ᑎᐱᐢᑳᐤ ᐲᓯᒻ
tipiskâw-pîsim
The English word "moon" is translated into Cree as ᑎᐱᐢᑳᐤ ᐲᓯᒻ (tipiskâw-pîsim).
This noun refers to the natural satellite of planet Earth.
Meaning: the natural satellite of planet Earth (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
tipiskâw-pîsim
Did you know?
- In Cree, the moon is often treated as an animate being, meaning it takes the same grammatical markers as a person or an animal rather than a rock.
- In Cree, the way you describe the moon's appearance can be 'built' into a single, massive word through polysynthesis, creating a specific description like 'the moon that is half-hidden' as one unit.
- In Cree storytelling, the moon is frequently personified as a grandfather or a guiding spirit, which is why the language uses animate grammar for ᐲᓯᒻ.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at the night sky.
- Aᑎᐱᐢᑳᐤ ᐲᓯᒻ ᒫᐱᔭᐤ ᐣᐤᐣᐃ!tipiskāw bīsim māpaya nuni!The moon is so bright!
- Bᐣᐤᐣᐃ, ᒫᐱᔭᐤ ᐣᐤᐣᐃ.nuni, māpaya nuni.Yes, it is very bright.
- Aᑭᐣᐃᐤ ᑎᐱᐢᑳᐤ ᐲᓯᒻ ᐣᐤᐣᐃ.kiniw tipiskāw bīsim nuni.The moon looks beautiful.
- Bᐣᐤᐣᐃ, ᐣᐤᐣᐃ.nuni, nuni.Yes, it does.
