mwâkwa
In Cree, the word for a loon (in the sense of a crazy person) is mwâkwa.
Meaning: a crazy person (noun)
Did you know?
- Cree uses 'animacy' in its grammar, and because mwâkwa is an animate noun, a person called a 'loon' is grammatically categorized with living creatures and spirits.
- Depending on the regional dialect, the spelling and pronunciation of mwâkwa can shift, reflecting the vast geographical spread of Cree-speaking communities.
- If you are discussing the bird itself rather than the person, you might hear slightly different morphological variations of the word depending on whether you are talking about one bird or a group of them.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a strange man in town.
- AKî-wêpama êyâm?Kî-wêpama êyâm?Did you see him?
- BÊy, mwâkwa êyâm.Êy, mwâkwa êyâm.Yes, he is a loon.
- AWîhkâma kî-pêyâ?Wîhkâma kî-pêyâ?Did he really come here?
- BÊy, kî-pêyâ.Êy, kî-pêyâ.Yes, he came.
