You can speak Cherokee by following this example conversation [demo video] ! Much of the conversation offers simple conjugations - different ways to change a word - marked with an asterisk*. Some entries also have example sentences referenced directly from the 1975 Cherokee - English Dictionary (CED) by Durbin Feeling & William Pulte. To replay audios, you may need to rewind the audio or reload the page. ᏗᏣᎳᎩ: underlining will indicate vowel omission (ex: ᎦᎾᎦᏘ).

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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
· CED example sentence:
ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᎦᎷᎪᎢ.
hisg iyúwa:hnilv̋ gá’luhgó:’i
He arrives at five o’clock.
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 _
· CED example sentence:
ᏂᏚᎾᎳᏑᏢᎾ ᎠᏁᏙᎭ.
nidǔ:nálà:sǔ:hlv̋:na à:ně:dô:ha
They are walking around barefoot.
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
· CED example sentence:
ᏗᏍᏚᎢᏓ ᎢᎨᏎᏍᏗ ᏦᎳᏂ‚ ᏕᎯᏍᏚᏅᎢ.
di:sdu’i̋:da i:gê:se̋:sdi jő:lani de:hísdu:hnv̌:’i
If the windows happen to be open‚ close them.
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
ᎯᎦᏘᏯ [heek.tee.yah] you are waiting for it
ᎠᎦᏘᏯ [ahk.tee.yah] s/he is waiting for it
ᎢᏗᎦᏘᏯ [ee.deek.tee.yah] we all are waiting for it
· CED example sentence:
ᏍᎩᎦᏘᏰᏍᏗ. ᎩᎳᏊ ᏛᏥᎷᏥ.
sgiktǐ:yê:sdi kilagwu dvjíluhji
Wait for me. I’ll be right back.
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
· CED example sentence:
ᎠᎹ ᎠᎩᏔᏕᎩᎠ.
ama à:ktade:gí:’a
I am thirsty for water.
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
· CED example sentence:
Ꮭ ᏯᏆᎵᏍᏓᏴᏁ ᏑᎾᎴ‚ ᏃᏊᏅ ᎠᎩᏲᏏᎭ.
hlá yagwálsdà:yv:hné: suná:le̋ nǒ:gwú:hnv́ à:giyó:si:ha
I didn’t eat this morning and now I’m 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?
· CED example sentence:
ᎠᎰᎵ ᎤᎴᏴᏒ ᎤᏗᏞᎩ ᎤᎦᎹ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᎬᎢ.
ahő:li ù:lé:yv:sv́ u:di̋:hlehgi ǔ:gáma à:di:tasgv̋:’i
He burned his mouth drinking hot soup.
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
· CED example sentence:
ᎯᎠ ᎪᏪᎵ ᎠᏁᎵᏔᏅ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ.
hi’a go:hwe:li a:hnéhltanv̋: à:gwadu:lǐ:ha
I want a translation of this letter.
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}
ᎧᏫ ᏗᎧᏁᎢᏍᏗ coffee words
ᏧᎾᎵᏍᏓᏰᏗᎢ ᏗᎧᏁᎢᏍᏗ restaurant words
ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏗᎧᏁᎢᏍᏗ drink words

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
· CED example sentence:
ᎠᏗᏙᏗ ᎬᏗ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᎦ ᎤᎦᎹ.
adi:tóhdi̋: gvhdi̋: à:di:tasga u:gáma
He’s drinking soup with a spoon.
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
· CED example sentence:
ᏧᏙᏓᏋᏓ ᏎᎷ ᎦᏚ ᎤᏂᎩᏍᏗ ᎤᏂᎸᏉᏓ ᎠᏂᏣᎳᎩ.
ju:dǒ:dágwv̋:da se:lú gá:du u:ni:gì:sdi̋ u:ni:lv:kwda ani:jalagi
The Cherokees like to eat corn bread every day.
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
· CED example sentence:
ᎤᏪᏴ ᎠᏆᏓᏬᏍᏗ ᎤᎪᏓ ᎠᎩᎸᏉᏗ ᏏᏃ ᎠᏓᏬᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ.
ù:wé:yv̋: agwadawò:sdi̋: ù:gô:da à:gilv̌:kwdi si:hnó: adawò:sdi̋ gè:sv̋:’i
I like to swim in a creek more than in a swimming pool.
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
· CED example sentence:
ᎦᏲᏟᏊ ᏳᎵᏍᏓᏴᎿ‚ ᎪᏢᏍᎪᎢ.
gà:yő:hligwu yú:lsdà:yv̋:hna go:hlvsgó:’i
If he eats just a little‚ he gets 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
· CED example sentence:
ᏥᏍᏆᏛ ᏥᏰᏫᏍᎬ ᏰᎦᏟ ᏓᏥᏴᏈᏛᏂ.
jì:sgwá’dv̋ ji:ye:wì:sgv̋: hye’gahli dají:yvhgwidv̀:nî
When I finish sewing the quilt‚ I am going to hem it.
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?
· CED example sentence:
ᎯᎳ ᎢᎦ ᏣᏈᏴᎮ Ꮎ ᎠᎵᏍᏇᏚᏬ?
hilá i:ga̋ jakwiyv:hê ná alsgwè:tuwóʼ
How much did you pay for the hat?
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
· CED example sentence:
ᎯᎳ ᎢᎦ ᎯᏯᏈᏴᎡᎴ?
hilá: i:gá hi:yagwiyv́:’e:lé
How much did you pay him?
ᎦᏈᏱᎭ [gah.gwee.yee.hah] I am paying
ᎭᏈᏱᎭ [hah.kwee.yee.hah] you are paying
ᎠᏈᏱᎭ [ah.kwee.yee.hah] s/he is paying
ᎢᏓᏈᏱᎭ [ee.dah.kwee.yee.hah] we all are paying
· CED example sentence:
ᏑᏓᎵᏍᎪᎯ ᎠᏕᎸ ᎦᏈᏱᎭ ᏓᏆᎴᎳ ᏏᏅᏓ.
sǔ:dálsgǒ: ade:lv̋: gagwi:yǐ:ha dagwalé:la si:nv̋:da
I’m paying sixty dollars a month for my car.
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
· CED example sentence:
ᏒᎯ ᏑᎾᎴ ᏧᏂᎩᏒᎢ.
svhi suná:lé: jù:hnigî:sv̌:’i
He left yesterday morning.
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

ᎧᏫ ᏧᎾᏗᏔᏍᏗᎢ ᏙᏣᏟᏃᎮᏍᎪᎢ

1ᎬᏱ