Cherokee Vocabulary words: Sounds Represented by Vowels: a: as in ah or father or short as in rival e: as in hate or short as in met i: as in ski or short as in pit o: as in note approaching aw in law u: as (oo) in fool or short as in pull v: as (u) in but, nasalized ********************************************************** Consonant Sounds h, k, l, m, n, q, s, t, w, and y as in English. g nearly as in English, but approaching k. Syllables beginning with g except (ga) can have the consonance of k. (do), (du), and (dv) are sometimes sounded to, tu, and tv. Syllables starting with tl [except (tla)] sometimes vary to dl. ************************************************************ Other things to note: Sometimes vowels are unvoiced, when this is the case, I have used parenthesis around the appropriate syllable (a common transcription). Note that the consonant of that syllable is still pronounced, with the preceeding syllable. EXAMPLE: mock is a-ye-(li)-di and pronounced a-yel-di However, if I put two vowels in parenthesis, it represents alternate forms. EXAMPLE: crow is ko-g(i)(a) which means that ko-gi or ko-ga are both correct. Also, A ? represents a glottal stop, like the sound between the syllables of Uh-Oh. A : after a vowel means that this vowel is doubled, taking twice as long to say. An after a syllable shows an accent on that syllable. An after the consonant of a syllable shows that a vowel has been left out. The syllables with ts can be pronounced with a j sound. There are variations of these words throughout the Cherokee nation. Different clans and areas use different variations and some will use more formal variations when in formal settings. If anyone has any tidbits to help explain or define any known variations, please feel free to E mail me what you know on them. ************************************************************ DAYS ************************************* Days of the Week ... joh-sgoh Sunday ... Do-da-gwa-sgv Monday ... Do-da-wo-hnv Tuesday ... Ta-li-ne-i-ga Wednesday ... No-i-ne-i-ga Thursday ... Nv-gi-ne-i-ga Friday ... Ju-na-gi-lo-sdi Saturday ... Do-da-gwi-de-na ************************************* MONTHS ************************************* January...Month of the Cold Moon...Du no lv ta ni February...Month of the Bony Moon...Ka ga li March...Month of the Windy Moon...A nu yi April...Month of the Flower Moon...Ka wa ni May...Month of the Planting Moon...A na a gv ti June...Month of the Green Corn Moon...De ha lu yi July...Month of the Ripe Corn Moon...Gu ye quo ni August..Month of the end of Fruit Moon...Ga lo ni i September...Month of the Nut Moon...Du li i s di October..Month of the Harvest Moon...Du ni nv di November..Month of Trading Moon..Nu da de qua December..Month of the Snow Moon...V s gi ga ************************************************************ Numbers *************************************** Numbers ... di-se-s-di one ... sa-`qu-u-i two ... `ta-`li three ... `tso-`i four ... `nv-`gi five ... `hi-s-`gi six ... su-da-`li seven ... ga-li-`quo-`gi eight ... (t)su-`ne-la nine ... `so-`ne-`la ten ... s-go-`hi eleven ... sa-du-i twelve ... ta-(li)-di-i thirteen ... tso-ga-du-i fourteen ... ni-ga-du-i fifteen ... s-gi-ga-du-i sixteen ... da-la-du seventeen- ... ga-(li)-qua-du eighteen ... ne-la-du nineteen ... so-ne-la-du twenty ... ta-(li)-s-go-hi twenty-one ... ta-(li)-s-go-sa-quu-i leave off the last syllable of the word twenty and add numbers one to nine thirty ... tso-s-go-hi forty ... nv-(gi)-s-go-hi fifty ... su-da-(li)-s-go-hi sixty ... su-da-(li)-s-go-hi seventy ... ga-(li)-qua-s-go-hi eighty ... ne-(li)-s-go-hi ninety ... so-ne-(li)-s-go-hi one hundred ... s-go-hi-(tsu)-qui for numbers thirty to ninety-nine leave off the last syllable (hi) and add numbers one through nine. ************************************************************ COLORS ****************************************************** black ... gv-na-ge-i blue ... sa-go-ni-ge-i brown ... u-wo-di-ge green ... i-tse-i-yu-s-di gray ... u-s-go-lv sa-go-ni-ge gold ... da-lo-ni-ge-i orange ... a-sa-lo-ni-ge pink ... gi-ga-ge-i-yu-s-di purple ... gi-ge-s-di red ... gi-ga-ge silver ... a-de-lv u-ne-gv white ... u-ne-ga yellow ... da-lo-ni-ge ****************************************************** USEFUL WORDS AND SENTENCES ****************************************************** Cherokee......... CHA LA GI Indian ... a-yv-wi-ya Hello ............ o si yo I Love You ... gv-ge-yu-hi I ... yv he ... a-tsv-ya-i me ... a-`ya good/fine........ o s da, o s di small............ u s di thank you........ wa do no/not........... kla, kla ha goodbye.......... do na da go hv i (speaking to 1 person) do da da go hv i (speaking to a group) yes/ok........... v v (heard pronounced as huh huh and yee yee) man.............. a s ga ya woman............ i ge, i ge ya mother........... e tsi father........... e do da grandmother...... e li si grandfather...... e do di child ... a-yo-li child ... oo-s-dee-a -`yo-li children ... di-ni-`yo-tli boy.............. tsu tsa group of boys.... a ni tsu tsa girl............. a ge yu tsa girls ... ah-gay-hu-ge-jah aneigehutsa elder man ... u-dv-so-nv-hi elder woman ... a-ga-yv-li-ge everyone ... ni-ga-du-wu everybody ... na-ni-v-qu-u enough........... e li qu family ... si-da-ne-lv female ... a-ge-yv friend, his/hers ... u-na-li friend, my ... o-gi-na-li friends ... tsu-na-li young child ... a-yu-li young lady ... a-ta young man ... a-wi-na welcome.......... tsi lu gi how are you...... do hi tsu I am well........ do hi quu and you.......... ne he na ha good morning..... o s da su na le i good evening..... o s da su he ye e good night....... o s da su no e grease........... go i this............. hi a he knows......... go ga I want a turkey..... gv na a wa do li first............... e gv yi i second........... ta li ne bread............ ga du Lord ... ga-lu-hlo Jehovah ... yi-ho-wa Jerusalem ... tsi-lu-si-la-mi Jesus ... tsi-sa Medicine man ... di-da-nv-wi-s-gi Warrior ... a-ya-wis-gi or di-tli-hi Spirit warrior ... a-da-nv-do di-tli-hi Witch ... a-tsa-s-gi-li Wizard ... a-dv-ne-li-s-gi Keeper ... u-(ga)-se-di King ... u-gv-wi-yu-hi like/similar..... gi ni tlo yi feather.......... u gi da li beads ........... a de la di ya tso di string of beads.. a de la di ya tlo di maple............ tlv hwa li ga (pronounced by some as DLA WALS CA) note: the h in front of we, wa etc. denotes a nasal inflection for for the syllable as if taking a heavy breath. cold............. u hyv dla What are they doing.... ga do a na du ne What is this? ... do-i-s-di-hi-na What time is it? ... he-la-ya-a-hli-li Which is it? ... do-u-sdi Where do you live? ... ha-dlv-hi-he-la What is your name.... ga do de tsa do a (the do near the end has a very crisp nasal sound and merges with the a at the end) ============================================================== Basic Cherokee Here you can learn some basic Cherokee phrases and words. First you will need to know the vowel pronounciation. ************************************************************ MOONS ************************************ Calendar------nv-do di-se-s-di (actually means moon counter) Moon-----nv-do Full Moon--ka-li- i-ka-da nv-do (formal), ka-li i-ka-d nv-do (conversational) Dark Moon---u-li-si-gi nv-do (formal), u-l-si-g nv-do (conversational) New Moon---nv-do u-s-di-a (actually means little moon) Half Moon---a-ye-hli i-ka-da nv-da nv-do (formal), a-ye-hl i-ka-d nv-do (conversational) actually means half size moon) Quarter Moon---gi-nu-di i-ka-da nv-do (formal), gi-nu-d i-ka-d nv-do (conversational) actually means quarter size moon) Three Quarter Moon---tso-i gi-nu-di i-ka-da nv-do (formal), tso gi-nu-di i-ka-d nv-do (conversational) actually means three quarter size moon) *********************************** Animals: ************* alligator (also means iron pot) ... tsu-la-s-gi animal ... ga-na-tla-i ant ... do-sv-da-li antelope ... a-wi-yu-sti antlers ... a-wi-tsu-yo-ni armadillo ... u-ya-s-ga-li badger ... i-no-li bait, fish ... a-su-di ga-(to)-di bareback (literally without saddle) ... ni-ga-ya-hu-lv-na bat ... tla-me-ha bay, horse ... u-wo-di-ge so-qui-li beast (lit. 4 legged) ... nv-gi di-ga-nv-sa-di beaver, beavers ... do-ya bear, bears ... yo-n(v)(a) bed bug ... ga-lu-i-s-di bee ... wa-du-li:-si beef ... wa-ka ha-wi-ya beef, fattened ... wa-ka ga-li-(tsa)-ta-nv bird, birds ... tsi-squa blackbird ... tsi-s-qua-li-s-da blackfox ... gv-ni-ge-tsu-li blacksnake (climber) ... ga-le-gi bluebird ... tsa-quo-la-de bluejay ... tla-i?-ga boar ... si-qua tsu-ka-nv-s-de-na bobcat, bobcats ... gv-he buffalo, buffaloes ... ya-n-s-si or yansa bull ... tsu-ka-nv-s-de-na bullfrog ... kan-nu-na butterfly ... ka-ma-ma buzzard ... su-li: camel ... ke-mi-li cardinal ... to-tsu-hwa cat, cats ... we-s(a)(i) catfish ... tsu-li-s-da-na:-li or tsu-n-li-s-da-na-li centipede ... tsu-ga-no-tsi chickadee ... tsi-ga-li:-li chicken, chickens ... tsi-ta:-ga chipmunk ... ki-yu:-ga cobra ... kwa-n-da-i-o-ha collar, horse ... u-na-ha-tlv-di cow, cattle ... wa-ga cowhide ... wa-ka ga-ne-ga crawfish ... tsi:-s-dv-na cricket ... ta-la-du crow ... ko:-g(a)(i) dead, animal ... u-li-wo-tsv-i deer (singular and plural) ... v-s-gi-yi OR a-wi dog, dogs ... gi-tli donkey (long-eared) ... di-ga-li-nv-hi-dv donkeys ... di-ni-ga-li-nv-hi-dv dove ... wo:-ya dove (lit. cries for acorns) ... gu-le di-s-go-ni dragonfly ... wa-da-du-ga drake, male duck ... ka-wo-nu a-tsv-ya duck ... ka-wo:-n(i) ducklings ... ka-wo-nu a-ni-dv eagle ... wo-ha-li earthworm ... u-tsi:-ya or u-ni-tsi:-ya eel ... tlv-de-ga elephant ... ka-ma-ma (this is also the word for butterfly, it has to do with ears.) elk ... a-wi e-qua ewe ... a-gi-si u-no-de-na fawn ... ah-wi a-gi-na fish ... a-tsa?-di fly ... tvh?-ga flying squirrel ... te-wa fox, foxes ... tsu-(t)la fox, red ... tsu-la u-wo-di-ge fox sparrow ... wa:-kv:-ta frog ... wa-lo-si fur ... u-wu-ya-ta-nv geese ... sa-sa-u-ni-go-di giraffe ... ga-lv-n-di a-ls-da-gi-s-gi goat ... u-k(a)-so?-tsa-ne-dv goats ... u-na-k(s)-so-tsa-ne-dv goose ... sa:-sa grasshopper ... to-la-tsga green snake ... se-la-gwo-ya groundhog ... o-ga-na ground squirrel ... gi-yu-ga grubs ... s-go-yi OR tsv-s-go-yi guinea, fowl ... gu-que-tsu-(na)-s-di guinea pig ... oh-we-li hawk ... to-wo-d(i) heifer ... wa-ka a-gi-na hog ... si-gwa hoot owl ... u-gu-ku hornet ... ka-n(a)-ts(i)-s-de-tsi horse, horses ... so-qui-li horsefly ... da-ma-ga hounddog ... gi-hli di-ga?-le-nv-hi-da howl ... ge-lu-hv-s-di hummingbird ... wa-le-li jack rabbit ... tse-gi tsi-s-du kangaroo ... di-lta-de-gi tsi-s-de-tsi yu-s-di katydid ... si-gi-gi leopard ... tlv-da-tsi u-nv-tsa-di lion ... tla-da-tsi or hlv-da-ji livestock ... ga-na-hla?-i lizard ... ti-yo-ha-li locust ... lo-lo louse, lice ... ti:-na meadowlark (also means star) ... no:-k(i)-si mink ... e:-tli mole ... to-ni:-qua monkey ... a-da-le-s-gi-yi-s-gi or a-n-da-le-s-gi-yi-s-gi mosquito ... do-sa moth ... wa-so-hla mourning dove ... gu-le di-s-go-hni-hi mouse ... tsi-s-de-tsi mud dauber ... di-guhl-di-s-gi otter ... tsi-ya) owl ... wa-hu-hi oyster ... da-gv-na panther, panthers (also means large wildcat) ... tlv-da-tsi perch ... a-go:-li OR a-ni-go:-li pig, pigs ... si-qua pigeon ... wo-yi polar bear ... yo-na u-ne-ga porcupine ... di-li tsu-tsa-o-s-di opossum (lit. smiling pig) ... si-quu:-tse-ts OR u-tse-tsdi quail ... guhgwe rabbit, rabbits ... tsi-s(a)-du raccoon, raccoons ... kv-tli rat ... tsi-s-de-tsi rattlesnake ... u-tso-n(a)-ti or u-n-tso-n-ti redbird ... to-tsu-hwa robin ... tsi-s-gwo-gwo rooster ... a-tsv-ya roosters ... a-ni-tsv-ya sapsucker ... kv-gwo:-ha scorpion ... tsi-s-dv-na a-da-tsv-i-s-gi sheep (woolly) ... u-no-de:-n(a) sheep (plural) ... u-ni-no-de:-n(a) skunk, skunks ... di?-li snake ... i-na-dv snapping turtle ... sa-li-gu-gi spider ... ka-na-ne-s-gi spiders ... a-ni-ka-na-ne-s-gi squirrel ... sa-lo-li tadpole OR toad ... teh?ga terrapin ... da-ksi tick ... gu-ga-(i) tiger ... hlv-da-tsi turkey ... gv-na wasp ... ka-n(a)-ts(i)-s-de-tsi water mocassin ... u-ga-n-te:-na or (plural) u-ni-ga-n-te:-na weasel (lit. yellow rat) ... d-lo-ni-ge tsi-s-de-tsi whippoorwill ... tsgwa-le-gwa-la wildcat... ka he winter wren ... tsi-s-tsi-s OR tsi-tsi wolf, wolves ... wa-hya OR wa-ya woodrat ... ka-niw-ksa u-ta-na worms ... s-go-yi OR tsv-s-go-yi wren ... tse-ni yellowjacket ... tsa-s-ga-ya yellow mockingbird ... hu-hu zebra ... so-gwi-li tsu-lv-da-nv-ni
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 13:13:04 +0000
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