How to Say “Welcome” in Cherokee

Did you know?

• The syllabary used to write ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ was invented by a man named Sequoyah who could not read or write English. He created the system independently to give his people a way to preserve their history.
• The word ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ is built from a root meaning 'to be happy' or 'to rejoice'. When you welcome someone in Cherokee, you are literally expressing a state of joy at their presence.
• Because Cherokee is a tonal language, the pitch used when saying ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ can change the meaning of the word entirely.