ᎧᏫ ᏧᎾᏗᏔᏍᏗᎢ ᏙᏣᏟᏃᎮᏍᎪᎢ
[kah-hwee jew-nah-dee-tah-sdee doh-jah-hli-no-hay-sgoh]
coffee bar conversation
{often we converse at the coffee bar}
This example conversation will help you speak Cherokee right now! Here is a demo video ᏱᏣᏚᎵᎭ. If you read & write ᏣᎳᎩ syllabary: a · middle dot will be used for vowel deletion.
Much of the conversation offers simple conjugations (different ways to change a word). The conjugating *words* will be marked with *asterisks*. To replay audios you may need to rewind the audio or reload the page depending on operating system.
Click the matching numbered audio to hear how to speak Cherokee!
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1ᎬᏱ
arriving
-
ᏥᎷᎦ [jee-loo-gah]
I am arriving
ᎯᎷᎦ [hee-loo-gah]
you are arriving
ᎦᎷᎦ [gah-loo-gah]
s/he is arriving
ᎢᏗᎷᎦ [ee-dee-loo-gah]
we all are arriving
-
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 _
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ᎭᏢ ᎨᏙᎭ? [hah-dluh 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?
-
ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏓ [ah-sdoo-ee-dah]
it's open
-
ᎠᏍᏚᎭ [ah-sdoo-ha]
its closed
-
ᎧᎹ, ᎢᏗᏴᎲ [kahm, ee-dee-yuh-huh]
now, let’s go inside
2Ꮑ
greeting
-
ᏥᎦᏘᏯ [jee-gah-tee-yah]
I am waiting for it
Ꭿ·ᎦᏘᏯ [heek-tee-yah]
you are waiting for it
Ꭰ·ᎦᏘᏯ [ahk-tee-yah]
s/he is waiting for it
ᎢᏗ·ᎦᏘᏯ [ee-deek-tee-yah]
we all are waiting for it
-
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-ski-low jah-doo-lee-hahs]?
do you 1 person want a booth?
ᎤᏩᏂᎨ ᎬᏅᎯᏓ ᎦᏍᎩᎶ ᏍᏓᏚᎵᎭᏍ? [uw-wah-nee-gay guh-nuh-heed gah-ski-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-ski-low ee-jah-doo-lee-hahs]?
do y’all 3 or more people want a booth?
{soft long table do you want it?}
-
Ꭰ·ᎩᏔᏕᎩᎠ [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
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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 uw-gah-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
-
ᎠᎩᎸ·ᏉᏗ [ah-gee-luhkw-dee]
I like it
ᏣᎸ·ᏉᏗ [jah-luhkw-dee]
you like it
ᎤᎸ·ᏉᏗ [uw-luhkw-dee]
s/he likes it
ᎣᎩᎸ·ᏉᏗ [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
-
ᎠᏆᏈ·ᏴᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ [ah-gwah-kwee-dee ah-gwah-doo-lee]
I want to pay
ᏣᏈ·ᏴᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ [jah-kwee-dee ah-gwah-doo-lee]
I want you to pay
ᏣᏈ·ᏴᏗᏍ 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 ᎢᎦᏈ·ᏴᏓ [saw-woo-hee-ah ee-gah-kwee-dah]
we all are going to pay what we each individually ordered
(some ᎠᏂᏬᏂᏍᎩ will say ᏌᏊᎯᎭ ᎢᎦᏈ·ᏴᏗ [sah-gwew-hee-hah ee-gah-qwee-dee])
-
ᏗᏎᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎧᏁᏨ 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)
-
ᏣᏓ·ᎦᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ [jah-dahk-say-sday-sdee]
you 1 person watch over yourself
ᏍᏓᏓ·ᎦᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ [sdah-dahk-say-sday-sdee]
y’all 2 people watch over yourselves
ᎢᏣᏓ·ᎦᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ [ee-jah-dahk-say-sday-sdee]
y’all 3 or more people watch over yourselves