ᎠᏓᏓ
edoda
The Cherokee word for dad is ᎠᏓᏓ (edoda).
This noun is used as an informal way to refer to a father.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
edoda
Did you know?
- In traditional Cherokee culture, the term for 'dad' is part of a system where kinship is determined by matrilineal descent, meaning your mother's brother might hold a status closer to a father than your biological father does.
- Cherokee incorporates 'avoidance' patterns in speech, meaning that in very traditional settings, a person might avoid using a direct term like ᎠᏓᏓ to show deep respect to an elder.
- Because Cherokee is a syllabary-based language, the word ᎠᏓᏓ is written using three identical syllables rather than a string of letters.
Example conversation
A child is asking about their father's location.
- AᎠᏓᏓ ᏓᏆÔŽÔŽÔ ᎢÔŽÔŽÔÔ?adada daquatotot itotot?Where is Dad?
- BᎠᏓᏓ ᎦᏓÔŽÔŽÔÔ.adada gadatototDad is sleeping.
- AᎠᏓᏓ ᏓᏆÔŽÔŽÔ ᎢÔŽÔŽÔÔÔŽÔ?adada daquatotot itototot?Is Dad still sleeping?
- BÔŽÔŽÔÔ, ᎾÔŽÔŽÔÔ.itotot, natototYes, he is.
