Beginning Cherokee -Novice Level

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SIMPLE RULES TO REMEMBER

The vowels of the Cherokee language are similar BUT NOT THE SAME as in English.
A, E, I, O, U, and V.
Although the Roman script may resemble English vowels, the letters represent different sounds.

A: is not sounded a as in day but rather ah as in father.
E: is not e as in evening but eh as in wedding.
I: is not i as in Irene but ee as in eel.
O: is sounded as oh as in toe.
U: is not u as in you but oo as in toon.
V: is sounded as uh as in huh.

THE FOLLOWING LISTS ARE PRESENTED IN THREE COLUMNS:
English - Cherokee - Phonetic

GREETINGS & COURTESIES

Hello	O-si-yo	Oh-see-yo
Are you fine?	To-hi-ju?	Toe-hee-joo?
I am fine.	O-si-gwu.	Oh-see-gwoo.
And you?	Ni-na?	Nee-nah?
Fine. (alright)	O-sdi.	Oh-sdee.
Thank you.	Wa-do.	Wah-doh.
Okay.	Ho-wa.	Hoh-wah.
Let's see each other again.	Do-na-da-go-hv-i.	Doh-nah-dah-go-huh-ee.
Let's all see each other again.	Do-da-da-go-hv-i.	Doh-dah-dah-go-huh-ee.
You come around again.	I-he-do-lv-i.	Ee-heh-doh-luh-ee.
You all come around again.	I-je-do-lv-i.	Ee-jeh-doh-luh-ee.
Yes.	V	Uh
No	Thla	Thlah
I don't know.	Thla Ya-gwan-ta.	Thlah Yah-gwanh-tah.

FAMILY TERMS

Girl	A-ge-hyu-ja	Ah-gay-huge-jah
Boy	A-chu-ja	Ah-choo-jah
Woman	A-ge-ya	Ah-gay-yah
Man	A-sga-ya	Ah-sgah-yah
Mother	E-ji	Eh-gee
Father	E-do-da	Eh-doh-dah
Baby	U-sdi	Oo-sdee
Grandfather	E-du-du	Eh-doo-doo
Grandmother	E-li-si	Eh-lee-see
Paternal Grandmother	E-ni-si	Eh-nee-see
Aunt	E-tlo-gi	Eh-tloh-gee
Uncle	E-du-ji	Eh-doo-jee
Sister (from brother)	A-gi-do	Ah-gee-doh
Sister (from sister)	Jo-sda-da-lv	Joh-sdah-dah-luh
Brother (from brother)	Jo-sda-da-hnv-tli	Joh-sdah-dah-nuh-tlee
Brother (from sister)	A-gi-do	Ah-gee-doh
Friend (3rd person)	O-gi-na-li	Oh-gee-naw-lee

INQUIRIES & CONVERSATIONAL TERMS

What is your name?	Ga-do De-ja-do?	Gah-doh Dey-jah-doh?
(name) is my name.	.... Da-wa-do.	.... Dah-wah-doh.
Who is your (family term)?	Ka-hnv- (ja)....?	Kah-hnuh-(jah)....?
This is (name or object).	.... Hi-a.	.... Hee-ah.
(name) is his/her name.	.... Du-do.	.... Doo-doh.
Where is (name or object)?	Ha-tlv.....?	Hah-tluh.....?
What is this?	Do-u-sdi Hi-na?	Doh-oo-sdee Hee-nah?
What time is it?	He-la-ya A-hli-li?	Heh-lah-yah Ah-tlee-lee?
What is it? (Which is it?)	Do-u-sdi?	Doh-oo-sdee?
I am hungry.	A-gi-yo-si.	Ah-gee-yoh-see.
Are you hungry?	Ja-yo-si-has?	Jah-yoh-see-hahs?
Where do you live?	Ha-dlv Hi-he-la?	Hah-dluh Hee-neh-lah?

NUMBERS 1 - 20 (30)

One	Sa-gwu	Saw-gwoo
Two	Tal	Tawl
Three	Tso	Joh
Four	Nvk	Nuhk
Five	Hisk	Hesk
Six	Su-dal	Soo-dawl
Seven	gal-hgwog	Gawl-gwoh-g
Eight	Ja-nel	Jah-nel
Nine	So-nel	Soh-nel
Ten	Sgo	Sgoh
Eleven	Sa-du	Saw-doo
Twelve	Tal-du	Tawl-doo
Thirteen	Tso-ga-du	Joh-gah-doo
Fourteen	Ni-ga-du	Ne-gah-doo
Fifteen	Sgi-ga-du	Sgee-gah-doo
Sixteen	Da-la-du	Dah-lah-doo
Seventeen	Gal-hgwa-du	Gawl-gwah-doo
Eighteen	Ne-la-du	Neh-lah-doo
Nineteen	So-ne-la-du	Soh-neh-lah-doo
Twenty	Tal-sgo	Tawl-sgoh
Thirty	Jo-sgo	Joh-sgoh

DAYS OF THE WEEK

Sunday	Do-da-gwa-sgv	Doh-dah-gwah-sguh
Monday	Do-da-wo-hnv	Doh-dah-woh-nuh
Tuesday	Ta-li-ne-i-ga	Tah-lee-nay-ee-gah
Wednesday	Jo-i-ne-i-ga	Joh-ee-nay-ee-gah
Thursday	Nv-gi-ne-i-ga	Nuh-gee-nay-ee-gah
Friday	Ju-na-gi-lo-sdi	Joo-nah-gee-loh-sdee
Saturday	Do-da-gwi-de-na	Doh-dah-gwee-da-nah

COLORS

Brown	U-wo-di-ge	Oo-woh-dee-gay
Yellow	Da-lo-ni-ge	Dah-loh-nee-gay
Green	I-je-yu-sdi	Ee-jeh-yoo-sdee
Blue	Sa-ko-ni-ge	Sah-koh-nee-gay
Red	Gi-ga-ge	Gee-gah-gay
Black	Gv-hna-ge	Guh-hnah-gay
White	U-ne-ga	Oo-neh-gah
Purple	A-dv-hvl-ge	Ah-duh-huhl-gay

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