ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ
apisâsin
The English word small is translated into Cree as ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ (apisâsin).
ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ is an adjective used to describe something that is not large in size.
Meaning: not large (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
apisâsin
Did you know?
- The word ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ changes its form depending on whether the object being described is 'animate' or 'inanimate' in the Cree worldview.
- In many Cree dialects, the concept of 'smallness' is often expressed through a grammatical process called 'diminutive formation', where adding a specific suffix to a word changes its size and also its emotional tone.
- Cree is a polysynthetic language, meaning a single word like ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ can be expanded with suffixes to express complex ideas, such as 'it is very small' or 'they are all small', without adding separate words.
Example conversation
A and B are looking at a new puppy.
- Aᓂᐧᐣ ᐄᐣᐧᐣ ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ·nin ain ay apisasinMy puppy is small.
- Bᐄ, ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ ᒫᐅ·i, apisasin maoYes, that one is small.
- Aᐧᐣᐧᐣ ᑭᐣᐧᐣ ᒫᐅ ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ·nini kin mao apisasinIs it still small?
- Bᐄ, ᐊᐱᓵᓯᓐ ᐋᐱᔥᓂᐐ·i, apisasin abishniniYes, it is a small baby.
