Cherokee Transliteration Online
Convert phonetic Latin spelling into the Cherokee syllabary and Cherokee syllabary back into Latin. This is a script converter for Cherokee writing, not an English-to-Cherokee word translator.
English letters to Cherokee syllabary
Enter phonetic Latin spelling and convert it into Cherokee syllabary characters. This does not translate English words; it only represents sounds with Cherokee syllabary signs.
Cherokee syllabary to Latin spelling
Reverse conversion can show an approximate Latin spelling of Cherokee syllabary text. The result is phonetic and should not be treated as an English translation.
Sequoyah syllabary
The Cherokee syllabary was created by Sequoyah. Unlike an alphabet, each character represents a syllable, so conversion is based on syllables rather than single letters.
Tsalagi and Cherokee language
Tsalagi is a Cherokee name for the Cherokee language. This page focuses on the writing system and transliteration, not vocabulary, grammar or dictionary translation.
Cherokee names and spelling
For names and culturally important words, automatic conversion should be treated carefully. Proper Cherokee spelling may require help from a knowledgeable speaker or authoritative source.
Cherokee Transliteration: letters and Latin equivalents
| Syllabary | Latin |
|---|---|
| Ꭰ | a |
| Ꭱ | e |
| Ꭲ | i |
| Ꭳ | o |
| Ꭴ | u |
| Ꭵ | v |
| Ꭶ | ga |
| Ꭽ | ha |
| Ꮃ | la |
| Ꮉ | ma |
| Ꮎ | na |
| Ꮜ | sa |
Frequently asked questions
Is this an English to Cherokee translator?
No. It does not translate English words into Cherokee vocabulary. It converts phonetic Latin spelling into Cherokee syllabary characters.
What is the Cherokee syllabary?
The Cherokee syllabary is a writing system where each character represents a syllable rather than a single sound. It was created by Sequoyah and is used for writing the Cherokee language.
What does Tsalagi mean?
Tsalagi is a Cherokee name for the Cherokee language and people. On this page it is used as a search and context term, but the tool itself is focused on script conversion.
Can I convert Cherokee syllabary back to Latin spelling?
Yes. Reverse mode can produce a phonetic Latin representation of Cherokee syllabary text. It is not an English translation and may need review.
Why does my English word not become a Cherokee word?
Because transliteration changes writing systems, not vocabulary. To get a Cherokee word with the correct meaning, you need translation by a dictionary, speaker or language resource.
Can I use this for Cherokee names?
Use it only as a phonetic reference. Names and culturally significant terms should be checked with a knowledgeable source because spelling and pronunciation matter.
Why are Cherokee characters syllables instead of letters?
The Cherokee writing system is a syllabary, so each sign represents a syllable such as ga, ha or tsa. That is why conversion works differently from alphabet-based transliteration.