ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢ
usgolv gvhnagei
The Cherokee word for grey is ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢ (usgolv gvhnagei).
This phrase is used to describe the color that results from a mix of black and white.
How does it change in a sentence?
Rather than using a single root word, the word for grey is constructed as a compound phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
usgolv gvhnagei
Did you know?
- Many Cherokee color words are used metaphorically to describe emotions or spiritual states. A 'grey' or 'cloudy' description can sometimes refer to a state of confusion or uncertainty.
- In Cherokee, describing a color often involves describing the physical qualities of the thing being colored rather than using an abstract noun for the color itself.
- Because Cherokee is a polysynthetic language, a single phrase like ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢ can carry meanings that would require a whole sentence in English to explain accurately.
Example conversation
Two people are talking about a bird they see.
- AᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢ ᎦᏓᏓᏅᏓᏍᏓᏓᏘᏍᎩ ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢusgolv gvhnageiThe bird is grey.
- BᎥᎥ, ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢ ᎦᏓᏓᏅᏓᏍᏓᏓᏘᏍᎩ ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢvvn, usgolv gvhnageiYes, it is grey.
- AᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢ ᎦᏓᏓᏅᏓᏍᏓᏓᏘᏍᎩ ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢ ᎤᏍᎪᎸ ᎬᎿᎨᎢusgolv gvhnageiIt is a very grey bird.
