ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ
usquanigodi
The Cherokee word for "great" (in the sense of very good) is ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ (usquanigodi).
The word ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ is an adjective used to describe something as being very good.
Meaning: very good (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
usquanigodi
Did you know?
- The syllabary used to write ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ was created by a man named Sequoyah, who was not literate in English when he invented it.
- Cherokee is a polysynthetic language, meaning a single complex word can often convey an entire sentence in English. While ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ functions as an adjective, other 'great' concepts might be built into verbs.
- In Cherokee culture, the concept of 'greatness' or being 'good' is often tied to balance and harmony with the community rather than individual achievement.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a meal.
- AᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᏗᏓᏓᏅᏓᏅᏖᎯᏍᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᎩ.usquanigodi iyusdi didadanvdanvtehidi iyusgi.This food is great.
- BᏗᏓᏓᏅᏓᏅᏖᎯᏍᏗ ᎤᏓᏓᏅᏓᏅᏖᎯᏍᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᎩ.didadanvdanvtehidi udadanvdanvtehidi iyusgi.It tastes very good.
- BᎯᏓ ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᎩ.hida usquanigodi iyusdi iyusgi.It really is great.
