ᐊᑎᕽ
atihk
The Cree word for goat is ᐊᑎᕽ (atihk).
The word refers to the animal known as a goat.
Meaning: animal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
atihk
Did you know?
- In many Cree dialects, animals that were introduced from Europe are categorized differently in grammar than animals that have always lived on the land.
- Because of the polysynthetic nature of the language, a single word starting with ᐊᑎᕽ can encode an entire sentence about the goat's behavior.
- In many Cree dialects, the word for 'goat' is actually a borrowed term or a descriptive phrase for an animal that did not traditionally exist in the North American landscape.
Example conversation
Two people are visiting a small farm.
- Aᓂᐘᐤ ᐊᑎᕽ ᓂᐘᐤ!niḑu atiḑ niḑu!Look, a goat!
- Bᐘᐤᐤ, ᓂᐘᐤ ᒫᑲᐤ.wūū, niḑu mākā.Yes, it is here.
- Aᐊᑎᕽ ᓂᐘᐤ ᒫᑲᐤ ᓂᐘᐤ?atiḑ niḑu mākā niḑu?Is this goat friendly?
