3 syllables: cher, o, kees. Stress on cher.
CHER-uh-keez
/ˈtʃɛɹəˌkiz/
cherokees is pronounced CHER-uh-keez (/ˈtʃɛɹəˌkiz/). It has three syllables (cher-o-kees), with the stress on "cher". Cherokees refers to the Cherokee people, an Indigenous nation of the southeastern United States, or to things relating to them. The term can denote members of the Cherokee Nation, historical groups, or cultural artifacts associated with Cherokee heritage. In plural form, it also appears in reference to the Cherokee people collectively, or to sports teams and organizations using the name.
Cherokees refers to the Cherokee people, an Indigenous nation of the southeastern United States, or to things relating to them. The term can denote members of the Cherokee Nation, historical groups, or cultural artifacts associated with Cherokee heritage. In plural form, it also appears in reference to the Cherokee people collectively, or to sports teams and organizations using the name.
"The Cherokee Nation hosts a festival that celebrates language, art, and music of the Cherokees."
"Researchers studied Cherokee history and the impact of the Cherokee name on regional identity among Cherokees."
"The Cherokees faced forced relocation in the 1830s, a tragedy still commemorated in memorials."
Pronounce as /tʃɪˈroʊkiːz/ (chi-ROH-keez). The stress falls on the second syllable: chi-ROH-keez. Start with a 'ch' as in chair, then a short 'i' (as in kit) followed by a long 'o' in the second syllable, and end with a long 'eez' (like cheese plural). The initial /tʃ/ blends with /ɪ/; keep the tongue high-front and release cleanly. The final /z/ is voiced; avoid voiceless /s/ at the end.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying /ˈtʃɛroʊkiːz/ or distributing stress too evenly; correct to secondary stress on RO- syllable: /tʃɪˈroʊkiːz/. (2) Slurring the second syllable into the first, yielding /tʃɪroʊˈkiːz/ instead of clear chi-ROH-keez; emphasize the long vowel /oʊ/ in the second syllable. (3) Final consonant confusion, pronouncing as /-s/ or /-z/ inconsistently; keep a final /z/ sound. Practice with minimal pairs and ensure the middle /roʊ/ is a distinct nucleus.
In US English, /tʃɪˈroʊkiːz/ with strong /roʊ/ and rhotic /r/. UK English tends toward /tʃɪˈrəʊkiːz/ with a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the first unstressed syllable and a long /oʊ/ vowel similar to US. Australian English often has a broader /ɜː/ or /ə/ in the first syllable, yielding /tʃəˈrəʊkiːz/ or /tʃɪˈrəʊkiːz/, with less rhoticity and a non-rhotic end; listeners may hear a shorter /ɪ/ in the first syllable depending on speaker. Emphasis remains on the second syllable across accents.
Two phonetic challenges: the two-syllable boundary with a long central vowel in the middle syllable and the final /z/ that must be voiced and clear after a long vowel; also, the presence of /roʊ/ as a strong nucleus in the stressed syllable can cause vowel length confusion. Tip: isolate the second syllable, practice /roʊ/ with a tense jaw, then attach the final /kiːz/ quickly but distinctly, avoiding a trailing /s/.
The unique feature is maintaining a clear secondary syllable nucleus with a long 'o' /oʊ/ in the stressed syllable while ensuring the /k/ onset of the final syllable is released before the /iː/ vowel; this helps avoid a merged or flattened second syllable. Visualize a three-beat rhythm: chi-ROH-keez, with a crisp /k/ before the final /iːz/; keep the lips rounded for /oʊ/ and reduce vowel reduction in the second syllable.
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Cherokees is the plural form of Cherokee, deriving from the name used by the people themselves, Cherokee. The term is widely believed to have been exonymic and was recorded by early English-speaking settlers during the 18th century. Linguistically, Cherokee is thought to come from a Muskogean or Iroquoian influent lexeme, though the precise linguistic lineage is debated; the name has been associated with the people’s own ethnonym Sesquoyah, Persons invoking their historic language. The word Cherokee entered English through early colonial contact as missionaries, traders, and soldiers documented their encounters with the southeastern tribes. In the 19th and 20th centuries, “Cherokee” evolved from a singular ethnonym describing a people to a demonym for individuals identifying with Cherokee heritage or nationality, and in modern usage, “Cherokees” functions both as a plural ethnonym and as a toponymic or organizational label. First known uses in print appear in colonial accounts and treaties where European authors referenced “the Cherokee” as a people; the plural forms emerged with population counts and organizational naming conventions in the 1800s. The modern usage spans historical, cultural, political, and social contexts, reflecting a robust identity across generations.
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Words that rhyme with "cherokees"
-aks sounds
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