ᎡᎶᎯ ᎢᏥ
elohi itsi
The phrase for mother earth in Cherokee is ᎡᎶᎯ ᎢᏥ (elohi itsi).
ᎡᎶᎯ ᎢᏥ is used as a name for the personification of the Earth.
Meaning: personification of Earth (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ᎡᎶᎯ (elohi), meaning 'world' or 'earth' and ᎢᏥ (itsi), meaning 'mother'.
How do you pronounce it?
elohi itsi
Did you know?
- The Cherokee syllabary used to write ᎡᎶᎯ ᎢᏥ was invented by a man named Sequoyah, who was not literate in English when he created it.
- While English speakers often use 'Mother Earth' as a poetic metaphor, in Cherokee, such personifications often imply a living, breathing relative within a complex spiritual hierarchy.
- The term ᎢᏥ is often used as a title of respect for elder women or respected female figures, mirroring the reverence given to the personified Earth.
Example conversation
Two people are gardening together.
- AᎡᎶᎯ ᎢᏥ ᏓᎾᏓᏍᏓᎩ.Elohi Itsi danadasgi.Let us listen to Mother Earth.
- BᎪᎢ, ᏓᏍᏓᎩᏓ.Goi, dasdigida.Yes, let's listen.
- AᎡᎶᎯ ᎢᏥ ᎢᏓᏓᏓᏍᏓᎩ.Elohi Itsi idadasdagi.We are listening to Mother Earth.
- BᎦᏓᏓᏍᏓᎩ.Gadasdagi.I am listening.
