ᎣᏏᏲ, ᏙᎯᏧ?
osiyo, dohitsu?
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is expressed in Cherokee as ᎣᏏᏲ, ᏙᎯᏧ? (osiyo, dohitsu?)
This is a common greeting used to say hello and ask about someone's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of two parts: ᎣᏏᏲ (osiyo), which means "hello" and ᏙᎯᏧ? (dohitsu?), which literally translates to "how are you?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ᏙᎯᏧ? (dohitsu?) is used when addressing a single person.
How do you pronounce it?
osiyo, dohitsu?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you ᏙᎯᏧ? (dohitsu?), a common way to respond is by saying ᎣᏏᏳ (osiyu), which means "I am well" or "fine".
Did you know?
- The writing system used for ᎣᏏᏲ was developed in the 1820s, making it one of the few instances of a native American script created by a single person.
- Cherokee is a polysynthetic language, meaning a single word can express a complex thought that would require a whole sentence in English.
- While English speakers might use 'how are you?' as a hollow formality, in Cherokee culture, responding to ᏙᎯᏧ? (dohitsu?) with a genuine state of well-being is a meaningful social exchange.
