ᐸᐋᐚᒐᑭᓂᓰᓯᐲᓯᒼ
pawâcakinisîsipîsim
The English word "December" is translated into Cree as ᐸᐋᐚᒐᑭᓂᓰᓯᐲᓯᒼ (pawâcakinisîsipîsim).
This term refers to the twelfth month of the Gregorian calendar.
Meaning: twelfth month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
How do you pronounce it?
pawâcakinisîsipîsim
Did you know?
- Cree is a polysynthetic language, meaning a single word like ᐸᐋᐚᒐᑭᓂᓰᓯᐲᓯᒼ functions like an entire English sentence by stacking meaning-units together.
- The writing system used for ᐸᐋᐚᒐᑭᓂᓰᓯᐲᓯᒼ was specifically designed in the 19th century to capture the unique sounds of Indigenous languages that European alphabets could not.
- In many Cree-speaking communities, the traditional way to track time is through seasonal cycles and natural phenomena rather than the twelve-month Gregorian structure.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing their holiday plans.
- Aᐸᐋᐚᒐᑭᓂᓰᓯᐲᓯᒼ ᐣᐯᐣ ᐄᐣᐩ ᓂᐣᐯᐣᐣᐄᓯᐣ.Pāōgakinisīpīsisw wēn īna ninēwnīsīn.I am coming in December.
- Bᐌᐯᐣ ᓂᐣᐯᐣᐣᐄᓯᐣᐣᐣᐄᐣ!Wēn ninēwnīsīnnān!You are coming!
- Aᐄ, ᐸᐋᐚᒐᑭᓂᓰᓯᐲᓯᒼ ᐣᐯᐣ ᐄᐣᐩ.Ī, pāōgakinisīpīsisw wēn īna.Yes, in December.
- Bᒥᐣᐄᓯᐣ ᐣᐯᐣ ᐄᐣᐩ!Minīsīn wēn īna!See you then!
