ᎢᎾᎨ ᎠᏁᎯ
inage anehi
The Cherokee word for 'wild' is ᎢᎾᎨ ᎠᏁᎯ (inage anehi).
This adjective is used to describe something that is not domesticated or tamed.
Meaning: not domesticated or tamed (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
inage anehi
Did you know?
- The words for 'wild' are written using a syllabary developed by a single man, Sequoyah, who was not literate in English when he created it.
- While English uses one word for 'wild', Cherokee may use different terms depending on whether a plant is 'unplanted' or an animal is 'untamed'.
- The concept of 'wild' in Cherokee is deeply tied to spatial relationships. The phrase ᎢᎾᎨ ᎠᏁᎯ implies a state of being 'away' from the center of human community and domestic life.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at an animal in the forest.
- AᎢᎾᎨ ᎠᏁᎯ 🐕 ᎢᏳᎢ?Inage anehi gyu-i?Is that dog wild?
- BᎠᎥ, ᎢᎾᎨ ᎠᏁᎯ 🐕 ᎢᏳᎢ.An, inage anehi gyu-i.Yes, it is wild.
- AᎢᏳᎢ ᎤᏓᏓᏍᏗ?Gyu-i udadasdi?Is it aggressive?
- BᎤᏓᏓᏍᏗ, ᎦᏙᎢ ᎢᏳᎢ.Udasdi, gado-i gyu-i.It is, be careful.
