ᏧᎾᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗᎢ ᏙᏣᏟᏃᎮᏍᎪᎢ

[jew.nahl.sdye.dee, doh.jah.hlee.no.hay.sgoh]

restaurant 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: ᎦᎾᎦᏘ).

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1ᎬᏱ

arriving

1. ᏥᎷᎦ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
2. ᎨᏙᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
4. ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏓ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
3. ᎭᏢ ᎢᏕᏙᎭ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
6. ᎧᎹ, ᎢᏗᏴᎲ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
5. ᎠᏍᏚᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra

  • 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

7. ᎯᎳᏯ ᎾᏂ?
8. ᎦᏍᎩᎶᏍ ᏣᏚᎵᎭ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
9. ᎤᏩᏂᎨ ᎬᏅᎯᏓ ᎦᏍᎩᎶ ᏍᏓᏚᎵᎭᏍ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
10. ᎤᏲᏏᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
12. ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏚᎵᎭ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
11. ᎠᎩᏔᏕᎩᎠ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra

  • ᎯᎳᏯ ᎾᏂ? [hee.lie.yah, nah.nee]? how many people are there?

  • 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?}

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

3Ꮑ

ordering

13. ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᏣᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᏣᏚᎵᎭ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
14. ᎣᎦᏚᎵᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
16. ᎠᏍᏛᎭᏟ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
15. ᎠᎹ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
17. ᎭᏢ ᏙᏱ ᎤᏨᏍᏗ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra

  • ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᏣᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᏣᏚᎵᎭ? [gah.doh, uw.sdee, jahl.sdye.dee, jah.doo.lee.hah]? what do you 1 person want to eat as a meal?

    ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᏍᏓᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᏍᏓᏚᎵᎭ? [gah.doh, uwst, sdahl.sdye.dee, sdah.doo.lee.hah]? what do y’all 2 people want to eat as a meal?

    ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᎢᏣᏚᎵᎭ? [gah.doh, uw.sdee, ee.jahl.sdye.dee, ee.jah.doo.lee.hah]? what do y’all 3 or more people want to eat as a meal?

  • 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.

  • ᎠᎹ [ah.mah] water

  • ᎠᏍᏛᎭᏟ [ah.sduh.hah.hlee] burger / sandwich

  • ᏧᎾᎵᏍᏓᏰᏗᎢ ᏗᎧᏁᎢᏍᏗ restaurant words

    ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏗᎧᏁᎢᏍᏗ drink words

    ᎧᏫ ᏗᎧᏁᎢᏍᏗ coffee words

  • ᎭᏢ ᏙᏱ ᎤᏨᏍᏗ? [ha.dluh, doi.yee, uw.juh.sdee]? where is the bathroom?

4Ꮑ

at the table

18. ᎢᏗᎦᏘᏯ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
19. ᎭᏢ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᏣᏤᎵᎢ?
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
22. ᎠᎩᎸᏉᏗ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
23. ᎰᏢᏍᎦ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
26. ᏛᏈᏴᎯ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
27. ᎭᏈᏱᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
21. ᎢᏓᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎦ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
20. ᎠᎩᎠ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra

  • 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.

  • ᎭᏢ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᎠᏆᏤᎵᎢ? [ha.dluh, ahl.sdye.dee, ah.gwah.jay.lee.ee]? where is my food?

    ᎭᏢ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᏣᏤᎵᎢ? [ha.dluh, ahl.sdye.dee, jah.jay.lee.ee]? where is your 1 person food?

    ᎭᏢ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᎤᏤᎵᎢ? [ha.dluh, ahl.sdye.dee, uw.jay.lee.ee]? where is his/her food?

    ᎭᏢ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᎩᎾᏤᎵᎢ? [ha.dluh, ahl.sdye.dee, gee.nah.jay.lee.ee]? where is our you and me / 2 people food?

    ᎭᏢ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ ᎢᎦᏤᎵᎢ? [ha.dluh, ahl.sdye.dee, ee.gah.jay.lee.ee]? where is our all of us / 3 or more people food?

    · CED example sentence:

    ᎤᏙᏓ ᎤᏤᎵ ᏓᏆᎴᎳ ᎠᎯᎴᎭ.

    u:do:da u:je:li̋ dagwalé:la à:hí’le:ha

    He’s driving his dad’s car.

  • 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.

  • ᎦᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎦ [gahl.sdye.yuh.huh.sgah] I am eating a meal

    ᎭᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎦ [hahl.sdye.yuh.huh.sgah] you are eating a meal

    ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎦ [ahl.sdye.yuh.huh.sgah] s/he is eating a meal

    ᎢᏓᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎦ [ee.dahl.sdye.yuh.huh.sgah] we all are eating a meal

    · CED example sentence:

    ᏒᎯᏰᏱ ᎤᏔᎾ ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᎲᏍᎪᎢ.

    sv:hiye̋:yi ű:tana à:lsdâ:yv:hvsgó:’i

    In the evening he eats a big meal.

  • 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

24. ᏥᏍᏆᏓ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
25. ᎠᏆᏈᏴᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
28. 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

    · 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

29. ᎦᏂᎩᎠ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
30. ᏙᎾᏓᎪᎲᎢ
ᎨᎳᏗ Kathy Sierra
31. 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

    · 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