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Cherokee language facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Cherokee language (ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ, Tsalagi Gawonihisdi) is an endangered language spoken by the Cherokee people.

Writing system

The Cherokee do not use the Latin alphabet (ABCs) like English does. Instead, they use their own alphabet, which looks a lot like the ABCs. Each letter represents a different syllable sound. This special alphabet was invented by a Cherokee man named Sequoyah.

Below is a chart of all the letters of the Cherokee alphabet and the sound each one makes.

Cherokee Syllabary.svg

Notes:

  1. In the chart, ‘v’ represents a nasal vowel, which is pronounced like "ung" in "lung".
  2. The character Ꮩ do is shown upside-down in some fonts. It should look like the Latin letter V.

Grammar

The Cherokee language uses many prefixes and suffixes.

Images for kids

  • Cherokee Heritage Center - New Hope Church - Bible cover in Cherokee script (2015-05-27 14.09.44 by Wesley Fryer)

    Cherokee Heritage Center - New Hope Church - Bible cover in Cherokee script (2015-05-27 14.09.44 by Wesley Fryer)

  • Adams Corner - Kirche 7

    Translation of Genesis into the Cherokee language, 1856

  • Tsali Boulevard sign, Cherokee, NC IMG 4880

    Tsali Boulevard in Cherokee, North Carolina

  • Sequoyah

    Sequoyah, inventor of the Cherokee syllabary

  • Cherokee stop sign

    Cherokee stop sign, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with "alehwisdiha" (also spelled "halehwisda") meaning "stop"

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