ᎣᏏᏲ, ᏓᏆᏙᎠ
Osiyo, daquadoa
The Cherokee phrase for "hello, my name is" is ᎣᏏᏲ, ᏓᏆᏙᎠ (Osiyo, daquadoa).
This phrase is used as a greeting when you are introducing yourself to another person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Hello, I am called" or "Hello, I am named".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ᏓᏆᏙᎠ is a first-person singular verb meaning "I am called" or "my name is".
How do you pronounce it?
Osiyo, daquadoa
Did you know?
- The Cherokee syllabary used to write ᎣᏏᏲ was invented by a man named Sequoyah in the early 1820s without any previous knowledge of a written language.
- In traditional Cherokee culture, introducing yourself often involves mentioning your clan, as the clan defines your social and familial identity.
- The word ᎣᏏᏲ (osiyo) is actually a shortened form of a much longer phrase that translates to 'be well'.
Example conversation
Two people meet for the first time at a community event.
- AᎣᏏᏲ, ᏓᏆᏙᎠ ᎦᎵ.Osiyo, dakuadoa Gali.Hello, my name is Gali.
- BᎣᏏᏲ! ᏓᏆᏙᎠ ᏗᏟ.Osiyo! dakuadoa Diti.Hello! My name is Diti.
- AᎣᏏᏲ ᏗᏟ.Osiyo Diti.Hello, Diti.
- BᎣᏏᏲ ᎦᎵ.Osiyo Gali.Hello, Gali.
