Speak Cherokee by following this example conversation! (demo video) Many entries in the conversation offer simple word changes (conjugations) marked by an asterisk*. Some entries include example sentences from the 1975 Cherokee–English Dictionary (CED) by Durbin Feeling & William Pulte. Example sentences have simplified [jah.lah.gee] & traditional [tsalagi] phonetic spellings. If audio does not play, try rewinding it or reloading the page.

Written ᏗᏣᎳᎩ: underlining shows vowel omission (ex: ᎦᎾᎦᏘ).

Click + to read Cherokee

Click the matching numbered audio to hear Cherokee

1ᎬᏱ

arriving

ᏥᎷᎦ [Ꮵ́’Ꮇ·Ꭶ] [jí’luhga] I am arriving
ᎯᎷᎦ [Ꭿ́’Ꮇ·Ꭶ] [hí’luhga] you are arriving
ᎦᎷᎦ [Ꭶ́’Ꮇ·Ꭶ] [gáluhga] s/he is arriving
?? ᎢᏗᎷᎦ [ᎢᏗ’Ꮇ·Ꭶ] [idi’luhga] we all are arriving
· CED example sentence: ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᎦᎷᎪᎢ.
ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏳ́Ꮹ:Ꮒ︩Ꮈ̋ Ꭶ́’Ꮇ·Ꭺ́:’Ꭲ.
[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.
[nee.doo.nah.lah.sue.hluh.nah, ah.nay.doh.hah]
[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.
[dee.sdoo.ee.dah, ee.gay.say.sdee, joe.lah.nee, day.hee.sdoo.hnuh.ee]
[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.
[sgeek.tee.yay.sdee. kee.lah.gwoo, duh.jee.loo.jee]
[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.
[ah.mah, ahk.tah.day.gee.ah]
[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.
[hlah, yah.gwahl.sdye.yuh.nay, sue.nah.lay, no.gwoo.hnuh, ah.gee.yo.see.hah]
[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.
[ah.hoh.lee, uw.lay.yuh.suh, uw.dee.hleh.gee, uw.gah.mah, ah.dee.tah.sguh.ee]
[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.
[hee.ah, go.hway.lee, ah.hnehl.tah.nuh, ah.gwah.doo.lee.hah]
[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?
· CED example sentence: ᎤᏙᏓ ᎤᏤᎵ ᏓᏆᎴᎳ ᎠᎯᎴᎭ.
[uw.doh.dah, uw.jay.lee, dah.gwah.lay.lah, ah.hee.lay.hah]
[u:do:da u:je:li̋ dagwalé:la à:hí’le:ha]
He’s driving his dad’s car.
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.
[ah.dee.toh.dee, guh.dee, ah.dee.tah.sgah, uw.gah.mah]
[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.
[jew.doh.dah.gwuh.dah, say.lew, gah.dew, uw.nee.gee.sdee, uw.nee.luhkw.dah, ah.nee.jah.lah.gee]
[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.
[uw.way.yuh, ah.gwah.dah.woh.sdee, uw.goh.dah, ah.gee.luhkw.dee, see.hnoh, ah.dah.woh.sdee, gay.suh.ee]
[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.
[gye.yoh.hlee.gwoo, yewl.sdye.yuh.hnah, goh.hluh.sgoh.ee]
[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.
[jee.sgwah.duh, jee.yay.wee.sguh, hyay.gah.hlee, dah.jee.yuh.gwee.duh.nee]
[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?
[hee.lah, ee.gah, jah.kwee.yuh.hay, nah, ahl.sgway.too.woh]
[hilá i:ga̋ jakwiyv:hê ná alsgwè:tuwó]
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?
[hee.lah, ee.gah, hee.yah.gwee.yuh.ay.lay]
[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.
[sue.dahl.sgoh, ah.day.luh, gah.gwee.yee.hah, dah.gwah.lay.lah, see.nuh.dah]
[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.
[suh.hee, sue.nah.lay, jew.hnee.gee.suh.ee]
[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