mˈoːɹ ðˌænən aɪdˈɛntɪfˌaɪəbəl pˈiːpəl ɔːɹ tɹˈaɪb, "tʃˈælaɪbz" wʌzɐ dʒənˈɛɹɪk ɡɹˈiːk tˈɜːm fɔːɹ "pˈiːpəlz ʌvðə blˈæk sˈiː kˈoʊst hˌuː tɹˈeɪd ɪn ˈaɪɚn" ɔːɹ "ɐ ɡɹˈuːp ʌv spˈɛʃəlˌaɪzd mˈɛɾəlwˌɜːkɚz".
More than an identifiable people or tribe, "Chalybes" was a generic Greek term for "peoples of the Black Sea coast who trade in iron" or "a group of specialised metalworkers".