ᑖᓂᓯ, ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ
tânisi, nitisiyihkâson
The English phrase "hi, my name is" is translated into Cree as ᑖᓂᓯ, ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ (tânisi, nitisiyihkâson).
This phrase is a greeting used when introducing oneself to another person.
What does it mean word for word?
The second part of the phrase, ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ, literally translates to "I call myself" or "I am called".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the word ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ, the first-person prefix ni- indicates that the speaker is the one performing the action of naming.
How do you pronounce it?
tânisi, nitisiyihkâson
Did you know?
- Cree uses a syllabic writing system where symbols represent consonant-vowel pairs. In ᑖᓂᓯ, the shapes of the characters actually rotate to change the vowel sound.
- Cree is an animacy-based language, and names are treated as animate. This means the grammar used when talking about a person's name differs fundamentally from how one would talk about an inanimate object.
- The greeting ᑖᓂᓯ is not just a 'hi' but a contraction of a question asking 'how are you' or 'how are things'. In many Cree communities, it functions as both a hello and an inquiry into the other person's well-being.
Examples in context
- ᑖᓂᓯ, ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ ᐁᐑᐦ.Tanisi, nitisiyihkason ewo.Hi, my name is Ewo.
- ᑖᓂᓯ, ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ ᐑᐑᐦ.Tanisi, nitisiyihkason Wiwi.Hi, my name is Wiwi.
- ᑖᓂᓯ, ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ ᑳᐑᐦ.Tanisi, nitisiyihkason Kawo.Hi, my name is Kawo.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a community event.
- Aᑖᓂᓯ, ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ ᐄᐄᐣᐤᐣ.Tânisi, nitisiyihkâson Ayinun.Hi, my name is Ayinun.
- Bᑖᓂᓯ, ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ ᐄᐄᐄᐣ.Tânisi, nitisiyihkâson Ayiin.Hi, my name is Ayiin.
- Aᓂᐣᐤᐣᐣᐤᐣ ᓂᐤᐤᐤᐣ, ᐄᐄᐄᐣ.ninnun nukun, Ayiin.Nice to meet you, Ayiin.
- Bᓂᐣᐤᐣᐣᐤᐣ ᓂᐤᐤᐤᐣ ᐄᐄᐣᐤᐣ.ninnun nukun Ayinun.Nice to meet you, Ayinun.
