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BEGINNING CHEROKEE-NOVICE LEVEL
 

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.

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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
 
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