Cherokee

UK: ˈtʃɛrəkiː | US: ˈtʃɛrəkiː

Definition

  1. n. 1. A member of a Native American people originally inhabiting the southeastern United States.

  2. n. 2. The Iroquoian language spoken by the Cherokee people.

  3. adj. 3. Relating to the Cherokee people or their language.

Structure

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Etymology

The word "Cherokee" originates from the Cherokee autonym Tsalagi (ᏣᎳᎩ), meaning "principal people" or "people of the cave country." Early European settlers adapted the term from Creek or Choctaw pronunciations (e.g., Chilukikbi). The spelling evolved into "Cherokee" in English, retaining no separable morphemes from its original form.

Examples

  1. The Cherokee Nation is one of the largest federally recognized tribes in the U.S.

  2. She is learning to speak Cherokee to connect with her heritage.

  3. Traditional Cherokee art often features symbolic patterns.

  4. The Cherokee syllabary was invented by Sequoyah in the early 19th century.

  5. Many place names in the Southeast derive from Cherokee words.