ᒥᐦᑿᐤ
mihkwaw
The Cree word for the color red is ᒥᐦᑿᐤ (mihkwaw).
ᒥᐦᑿᐤ is used to denote the color red as a noun.
Meaning: colour (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
mihkwaw
Did you know?
- In many Indigenous North American cultures, including some Cree groups, 'red' is often associated with the direction of the East and the rising sun.
- The word ᒥᐦᑿᐤ is written using the Cree Syllabics system, a writing system developed in the 19th century to help Indigenous people achieve literacy.
- Cree linguistic structures often prioritize the action or the state of being, meaning 'red' can sometimes behave more like a verb meaning 'to be red'.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a piece of clothing.
- Aᒥᐦᑿᐤ ᐄᐑᐤᐤᐎᐤ ᓂᐎᐤᐤᐎᐤ?Mihkwa’w āyīwān nipawān?Is my shirt red?
- Bᐄ, ᒥᐦᑿᐤ ᐄᐑᐤᐤᐎᐤ.Ē, mihkwa’w āyīwān.Yes, the shirt is red.
- Aᒥᐦᑿᐤ ᓂᐎᐤᐤᐎᐤ ᐄᐑᐤᐤᐎᐤ.Mihkwa’w nipawān āyīwān.The red shirt is mine.
- Bᐄ, ᓂᐎᐤᐤᐎᐤ ᐄᐑᐤᐤᐎᐤ.Ē, nipawān āyīwān.Yes, it is your shirt.
