By Chief D. L. Utsidihi Hicks
Page 2
| 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. |
This following is arranged with the Tsalagi "Cherokee" word or phrase first
Phonetic pronunciation second
English translation third
Dolvtsa
(daw-lv-ja)
Basket.
Tagu
(ta-goo)
Beans (a food stuff)
{Also game played in kala}
To play this game, the players were divided into two teams of equal number. 6 half-beans, 24 corn kernel counters, and a basket about 18" square and 2 1/2" deep were required. The six half beans were placed in the basket and flipped in the air to be caught. Only three combinations of how the beans landed were counted. All flat sides counted as 6 points, all round sides were counted as 4 points, and a single side of round or flat and 5 opposite counted as 2 points. The game started with all counters in a neutral pot. The game ended when one team got the largest number of counters.
Yvsv
(yv-sv)
Bison or buffalo.
Gagaluni
(ga-ga-loo-nee)
"Boney" or Hungry Time.
Gvnasa
(gv-na-sa)
Broom.
Ayeli Gadugi
(a-ya-lee ga-doo-gee)
Central Towns.
Tsalagiyi Nvdagi
(jsa-la-gee-yee nv-da-gee)
Cherokee in Texas
Unolvtanvi
(oo-naw-lv-ta-nv-ee)
Cold time.
Sogani
(saw-ga-nee)
Coneflower
Selu
(say-loo)
Corn
Vlasgita
(v-la-s-gee-ta)
Dance or dancing.
Anaulasgisgu
(a-na-ool-s-gee-goo)
Dance where everyone participated. "They are dancing."
Dagesi
dinvsati
(da-gay-see dee-nv-sa-tee)
Dance rattles. "Tortoise, puts on legs."
Galoni
(gay-loo-nee)
End of Fruit Time.
Ulagahasti
(oo-la-ga-ha-s-tee)
Fall season.
Astayidistiyi
(a-s-ta-yee-dee-s-tee-yee)
Faster and harder, or dancing.
Ayastigi
(a-ya-s-tee-gee)
Fighting Man, or Warrrior.
Aniyastigi
(a-nee-ya-jee-gee)
Fighting men or warriors, and Warrior Society.
Atsila
(a-jsee-la)
Fire.
Atsilasvti
(a-jsee-la-sv-tee)
Fire Maker. A person.
Tsiloni
(jsee-law-nee)
Flower Time.
Aginali Vlasgita
(a-gee-na-lee v-la-s-gee-ta)
Friendship dance.
Tsvge
(jsv-kee)
{Game} Played on an open field using a Tsvge stone and a casting spear. Taken from the word Tsugayuyi.
Atawastiyi
(a-ta-wa-s-tee-yee)
Going to Water. Performed by one going to the river and dipping themselves under the water seven times.
Selutsehi
(say-loo-jsa-hee)
Green Corn or New Corn.
Itseselu Vlasgita
(e-jsa-say-loo v-la-s-gee-ta)
Green Corn Dance.
Gana Vlasgita
(ga-na v-la-s-gee-ta)
Groundhog Dance.
Galvana
(ga-lv-na)
Gourd
Ganaseti
(ga-na-s-te)
Gourd rattle.
Equa
(ea-kwa)
Great or big.
Unequa
(oo-nay-kwa)
Great Being or Spirit.
Ayastigiequa
(a-ya-s-tee-gee-ea-kwa)
Great Warrior.
Digayi
(dee-ga-yee)
Hands
{A game played in kala}
A person would place a small stone or bead in their hand, put both hands behind their back and then put both hands back out before them. The person opposite was to guess which hand the object was in. If that person guessed correctly, then they won. If not, then the person with the object won.
Ugu
(oo-koo)
Head, or Principal Chief.
Hayv
(ha-yv)
I have said it; it is true.
Tsiwonihu
(jsee-waw-nee-hoo)
I am speaking.
Yi
(yee)
In; {locative} As in Cherokee IN Texas
[Greetings] [Page 1] [Page 3] [Page 4]
Bar graphic created by Sam Silverhawk.
