shé:kon
The English word "hello" is translated into Mohawk as shé:kon.
shé:kon is used as an interjection to greet people.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Did you know?
- The concept of peace embedded in shé:kon reflects the 'Great Law of Peace' which historically unified the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
- Mohawk is part of the Iroquoian language family, which uses a complex system of prefixes and suffixes that can change a single root word into an entire sentence.
- Using shé:kon is an invitation to enter a space of non-aggression, making it a more significant social contract than the English 'hello'.
Examples in context
- Shé:kon, skennenkó:wa ken?Hello, still have the great peace?This example shows how to use shé:kon in a greeting that asks about the state of peace.Tatoeba #12399149 by rohahtiio, translation #12399407 by rohahtiio
- Shé:kon, kári:ten.Hello, good morning.
Example conversation
Okwari and Tekakwitha meet on a walking path.
- OkwariShé:kon, Tekakwitha.Hello, Tekakwitha.
- TekakwithaShé:kon, Okwari.Hello, Okwari.
- OkwariSkennenkó:wa ken?How are you?
- TekakwithaSkennen' tsi. Nitón:nk.I am well. Thank you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
