ᐋᓂᐢᑭ-ᐅᐦᑖᐑᒫᐤ
âniski-ohtâwîmâw
The English phrase "great grandfather" is translated into Cree as ᐋᓂᐢᑭ-ᐅᐦᑖᐑᒫᐤ (âniski-ohtâwîmâw).
This phrase is used to refer to the father of one's grandmother or grandfather.
How do you pronounce it?
âniski-ohtâwîmâw
Did you know?
- The Cree language uses an animacy system where people and certain objects are categorized as 'animate' or 'inanimate', and the terms for grandparents follow strict animate grammar rules.
- The use of such specific terms reinforces the importance of the 'Elder' status in Cree culture, where a great grandfather is a keeper of oral history.
- Cree kinship systems are often classificatory, meaning a person might call several different older male relatives ᐅᐦᑖᐑᒫᐤ depending on the specific family structure.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at an old family photograph.
- Aᐋᓂᐢᑭ-ᐅᐦᑖᐑᒫᐤ ᓂᐦᐯᐣ ᒫᐨᐦᑲᐑ ᐣᐩᐣᐩ.âniskî-uhtâpimâw nihtêwn mâhkapi nêyên.This is my great grandfather.
- Bᐋᓂᐢᑭ-ᐅᐦᑖᐑᒫᐤ ᐣᐩᐣᐩ ᒫᐨᐦᑲᐑ ᐣᐩᐣᐩ?âniskî-uhtâpimâw nêyên mâhkapi nêyên?Is he your great grandfather?
- Aᐩᐩ ᐋᓂᐢᑭ-ᐅᐦᑖᐑᒫᐤ ᓂᐦᐯᐣ ᐣᐩᐣᐩ.êy âniskî-uhtâpimâw nihtêwn nêyên.Yes, he is my great grandfather.
- Bᓂᐦᐯᐣ ᐣᐩᐣᐩ ᒫᐨᐦᑲᐑ ᐣᐩᐣᐩ.nihtêwn nêyên mâhkapi nêyên.He looks very old.
