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.
English - Cherokee - Phonetic
GREETINGS & COURTIESES
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
