ᏲᎾ ᎤᏍᏗ
yona usdi
The Cherokee phrase for "little bear" is ᏲᎾ ᎤᏍᏗ (yona usdi).
This phrase is used to describe a small bear.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the word for small, ᎤᏍᏗ, is an adjective that typically follows the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
yona usdi
Did you know?
- The Cherokee syllabary used to write ᏲᎾ ᎤᏍᏗ was invented by a man named Sequoyah, who was not literate in English when he created the writing system.
- Cherokee is a polysynthetic language, meaning that while ᏲᎾ ᎤᏍᏗ means 'little bear', a single complex word can often express an entire sentence that would require many words in English.
- The word ᏲᎾ is part of a larger kinship system where certain animals are viewed as relatives, reflecting a worldview where humans and nature are interconnected.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a picture book together.
- AᏲᎾ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎪᏪᎢ.yona usdi gowei.Look at the little bear in the book.
- BᎤᏍᏗ ᏲᎾ ᎦᏓᏓᏓ!usdi yona gadada!That little bear is so cute!
- AᏲᎾ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎦᏙ ᎭᏓᏓ?yona usdi gado hadada?Where is the little bear going?
- BᎠᎩᏓᏓ ᎭᏓᏓ.agidada hadada.It is going to sleep.
