Definition

Noun 1. A member of a rural Finnish people living in eastern Russia: Refers to an individual belonging to a Finno-Ugric ethnic group, also known as the Mari people, traditionally residing in the Volga region of Russia. 2. The Finnic language spoken by the Cheremis: Refers to the Uralic language of this people, also known as the Mari language, which has two main literary variants.

Usage Examples

• Noun (referring to a person):
  • The Cheremis have a rich tradition of wood carving and embroidery.
  • He identified himself as a Cheremis, proud of his ancestral heritage.
• Noun (referring to the language):
  • She is conducting research on the grammar of Cheremis.
  • Fewer young people are fluent in Cheremis today.

Advanced Usage

• The term Cheremis is an older exonym. In modern contexts, the terms Mari (for the people) and Mari language are more commonly used and are generally preferred.
• It can be used attributively as a noun modifier (functioning like an adjective) in anthropological or linguistic contexts.
  • A Cheremis folk song.
  • The Cheremis community.

Variants and Related Words

• Mari: The modern endonym and more contemporary term for both the people and the language.
• Cheremiss: An alternative, less common spelling of .
• Hill Mari (Western Mari): One of the two main literary standards of the Mari language.
• Meadow Mari (Eastern Mari): The other main literary standard of the Mari language, more widely spoken.

Synonyms

• Mari (noun): For both the people and the language.
• Mari person (noun phrase): For an individual.

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically denotes an ethnic and linguistic identity. It is not used as a general descriptor for any Russian citizen.
• Its use is primarily found in historical, anthropological, or linguistic texts. In general contemporary English, Mari is the standard term.

Noun

1. the Finnic language spoken by the Cheremis
2. a member of a rural Finnish people living in eastern Russia