ᏲᎾ
yona
The Cherokee word for black bear is ᏲᎾ (yona).
This phrase refers to the large mammal with black fur typically found in North American forests.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is yona.
Did you know?
- In some traditional contexts, a person might avoid saying the name ᏲᎾ directly to show respect or to avoid attracting the bear's attention. Instead, they use a more indirect, respectful title.
- The Cherokee syllabary used to write ᏲᎾ is a unique system invented by Sequoyah in the early 19th century, unlike most other indigenous scripts.
- In Cherokee culture, the bear is associated with the 'medicine' of healing and is often linked to the properties of certain plants used in traditional remedies.
Example conversation
Two people are hiking in the woods.
- AᏲᎾ ᏓᏓᏓᏅᎢ!Yona dadadanv-i!There is a black bear!
- BᎪᎯᏳᏓᏅᎢ?Kohiyudanv-i?Where is it?
- AᏲᎾ ᎢᏳᏓᏓᏅᎢ ᎦᏓ.Yona iyudadanv-i gada.The black bear is right there.
- BᎠᏓᏓᏅᎢ ᎦᏓ!Adadanv-i gada!That is scary!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ᏲᎾ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
