ᐚᐱᐢᑳᐤ
wâpiskâw
The Cree word for the color white is ᐚᐱᐢᑳᐤ (wâpiskâw).
ᐚᐱᐢᑳᐤ is used to refer to the color white as a noun.
Meaning: color (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
wâpiskâw
Did you know?
- Cree uses a system of animacy, meaning words for 'white' can change form depending on whether the object being described is considered animate or inanimate.
- The Cree syllabic script used to write ᐚᐱᐢᑳᐤ was developed in the 19th century to help indigenous people achieve high literacy rates quickly.
- In many Cree dialects, words describing colors like ᐚᐱᐢᑳᐤ can function as verbs, meaning they can describe the act of 'becoming white' or 'shining white'.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a piece of clothing.
- Aᐚᐱᐢᑳᐤ ᐄᐤᐤ ᒫᐤᐤ?wipiskau aiuu mau?Is this white?
- Bᐄ, ᐚᐱᐢᑳᐤ ᐄᐤᐤ.ii, wipiskau aiuu.Yes, it is white.
- Aᐄᐤᐤ ᓂᐌᐤᐤ.aiuu nimuu.I like it.
- Bᐄ, ᓂᐌᐤᐤ ᐄᐤᐤ ᒫᐤᐤ.ii, nimuu aiuu mau.Yes, I like it too.
