A collection of useful phrases in Plains Cree (ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ / nēhiyawēwin), an Algonquin language spoken in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba in Canada, and in and Montana in the USA.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person)
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
| Phrase | ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ / Nēhiyawēwin (Plains Cree) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | ᑕᐋᐧᐤ (tawâw) - come in, you’re welcome / there’s room ᑕᑕᐊᐧᐤ (ta-tawâw) |
| Hello (General greeting) | ᑖᓂᓯ (tânisi) - how |
| Hello (on phone) | ᑖᓂᓯ (tânisi) - how |
| How are you? | ᑖᓂᓯ (tânisi) ᑖᓂᓯ ᐁᑲᐧ (tânisi êkwa) ᑖᓂᓯ ᑭᔭ ᒫᑲ (tânisi, kiya mâka?) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | ᓇᒧᔭ ᓇᐣᑐᐤ. ᑭᔭ ᒫᑲ (namoya nantow. kiýa mâka?) ᐋᑯᑖᐦ (âkutâh) |
| Long time no see | ᑲᔮᐢ ᐊᐢᐱᐣ ᑭᑮᐚᐸᒥᑎᐣ (kayâs aspin kikî-wâpamitin) ᑲᔮᐢ ᐊᐢᐱᐣ ᐁᑮᐚᐸᒥᔭᐣ (kayâs aspin e-kî-wâpamiyan) ᑲᔮᐢ ᐊᐢᐱᐣ ᑭᑮᐚᐸᒥᑎᓈᐚᐤ (kayâs aspin kikî-wâpamitinâwâw) ᑲᔮᐢ ᐊᐢᐱᐣ ᐁᑮᐚᐸᒥᑕᑯᐠ (e-kî-wâpamitakok) |
| What's your name? | ᑖᓂᓯ ᑭᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ (tânisi kitisiyihkâson?) ᑖᓂᓯ ᐁᐃᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᔭᐣ (tânisi e-isiyihkâsoyan?) |
| My name is ... | ... ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ (... nitisiyihkâson) ... ᐁᐃᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᔮᐣ (... e-isiyihkâsoyân) |
| Where are you from? | ᔮᓂᑌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᑮᔭ (tânite ohci kîya?) ᔮᓂᑌ ᐁᐅᐦᒌᔭᐣ (tânite e-ohcîyan?) ᔮᓂᑌ ᑭᑐᐦᒌᐣ (tânite kitohcîn?) |
| I'm from ... | ... ᐅᐦᒋ ᓃᔭ (... ohci nîya) ... ᓂᑐᐦᒌᐣ (nitohcîn) ... ᐁᐅᐦᒌᔮᐣ (... e-ohcîyân) |
| Pleased to meet you | ᓂᒥᐩᐍᔨᐦᑌᐣ ᑲᑮᓇᑭᐢᑳᑖᐣ (nimiyweyihten ka-kî-nakiskâtân) |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
ᒥᔪᑮᑭᓭᐹᔮᐤ (miyo-kîkisepâyâw) - It’s a good morning ᑖᓂᓯ (tânisi) - more commonly used |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
ᒥᔪᐋᐱᐦᑖᑮᓯᑳᐤ (miyo-âpihtâkîsikâw) - It’s a good afternoon ᑖᓂᓯ (tânisi) - more commonly used |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
ᒥᔪᐅᑖᑯᓯᐣ (miyo-otâkosin) - It’s a good evening ᑖᓂᓯ (tânisi) - more commonly used |
| Good night | ᒥᔪᑎᐱᐢᑲᓂᓯ (miyo-tipiskanisi) - sg ᒥᔪᑎᐱᐢᑲᓂᓯᐠ (miyo-tipiskanisik) - pl |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
ᐁᑯᓯ ᒫᑲ (ekosi mâka) - That’s it ᒭᐢᑖᐢ (mwestâs) - Later ᐁᑯᓯ (ekosi) |
| Good luck! | ᒥᔪᐸᔨ (miyopayi) - Be lucky! (sg) ᒥᔪᐸᔨᐠ (miyopayik) - Be lucky! (pl) |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
|
| Have a nice day | ᒥᔪᑮᓯᑲᓂᓯ (miyo-kîsikanisi) - sg ᒥᔪᑮᓯᑲᓂᓯᐠ (miyo-kîsikanisik) - pl |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
ᒥᔪᒦᒋᓱ (miyo-mîciso) - Eat well! - sg ᒥᔪᒦᒋᓱᐠ (miyo-mîcisok) - pl |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
ᒥᔪᐱᒧᐦᑌᐦᐅ (miyo-pimohteho) - Travel well! - sg ᒥᔪᐱᒧᐦᑌᐦᐅᐠ (miyo-pimohtehok) - pl |
| Yes | ᐁᐦᐋ (ehâ) |
| No | ᓇᒧᔭ (namoya) |
| Maybe | ᐊᐦᐴ (ahpô) ᐊᐦᐴ ᐁᑎᑵ (ahpô etikwe) |
| I don't know | ᓇᒧᔭ ᓂᓂᐢᑕᐍᔨᐦᑌᐣ (namoya ninistaweyihten) ᓇᒧᔭ ᐁᓂᐢᑕᐍᔨᐦᑕᒫᐣ (namoya e-nistaweyihtamân) |
| Do you understand? | ᑭᓂᐢᑐᐦᑌᐣ ᒌ (kinisitohten cî) ᐁᓂᐢᑐᐦᑕᔭᐣ ᒌ (e-nisitohtaman cî) |
| I understand | ᓂᓂᐢᑐᐦᑌᐣ (ninisitohten) ᐁᓂᐢᑐᐦᑕᔮᐣ (e-nistohtamân) |
| I don't understand | ᓇᒧᔭ ᓂᓂᐢᑐᐦᑌᐣ (namoya ninisitohten) ᓇᒧᔭ ᐁᓂᐢᑐᐦᑕᔮᐣ (namoya e-nistohtamân) |
| Please speak more slowly | ᒪᐦᑌᓴ ᐲᑭᐢᑵ ᓂᓯᐦᑳᐨ (mahtesa pîkiskwe nisihkâc) ᒪᐦᑌᓴ ᐲᑭᐢᑵᐠ ᓂᓯᐦᑳᐨ (mahtesa pîkiskwek nisihkâc) |
| Please say that again | ᐃᑘ ᑮᐦᑤᒼ (itwe kîhtwâm) |
| Please write it down | ᒪᓯᓇᐦᐊ (mahtesa masinaha) |
| Do you speak English? | |
| Do you speak Cree? | ᑭᓀᐦᐃᔭᐚᐣ ᒌ (kinehiyawân cî) ᐁᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᔭᐣ ᒌ (e-nehiyaweyan cî) |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
ᐁᐋ ᐊᐱᓯᐢ (ehâ, apisis) |
| Speak to me in Cree | ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᒧᑐᑕᐏᐣ (nehiyawemototawin) ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᒧᑐᑕᐏᐠ (nehiyawemototawik) |
| How do you say ... in Cree? | ᑖᓂᓯ ᐁᐃᑘᔮᐣ ... ᐁᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᔮᐣ (tânisi e-itweyân ... e-nehiyaweyân) |
| Excuse me | ᒪᐦᑎ (mahti) |
| How much is this? | ᑖᓂᒪᔨᑯᕽ ᐃᑕᑭᐦᑌᐤ ᐆᒪ (tânimayikohk itakihtew ôma) . ᑖᓂᒪᔨᑯᕽ ᐃᑕᑭᓱᐤ ᐊᐘ (tânimayikohk itakisow awa) |
| Sorry | ᓂᑲᐍᔨᒧᐣ (nikaweyimon) . ᐁᑲᐍᔨᒧᔮᐣ (e-kaweyimoyân) |
| Please | ᒪᐦᑌᓴ (mahtesa) |
| Thank you | ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᐣ (kinanâskomitin) ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᓈᐚᐤ (kinanâskomitinâwâw) ᐦᐊᐩ ᐦᐊᐩ (hay hay) |
| Reply to thank you | ᑭᔮᒼ (kiyâm) |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | ᑖᓂᐍ ᐘᔭᐑᐢᑕᒫᓱᐏᑲᒥᐠ (tâniwe wayawîstamâsowikamik) |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | ᐊᐘ ᓈᐯᐤ ᐑᑎᐸᐦᐊᒼ ᑲᐦᑮᔭᐤ ᑮᑿᐩ (awa nâpew wî-tipaham kahkîyaw kîkway) |
| This lady will pay for everything | ᑭᓄᐦᑌᐑᒋᓃᒥᐦᐃᑐᒥᐣ ᒌ (kinohte-wîci-nîmihitomin cî) ᐁᓄᐦᑌᐑᒋᓃᒥᐦᐃᑐᒥᔭᐣ ᒌ (e-nohte-wîci-nîmihitomiyan cî) |
| Would you like to dance with me? | |
| Do you come here often? | ᑳᐊᔮᐟ ᒌ ᐆᑕ ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ (kâ-ayât cî ôta mistahi) |
| I miss you | ᑭᐸᑕᐦᐅᑎᐣ (kipatahotin) ᑭᐸᑕᐦᐅᑎᓈᐚᐤ (kipatahotinâwâw) ᑭᐸᑕᐦᐅᑏᐣ (e-patahotân) ᑭᐸᑕᐦᐅᑎᑯᐠ (kipatahotakok) |
| I love you | ᑭᓵᑭᐦᐃᑎᐣ (kisâkihitin) ᑭᓵᑭᐦᐃᑎᓈᐚᐤ (kisâkihitinâwâw) ᐁᓵᑭᐦᐃᑖᐣ (e-sâkihitân) ᐁᓵᑭᐦᐃᑕᑯᐠ (e-sâkihitakok) |
| Get well soon | ᒥᔪᒪᐦᒋᐦᐅ ᐑᐸᐨ (miyo-mahciho wîpac) ᒥᔪᒪᐦᒋᐦᐅᐠ ᐑᐸᐨ (miyo-mahcihok wîpac) |
| Go away! | ᐊᐘᐢ (awas) - sg ᐊᐘᓯᑎᐠ (awasitik) - pl |
| Leave me alone! | ᑭᓇᑲᑎᑎᐣ ᐱᑯ (kinakatitin piko) - sg ᑭᓇᑲᑎᑎᓈᐚᐤ ᐱᑯ (kinakatitinâwâw piko) - pl |
| Help! | ᑭᓃᓲᐦᑲᒫᑎᐣ (kinîsôhkamâtin) - sg ᑭᓃᓲᐦᑲᒫᑎᓈᐚᐤ (kinîsôhkamâtinâwâw) - pl |
| Fire! | ᐃᐢᑯᑌᐤ ᐊᓂᒪ ᓀᒪ (iskotew anima nema) |
| Stop! | ᓇᑮ (nakî) |
| Call the police! | ᑭᓭᐍᐱᑕᒪᐚᐘᐠ ᓯᒫᑲᓂᓴᐠ (kisewepitamawâwak simâkanisak) |
| Christmas greetings | ᒥᔪᒪᓂᑐᐏᑮᓯᑲᓂᓯ (miyo-manitowi-kîsikanisi) - sg ᒥᔪᒪᓂᑐᐏᑮᓯᑲᓂᓯᐠ (miyo-manitowi-kîsikanisik) - pl (“Have a good spirit day”) |
| New Year greetings | ᒥᔫᐦᒉᐦᔪᐏᑮᓯᑲᓂᓯ (miyo-ohcehtowi-kîsikanisi) - sg ᒥᔫᐦᒉᐦᔪᐏᑮᓯᑲᓂᓯᐠ (miyo-ohcehtowi-kîsikanisik) - pl (“Have a good kissing day”) |
| Easter greetings | ᒥᔪᐋᐱᓯᓯᓂᐏᑮᓯᑲᓂᓯ (miyo-âpisisiniwi-kîsikanisi) - sg ᒥᔪᐋᐱᓯᓯᓂᐏᑮᓯᑲᓂᓯᐠ (miyo-âpisisiniwi-kîsikanisik) - pl (“Have a good resurrection day”) |
| Birthday greetings | ᒥᔪᑎᐱᐢᑲ (miyo-tipiska) |
| One language is never enough | ᐯᔭᐠ ᐲᑭᐢᑵᐏᐣ ᓇᒧᔭ ᑌᐱᐸᔨᐤ ᐑᐦᑳᐨ (peyak pîkiskwewin namoya tepipayiw wîhkâc) |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | ᓂᒍᐍᐦᑲᓈᐱᓰᓯᒼ ᓵᑲᐢᑭᓀᐤ ᑭᓄᓭᐘ ᐁᑭᓄᓯᔨᐟ (nicowehkanâpisîsim sâkaskinew kinosewa e-kinosiyit) (“My dragonfly [helicopter] is full of fish that are long”) |
Some phrases provided by Calvin Taylor nitsîkason and William Swindler
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Hear some cree phrases:
Information about Plains Cree | Phrases | Numbers
Other collections of Cree phrases
https://youtu.be/OY5vGplRn14
http://nisto.com/cree/lesson/
https://www.miyo.ca/index.php/cree-resources-and-links/23-departments/cree-language/15-cree-words-phrases
http://www.tansi.tv/creewords/
http://www.phrasebase.com/archive2/cree/cree-grammar-lessons.html
Arapaho, Atikamekw, Cheyenne, Cree (Plains), Innu, Míkmaq, Ojibwe, Sauk, Shawnee
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