How to Say “Big” in Cherokee

By Russell Isaac • Updated October 2, 2026

ᎡᏆ

equa/e̋ːɡʷã́/

The Cherokee word for big is ᎡᏆ (equa).

ᎡᏆ is an adjective used to describe something that is of a great size.

Meaning: of a great size (adj)

How do you pronounce it?

The romanization is equa. The IPA pronunciation is /e̋ːɡʷã́/.

Did you know?

The character Ꭱ in ᎡᏆ is part of a syllabary invented by Sequoyah, who was not literate in English when he created the writing system.
In Cherokee, adjectives like ᎡᏆ can often function as verbs, meaning the word can be translated as 'to be big' rather than just 'big'.
Depending on the context, 'big' in Cherokee can describe things that are not just large in dimension, but also 'great' in terms of sound or intensity.

Example sentences for Cherokee are not verified yet.

Sources

Wiktionary, “big” translations and entries ᎡᏆ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.

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About The Author

Russell Isaac

Hi there, I'm Russell. When I'm not immersing myself in the beautiful Cherokee language (ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ), you can find me out exploring nature or capturing the colors of the sunset on canvas. I'm a passionate language enthusiast, guide to all wanting to learn Cherokee, and a bit of an outdoorsman. My hobbies include bird-watching (ᎯᎳᎳ or "hila"), tracking bison, and trying to congregate with black foxes. I also write guides on Choctaw, another Native American language of the Southeast that I love exploring alongside Cherokee. I'm here to help you navigate the intricacies of the Cherokee language - from the simplest of greetings to expressing grander concepts; who knows, you might end up having a "good day" (ᏚᎾᏕᏘᏯ) in Cherokee sooner than you think!

Russell IsaacHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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