Essential Cree Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Cree words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Tân'si.

Hello.
Kîhtwâm ka-wâpamitin.
Goodbye.
Kakî-âkayâsîmon cî?
Do you speak English?
Namoya nisitohten.
I don't understand.
Apisîs.
A little.
Ehâ. Namoya (Moya, 'Mwâc).
Yes. No.
Tânîkohk?

How much is it?
Misi-mistakihtew. Kiyâm.
Too expensive. OK.
Mâhti.
Please.
Ay ay.
Hai hai.
Teniki.
Ekosi.
Kinanâskomitin. (to 1 person)
Kinanâskomitinâwâw. (to more than 1 person)
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Tân'sîsîyihkâsoyan? What is your name? ... nit'sîyihkâson. My name is ... Tân'si? How are you? Namoya nân'taw. Kîya mâka? Fine. And you? Tâniwâ ...? Where is ...? Tâniwâ mîsîwikamik? Nâpewak/Iskwewak Where is the toilet? Men/Women Nimihtâten. Sorry. Ekosi kiyâm. Namoya âyisimiwin. No problem. Ninohte ... I want ... Namoya ninohte ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Tân'te ohci?
Where are you from?
Australia nitohcîn.
I am from Australia.
Pôyô. Ceskwa/Peho.
Stop! Wait!
Ôta, anita.
Here, over there.
Kapesiwikamik. Tohowin. Nakewin.
Hotel. Airport. Station.
Nimiyewihten ...
I like ...
Namoya nimiyewihten ...
I don't like ...

peyak, nîso, nisto, newo, niyânan.
one, two, three, four, five.
nikotwâsik, tepakohp, ayinânew.
six, seven, eight.
kekâmitâtaht, mitâtaht.
nine, ten.

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

miywâsin / mâyâtan
good / bad
misikitiw / apisîsiw
big / small
kehciwâk / wahyaw
near / far
âstami / awasime
less / more
kotak / ewakoyikohk
another / enough

Namoya nimîcin wiyâs.
I don't eat meat.
... pâhkahâhkwâniwiyâs.
... chicken.
... wâwa.
... eggs.
... anikwacâsa.
... peanuts.
... kihcikamî-mîciwin.
... seafood.

Namoya nimôwân kinosew.
I don't eat fish.
... pakânak.
... nuts.

Pronunciation Guide

Vowels:
A vowel with a circumflex indicates a long vowel, ie. ô is a long o
This may also be indicated by a vowel with a macron, ie. ō is a long o
ay is pronounced as ai as in aisle
e is always pronounced as a long e, eg. teniki = têniki
short i is often not pronounced, eg. mîsîwikamik = mîsîw'kamik
o is pronounced as oo as in hook (ʊ)
ô (or ō) is pronounced as u as in rule (IPA u)
A vowel before y is always long, eg, iy is pronounced as îy

Consonants:
c is pronounced as ts as in cats, or in some dialects as ch as in church (tʃ)
k is pronounced as k as in skin, without a puff of breath (IPA k)
p is pronounced as p as in spin, without a puff of breath (IPA p)
t is pronounced as t as in stun, without a puff of breath (IPA t)

Please note:
This pronunciation is based on Plains Cree, eg. Nêhiyawêwin (spoken in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Montana).
In Woods Cree, î replaces ê, and ð (th as in this) replaces y, eg. Nîhithawîwin (spoken in Alberta and Saskatchewan).
In Swampy Cree, n replaces y, eg. Nêhinawêwin (spoken in Manitoba and Ontario).
In Moose Cree, l replaces y (spoken in Ontario).
In Atihkamek Cree, r replaces y (spoken in Québec).