ᑲᐢᑲᑎᓄᐃᐧᐲᓯᒼ
kaskatinowipîsim
November in Cree is ᑲᐢᑲᑎᓄᐃᐧᐲᓯᒼ (kaskatinowipîsim).
This word is used to name the eleventh month of the Gregorian calendar.
Meaning: eleventh month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of elements suggesting a time of year or a specific seasonal marker, often used to denote the eleventh month.
How do you pronounce it?
kaskatinowipîsim
Did you know?
- The word ᑲᐢᑲᑎᓄᐃᐧᐲᓯᒼ contains the root -pîsim, which means 'sun' or 'moon'. In Cree, the months are conceptualized as 'moons' rather than numbered intervals.
- The written form ᑲᐢᑲᑎᓄᐃᐧᐲᓯᒼ utilizes the Cree syllabics, a writing system where a single character represents a consonant and a vowel, making the visual length of the word look much shorter than its English counterpart.
- In many Cree dialects, names for months like ᑲᐢᑲᑎᓄᐃᐧᐲᓯᒼ are not traditional indigenous names but are structural adaptations of the Western calendar used to organize modern administrative life.
Example conversation
Two people are talking about when they will visit family.
- Aᑲᐢᑲᑎᓄᐃᐧᐲᓯᒼ ᐣᐃᐧᐦᑲᐣ ᐄᐵᐣ ᐣᐃᐦᐦᑲᐣ.kaskatinomwīpīsiw nīwakan āwān nīhikan.It is cold in November now.
- Bᐄ, ᐄᐵᐣ ᐣᐃᐦᐦᑲᐣ.ī, āwān nīhikan.Yes, it is cold.
- Aᑲᐢᑲᑎᓄᐃᐧᐲᓯᒼ ᐣᐃᐧᐦᑲᐣ ᐄᐵᐣ ᐣᐃᐦᐦᑲᐣ ᐣᐄᐣ ᐣᐃᐦᐦᑲᐣ.kaskatinomwīpīsiw nīwakan āwān nīhikan nīn nīhikan.I will go in November.
