kiskinwahamâkew
The Cree word for teacher is kiskinwahamâkew.
kiskinwahamâkew refers to a person who teaches.
Meaning: person who teaches (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the verb stem kiskinwah- (to teach/make learn) and the suffix -amâkew (one who does an action to someone else).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a fourth-person singular animate transitive verb used as a noun, meaning 'he/she is a person who teaches someone'.
Did you know?
- Because kiskinwahamâkew is an animate term, it is categorized with living beings and spirits. In Cree, the entire universe is divided into animate and inanimate classes rather than masculine and feminine genders.
- In many Cree communities, the concept of a 'teacher' is often tied to the idea of a knowledge keeper. The word focuses more on the transmission of wisdom than on a formal job title.
- Unlike English, where 'teacher' is a static label, the Cree word kiskinwahamâkew can change its form to indicate who is being taught and how many people are involved in the lesson.
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their school day.
- AKiskinwahamâkew nikâ?Kiskinwahamâkew nikâ?Is she a teacher?
- BÊ, kiskinwahamâkew nâ.Ê, kiskinwahamâkew nâ.Yes, she is a teacher.
- AKiskinwahamâkew nâ kâ-sisimâskâw?Kiskinwahamâkew nâ kâ-sisimâskâw?Is she a teacher who is funny?
