skén:nen kentshò:kwa
In Mohawk, "good morning" is said as skén:nen kentshò:kwa.
This phrase is used as a greeting when seeing someone for the first time in the morning.
Meaning: when seeing someone for the first time in the morning (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of skén:nen, meaning "peace" or "goodness" and kentshò:kwa, which means "it is in the morning" or "it is morning". Literally, the expression translates to "peace/goodness is/exists in the morning".
Did you know?
- Mohawk is a polysynthetic language, meaning a single word like kentshò:kwa can contain as much information as an entire English sentence.
- The word skén:nen refers to a state of peace and health that is central to the Great Law of Peace and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
- In Mohawk culture, many greetings are actually reflections of the state of one's spirit or the surrounding environment.
Example conversation
Tekakwitha and Kari meet in the kitchen.
- TekakwithaSkén:nen kentshò:kwa, Kari!Good morning, Kari!
- KariSkén:nen kentshò:kwa, Tekakwitha!Good morning, Tekakwitha!
- TekakwithaTsi:ko't tèn:se?How are you?
- KariKà:re, tsi:wè:n!I am doing well!
