Standard Roman Orthography

Question 1

Cree has

10 consonants

Answer 1

c h k m n p s t w y

(check man post way)

Question 2

C

is pronounced

“ch”

as in charge or

“ts”

in cats

Answer 2

cêskwa - wait

mîciso - eat

cî - a polarity question indicator

mîcisowinâhtik- a table

Question 3

k

is pronounced

k (no puff of air)

as in skipper

following an h it has a softer sound

Answer 3

kiya - you

kîsta - you too

kiyawâw - you (plural)

kîstawâw - you too (plural)

Question 4

p

is pronounced

p / b

as in spot

softer sound after an h

Answer 4

pêyak- one

pêyakwâw - once / a long time ago

pîsim - sun/month

pîsimwasinahikan - calendar

Question 5

t

is pronounced

t

as in stand

also sounds like

d

Answer 5

tânisi- how / how are you?

takwâkin- It is fall

tâniwê- where (use for NI)

tâniwâ - where (use for NA)

Question 6

Cree has

7 vowels

Answer 6

3 short vowels

a i o

4 short vowels

â î ô ê

Question 7

the short

a

is pronounced

a

as in appeal

Answer 7

apisîs- a little bit

api- sit

awas - go away

awîna- who

Question 8

i

is pronounced

i

as in it

Answer 8

itôta - do it

itwê - say

itwaha - point to it

isiyihkâsow- she/he is named

Question 9

o

is pronounced

oo

as in shook

Answer 9

otin- take someone

omisi- this way

otina- take it

pipon- It is winter

Question 10

â

is pronounced like the

ah

in doh ray me fah

Answer 10

âstam- come here

âskaw- sometimes

âstamitê- over this way

âha - yes

Question 11

î

is pronounced

ee

as in me

Answer 11

mîna-also

sîkwan-it is spring

nîpin- it is summer

wîpac - soon / early

Question 12

Ô

is pronounced like the

oo

in boot

Answer 12

ôta - here

ahpô êtikwê - maybe

ôtê - over here

namôya - no / not

Question 13

ê

is pronounced like the

ay

in day

Answer 13

êkota- here

nêhiyaw - a Cree

êkotê- over there

nêhiyawê- speak Cree

Question 14

c - c - c - c

Answer 14

cêskwa, cêskwa, cêskwa pitamâ

wait, wait, wait a bit.

Question 15

h - h - h - h

Answer 15

hâw, hâw, hâw mâka

okay, okay, okay then

Question 16

k - k - k - k

Answer 16

kâya, kâya, kâya itôta

don’t, don’t, don’t do it!

Question 17

m - m - m - m

Answer 17

mahti, mahti, mahti nêhiyawêtân

please, please, please, let’s speak Cree

Question 18

n - n - n - n

Answer 18

namôya, namôya, namôya cêskwa

no, no, not yet!

Question 19

p - p - p - p

Answer 19

pêtâ, pêtâ, pêtâ kimasinahikan

bring it, bring it, bring your book

Question 20

s - s - s - s

Answer 20

sôhki, sôhki, sôhki-sêsâwî

hard, hard, exercise hard!

Question 21

t - t - t - t

Answer 21

tâpwê, tâpwê, tâpwê takahki

truly, truly, it is truly great!

Question 22

w - w - w - w

Answer 22

wîcih, wîcih, wîcih kiwîcêwâkan

help him, help her, help your companion

Question 23

y - y - y - y

Answer 23

yîkatê, yîkatê, yîkatê-kwâskohti

aside, aside, jumo aside!

Question 24

a - a - a - a

Answer 24

apisîs, apisîs, apisîs nêhiyawêk

a little, a little, speak a little Cree! (you plural)

Question 25

â - â - â - â

Answer 25

âskaw, âskaw, âskaw âkayâsîmo

sometimes, sometimes, sometimes speak English

Question 26

ê - ê - ê - ê

Answer 26

êkosi, êkosi, êkosi itôta

that’s it, that’s it, do it like that

Question 27

i - i - i - i

Answer 27

itwaha, itwaha, itwaha iskwâhtêm

point to it, point to it, point at the door

Question 28

î - î - î - î

Answer 28

îkatêna, îkatêna, îkatêna êwako

set it aside, set it aside, set that one aside

Question 29

o - o - o - o

Answer 29

omisi, omisi, omisi itwê

this way, this way, say it this way

Question 30

ô - ô - ô - ô

Answer 30

ôtê, ôtê, ôtê pê-itohtê

this way, this way, come this way