gashkendam
The Ojibwe word for "sad" is gashkendam.
gashkendam is an adjective used to describe the feeling of sorrow or sadness.
Meaning: feeling sorrow (adj)
Did you know?
- Because the language is polysynthetic, a speaker can modify gashkendam to describe the exact manner of sadness, such as being 'sad in a way that causes one to wander'.
- Ojibwe is an Animate/Inanimate language, meaning that certain nouns or concepts associated with sorrow might be categorized as 'animate' if they are perceived to have a spirit or life force.
- The word gashkendam is part of a language family that includes Cree and Algonquin, which share similar ways of constructing emotions through verb-like roots.
Examples in context
- Gashkendam.I am sad.
Example conversation
Nibi and Zhaawan are talking about a lost pet.
- NibiGashkendam nindizoon aaniish nindigikwii.I feel sad because I miss my dog.
- ZhaawanNindizoon gashkendam wiin.I feel sad too.
- NibiAaniish gashkendam yanang, Zhaawan?Why are you sad, Zhaawan?
- ZhaawanGashkendam nindizoon waabi-giizhig.I am sad today.
