CHEROKEE DICTIONARY INDEX

Each of the 85 letter characters in Cherokee (Tsa-la-gi) represents a unique sound of the soft and flowing language. Cherokee is a beautiful language full of colorful sounds, easily given to rousing oratory, poetry and song.

The Cherokee (Tsa-la-gi) words are spelled like they are pronounced and likewise, words are pronounced as they are spelled. The word "syllabary" is used to describe a system to develop words into writing. Cherokee (Tsa-la-gi) is written syllabary form because each letter in a word represents for a whole syllable (such as "ga") instead of a single letter (such as "g"). Cherokee is a complete syllabary, with the exception of the letter 's'.

The language has 6 vowels and 17 consonants. The vowels are "a, e, i, o, u, v." The vowels are pronounced as:

a = as in bark
e = as in late
i = as the e in beat
o = as the o in wrote
u = as the double o in boot
v = as the u in nut. V is always nasalized.

All words begin with a consonant and end with a long or short vowel except the 'S' sound. Often, a word will appear to end with a consonant and not a vowel.

Syllables qua, que, quo, quu and quv are pronounced with a "kw" sound before each vowel.

Syllables beginning with the letter "d" are pronounced as in the English, but approach a "t" sound; do, du, and dv sound like to, tu and tv in some words.

"ti" syllables are sometimes pronounced "di." The syllables "do, du and dv" are sometimes pronounced as "to, tu and tv." The syllables tsa, tse, tso, tsu and tsv are pronounced differently in South Carolina and Oklahoma. The Western Cherokee usually pronounce words with a soft "j" sound by keeping the tongue at the bottom of the mouth.

Cherokee uses the English consonants: d g h k l m n q s t w. The Kituwah middle dialect of Cherokee does not use the English consonants: b f p r t v x z.

Cherokee is spoken with the lips still, mouth barely opened and the tongue pressed lightly against the lower teeth. Some words are pronounced through the nose and partly in the throat.

We hope you enjoy this presentation and find it useful in learning to speak Tsalagi. If you are a serious student, we suggest you purchase tapes, CD's, videos and books:

alligator	tsu-la-s-gi
animal	ga-na-tla-i
animals	e-hna-i
antelope	a-wi-yu-s-ti
antler	tsu-lu-nu-hi
antler	u-s
antlers	a-wi-tsu-yo-ni
baby deer	a-wa-ni-ta
badger	u-gu-na
bat	tlo-me-ha (or) tla-ma-ha
bear	yo-nv (or) yo-na
bear meat	yo-na ha-wi-ya
beaver	do-ya (or) da-yi (or) do-yi
beaver dam	da-yi-hv-s-gi
beeswax	wa-du-le-si ga-lu
black bear	gv-ni-ge-yo-na
black fox	i-na-li
black skunk	di-la gv-na-gei
bobcat	gv-he
buck	ga-la-gi-na
buffalo	yv-su
buffalo	ya-ni-sa
bull	tsu-ka-nv-s-di-na
bull	tsu-ka-na-s-ta-ti
cat	we-sa
chipmunk	gi-yu-ga (or) gi-u-ga
colt	a-gi-na so-qui-li
coon	gv-li
cougar	tlv-da-tsi
cow	wa-ga (or) wa-ka
coyote	wa-ya
deer	a-wi
deer skin	a-wi-ga-na-gi
dog	gi-li (or) gi-tli
dog	gi-li-ni-ta (or) gil-u-s-di
donkey	di-ga-li-nv'-hi-dv
donkey	di-ga-li-ya-nv-hi-dv
donkeys	di-ni-ga-li-nv'-hi-dv
elephant	ka-ma-ma e
elephant	ka-ma-ma u-ta-nu
elk	a-wi-e (or) a-wi-e-qua
flying squirrel	de-wa
fox	i-na-li (or) tsu-la
fox squirrel	sa-lo-li wo-di
goat	u-ga-so-tsa-ne-dv
goat	a-wi-a-ha-lu-na
goat	tsu-s-qua-ne-gi-dv
groundhog	a-ga-na
groundhog	o-ga-na
hog	si (or) si-qua
horse	so-qui-li
hound dog	gi ?
lion	tlv-da-tsi
livestock	ga-nah-la-?i
mare	a-gi-si
mink	go-sv-gi
mink	sv-gi
mole	u-tlv
mole	do-ni-:qua
mole	ti-ne-qua
monkey	a-da-le-s-gi-yi-s-gi
monkey	a-da-le-s-gi-yi'-s-gi
mouse	tsi-s-de-tsi
mouse	tsi-s-te-tsi
mouse (shrew)	ta-la-a-ge-wi
muskrat	se-la-gi-s-qua
muskrat	se-la-qui-s-gi
nest	u-ne-s-gi-lv-sv
nest	ka-ne-s-da
opossum	si-qua--u-tse-tsa-s-di
otter	tsi-ya
ox	ga-na-li
panther	tlv-da-tsi
paw	u-wa-yi
pig	a-dv-si-qua
pony	u-s-di-a so-qui-li
porcupine	tsu-tsa-ya-s-ti u-ne
possum	si-qua--u-tse-tsa-s-di
prairie dog	gi-li i-go-di e-hi
rabbit	tsi-s
rabbit	tsi-s-du
raccoon	gv-li
rat	tsi-s-ta-tsi
rat	tsi-s-di-tsi
sheep	u-no-de-:(na)
sheep	u-ni-no-de-:(na)
sheep	a-wi u-no-de-na
skunk	di-la (or) di-?li
snipe	da-s
squirrel	sa-lo-li (or) gi-u-ga
squirrel	te-wa (or) sa-la-li
tail	ga-ni-da-dv
tail	u-ta-na
tail	ga-do-ga
tails	di-ga-do-ga
terrapin	da-ga-si
titmouse	u-tsu-tsi
turtle	sa-li-gu-gi
turtle	u-li-na-wi
turtle	u-la-na-wa
water dog	tsu-wa
weasel	tsi-s-ga-tsi da-lo-ni
wildcat	gv-hi
wildcat	gv-he
wing	go-hu-nv-hi
wolf	wa-ya

bird	tsi-s-qua
bird	tsi-s
blackbird	gv-ne-ga tsi-s-qua
bluebird	tsa-quo'-la-de
bluebird	tsa-quo-la-da-gi
bluejay	tla-i-?ga
bluejay	tla'
bluejay	dla-yi-ga
bluejay	tsa-yo-ga
buzzard	su-li
cardinal	do-tsu
chickadee	tsi-gi-li-li
chicken	tsa-ta-ga
chicken	tsu-ta-gu
chicken hawk	ta-wo-di
crane	ga-nu-tsi-ta-li
crow	go-gv
deer	a-wi
dove	wo-:ya
dove	gu-le- di-s-go-ni-hi
duck	ka-we-nu
duck	ga-wa-nv
eagle	a-wa-hi-li
eagle	we-ha-li
eagle screams	a-wa-hi-li ge-lu-hv-s-ga
egg	u-wa-tsi
eggs	gu-we-tsi
egret	tsi-s-qua-yi
elephant	ka-ma-ma
feather	u-gi-da-li
feather	u-lu-nu-hi (or) u-gi gu-li
feather	tsu-gi da-wa-li
feather	tsu-gi gu-li
feathers	tsu-lu-nu-hi
fighting eagle	u-wo-hi-la-tli-ti-gv
fowl	tsu-da-la-na-da
fox sparrow	wa-::
gobbler	ka-na-tsi
goose	sa-sa
goose	da-gu-la
guinea	gu-que di-ga-na-sa-I
hawk	ta-wa-di u-s-di
hawk	ta-wo-di
hawk	ta-wa-di
hawk	ta-wo-di u-s-di
hawk	tla-nu-wa
heron	tsi
heron	k-na-s-go-wa
hummingbird	wa-le-lu
jay	tle
jay	tle-gu
jay	tla-gv-ga
kingfisher	tsu-lu
martin	tlu-tlu
meadow lark	na
mockingbird	s-ka-da-gi-s-gi
mockingbird	hu-hu
morning dove	gu-le di-s-go
nightingale	s-qua-le'-wa-li'
owl	tsi-gi-li
owl	wa-hu-hu
owl	u-gu-gu
partridge	gu-que
partridge moccasin	gu
peacock	gv-na tau-qua-to-tli
pheasant	tlv-di-s-ti
pheasant	tsu-le-hi-sa-nv-hi
pheasant	dv-di-s-di
Phoenix	wo-yi
pigeon	gu
quail	gu-que
quail	go-la-nv
raven	ka-lo-na
raven	ka-la-nu
raven	go-la-nv
raven	ta-tsu-wa
red bird	do-tsu-wa
red bird	ga-s-qua-gu
robin	tsi-quo-quo
robin	a-tsv-ya
rooster	a-ni-tsv-ya
rooster	tsi-s-qua-ya
snowbird	du-di
sparrow	ka-la-gv-na
swan	ka-la-gi-sa
throwing hawk	u-da-gu ga-lo-ya-s-ti
turkey	ka-la-gv-na
turkey	ka-la-gi-sa
turkey	gv
Turkey	gv-na
Turtledove	gu-le-di-s-ka-nah-i
war hawk	da-na-wa a-hi-ga-lu-s-ti
whippoorwill	wa-gu-li
winter wren	tsi-s-tsi-s
winter wren	tsi-tsi
woodpecker	gu-gu-tsa
woodpecker	ta-la-la
wren	a-li-ta-ma
wren	tse-ni'
wren	tsi-tsi

air	u-no-le
bald mountain top	u-da wa-gv-ta
bank	a-ma-yi s
bluff	ga-lo-na-s-di--ha
branch	u-s-di-ge-yv-qua
clay	ga-da-qua-li (or)ga-da-qua-la
cloud	u-lo-gi-dv (or) u-lo-gi-ly
clouds	u-ni-tsi-la
coal	tsi-no-s-ga
copper	tsi-yi (or) a-tsi-yi
cove	u-ga-da-li-yv-i-
creek	a-ma a-wa-ya (or) ni-la-dy-yi
creek	u-s-di--u-we-yv
daylight	e-ga-gu-ti (or) u-gi-tsi-ha
dew	a-ma-ga-i
dirt	ga-da
dust	goo-s-du-ha
earth	e-lo-hi
earth	e-la (or) e-lo
earth	e-lo-hi-no
eddy	tsu-da-tsa-sv-yi
field	ka-la-ge-si (or) ga-ge-si
field	la-ge-si (or) tla-ge-si
field	tlo-ge-si
fire	a-tsi-la
fire	a-tsi-la ga-lv-ka-we-ti-yu
fire	ga-ta (or) a-tsi-lv
fire	a-ya-ta-s
fire	a-tsv-s-ta-ti
flower	a-tsi-la-s (or) tsi-la
flower	a-tsi-lu-s-gi (or) hu-tsi-lv-ha
flowers	a-ni-a-tsi-la-s
fog	u-ka-ha-da (or) tsu-gv-ha-dv
frost	u-ya-dv-ha
gap	u-yv-la-dv-dv-i-
garden	a-du-s-gi
gold	a-de-lv--a-lo-ni-ge
gold	da-lo-ne-ga
grass	gu-na-s (or) ka-ne-s-ga
grass	ga-nu-lv-hi
ground	ga-da-wa-hi (or) ga-da
grove	lv-yi
ice	u-ne-s-da-la (or) u-na-s-ta-lv
icicle	u-ne-s-da-la u-ne-sa-dv-I
iron	ta-lu-gi-s-gi
island	a-ma-ye-li (or) a-mo-ye-li
lake	v-da-li (or) ga-da-wa-hi
land	ga-do-hi (or) a-na-ga-li-a
lightening	gi-li-di-ne-hv-yi
mist	sv-no-yi-e-hi-nv-do
mound	o-da-lv
mountain	a-ta-lv-yi
mountain	a-ta-li (or) a-ta-la
mountain	ga-da-ne
mountain	u-nv-da-tlv-I-
mountains	du-nv-da-tlv-I
mud	ga-da-na a-ma
muddy water	a-ga-s
ocean	a-me-quo-hi
path	u-s-di nv-no-hi u-lo-hi-s-di
pearl	da-gv-na
rain	a-ga-s-gv
rain	a-ni-ga-na-ti-s
rain	a-ga-na
rainbow	a-s-da-nv-nv
rainbow	u-nv-quo-la-da
raining	a-ga-s-ka
raining	a-ga-s-ga
range	tsa-le-gi
ridge	e-qua-ni
River	yv-wi gv-nah-i-ta
river	u-we-yv
river	nv-ya
river	e-quo-ni ge-yv-i-
rock	nv-yu
rock	nv-ya
rock	ma-ma
salt	a-ma
salt	ga-da-u-ni-gi-s-ti-yi
salt lick	na-yu
sand	no-yi
sand	no-ya
sand	a-me-quo-hi
sea	u-s-ta-la-na-li
shoals	ga-lu-na-di
silver	u-tsi-s-ta-lu-:gi-s-gi
silver	de-lv-ne-gv
silver	a-de-lv u-ne-ga
sky	ne-wa-di
sky	ga-lv-lo-i-
sleet	u-na-tsi
snow	v-tsi
snow	no-qui-si
snow	u-nu-tsi
snowing	gv-tsi-ha
spring	a-ma ga-nu-go-gv
stone	nv-yu
stones	ani-nv-ya
storm	ganolvsgi agasgi
stream	Uweyvi
stream	nv-do-i-ga-e-hi
sun	nv-da-e-ge-hi
sun	u-ne-la-nv-hi
sun	I-ga- e-hi nv-do
sunshine	de-ga-lv-yi
sunshine	a-ga-li-ha
sunrise	u-di-ga-lv-yi
sunset	e-ga-te-ga-wi

ant	tso-su-da-li
ant	do-sv-da-li
bass	u-no-ga
bed bug	ga-lu-i-s-di
bee	wa-du-li-si
bee	wa-du-li-si
bee	ga-s-go-ya
blacksnake	ga-le-gi
black racer	a-do-gi-ya-s-gi i-na-dv
black snake	gu-le-ga
black snake	u-ka-su-hi
bug	di-ga-na-wa-li
bug	tsi-go-ya
bullfrog	ka'
bullfrog	ka-nu-nu
butterfly	ka-ma-ma
catch-fly	ga-ni-da-wa-s-gi
caterpillar	s-go-ya a-ne-s-gi-lv-v-s-gi
catfish	tsu
centipede	tsu-ga-no-tsi
copperhead	wu-di-ge a-s
copperhead	wo-di-ge a-s-go-li
crawfish	tsi-s-ka-gi-li
crawfish	tsi-s
crawfish	tsi-s-dv-na
crayfish	go-dv-nv
cricket	ta-la
cricket	ta-la-du
doodle bug	ya-hu-li
dragonfly	wa-da-du-ga
earthworm	u-tsi-:ya
earthworm	u-ni-tsi-:ya
eel	tlv-de-ga
eel	dv-de-gi
fish	a-tsa-di
fish	u-tsu-ti
fish	da
fish	u-gv-s-ti-li
fishing	a-su-v-s-gi
fishing	a-su-hu-s-ka
flea	tsa-su-ga
flea	ka-se-he-la
flea	tsu-ga
fly	dv-ga
frog	wa-lo-s
frog	wa-la-di
frog	da-li
frog	wa-lo-si
frog	du-s
frog	s-go-yi
gnat	a-na-do-ga
grasshopper	tso-le-tsu
grasshopper	do-la-tsu-ga
grubs	tsv'-s-go'-yi
grubs	da-lo-ge
hog sucker	tla-nu-si
hornet	s-qua-du-li
hornet	se-wi-ha
horsefly<

Nature - Animals	People - Body & Aliments
Nature - Birds	People - Cherokee Society
Nature - Fish & Creepies	People - Clothing/ Fashion
Nature - Food & Drink	People - Emotions/ Behavior
Nature - Mother Earth	People - Names
Nature - Plants	People - Professsions/ Titles
Nature - Trees	People - Spirit/Cosmos
Colors & Numbers	General Words: A - Z
Direction & Measurement	Negative Words
Modern Devises	Positive Words
Place Names	Word Operations
Time	Phrases
Tools & Supply	Sounds

swamp	a-yv-da-qua-lo-s-gi
thunder	a-yv-da-qua-lo-s-gv
thunder	u-na-la-s-gi
thunder	u-no-le
tornado	u-ge-da-li-yv
valley	a-ma
valley	ge-da-li-yv-i-
water	a-ma
water	ma-ma'
water	yv-wi a-ma-yi-ne-hi
waterfall	a-tsi-la-di-ye-hi
will o' the wisp	u-nu-le
wind	u-no-le
wind	ga-no-lv-v-s-gv
wind	nv-gi-tsv-le
wood	a-da
wood	a-ta