Cherokee Word of the Day: butterfly
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.
ᎧᎹᎹ
ka-ma-ma
"butterfly"
What It Means
The Cherokee word ka-ma-ma (ᎧᎹᎹ) means butterfly in English.
How to Pronounce It
Say it as ka-ma-ma. Repeat the 'ma' sound evenly.
Using It in a Sentence
Cherokee: ᎧᎹᎹ ᎤᏬᏚᎯ
English: "The butterfly is beautiful."
Cultural Context
In modern Cherokee, this word is also used for elephant because of the way their ears flap like wings.
Keep Learning Cherokee
Come back tomorrow for the next Cherokee Word of the Day! To dive deeper into the Cherokee language:
- Cherokee citizenship and tribal nation resources
- Cherokee education and language programs
- Cherokee Nation official language resources
Cherokee Word of the Day #172 — butterfly
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