used to write ᐹᐹ, were adapted from a system originally developed for the Ojibwe language to increase literacy across Indigenous nations.
- Because Cree is a polysynthetic language, a single word can often be transformed into a complex sentence, meaning 'my dad' or 'his dad' would look quite different from the standalone ᐹᐹ.
Examples in context
- ᐹᐹ ᓇᐹᐦᑖᐦ.Pāpā nāpātāh.Dad is sleeping.
Example conversation
A child is calling out to their father in the kitchen.
- Aᐹᐹ, ᒫᑲᐄ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ!Pāpā, mākā īnūn!Dad, I'm over here!
- Bᐄ, ᓂᐯᐄᐣᐤᐣ.Ī, nisei-īnūn.Yes, I see you.
- Aᐹᐹ, ᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᓂᐯᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ.Pāpā, īnūn nisei-īnūn īnūn.Dad, I want some water.
- Bᐄ, ᓂᐯᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ.Ī, nisei-īnūn īnūn.Yes, I will get it.
