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: ᎦᎾᏘ).

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1ᎬᏱ

arriving

1. ᏥᎷᎦ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
2. ᎨᏙᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
5. ᎠᏍᏚᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
6. ᎧᎹ, ᎢᏗᏴᎲ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
9. ᎤᏩᏂᎨ ᎬᏅᎯᏓ ᎦᏍᎩᎶ ᏍᏓᏚᎵᎭᏍ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
10. ᎠᎩᏔᏕᎩᎠ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
4. ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏓ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
3. ᎭᏢ ᎢᏕᏙᎭ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
  • 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 ᎤᏍᏆᏛ ᏓᏂᏬᏂᏍᎬᎢ.

    Ꭹ̣︩Ꮃ Ꭰ̣Ꭹ̣’Ꮇ̣ʰᏨ́ Ꭴ̀ᏍᏆ̣́’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

7. ᎢᏗᎦᏘᏯ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
8. ᎦᏍᎩᎶᏍ ᏣᏚᎵᎭ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
11. ᎤᏲᏏᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
  • syllabary [phonetics] translation:

    ᏥᎦᏘᏯ [tsigatiya] I am waiting for it

    ᏘᏯ [hiktiya] you are waiting for it

    ᏘᏯ [aktiya] s/he is waiting for it

    ᎢᏗᏘᏯ [idiktiya] we all are waiting for it

    tones (Ꮟ́Ᏺ) + alt. consonants (ᎭᏢ︩)

    ᏥᎦ̀Ꮨ̌Ꮿ [tsi²ga¹ti²³ya] I am waiting for it

    Ꭿ̀Ꮨ̌Ꮿ [hik¹ti²³ya] you are waiting for it

    Ꭰ̀Ꮨ̌Ꮿ [ak¹ti²³ya] s/he is waiting for it

    ᎢᏗ̀Ꮨ̌Ꮿ [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.Ꮨ:Ꮿ [hiktiya] you are waiting for it

    Ꭰ.Ꮨ:Ꮿ [aktiya] s/he is waiting for it

    Ꭲ:Ꮧ.Ꮨ:Ꮿ [idiktiya] we all are waiting for it

    CED example sentences

    ᏍᎩᏘᏰᏍᏗ. ᎩᎳᏊ ᏛᏥᎷᏥ.

    ᏍᎩᏘ̌Ᏸ̂ᏍᏗ. ᎩᎳᏊ ᏛᏥ́ᎷᏥ.

    ᏍᎩ̣Ꮨ̌Ᏸ̂ᏍᏗ. Ꭹ̣Ꮃ̣Ꮚ Ꮫ̣Ꮵ̣́Ꮇ̣°Ꮵ.

    sgiktǐ:yê:sdi kilagwu dvjílu°ji

    Wait for me. I’ll be right back.

    ᎪᎯᏗᏍ ᎢᎯᏘᏰᏍᏗ ᏤᏅᏍᏗ ᏓᏣᎪᏂᏲᏥ.

    ᎪᎯ̌Ꮧ̂Ꮝ ᎢᎯ́ᏘᏰ̋ᏍᏗ ᏤᏅ̀ᏍᏗ̋ ᏓᏣᎪ́ᏂᏲ̀Ꮵ̂.

    ᎪᎯ̌Ꮧ̂Ꮝ Ꭲ̣Ꭿ̣́ᏘᏰ̋ᏍᏗ 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?}

  • ᏔᏕᎩᎠ [ahk.tah.day.gee.ah] I am thirsty

    ᏔᏕᎩᎠ [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

12. ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏚᎵᎭ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
13. ᎣᎦᏚᎵᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
15. ᎤᏁᏍᏓᎳ ᎧᏫ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
14. ᎤᏅᏗ ᎠᏑᏫᏓ ᎧᏫ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
16. ᎦᏚ ᎤᎦᎾᏍᏓ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
  • 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

17. ᎭᏢ ᏙᏱ ᎤᏨᏍᏗ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
18. ᎭᏢ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏣᏤᎵᎢ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
19. ᎭᏗᏔᏍᎦ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
20. ᎠᎩᎠ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
21. ᎠᎩᎸᏉᏗ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
22. ᎰᏢᏍᎦ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
  • 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

    [ah.gee.luhkw.dee]

    I like it

    ᏣᎸ

    [jah.luhkw.dee]

    you like it

    ᎤᎸ

    [uw.luhkw.dee]

    s/he likes it

    ᎣᎩᎸ

    [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

23. ᏥᏍᏆᏓ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
24. ᎠᏆᏈᏴᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
25. ᏛᏈᏴᎯ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
26. ᎭᏈᏱᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
27. ᏌᏭᎯᎠ ᎢᎦᏈᏴᏓ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
  • 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

  • ᎠᏆᏈᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ

    [ah.gwah.kwee.dee ah.gwah.doo.lee]

    I want to pay

    ᏣᏈᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ

    [jah.kwee.dee ah.gwah.doo.lee]

    I want you to pay

    ᏣᏈᏗᏍ 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

    [saw.woo.hee.ah ee.gah.kwee.dah]

    we all are going to pay what we each individually ordered

    (some ᎠᏂᏬᏂᏍᎩ may say ᏌᏊᎯᎭ ᎢᎦᏈᏗ [sah.gwew.hee.hah ee.gah.qwee.dee])

6Ꮑ

leaving

28. ᎦᏂᎩᎠ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
29. ᏙᎾᏓᎪᎲᎢ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
30. ᏣᏓᎦᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
  • 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)

  • ᏣᏓᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ

    [jah.dahk.say.sday.sdee]

    you 1 person watch over yourself

    ᏍᏓᏓᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ

    [sdah.dahk.say.sday.sdee]

    y’all 2 people watch over yourselves

    ᎢᏣᏓᏎᏍᏕᏍᏗ

    [ee.jah.dahk.say.sday.sdee]

    y’all 3 or more people watch over yourselves