naaáhsa
The Blackfoot word for grandfather is naaáhsa.
The term naaáhsa is used to refer to a grandfather from either the maternal or paternal side of a family.
Meaning: grandfather (from either side) (noun)
Did you know?
- In traditional Blackfoot society, the role of the naaáhsa is central to the oral transmission of history and tribal laws to the youth.
- Blackfoot kinship terms can sometimes be used to refer to people outside of one's biological family to establish social bonds.
- The vowel length in naaáhsa is a phonemic feature, meaning a short vowel instead of a long one could create an entirely different word.
