ᎠᏕᎸ ᏓᎶᏂᎨ
adelv dalonige
The Cherokee word for gold (as an adjective meaning made of gold or golden) is ᎠᏕᎸ ᏓᎶᏂᎨ (adelv dalonige).
This term is used as an adjective to describe something that is made of gold or possesses a golden color.
Meaning: made of gold, golden (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
adelv dalonige
Did you know?
- The component word ᎠᏕᎸ (adela) in the phrase is thought to be a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'silver', rather than an indigenous root for precious metals.
- The syllabary used to write ᎠᏕᎸ ᏓᎶᏂᎨ is unique because it was developed by a single person, Sequoyah, who was not literate in English.
- Traditional Cherokee culture historically valued copper and other minerals for ceremonial use more than the monetary value associated with gold.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at jewelry in a store.
- AᎤᏓᏓᏅᏅ ᎠᏕᎸ ᏓᎶᏂᎨ ᎢᏳᎦ?udadanvnv adelv dalonige iyuga?Is that made of gold?
- BᎥᎥ, ᎠᏕᎸ ᏓᎶᏂᎨ ᎤᏓᏓᏅᏅ ᎢᏳᎦ.vnv, adelv dalonige udadanvnv iyuga.Yes, it is gold.
- AᎦᏓᏓᏅᏅ ᎢᏳᎦ?gadadanvnv iyuga?How much is it?
- BᎤᏓᏓᏅᏅ ᎢᏳᎦ.udadanvnv iyuga.It is expensive.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ᎠᏕᎸ ᏓᎶᏂᎨ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ᎠᏕᎸ ᏓᎶᏂᎨ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
