maci-manitow
The Cree word for "devil" is maci-manitow.
maci-manitow is a noun used to describe an evil creature.
Meaning: evil creature (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
This word is a compound of maci-, meaning bad or evil and manitow, meaning spirit or being.
Did you know?
- In traditional Cree cosmology, the concept of a single personified 'devil' was largely introduced through contact with European missionaries.
- While English speakers often use 'devil' to refer to a person with a bad temper, using maci-manitow in Cree would be seen as a literal and much more serious spiritual claim.
- While maci-manitow means 'evil spirit', the term manitow is also the root for the English word 'manitou' used in some North American folklore.
