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Date Posted: 07:15:36 11/15/01 Thu
Author: Anonymous
Subject: Cherokee Vocabulary Words

Cherokee Vocabulary Words


Sounds Represented by Vowels a as a in father, or short as a in rival o as o in note, or short as aw in law
e as a in hate, or short as e in met u as oo in fool, or short as u in pull
i as i in pique, or short as i in pit v as un in under, nasalized



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Consonant Sounds

Syllables beginning with g except ga sometimes have the power of k. For example: g as in gate, but approaching k as in kate. d as in day, but approaching t as in today. Do, du, and dv are sometimes pronounced as to, tu, and tv. Syllables written with tl, except tla are sometimes pronounced as dl.



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Here are a few grammar notes that will prove helpful. One of the principal differences between the Kituwah Dialect spoken by the Eastern Band and the Western Dialect spoken in Oklahoma is found in the syllable "TSI". The Kituwah Dialect is more toward a "Z" sound while the Western Dialect is more of a "CH" or "J" sound. The other dialectal difference is in the syllable "SI". The Eastern Cherokee pronounce it "SHI". The syllabry is identical in both cases.

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A silent character will be indicated by a parentheses ( ) around the silent vowel. You will notice that the consonant then becomes attached to the preceeding syllable and the accent is often placed on the following syllable, but not always. For example:
May A-n(i)-sgv-ti (ahn-SGUHN-tee)
Seven ga-l(i)-quo-gi (gahl-QUOH-gee)
A colon ( : ) after a vowel means that the vowel sound is held longer than usual. For example:
O:-s-da fine, good (OH-sdah)
Go:ga crow (KOH-gah)
A question mark ( ? ) denotes a glottal stop. In other words, you momentarily stop when pronouncing this word, then continue. For example:
wa?-do Thank you (wah-DOH)
v?-tla No (uhn-tlah)

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There are several ways to ask questions in Cherokee. One is by raising the voice at the end of the sentence, much the same way you do English and using the Cherokee words: Ka:-go (who?), ha-dlv (where), ga?-do u-sdi (what? or which?), hi-layv-i (when?), etc. Another way is to use question suffixes attached to verbs or nouns in Cherokee. For instance, "tsu", "sgo", "s" [short form], or "sgo-hv; and "ke (ge)". "-ge" is used only right after the first word.
Is it cold outside? U-hyv:dla-ke DO-yi? or U-hyv:dla-ge DO-yi?

Another questioner, "na" is used when a statement which has just been made about a certain party is also true of the second party. For example: And what about you? ni-hi-na-hv (nee-HEE-nah-huhn). "-Na", in this instance, functions like the English phrase "how about" or "what if".

The demonstrative pronoun "hi-a" (this) is used to refer to an object or person near the speaker. English sentences do not ordinarily contain linking verbs. although there is one which is used for emphasis and in forming certain complex verb constructions. For instance, "This is a shirt." (hi-a a-na-wo-hi)*, when translated reads, "This shirt." Likewise, the question, "What is this?" (ga-do u-s-di hi-a) translates to "What this?"

* When two a's come together, they are sometimes pronounced as "v".
For instance, hi-a a-na-wo-hi conversationally becomes, hi-v-na-wo-hi.



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To assist you in learning, I will indicate the written emphasized syllable (if there is one) by capitalizing that syllable. For instance, a-hi-da (easy) would be written in the pronunciation column as (a-HEE-dah) or ga-tli-dah (arrow) would be written as (GAH-tleh-DAH) indicating how the word should be pronounced, not written.

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Months of the Year -- ka?-lv?-i (kah luhn ee) January Month of the Cold Moon u no lv ta ni OO-NOH-luhn-TA-nee
February Month of the Bony Moon ka ga li KAH-ga?-lee
March Month of the Windy Moon a nv yi AH-nuhn-YEE
April Month of the Flower Moon ka wo ni KA-wo-HNEE
May Month of the Planting Moon a n(i) s gv ti ahn-SGUHN-tee
June Month of the Green Corn Moon di ha lu yi DEE-ha-LOO-yee
July Month of the Ripe Corn Moon gu ye quo ni GOO-yay-QWOH:-hnee
August Month of the end of the Fruit Moon ga lo ni gah-loh-neh
September Month of the Nut Moon du li s di DOO-lee:-SDEE
October Month of the Harvest Moon du ni n(v) di DOO-neen?-DEE
November Month of the Trading Moon nv da de wi NUHN-da-DAY:-hwee
December Month of the Snow Moon v s gi yi uhn sgeh hyee



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Days of the Week (Sv-na-do-da-qwa-s-di da-do-da-s-gv-i) Monday U-na-do-da-quo-nv-i OO-nah-DOH-dah-QWOH-nuhn?-ee
Tuesday 2nd Day Ta-li-ne-i-ga Ta-lee:-NAY-ee-GAH
Wednesday 3rd Day Tso-i-ne-i-ga CHOH?-ee-NAY-ee-GAH
Thursday 4th Day Nv gi ne i ga NUHN?-gee-NAY-ee-GAH
Friday Tsu-n(a)-gi-lo-sdi CHOON-gee-NAY-ee-GAH
Saturday U-na-do-da-qui-de:-na OO-nah-DOH-dah-QWEE?-day-nah
Sunday U-na-do-da-qua-s-gv-i OO-nah-DOH-dah-qwah-SGUHN?-ee



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Conversational Phrases Hello O-si-yo
How are you? to-hi-tsu
I am fine O-si-quu, or just o-si
And you? ni HI na hv
What is your name? ga-TO de-tsa-TO-a
My name is ______ ______ da-wa?-to:-a
Let's meet again (to one person) DO-nv-DA-go-hv?-i
Let's meet again (to more than one person) do-da-DA-go-hv?-i
What is your address? HA-dlv go-hwe-li di-tsa-ne:-sdi
My address is ______ go-hwe:-li di-gi-ne:-sdi
Are you Cherokee? hi-tsa-la-gi-s
Do you speak Cherokee tsa-la-gi-s hi-wo-ni (ha)
I speak some (a little) Cherokee tsa-la-gi ga-yo:-tli tsi-wo:-ni (ha)
I understand some (a little) Cherokee tsa-la-gi ga-yo:-tli go-li-ga
Be careful! tsa-g(a)-se-sde-sdi
No thank you v-tla, or more emphatic tla-hv



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Seeking Help Phrases
Remember the subject is often first, followed by the modifiers and verbs last. I understand A-ya go:-li-ga
I don't understand V-tla yi-go-li-ga
(no understand)
Do you understand? Ho-l(i)-ga-tsu
Speak slowly please U-s-ga-no-li hi-ne-gi
(slowly you speak)
Please say again Si-quu tsi-hi-ne-gi
(again you speak)



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Asking Directions
Again, remember the subject is often first, followed by the modifiers and verbs last. Will you help me? Ye-li-quu-s-go yi-s-de-la
I am lost A-qua-le-na-hi-da
How far is it? I-nv-hi-s-go
Is it near? E-s-ga-ni-quu-s-go
Is it far? I-nv-hi-s-go
Is it to the right? A-g(a)-ti-si-s-go i-da-la
Is it to the left? A-g(a)?-s-ga-ni-ge i-di la
Is it straight ahead? Tsi-yu-g(o)-ti-quu-ge
Please show me S-que-yo-hv-ga
How many miles is it to (subject) ? (subject) hi-la yu-tli-lo-da
Clothing store? Di-na-wo a-da-na?-nv-i ...
Drugstore? Nv-wo-ti a-da-na?-nv-i ...
Garage? Da-qua-le-la a?-ti-yi ...
Grocery? A-l(i)-s-da-y(v)-ti ...
Laundry? Tsu-n(a)-gi-lo-s-di-yi ...
Barber Shop? Di-da-s-to-ti-yi
Bakery? Tsu-ni-n(v)-ti-yi
Restaurant? Tsu-na-l(i)-s-da-y(v)-ti-yi
House? A-da-ne-lv-i
Road? Nv:-no-hi
Police Station? A-ni-qua-li-si u-ni-yv-s-ti-yi
Telephone? Di-tla-no-he?-di-yi
Market? Ga-n(v)-to?-ti-yi
Hospital? Tsu-ni-tlv-gi u-ni-yv-s-ti-yi
Church? Di-ga-la-wi?-s-ti-yi
Bus? U-ta-na da-qua-le-la
Automobile? A-ya-nu-la da-qua-le-la
Horse? So-qui-li
River? E-quo-ni
Mountain? O-da-lv?-i
Valley? U-ge-da-li-yv?-i



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Asking for Food ... I want ... ... a-qua-du-li-ha
You want ... (one item) ... tsa-du-li-ha
You want ... (more than one) ... de-tsa-du-li-ha
I would like ... (one item) ... ya-qua-du-la-quu
I would like ... (more than one) ... yi-da-qua-du-la-quu
... something to eat Go-hu-s-di a-gi-gi-sdi

For example:
I would like something to eat = ya-qua-du-la-quu go-hu-s-di a-gi-gi-sdi




... some bread Ga-du-i-yi-gi...
... some butter Go-tlv-nv-hi...
... some soup U:-ga-ma...
... some beef Wa-ga ha-wi-ya...
... some lamb U-no:-de-na...
... bacon Di-g(a)-sv-sda-nv ha-wi-ya...
... pork Si-qua ha-wi-ya...
... chicken Tsi-ta:ga...
... fried chicken Gv-tsa-tla-nv tsi-ta:-ga...
...egg U-we-tsi...
...eggs Tsu-we-tsi...
... fried eggs Di-gv-tsa-tla-nv tsu-we-tsi...
... vegetables A-wi-sv-nv u-dv-sv-i...
... potato/potatoes Nu-na...
... string beans A-ni-tse-i tu-ya...
... cabbage Tsu-qua-n(v)-de-na...
... peas U-tlv:-da-li...
... salad A?-su-ye-hv-i
... some sugar Ka-l(i)-tse-tsi or [ka-l(i)-se-tsi]
... some salt A:-ma...
... some pepper Di-qua-yo-di...
... milk U-nv-di...
... coffee Ka-wi...
... tea U-qua-lo-gi a-ga-nv-hi
please bring me... e-s-gi-ne-hv-si
(asking for something liquid)
... a drink of water A-ma a-di-da?-s-ti

Please bring me a drink of water = U-li-s-qui-di a-tli-s-dv a-ma a-di-ta-s-ti




cup of coffee U-li-s-qui-di a-tli-s-dv ka-wi
Please hand me ... E-s-gi-di-si (asking for something indefinite - solid)
plate Te-li-do
glass U-lv-sa-da
knife Ha-ye-l(i)-s-di
fork Yv-gi
spoon A-di-to-di

Please hand me a knife = Ha-ye-l(i)-s-di e-s-gi-di-si




Necessaries I'd like to... Ya-qua-du-la-quu...
... wash up. a-qua-gv-s-quo?-sti-yi
... go to my room. a-gi-yv-s-ti- wa-gi-yv-s-ti-yi
... clean up. a-qua-da-na-ga?-s-ti-yi
... take a bath. a-qua-da-wo-s-ti-yi
... rest. a-qua-tsa-we-so-lv s-to-ti-yi
... eat. a-qua-l(i)-s-da-y(v)-di-yi
... use the telephone. di-tla-no:-he-ti a-g(i)-to-di-yi


To assist you in learning, I will indicate the written emphasized syllable (if there is one) by capitalizing that syllable. For instance, a-hi-da (easy) would be written in the pronunciation column as (a-HEE-dah) or ga-tli-dah (arrow) would be written as (GAH-tleh-DAH) indicating how the word should be pronounced, not written.

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Verb Conjugations
There are no gender pronouns such as "he" or "she" in Cherokee.
He, she and it all use the same pronoun prefix

Singular: "to do"

I or me What am I doing?
Ga-do ga-dv-ne-ha
You What are you doing?
Ga-do ha-dv-ne-ha
He or she What is he/she doing?
Ga-do a-dv-ne-ha

Dual: (two people)

We: you and I What are we doing?
Ga-do i-na-dv-ne-ha
You two What are you two doing?
Ga-do i-sda-dv-ne-ha*

Plural: (three or more people)

They What are they doing?
Ga-to a-na-dv-ne-ha



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Singular: "to go"
I or me Where am I going?
Ha-dlv ge:-ga
You Where are you going?
Ha-dlv he:-ga
He or she Where is he/she going?
Ha-dlv e:-ga

Dual: (two people)

You and I Where are you going?
Ha-dlv i-ne-ga
We Where are we going?
Ha-dlv da-ne-si
You two Where are you two going?
Ha-dlv i-sde-ga

Plural: (three or more people)

Others, not me Where are they going?
Ha-dlv a-ne-ga



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Singular: "to eat"
1st person I am eating [it].
tsi-gi-a
2nd person You are eating [it].
hi-gi-a
3rd person He/she is eating [it].
a-gi-a

Dual: (two people)

You and I You and I (we) are eating.
i-ni-gi-a
You two You two are eating.
i-sdi-gi-a

Plural: (three or more people)

Others and I We are eating.
o-tsi-gi-a
They They are eating.
a-ni-gi-a



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More Phrases
Buying Things I'd like to buy...(one item) Ya-qua-du-la-quu a-gi-wa-hi-s-ti-yi
I'd like to buy...(more than one item) Ya-qua-du-la-quu di-gi-wa-hi-si-ti-yi

Note: Remember, quite often in casual Cherokee, the last syllable is dropped. That is why you should be aware of the "long form" of the Cherokee vocabulary. Also, remember, the subject is first in many dialects, precedded by it's modifiers, then follows the object, and the verb is last.


I would like to buy some shoes. ya-qua-du-la-quu
(I would like di-la-su-lo
shoes di-gi-wa-hi-sti-yi
[I/me] to buy (plural form)

Conversationally, the sentence would be: Di-la-su-lo ya-qua-du-la-quu di-gi-wa-hi-sti.




...some shoes Di-la-su-lo (la)
...some shirts Ha-wi-na di-na-wo
...some dresses Di-sa-no
... a dress A-sa-no
...some medicine Nv-wo-ti
...some food A-l(i)-s-da-y(v)-ti
...some buttons Di-ka-ne:-s-ti
...some blankets Tsu-ne-gv-ha-i



Various Phrases English Tsalagi Pronunciation
Come In! e-HI-yv-ha
Come In! (2 or more) e-sdi-yv-ha
Go out! do-yi (outside)
Do you know how? hi-ga-ta-HA-tsu
I know how TSI-ga-TA-ha
I don't know how tla tsi-ga-ta-ha
No good. Bad. u-YO-hi
I see (something) tsi-go-w(a)-TI-ha
We see. (you & I) i-ni-go-w(a)-TI-ha
What do you see? ga-do u-s-di hi-go-w(a)-TI-ha
I am happy a-ya ga-li-E-li-ga
I am hungry a-gi-YO-si-ha
Are you hungry? tsa-YO-si-ha-s
Do you want some bread? ga-du tsa-du-li-ha-s
Yes, I would like some bread v, ga-du a-qua-du-LI-ha
(yes, bread I want)
Do you want some water? a-ma-s tsa-du-li-ha
This is milk hi-a u-nv-di
Yes, I am thirsty v a-ma a-g(i)-ta-de-gi-a
(yes, water - thirsty)
Here's some water a-ma a-ha-ni-dv
Are you looking for someone?
or Who are you looking for? gi-tsa-ge hi-yo-ha
How far is it to town? ha-la-yv ga-du-hv?-i
I am here a-ya a-ne-to-ha *
I am awake a-gi-ye-tsa-i
What is the man doing? ga-do a-dv-ne a-s-ga-ya
What is the woman doing? ga-do a-dv-ne a-ge-ya
What is the boy doing? ga-do a-dv-ne a-tsu-tsa
What is the girl doing? ga-do a-dv-ne a-ge-yu-tsa
How old are you? hi-la-yv tsa-de-ti-yv-da
What is this? ga-do u-s-di
This is a school hi-a tsu-na-de-tlo-qua-s-di-i
This is a church hi-a tsu-ni-la-wi-s-di-i
It is not expensive Tla-ge-wa gu-gv-wa-tlo-di-yi-gi

* Remember, when two a's come together, they are pronounced as - v -

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Numbers (di-SE-s-di) English Cherokee Pronunciation
One Sa-quu-(i) sah-QWOO-ee
Two Ta-li TAH?-lee
Three Tso-i CHOH?-ee
Four Nv-gi NUHN:-gee
Five Hi-s-gi HEE:-sgee
Six Su-da-li soo-DAH-lee
Seven Ga-l(i)-quo-gi gahl-qwoh:-gee
Eight Tsa-ne-la chah-NAY:-lah
Nine So-ne-la SOH?-hnay:-lah
Ten S-go-hi SGOH-hee
Eleven Sa-du-i SAH?-doo-ee
Twelve Ta-li-du-i TAH-li?-doo-ee
Thirteen Tso-ga-du-i CHOH?-gah?-doo-ee
Fourteen Ni-ga-du-i NEE-kah?-doo-ee
Fifteen S-gi-ga-du-i SGEE-gah?-doo-ee
Sixteen Da-la-du-i DAH-lah-doo-ee
Seventeen Ga-l(i)-qua-du-i gahl-QWAH-doo-ee
Eighteen Ne-la-du-i NAY-lah-doo-ee
Nineteen So-ne-la-du-i SOH?-NAY-lah-doo-ee
Twenty Ta-l(i)-s-go-hi tahl?-SGOH-hee



Money Classification English Tsalagi Pronunciation
Money a-de-la or a-de-lv-i
One dollar u-HNO-sda
Several dollars u-ni-HNO-sda
One cent sa?-quu i-DA-N(i)-te-di
Two cents ta?-li i-DA-N(i)-te-di
Three cents tso-i-DA-N(i)-te?-di
Four cents nv-gi-DA-N(i)-te?-di
Five cents HI-sgi i-DA-N(i)-te?-di
Ten cents s-go-DA-N(i)-te?-di
Twenty cents gi-nut?-di
Fifty cents a-ye:-tli
One dollar u-HNO-sda
Two dollars ta-l(i)-de-lv-i
Three dollars tso?-a-de-lv-i
Four dollars nv-ga-de-lv-i
Five dollars hi-sga-de-lv-i
Six dollars su-da-l(i)-de-lv-i
Seven dollars ga-l(i)-qwo-ga-de-lv-i
Eight dollars tsu-ne-la-de-lv-i
Nine dollars so-ne-la-de-lv-i
Ten dollars s-go-ha-de-lv-i
Eleven dollars sa-du-a-de-lv-i
Twelve dollars TA-L(i)-du-a-de-lv-i
Thirteen dollars TSO-ga-du-a-de-lv-i
Twenty dollars TA-L(i)-du-a-de-lv-i
Fifty dollars hi-s-go-a-de-lv-i
One hundred dollars s-go-HI-TS(e)-qua a-DE-la
One thousand dollars sa-wu?-i-ya-gaYV-la a-DE-la
One million dollars sa-wu?-i-yu-QUA-diNV-da a-DE-la

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