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Cherokee

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: cherokee

English

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Etymology

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Most likely from the Cherokee autonym ᏣᎳᎩ (tsalagi). Derivation from a Choctaw exonym meaning "those who live in caves" (compare chiluk (“cave”)) has also been suggested[1] — the Iroquois term for the Cherokee was Oyata'ge'ronon (“inhabitants of the cave country”)[2] — as has derivation from a Creek term for "person(s) who speak(s) a non-Creek language" (see celokketv (“to speak a non-creek language”)).

Whatever its origin, the ethnonym entered European languages at an early date, perhaps as early as the 1670s;[3] in Spanish, the people are called the Tchalaquei as early as 1755.[4]

Pronunciation

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Noun

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Cherokee (plural Cherokees or Cherokee)

  1. A member of an indigenous North American people.

Translations

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Proper noun

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Cherokee

  1. An indigenous North American people.
  2. Their Iroquoian language, spoken in Oklahoma and North Carolina.
    • 2025 June 19, Robert Collins, “Learning an Indigenous language in Oklahoma is a living link to tribal ancestors”, in The Oklahoman‎[1], archived from the original on 23 October 2025:
      You don’t have to be a member of a tribe to help protect native languages. In Oklahoma, public students can choose to take Indigenous language courses like Bodéwadmimwen, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Comanche and others for school credit — an empowering step toward recognition and respect. Many tribal nations, including CPN, also offer free resources such as language apps, workshops and virtual lessons open to learners of all backgrounds and abilities.
  3. A syllabary for the Cherokee language invented by Sequoyah.
  4. A town in Colbert County, Alabama.
  5. Cherokee Village, Arkansas.
  6. A census-designated place in Butte County, California.
  7. A former gold mining settlement in Nevada County, California.
  8. A city, the county seat of Cherokee County, Iowa.
  9. A city in Crawford County, Kansas.
  10. A census-designated place in Swain County and Jackson County, North Carolina, capital of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
  11. An unincorporated community in Logan County, Ohio.
  12. A city, the county seat of Alfalfa County, Oklahoma.
  13. An unincorporated community in Grainger County, Tennessee.
  14. An unincorporated community in San Saba County, Texas.
  15. An unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia.
  16. An unincorporated community in Hull, Marathon County, Wisconsin.
  17. A locality in the Shire of Macedon Ranges, central Victoria, Australia.
  18. Ellipsis of Cherokee County.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

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Cherokee edition of Wiktionary

References

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  1. ^ Cherokee Indian Tribe, Access Genealogy (September 21, 2009)
  2. ^ Milton E. Campbell, The State of North Carolina with Native American Ancestry →ISBN, page 39: "The Iroquois called the Cherokee Oyata'ge'ronon[,] which means inhabitants of the cave country."
  3. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “Cherokee”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  4. ^ Charles A. Hanna, The Wilderness Trail (New York, 1911)

Further reading

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Dutch

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English Cherokee.

Pronunciation

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  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Che‧ro‧kee

Proper noun

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Cherokee n

  1. the Cherokee language

Proper noun

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Cherokee pl

  1. Cherokee people

Noun

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Cherokee m (plural Cherokees, no diminutive)

  1. a member of the Cherokee people
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