ᐱᔦᓯᐤ
piyêsiw
Thunder in Cree is ᐱᔦᓯᐤ (piyêsiw).
This noun refers to the deep, rumbling noise.
Meaning: deep, rumbling noise (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is piyêsiw.
Did you know?
- The 'Thunderbird' is a legendary creature across many Cree communities, believed to create thunder by flapping its massive wings.
- Because the sound is often personified, the word can take on grammatical markers that imply the thunder is a living, breathing being with its own intent.
- Because Cree is an polysynthetic language, you can often turn the noun ᐱᔦᓯᐤ into a verb to describe the act of 'making a thunderous sound'.
Example conversation
Two people are talking during a storm.
- Aᐱᔦᓯᐤ ᓂᐊᐤᐤ!pikesi nino!I hear thunder!
- Bᐄ, ᒫᑲᔥᐤ ᐱᔦᓯᐤ.A, maka pikesi.Yes, the thunder is loud.
- Aᐄᐤᐤᐤ ᓂᐊᐤᐤ ᐱᔦᓯᐤ.A-u-u nino pikesi.The thunder is getting closer.
- Bᓂᐊᐤ ᒫᐤᐤᐤᐤ.nino ma-u-u.Let's go inside.
