ᐊᒥᐢᑯᐏᐱᓯᐢ
amiskowipisis
The Cree word for hummingbird is ᐊᒥᐢᑯᐏᐱᓯᐢ (amiskowipisis).
ᐊᒥᐢᑯᐏᐱᓯᐢ is a noun used to refer to any of the various small American birds belonging to the family Trochilidae.
Meaning: any of various small American birds in the family Trochilidae (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is amiskowipisis.
Did you know?
- The structure of ᐊᒥᐢᑯᐏᐱᓯᐢ follows the polysynthetic nature of Cree, where a single word can function like a whole sentence in English.
- Cree linguistic traditions often use 'animacy' to categorize nouns, and a hummingbird is classified as an animate being.
- The ending -ᐱᓯᐢ in ᐊᒥᐢᑯᐏᐱᓯᐢ is a diminutive suffix. It transforms the root word into something 'small' or 'little'.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a garden.
- Aᑭᐣᐣᐣ ᐊᒥᐢᑯᐏᐱᓯᐢ ᓂᐘᐣᐣᐣᐣ?kinnuunnuun amiskuwipisis nituunnuunnuun?Do you see a hummingbird?
- Bᐄ, ᐊᒥᐢᑯᐏᐱᓯᐢ ᓂᐘᐣᐣᐣᐣ!ee, amiskuwipisis nituunnuunnuun!Yes, a hummingbird!
- Aᐱᐣᐣᐣ ᓂᐘᐣᐣᐣᐣ.pinnuunnuun nituunnuunnuun.It is very small.
- Bᐄ, ᐱᐣᐣᐣ ᓂᐘᐣᐣᐣᐣ.ee, pinnuunnuun nituunnuunnuun.Yes, it is very small.
