BROUGHT TO YOU BY SNOWWOWL.COM 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.<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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 RETURN TO: THE CHEROKEE BEGINNING CHEROKEE