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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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