Nēhiyawēwin · y-dialect Cree
The westernmost Cree variety, spoken across Saskatchewan and Alberta. The most populous Cree dialect and the basis of much published Cree literature.
Eastern Cree
Also known as: Iyiyiw-Iyimiwin, James Bay Cree
The Cree varieties of Quebec and Labrador, including the James Bay and Atikamekw communities. The Cree dialect cluster with the most active language-revitalisation infrastructure.
Shareable facts
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Eastern Cree?
Eastern Cree is a dialect of the Cree language.
Where is Eastern Cree spoken?
Eastern Cree is primarily spoken in Canada.
Which region is Eastern Cree associated with?
Eastern Cree is part of the North America region on DialectAtlas.
Is Eastern Cree known by other names?
Yes — Eastern Cree is also referred to as Iyiyiw-Iyimiwin, James Bay Cree.
What are the other dialects of Cree?
Cree also includes Plains Cree, Swampy Cree. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.
Other Cree dialects
See on the atlas →n-dialect Cree · Maskēkowīhew
The Cree of the Hudson Bay lowlands across northern Manitoba and Ontario. Distinguished from Plains Cree by the use of /n/ where Plains Cree has /j/.
Nearby dialects
See on the atlas →446 km away
The dominant French variety of Canada. Strongly distinct from European French in vowel realisation, lexicon, and the colloquial Joual register.
683 km away
The French of the historic Francophone communities of Ontario, especially around Sudbury, Ottawa, and the Northern shore. Closely related to Quebec French but with stronger English contact features.
809 km away
The Ojibwe variety of Manitoulin Island and the Bruce Peninsula. Distinguished from Central Ojibwe by extensive vowel syncope and a distinct pronoun system.
827 km away
The French of the Maritime provinces, especially New Brunswick. Preserves several 17th-century features lost in both Quebec and Metropolitan French.
860 km away
The English of English-speaking Canada. Closer to General American than to British English in most features, but with its own vocabulary and the well-known Canadian raising.
885 km away
The largest Ojibwe variety, spoken across Ontario, Manitoba, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. An Algonquian language with a continuous oral tradition and recent literary growth.