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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.
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'-s'qua
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
o' possum (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
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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"
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 & 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 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)
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