How to Say “White” in Cherokee

By Russell Isaac • Updated October 2, 2026

ᎤᏁᎬ

unegv

The English word white is expressed in Cherokee as ᎤᏁᎬ (unegv).

ᎤᏁᎬ is used as a noun to refer to the color white.

Meaning: color (noun)

Which one should you use?

While ᎤᏁᎬ is the noun for the color white, the related form ᎤᏁᎦ is an adjective meaning bright and colourless.

Related words

How do you pronounce it?

unegv

Did you know?

Because Cherokee is a verb-based language, many color terms can behave like actions, describing the process of something 'becoming' white rather than just existing as a static state.
Traditional Cherokee cosmology associates ᎤᏁᎬ with the direction of the East and the rising sun.
The word ᎤᏁᎬ is used to mean 'silver', as Cherokee often uses color terms to describe the appearance of precious metals.

Example sentences for Cherokee are not verified yet.

Sources

Wiktionary, “white” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.

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About The Author

Russell Isaac

Hi there, I'm Russell. When I'm not immersing myself in the beautiful Cherokee language (ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ), you can find me out exploring nature or capturing the colors of the sunset on canvas. I'm a passionate language enthusiast, guide to all wanting to learn Cherokee, and a bit of an outdoorsman. My hobbies include bird-watching (ᎯᎳᎳ or "hila"), tracking bison, and trying to congregate with black foxes. I also write guides on Choctaw, another Native American language of the Southeast that I love exploring alongside Cherokee. I'm here to help you navigate the intricacies of the Cherokee language - from the simplest of greetings to expressing grander concepts; who knows, you might end up having a "good day" (ᏚᎾᏕᏘᏯ) in Cherokee sooner than you think!

Russell IsaacHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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