ᏩᏯ ᎤᏩᏒ
waya uwasv
The Cherokee phrase for 'lone wolf' is ᏩᏯ ᎤᏩᏒ (waya uwasv).
This noun phrase refers to a person who avoids the company of others.
Meaning: person who avoids the company of others (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun ᏩᏯ (waya), meaning 'wolf' and the adjective ᎤᏩᏒ (uwasv), meaning 'alone' or 'single'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Cherokee, the adjective ᎤᏩᏒ (uwasv) follows the noun ᏩᏯ (waya) it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
waya uwasv
Did you know?
- Cherokee uses a syllabary created by Sequoyah in the 1820s, meaning the characters in ᏩᏯ ᎤᏩᏒ represent whole syllables rather than individual sounds.
- In Cherokee tradition, the word ᏩᏯ can refer to either a wolf or a coyote, treating these different canines as a single group.
- The adjective ᎤᏩᏒ can be used to describe something as 'unique' or 'one of a kind' rather than just 'alone'.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a quiet coworker.
- AᎯᎠ ᎪᎯ ᏂᏓᏓᏍᏓᎵᎢ.hia gohi nidadasaliThis person stays alone.
- BᏩᏯ ᎤᏩᏒ ᏓᏓᏍᏓᎵᎢ.waya uwasra dadasaliHe is a lone wolf.
- AᎥᏝ ᏯᏓᏍᏓᎵ Ꭲ?vtla yadasali iDoes he not like people?
- BᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᏩᏯ ᎤᏩᏒ ᏓᏓᏍᏓᎵ.iyusdi waya uwasra dadasaliThat is why he lives as a lone wolf.
