ᓈᐯᐤ
nâpêw
The Cree word for "man" is ᓈᐯᐤ (nâpêw).
ᓈᐯᐤ is used to refer to an adult male human.
Meaning: adult male human (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
nâpêw
Did you know?
- Cree is a polysynthetic language, meaning that while 'man' is a single word, complex ideas about a man's actions or qualities are often fused into much longer words.
- Cree is an Algonquian language, meaning it uses a complex system of animacy where ᓈᐯᐤ is categorized as an animate noun.
- The Cree syllabic writing system used for ᓈᐯᐤ was developed in the 19th century to allow for rapid literacy among Indigenous peoples.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a group of people in the distance.
- Aᒫᓈᐣ ᓈᐯᐤ ᓂᐴᐣ ᐣᐃᐣ ᒫᓈᐣ?mânân nâ-aw ni-wôn nin mânân?Is that man my father?
- Bᐋᐣ, ᒫᓈᐣ ᓈᐯᐤ ᓂᐴᐣ ᐣᐃᐣ.â-n, mânân nâ-aw ni-wôn nin.Yes, that is your father.
- Aᐣᐃᐣ ᒫᓈᐣ ᐣᐃᐣ ᓈᐯᐤ ᓂᐴᐣ ᐣᐃᐣ.nin mânân nin nâ-aw ni-wôn nin.I see that man now.
- Bᐣᐃᐣ ᒫᓈᐣ ᐣᐃᐣ.nin mânân nin.I see him too.
