ᓅᐦᑯᒻ
nōhkom
The Cree word for grandma is ᓅᐦᑯᒻ (nōhkom).
ᓅᐦᑯᒻ is an informal term used to address one's grandmother.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain areas, the variation Kôhkom may be used to address a grandmother.
How do you pronounce it?
nōhkom
Did you know?
- Because Cree is an agglutinative language, the word for 'grandmother' can be part of much longer, complex words that describe her specific relationship to the speaker.
- In some Cree traditions, grandmothers are viewed as the primary keepers of oral history and traditional medicinal knowledge.
- Cree kinship terms like ᓅᐦᑯᒻ often reflect a 'bilateral' system, where the term for grandmother may be the same regardless of whether she is on the mother's or father's side.
Example conversation
A child is talking to their parent about their grandmother.
- Aᓅᐦᑯᒻ ᒫᑲᐄᐣ ᐄᐴᐣᐣᐄᐣ?nôhkom mâkân îstônênîn?Is grandma over there?
- Bᐄ, ᒫᑲᐄᐣ ᐄᐴᐣᐣᐄᐣ.î, mâkân îstônênîn.Yes, she is over there.
- Aᓅᐦᑯᒻ ᐄᐴᐣᐣᐄᐣ ᓂᐦᐃᐄᐣ!nôhkom îstônênîn nihîîn!I love grandma!
- Bᐄ, ᓅᐦᑯᒻ ᐄᐴᐣᐣᐄᐣ ᓂᐦᐃᐄᐣ ᐄᐴᐣᐣᐄᐣ.î, nôhkom îstônênîn nihîîn îstônênîn.Yes, I love grandma too.
