By Chief D. L. Utsidihi Hicks
| Vowel Sounds | Consonant Sounds |
| a, as a in father, or short as in rival. e, as a in hate, or short as in pat. i, as i in qique, or short as in pit. o, as o in note, approaching aw in law. u, as oo in food, or short as u in pull. v, as u in but, nasalized and leaning to un sound. |
g as in English, but sometimes approaching k. d as in English, but sometimes approaching t. h, k, l, m, n, q, s, t, w, y, as in English. Syllables following g, except for ga, sometimes sound like k. Go, du, and dv, sometimes sound as to, tu, tv. Qu approaching kw, as kwa for qua, kwoo for quo, kwee for qui, and so on. Ts approaches js or j. Syllables following tl, sometimes vary to dl. |
The following is arranged with the Tsalagi "Cherokee" word or phrase first
Phonetic pronunciation second
English translation third
Ugodi
(oo-gaw-dee)
A lot.
Ilvtlv
(ee-lv-tlv)
About
Galvlati
(ga-lv-la-tee)
Above, the sky, on high.
Ayoigvneti
(a-yaw-ee-gv-nay-tee)
Abuse.
Vtli
(v-tlee)
Across.
Guhisdiha
(goo-hee-s-dee-ha)
Accuse.
Gule
(goo-lay)
Acorn. (Same in Oklahoma dialect.)
Utana
(oo-ta-na)
"Adult"; "big"; "tail"
Deganudasti
(day-ga-noo-da-s-tee)
Adz, sti indicates sharp.
Daskasti
(da-s-ka-s-tee)
Afraid
Oni
(aw-nee)
After.
Talinei
(ta-lee-nay-ee)
Again, or "second in number," or "do it again."
Adalihelitsedi
(a-da-lee-hay-lee-say-dee)
Age, appreciate.
Agavli
(a-ga-v-lee)
Aged, old.
Uwata
(oo-wa-ta)
Aged, old.
Unole
(oo-naw-lay)
Air. (Same in Oklahoma dialect.)
Tsulegilanunayi
(jsool-kee-la-noo-nay-yee)
Alighted, for "he alighted there."
Gvna
(gv-na)
Alive.
Owasa
(aw-wa-sa)
All
Howa
(haw-wa)
All right or okay.
Ani-Tsalagi
(a-nee-jsa-la-gee)
All the people.
Tsulasgi
(jsoo-la-s-kee)
Alligator.
Ale
(a-lay)
"Almost" and "or" (Same in Oklahoma dialect.)
Uhisata
(oo-hee-sa-ta)
Alone, or lone.
Anadanakalagisgi
(a-na-da-na-ka-la-gee-s-kee)
Alum, wild, "it removes things from the gums," a plant.
Gayula
(ga-yoo-la)
Already.
Squu
(s-kwoo)
Also
Ganuseda
(ga-noo-say-da)
Ambassador
Vdiskalunagi
(v-dee-s-ka-loo-na-gee)
Ambush, for "hiding out place."
Ahuluna (a-ha-loo-na) modern form.
Tsunigayvli Iyulestanv
(tsoo-nee-ga-yv-lee ee-yoo-lay-s-ta-nv)
Ancestor.
Anitsunigayvli Iyulestanv
(a-nee-tsoo-nee-ga-yv-lee ee-yoo-lay-s-ta-nv)
Ancestors
Agayvlige
(a-ga-yv-lee-gay)
Ancient.
Eti
(a-tee)
Ancient.
[Greetings] [Page 2] [Page 3] [Page 4]
Bar graphic created by Sam Silverhawk.
