ᎧᏫ ᏧᎾᏗᏔᏍᏗᎢ ᏙᏣᏟᏃᎮᏍᎪᎢ

[kah.hwee, jew.nah.dee.tah.sdee, doh.jah.hlee.no.hay.sgoh]

coffee bar conversation

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).

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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