By Chief D. L. Utsidihi Hicks
Page 4
| 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
Atsila Galvdawetiyu
(a-jee-la ga-lv-da-way-tee-yoo)
Sacred Fire.
Ugaya
(oo-ga-ya)
Seven Clan Society.
Unaguhu
(oo-na-goo-hoo)
Skin blanket or robe.
Usgiya
(oo-s-gee-ya)
Snow time.
Utsinaga Vlasgita
(oo-jee-na-ga v-la-s-gee-ta)
Scalp dance.
Vsti
(v-jee)
Snow.
Gagai
(ga-ga-ee)
Spring Time.
Watsigu
(wa-jsee-goo)
Squash
Anv
(a-nv)
Strawberry
Tsagutsi
(ja-goo-jee)
Summer
Nvdagi
(nv-da-gee)
Texas.
Wado
(wa-do)
Thanks.
Wadoequa
(wa-do-ea-kwa)
Thanks greatly.
Nvgitsisuhalai
(nv-gee-jsee-soo-ha-la-ee)
The Four Winds. Abbreviated Nvgisdvli.
Anagohvvsdv
(a-na-go-hv-v-s-dv)
They are having a New Corn Dance.
Tsugayuyi
(jsoo-ga-yoo-yee)
They are running.
Gaduyi
(ga-doo-yee)
Town house.
Nunadaulatsvyi
(noo-na-da-oo-la-jsv-yee)
Trail where they cried. The Trail of Tears.
Dalendaheda Vlasgita
(da-lay-na-hay-da v-la-s-gee-ta)
Victory dance.
Ama
(a-ma)
Water
Ahuli
(a-hoo-lee)
Water drum. "It has a cover,"
Danawa
(da-na-wa)
War.
Danawanuguweasu
(da-na-wa-noo-goo-nay-a-soo)
War Chief.
Atasi
(a-ta-see)
War club.
Danawanunehi
(da-na-wa-noo-nay-hee)
War path.
Atadedawasdodi
(a-ta-day-da-wa-s-daw-dee)
War pole.
Unega
(oo-nay-ga)
White.
Kala
(ka-la)
Winter.
This will be an on-going project.
More will be added as time and resources permit.
Bar graphic created by Sam Silverhawk.
