ᐚᓭᔮᓯᐤ
wâsêyâsiw
The Cree word for sunshine is ᐚᓭᔮᓯᐤ (wâsêyâsiw).
This noun refers to the direct rays of the sun.
Meaning: direct rays of the sun (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
wâsêyâsiw
Did you know?
- The Cree syllabics used to write ᐚᓭᔮᓯᐤ were developed in the 19th century to allow for rapid literacy among Indigenous peoples across the Canadian prairies.
- The structure of the word ᐚᓭᔮᓯᐤ reflects a common Cree pattern where a noun is actually a 'verbal noun' describing a state of being.
- The word ᐚᓭᔮᓯᐤ utilizes a phoneme that does not exist in English, requiring the speaker to produce a sound from a different part of the throat.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about the weather outside.
- Aᐚᓭᔮᓯᐤ ᐣᐤᐣᐤᐣᐤ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ!wîsâsîy nuna nuna inun inun!The sunshine is out today!
- Bᐄ, ᐣᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐣᐤᐣᐤᐣᐤ.ê, nâna nuna nuna.Yes, it is beautiful.
- Aᐣᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐚᓭᔮᓯᐤ ᐣᐤᐣᐤᐣᐤ ᐣᐤᐣᐤᐣᐤ.nâna wîsâsîy nuna nuna nuna nuna.I really like the sunshine.
- Bᐣᐄᐣᐤᐣ ᐣᐤᐣᐤᐣᐤ ᐣᐤᐣᐤᐣᐤ ᐄᐣᐤᐣ.nâna nuna nuna nuna nuna inun.I like it too.
