Cherokee Word of the Day: bear

Welcome to the Osiyo.net Cherokee Word of the Day series! Each day we teach you a new Cherokee word — in the Cherokee syllabary, with phonetic pronunciation, meaning, and cultural context.

What It Means

The Cherokee word yo-na (ᏲᎾ) means bear in English.

How to Pronounce It

Say it as yo-na. The 'yo' is like the 'yo' in 'yoyo'.

Using It in a Sentence

Cherokee: ᏲᎾ ᏙᏓᎶᎢ ᎡᏙᎭ

English: "A bear is on the mountain."

Cultural Context

The Bear Dance is a social dance performed to show respect for this powerful animal.

Keep Learning Cherokee

Come back tomorrow for the next Cherokee Word of the Day! To dive deeper into the Cherokee language:

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• Cherokee Nation official language resources

Cherokee Word of the Day #168 — bear

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