ᒥᔪᓈᑯᓯᐤ
miyonaakosiw
The Cree word for "pretty" is ᒥᔪᓈᑯᓯᐤ (miyonaakosiw).
This adjective is used to describe someone or something as pleasant or attractive, especially when referring to women and children.
Meaning: especially of women and children: pleasant, attractive (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
miyonaakosiw
Did you know?
- Cree adjectives like ᒥᔪᓈᑯᓯᐤ often change their ending depending on whether the person being described is present or absent.
- In many Cree dialects, describing a person as 'pretty' is deeply connected to the idea of being 'good' or 'well'. The root of the word often shares a conceptual space with being morally or physically balanced.
- The way ᒥᔪᓈᑯᓯᐤ is written uses syllabics, a unique writing system where each character represents a consonant and a vowel combined, rather than individual letters.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a photo of a baby girl.
- Aᒥᔪᓈᑯᓯᐤ ᐐᐤ ᐱᐤᐤ.miyunaakosiw wo piiu.She is a pretty baby.
- Bᐧᐄ, ᒥᔪᓈᑯᓯᐤ ᐐᐤ.ee, miyunaakosiw wo.Yes, she is pretty.
- Aᒥᔪᓈᑯᓯᐤ ᓂᐣᐱᐤ ᐐᐤᐤ.miyunaakosiw ninipi woo.My daughter is also pretty.
- Bᐧᐄ, ᑕᑯᐤᐤᐤᐤ.ee, takuuu.Yes, I see.
