ᑲᑫᐹᑎᓯᐤ
kakêpâtisiw
ᑲᑫᐹᑎᓯᐤ (kakêpâtisiw) is the Cree word for stupid.
This adjective is used to describe someone or something that is lacking in intelligence.
Meaning: lacking in intelligence (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
kakêpâtisiw
Did you know?
- Because Cree is a polysynthetic language, you can often build a much longer word to describe exactly 'how' someone is being stupid, such as 'he-stupidly-acts-toward-me'.
- In many Cree dialects, the concept of being 'stupid' is not just a character flaw but is often linked to the idea of being 'slow' or 'unresponsive' to one's surroundings.
- Using the term ᑲᑫᐹᑎᓯᐤ can carry a much heavier social weight in a small Cree community than 'stupid' does in an English-speaking city.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a movie character.
- Aᑲᑫᐹᑎᓯᐤ ᓂᐄᐤᐣ ᐘᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᓂᐄᐤᐣ.kapiwatisu niinun wainun niinun.That character is so stupid.
- Bᐄ, ᒪᐆ ᓂᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ.i, mawo niinun ainun.Yes, he really is.
- Aᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᓂᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᑲᑫᐹᑎᓯᐤ.ainun ainun niinun kapiwatisu.He is just very stupid.
- Bᐄ, ᓂᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ.i, niinun ainun.Yes, he is.
