ᎧᏫ ᏧᎾᏗᏔᏍᏗᎢ ᏙᏣᏟᏃᎮᏍᎪᎢ
[kah.hwee jew.nah.dee.tah.sdee doh.jah.hlee.no.hay.sgoh]
coffee bar conversation
Speak Cherokee right now with this example conversation! (demo video) Much of the conversation offers simple conjugations (different ways to change a word). *Asterisks* will mark the conjugating words. To replay audios, you may need to rewind the audio or reload the page. ᏗᏣᎳᎩ: underlining will indicate vowel deletion (ex: ᎦᎾᎦᏘ).
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1ᎬᏱ
arriving
-
ᏥᎷᎦ [Ꮵ̣́’ᎷʰᎦ / tsị́’luhga.] I am arriving
ᎯᎷᎦ [Ꭿ̣́’ᎷʰᎦ / hị́’luhga.] you are arriving
ᎦᎷᎦ [Ꭶ̣́’ᎷʰᎦ / gạ́’luhga] s/he is arriving
ᎢᏗᎷᎦ [ᎢᏗ̣́’ᎷʰᎦ / idị́’luhga] we all are arriving
CED example sentences:
ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᎦᎷᎪᎢ.
Ꭿ̣ᏍᎩ Ꭲ̣Ᏻ̣́ᏩᏂ̣︩Ꮈ̋ Ꭶ̣́’Ꮇ̣ʰᎪ́’Ꭲ.
hisg iyúwa:hnilv̋ gá’luhgó:’i.
He arrives at five o’clock.
ᎩᎳ ᎠᎩᎷᏨ ᎤᎵᏍᏆᏛ ᏓᏂᏬᏂᏍᎬᎢ.
Ꭹ̣︩Ꮃ Ꭰ̣Ꭹ̣’Ꮇ̣ʰᏨ́ Ꭴ̀ᎵᏍᏆ̣́’Ꮫ́ Ꮣ̀ᏂᏬ́Ꮒ̣ᏍᎬ̣̋Ꭲ.
kila agi’luhjv́ ù:lsgwá’dv́ dà:ni:wó:nisgv̋’i.
I had just arrived when their speeches ended.
-
syllabary [phonetics] translation:
ᎨᏙᎭ [gay.doh.hah] I am at _
ᎮᏙᎭ [hay.doh.hah] you are at _
ᎡᏙᎭ [ay.doh.hah] s/he is at _
ᎢᏕᏙᎭ [ee.day.doh.hah] we all are at _
tones (Ꮟ́Ᏺ) + alt. consonants (ᎭᏢ︩)
Ꮵ́ᎷᎦ [tsíɂluh²ga]
Ꭿ́ᎷᎦ [híɂluh²ga]
Ꭶ́ᎷᎦ [gáɂluh²ga]
Ꭲ̀Ꮧ́ᎷᎦ [idíɂluh²ga]
vowel length (ᎦᏬ́:ᏂᎭ) (lo:ng) [gạ²wo³nị²ha] [shọrt]
ᏥᎷ:Ꭶ [tsị́ɂluhga]
ᎯᎷ:Ꭶ [hị́ɂluhga]
ᎦᎷ:Ꭶ [gạ́ɂluhga]
Ꭲ:ᏗᎷ:Ꭶ [idị́ɂluhga]
-
syllabary [phonetics] translation:
ᎭᏢ ᎨᏙᎭ? [hah.luh gay.doh]? where am I at?
ᎭᏢ ᎮᏙᎭ? [hah.dluh hay.doh]? where are you at?
ᎭᏢ ᎡᏙᎭ? [hah.dluh ay.doh]? where is s/he at?
ᎭᏢ ᎢᏕᏙᎭ? [hah.dluh ee.day.doh]? where are we all at?
tones (Ꮟ́Ᏺ) + alt. consonants (ᎭᏢ︩)
Ꮵ́ᎷᎦ [tsíɂluh²ga]
Ꭿ́ᎷᎦ [híɂluh²ga]
Ꭶ́ᎷᎦ [gáɂluh²ga]
Ꭲ̀Ꮧ́ᎷᎦ [idíɂluh²ga]
vowel length (ᎦᏬ́:ᏂᎭ) (lo:ng) [gạ²wo³nị²ha] [shọrt]
ᏥᎷ:Ꭶ [tsị́ɂluhga]
ᎯᎷ:Ꭶ [hị́ɂluhga]
ᎦᎷ:Ꭶ [gạ́ɂluhga]
Ꭲ:ᏗᎷ:Ꭶ [idị́ɂluhga]
-
syllabary [phonetics] translation:
ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏓ [ah.sdoo.ee.dah] it's open
tones (Ꮟ́Ᏺ) + alt. consonants (ᎭᏢ︩)
Ꮵ́ᎷᎦ [tsíɂluh²ga]
vowel length (ᎦᏬ́:ᏂᎭ) (lo:ng) [gạ²wo³nị²ha] [shọrt]
ᏥᎷ:Ꭶ [tsị́ɂluhga]
-
syllabary [phonetics] translation:
ᎠᏍᏚᎭ [ah.sdoo.ha] its closed
tones (Ꮟ́Ᏺ) + alt. consonants (ᎭᏢ︩)
Ꮵ́ᎷᎦ [tsíɂluh²ga]
vowel length (ᎦᏬ́:ᏂᎭ) (lo:ng) [gạ²wo³nị²ha] [shọrt]
ᏥᎷ:Ꭶ [tsị́ɂluhga]
-
syllabary [phonetics] translation:
ᎧᎹ, ᎢᏗᏴᎲ [kahm, ee.dee.yuh.huh] now, let’s go inside
tones (Ꮟ́Ᏺ) + alt. consonants (ᎭᏢ︩)
Ꮵ́ᎷᎦ [tsíɂluh²ga]
vowel length (ᎦᏬ́:ᏂᎭ) (lo:ng) [gạ²wo³nị²ha] [shọrt]
ᏥᎷ:Ꭶ [tsị́ɂluhga]
2Ꮑ
greeting
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syllabary [phonetics] translation:
ᏥᎦᏘᏯ [tsigatiya] I am waiting for it
ᎯᎦᏘᏯ [hiktiya] you are waiting for it
ᎠᎦᏘᏯ [aktiya] s/he is waiting for it
ᎢᏗᎦᏘᏯ [idiktiya] we all are waiting for it
tones (Ꮟ́Ᏺ) + alt. consonants (ᎭᏢ︩)
ᏥᎦ̀Ꮨ̌Ꮿ [tsi²ga¹ti²³ya] I am waiting for it
Ꭿ̀ᎦᏘ̌Ꮿ [hik¹ti²³ya] you are waiting for it
Ꭰ̀ᎦᏘ̌Ꮿ [ak¹ti²³ya] s/he is waiting for it
ᎢᏗ̀ᎦᏘ̌Ꮿ [i²dik¹ti²³ya] we all are waiting for it
vowel length (ᎦᏬ́:ᏂᎭ) (lo:ng) [gạ²wo³nị²ha] [shọrt]
Ꮵ.Ꭶ:Ꮨ:Ꮿ [tsịgatiya] I am waiting for it
Ꭿ.ᎦᏘ:Ꮿ [hiktiya] you are waiting for it
Ꭰ.ᎦᏘ:Ꮿ [aktiya] s/he is waiting for it
Ꭲ:Ꮧ.ᎦᏘ:Ꮿ [idiktiya] we all are waiting for it
CED example sentences
ᏍᎩᎦᏘᏰᏍᏗ. ᎩᎳᏊ ᏛᏥᎷᏥ.
ᏍᎩᎦᏘ̌Ᏸ̂ᏍᏗ. ᎩᎳᏊ ᏛᏥ́ᎷᏥ.
ᏍᎩ̣ᎦᏘ̌Ᏸ̂ᏍᏗ. Ꭹ̣Ꮃ̣Ꮚ Ꮫ̣Ꮵ̣́Ꮇ̣°Ꮵ.
sgiktǐ:yê:sdi kilagwu dvjílu°ji
Wait for me. I’ll be right back.
ᎪᎯᏗᏍ ᎢᎯᎦᏘᏰᏍᏗ ᏤᏅᏍᏗ ᏓᏣᎪᏂᏲᏥ.
ᎪᎯ̌Ꮧ̂Ꮝ ᎢᎯ́ᎦᏘᏰ̋ᏍᏗ ᏤᏅ̀ᏍᏗ̋ ᏓᏣᎪ́ᏂᏲ̀Ꮵ̂.
ᎪᎯ̌Ꮧ̂Ꮝ Ꭲ̣Ꭿ̣́ᎦᏘᏰ̋ᏍᏗ ᏤᏅ̀ᏍᏗ̋ Ꮣ̣Ꮳ̣Ꭺ́Ꮒ︩Ᏺ̀Ꮵ̂.
go:hǐ:dî:s ihíkti:ye̋:sd je:nv̀:sdi̋ dajagó:hni:yò:jî
If you wait too long to go‚ you’ll be late.
-
ᎦᏍᎩᎶᏍ ᏣᏚᎵᎭ? [gah.skee.lows jah.doo.lee]? do you 1 person want a table?
ᎦᏍᎩᎶᏍ ᏍᏓᏚᎵᎭ? [gah.skee.lows sdah.doo.lee.hah]? do y’all 2 people want a table?
ᎦᏍᎩᎶᏍ ᎢᏣᏚᎵᎭ? [gah.skee.lows ee.jah.doo.lee.hah]? do y’all 3 or more people want a table?
-
ᎤᏩᏂᎨ ᎬᏅᎯᏓ ᎦᏍᎩᎶ ᏣᏚᎵᎭᏍ? [uw.wah.nee.gay guh.nuh.hee.dah gah.skee.low jah.doo.lee.hahs]? do you 1 person want a booth?
ᎤᏩᏂᎨ ᎬᏅᎯᏓ ᎦᏍᎩᎶ ᏍᏓᏚᎵᎭᏍ? [uw.wah.nee.gay guh.nuh.heed gah.skee.low sdah.doo.lee.hahs]? do y’all 2 people want a booth?
ᎤᏩᏂᎨ ᎬᏅᎯᏓ ᎦᏍᎩᎶ ᎢᏣᏚᎵᎭᏍ? [uw.wah.nee.gay guh.nuh.heed gah.skee.low ee.jah.doo.lee.hahs]? do y’all 3 or more people want a booth?
{soft long table do you want it?}
-
ᎠᎩᏔᏕᎩᎠ [ahk.tah.day.gee.ah] I am thirsty
ᏣᏔᏕᎩᎠ [ch.tah.day.gee.ah] you are thirsty
ᎤᏔᏕᎩᎠ [uw.tah.day.gee.ah] s/he is thirsty
ᎢᎩᏔᏕᎩᎠ [ee.gee.tah.day.gee.ah] we all are thirsty
-
ᎠᎩᏲᏏᎭ [ah.gee.yo.see.hah] I am hungry
ᏣᏲᏏᎭ [jah.yo.see.hah] you are hungry
ᎤᏲᏏᎭ [uw.yo.see.hah] s/he is hungry
ᎢᎩᏲᏏᎭ [ee.gee.yo.see.hah] we all are hungry
3Ꮑ
ordering
-
ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᏣᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏣᏚᎵᎭ?
[gah.doh uw.sdee jah.dee.tah.sdee jah.doo.lee.hah]?
what do you 1 person want to drink?
ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᏍᏓᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏍᏓᏚᎵᎭ?
[gah.doh uw.sdee sdah.dee.tah.sdee sdah.doo.lee.hah]?
what do y’all 2 people want to drink?
ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏚᎵᎭ?
[gah.doh uw.sdee ee.jah.dee.tah.sdee ee.jah.doo.lee.hah]?
what do y’all 3 or more people want to drink?
-
ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ
[ah.gwah.doo.lee.hah]
I want it
ᏣᏚᎵᎭ
[jah.doo.lee.hah]
you want it
ᎤᏚᎵᎭ
[uw.doo.lee.hah]
s/he wants it
ᎣᎦᏚᎵᎭ
[oh.gah.doo.lee.hah]
we my group wants it
-
ᎤᏅᏗ ᎠᏑᏫᏓ ᎧᏫ
[uw.nuht ah.sue.weeht kah.hwee]
latte
{milk with coffee}
-
ᎤᏁᏍᏓᎳ ᎧᏫ
[uw.nay.sdahl ka.hwee]
iced coffee
-
ᎦᏚ ᎤᎦᎾᏍᏓ
[gah.doo uwgah.nahst]
cookie / cake
{sweet bread}
-
4Ꮑ
at the table
-
ᎭᏢ ᏙᏱ ᎤᏨᏍᏗ?
[ha.dluh doi.yee uw.juh.sdee]?
where is the bathroom?
-
ᎭᏢ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᎠᏆᏤᎵᎢ?
[ha.dluh ah.dee.tah.sdee ah.gwah.jay.lee.ee]?
where is my drink?
ᎭᏢ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏣᏤᎵᎢ?
[ha.dluh ah.dee.tah.sdee jah.jay.lee.ee]?
where is your 1 person drink?
ᎭᏢ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᎤᏤᎵᎢ?
[ha.dluh ah.dee.tah.sdee uw.jay.lee.ee]?
where is his/her drink?
ᎭᏢ ᏗᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏗᎦᏤᎵᎢ?
[ha.dluh dee.dee.tah.sdee dee.gah.jay.lee.ee]?
where is our all of us / 3 or more people drinks?
-
ᎦᏗᏔᏍᎦ
[gah.dee.tah.sgah]
I am drinking it
ᎭᏗᏔᏍᎦ
[hah.dee.tah.sgah]
you are drinking it
ᎠᏗᏔᏍᎦ
[ah.dee.tah.sgah]
s/he is drinking it
ᏕᏓᏗᏔᏍᎦ
[day.dah.dee-tah-sgah]
we all are drinking them
-
ᏥᎩᎠ
[jee.gee.ah]
I am eating 1 kind of food
ᎯᎩᎠ
[hee.gee.ah]
you are eating 1 kind of food
ᎠᎩᎠ
[ah.gee.ah]
s/he is eating 1 kind of food
ᎢᏗᎩᎠ
[ee.dee.gee.ah]
we all are eating 1 kind of food
-
ᎠᎩᎸᏉᏗ
[ah.gee.luhkw.dee]
I like it
ᏣᎸᏉᏗ
[jah.luhkw.dee]
you like it
ᎤᎸᏉᏗ
[uw.luhkw.dee]
s/he likes it
ᎣᎩᎸᏉᏗ
[oh.gee.luhkw.dee]
we my group likes it
-
ᎰᏢᏍᎦ
[hoh.hluh.sgah]
you are getting full
ᎪᏢᏍᎦ
[goh.hluh.sgah]
s/he is getting full
ᎢᏙᏢᏍᎦ
[ee.doh.hluh.sgah]
we all are getting full
5Ꮑ
paying
-
ᏥᏍᏆᏓ
[jee.sgwah.dah]
I am finished
ᎯᏍᏆᏓ
[hee.sgwah.dah]
you are finished
ᎠᏍᏆᏓ
[ah.sgwah.dah]
s/he is finished
ᎢᏗᏍᏆᏓ
[ee.dee.sgwah.dah]
we all are finished
-
ᎠᏆᏈᏴᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ
[ah.gwah.kwee.dee ah.gwah.doo.lee]
I want to pay
ᏣᏈᏴᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ
[jah.kwee.dee ah.gwah.doo.lee]
I want you to pay
ᏣᏈᏴᏗᏍ ᏣᏚᎵᎭ?
[jah.kwee.dees jah.doo.lee]?
do you want to pay?
-
ᏓᎦᏈᏴᎯ
[dah.gah.gwee.yuh.hee]
I will pay
ᏔᏈᏴᎯ
[tah.kwee.yuh.hee]
you will pay
ᏛᏈᏴᎯ
[duh.kwee.yuh.hee]
s/he will pay
ᏓᏓᏈᏴᎯ
[dah.dah.kwee.yuh.hee]
we all will pay
-
ᎦᏈᏱᎭ
[gah.gwee.yee.hah]
I am paying right now
ᎭᏈᏱᎭ
[hah.kwee.yee.hah]
you are paying right now
ᎠᏈᏱᎭ
[ah.kwee.yee.hah]
s/he is paying right now
ᎢᏓᏈᏱᎭ
[ee.dah.kwee.yee.hah]
we all are paying right now
-
ᏌᏭᎯᎠ ᎢᎦᏈᏴᏓ
[saw.woo.hee.ah ee.gah.kwee.dah]
we all are going to pay what we each individually ordered
(some ᎠᏂᏬᏂᏍᎩ may say ᏌᏊᎯᎭ ᎢᎦᏈᏴᏗ [sah.gwew.hee.hah ee.gah.qwee.dee])
-
ᏗᏎᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎧᏁᎢᏍᏗ numbers and money words
6Ꮑ
leaving
-
ᎦᏂᎩᎠ
[gah.nee.gee.ah]
I am leaving
ᎭᏂᎩᎠ
[hah.hnee.gee.ah]
you are leaving
ᎠᏂᎩᎠ
[ah.hnee.gee.ah]
s/he is leaving
ᎢᏓᏂᎩᎠ
[ee.dah.hnee.gee.ah]
we all are leaving
-
ᏙᎾᏓᎪᎲᎢ
[doh.nah.dah.go.huh.ee]
we you and I will see each other again
ᏙᏓᏓᎪᎲᎢ
[doh.dah.dah.go.huh.ee]
we all of us will see each other again
(we don’t say or have words for “bye” or “goodbye” because we believe we will see each other again)
-
ᏣᏓᎦᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ
[jah.dahk.say.sday.sdee]
you 1 person watch over yourself
ᏍᏓᏓᎦᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ
[sdah.dahk.say.sday.sdee]
y’all 2 people watch over yourselves
ᎢᏣᏓᎦᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ
[ee.jah.dahk.say.sday.sdee]
y’all 3 or more people watch over yourselves