HOW DO YOU SAY...?
We hope that this resource page serves as a starting point for your personal exploration and appreciation of indigenous languages. Here are some simple words and phrases in Cree and Mi’kmaq to get you started.
*Added June 2024: Words in Kanienké:ha
20 Handy Words in Indigenous languages
| English | Cree | Mi’kmaq | Kanienké:ha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello |
tânisi | pusu'l |
shé:kon |
| How are you? | tânisi | me'talein? |
skennenkó:wa ken? |
| I am well, and you? | namôya nânitaw. kiya mâka? | welei. katu ki'l? |
wakata'karí:te'. ok ní:se'? |
| Welcome | tawâw | pjila'si |
wa'tkwanonhwerá:ton |
| Thank you | kinanâskomitin | wela'lin |
niá:wen |
| Please | mahti | ke’sik |
|
| Goodbye | ka-wâpamitin |
atiu |
Ó:nen ki' wáhi |
| Yes | êha | e'e |
hen |
| No | namôya | moqwa' |
iáh |
| Man | nâpêw | ji'nm |
rón:kwe |
Woman |
iskwêw | e'pit |
iakón:kwe |
Child |
awâsis | unjann |
eksá:'a |
Elder |
kêhtê-aya |
gisigu (man) gisigui'sgw (woman) |
akokstén:ha (female) rokstén:ha (male) |
Earth |
askiy | ugs'tqamu |
hontsà:ke |
Sky |
kîsikw |
musigisg |
karonhià:ke |
Water |
nipiy | samqwan |
ohné:ka |
Snow |
kôna | wastew |
óniehte |
Moon |
pîsimw | tepgunset |
katsì:tsa |
My name is… |
… nitisiyihkâson |
teluisi… |
… ióntiats |
Let’s eat |
mîcisotân | mijjieg |
tetewatskà:hon |