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Tlingit Alphabet

Tlingit Phrase of the Week

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Tlingit Phrase of the Week

Click the U symbol to hear Tlingit phrases spoken:

Aa yóo x’agaxdul.át yéide gé kgeegóot?
Are you going to the lecture? U

Yaakw woosh keegée yaguxdagoowú aadé gé kgeegóot?
Are you going to the canoe races? U

Archives:

May 30, 2006 Daakw aa yóo x’atánk kóo dultóowu yéide sá kgeegóot? Which language workshop are you going to? U
April 27, 2006 Daakw aa al’eixí xoox’ sá yéi ikgwatée? What dance group are you with? U
April 21, 2006 Kei kunak’éin. It’s starting to get warm. U			X’eikaxwéin yei x’akanalxwéin. The flowers are starting to bud. U
April 14, 2006 Haaw t’áni héen taa yéi naxtoo.oo. Let’s put branches in the water. U			Aadóoch sá haaw t’áni héen taa yéi woo.oo gáax’w yís. Who put the branches in the water for herring eggs? U
March 13, 2006 Ash koolyátde naxtoo.aat. Let’s go to the game. U			Ash koolyátx’ yéi ikkwasatéen. I’ll see you at the game. U
March 6, 2006 Aadóo sá gán akawlixóot? Who chopped wood? U			Ax éesh gán akawlixóot. My dad chopped wood. U
Feb. 27, 2006 Aadóo sá Xunaadé wookoox? Who went to Hoonah? U			Frank Xunaadé wookoox Frank went to Hoonah. U
Feb. 20, 2006 Góos’ tóotdax iwdzigeet. You fell from heaven (you’re an angel). U			Nóox’sée i shiyáak’w Your face is like a porcelain doll. U
Feb. 13, 2006 Ax téix’ katix’áayi i jeewú. You have the key to my heart. U			Ax yawat’aayi x’éit yis.á! Kiss my hot lips! U
Dec. 12, 2005 Aan yátx’u sáani “Noble people of this land” U			Lingít sh tóo xaltóow “I’m learning Lingít” U			Gunalchéesh ax ée at yilatóowu “Thank you for teaching me” U
Gunalchéesh ax x’éit yisa.aaxí “Thank you for listening to me” U			Gunalchéesh áyá x’axwdataaní “Thank you for allowing me to speak” U
Dec. 5, 2005 Goosú i kinaak.ádi ka i s’áaxu “Where is your coat and hat?” U			Wáa sá kawdudlisék’w i s’áaxu “What color is your hat?” U
Nov. 21, 2005 Yeegoot gé yóo al’eix aa sh tóo dultóow yá nisdaat? “Did you go to dance practice last night?” U			Gwátgeen sá tsu sh tóo at gaxdultóow? “When is the next dance practice?” U			Yá haadé yaa nagút aa síndi gé tsu kgeegóot aadé wé l’eix? “Are you going to the dance practice next week?” U
Nov. 14, 2005 Sh tugáa haa ditee yagéiyi át kaax. “We have much to be thankful for.” U			Yá at wuxá gunalchéesh. “Thank you for this food we have eaten.” U			Gunalchéesh yá haa t’éit’ yeeynaagí. “Thank you all for your support.” U
Gunalchéesh áyá yáa yee tula.aaní. “Thank you all for your friendship.” U			Gunalchéesh háa at yilashugú “Thank you for making me laugh!” U
Nov. 7, 2005 Daa sá yisa.éeyin yá shuwaxixí aa sínde? “What did you cook last week?” U			Daa sá kgisa.ée seigán? “What will you cook tomorrow?” U
Oct. 31, 2005 Kéi kunas.áat’ “It’s starting to get cold.” U			S’áaxw sháat adatín yáx duwatéen yóo shaa yá ts’ootaat. “This morning it looked like the mountain was wearing a hat.” U
Oct. 24, 2005 Nakw s’aatí yagiyeeyí áwé yá haadé yaa nagút aa síndi. “Halloween is next week.” U			Ch’a ldakát at yátx’i núkdzigaa át gugwa.áat. “All the kids will be out looking for candy.” U			Axoo aa kéi has shakaguxlagéi. “Some of them will look cute.” U
Axoo aa kéi has yakaguxlaxéitl’shan. “Some of them will look scary.” U
Oct. 17, 2005 Ax léelk’w guwakaan dleeyí ínx’eesháa tóo yéi aawa.oo tliyaa aa dís kát. “Last month my grandma put some deer meat in jars.” U			Kúnáx ax atxaayí áwé guwakaan dleeyí k’únts’i tín. “My favorite meal is deer meat with potatoes.” U
Oct. 10, 2005 Ax éesh ka ax dlaak’ guwakaan l’óon has woo.aat. “My Dad and my sister went deer hunting.” U			Ch’u dáxnáx áyá tlék’gaa has du jee yéi wootee. “The two of them got one each.” U
Oct. 3, 2005 Daa sá yéi ysine yáa kutaan “What did you do this summer?” U			Aangóonde kuxwaatéen. “I traveled to Angoon.” U			Deishúde ka Tlákw Aandé wutuwakoox. “We went to Haines and Klukwan (by motorized vehicle).” U
Ldakát haa xoonx’í Xunaadé wutudlitsóow xáat káx. “Our family went to Hoonah to go fishing.” U			Ax xoonítin kuwtuwak’ít’. “I picked berries with my friends.” U			Lingít daat át haa éewdudlitóow. “We were taught about Lingít.” U
Wutusiteen shayadihéini xóots. “We saw lots of brown bears.” U
Sept. 26, 2005 I kutaaní wáa sá wootee? “How was your summer?” U			Tlél wáa sá wootee. “It wasn't bad.” U			Kúnáx wook’éi. “It was really great.” U
Wulikoodzée! “It was amazing!” U			Ax daat át woogei. “I was very busy.” U			Tlax kútx yéi yikaawayáatl’. “It was too short.” U
June 27, 2005 Note: Tlingit has no word that directly translates as ‘weekend’, so fluent speakers have given us two options: borrow the English word, or use the word ‘du wulsaayí’ which means ‘his / her rest time’
Yilsaayí wáa sá wootee? “How was your weekend?” U			Wáa sá wootee iweekendí? “How was your weekend?” U			Kúnáx wook’éi. “It was great.” U
Wutudiwoo eekx’ at gatooxaa. “We went to the beach for a picnic.” U			haadé yaa nagút sínde “the coming week” U			Ax táayee daa yéi jikkwané yaa haadé yaa nagút aa sínde. “Next week I will work in my garden.” U
June 20, 2005 Shaaw gaa ákwé yeegoodín? “Did you all go to get gumboots?” U			Aáa, tleeyaatgé. “Yes, we went last week.” U			Tléik’, yaa haadé yaa nagút aa sínde gaxtoo.áat. “No, we will go next week.” U
June 13, 2005 Where did you walk to? Goodéi sá yeegoodín? U			I walked to the store. Hoon daakahídidé xwaagoot U			Where did you all walk to? Goodé sá yeey.aat? U
We walked to the bookstore. X’úx’ daakahídidé wutuwa.aat U			Where did you travel to? Goodéi sá ikawdiyaayín? U			I flew to Hoonah. Xunaadéi xwdikeen U
I went (by bicycle) to see my friend. Ax xooní xánde sh kaxwdlitseix U			Where did you all travel to? Goodé sá yeekawdiyáayin U			We flew to Haines. Deishúde wutudikeen U
We drove to the bank. Dáanaa daakahídidé wutuwakúx U
June 6, 2005 What were you doing? Daa sá yéi daa.inéiyin? U			I was cooking. At xasa.éeyin U			What were you all doing? Daa sá yéi daaynéiyin? U
We were eating. At tooxáayin U			We were fishing (with a hook). A toost’eixín U
May 30, 2005 Daa sá i jeewú? “What do you have?” U			Héen ax jeewú. “I have water.” U			Tlél héen ax jee. “I don’t have water.” U
Héen gé i jeewú? “Do you have water?” U			Aadoo jeewúsá héen? “Who has water?” U
May 23, 2005 Wáa sá i tuwatee? “How are you?” (emotional emphasis) U			Tlél gé wáa sá eetí? “Are you OK?” U			Xat tukawdiyúk. “I’m nervous.” U
Ax toowú yanéekw. “I’m sad.” U
May 16, 2005 Daa sá yisa.éeyin tatgé? “What did you cook yesterday?” U			Xáat xwashee.útl’ tatgé. “Yesterday I boiled fish.” U			Xáat gagaxtoos.ée seigán. “We are going to cook fish tomorrow.” U
May 9, 2005 Gwátk sáwé at iyaxáa ts’ootáat atxaayí? “When did you eat breakfast?” U			Gishoo taayí ka k’wát xwaaxáa ts’ootaat atxaayí. “I ate bacon and eggs for breakfast.” U			Gwátgeen sáwé gageexáa sitgaawsáan atxaayí? “When will you eat lunch?” U
Gáax’w gatooxaaa ya satgaawsáan atxaayí sákw. “Let’s eat herring eggs for lunch.” U
May 2, 2005 Xáat dísi “July” “Salmon month; when the fish return” U			Shaa xeiyí dísi “August” “Mountain shadow month” U			Dis yádi “September” “Child moon; young moon” U
Dís tlein “October” “Big moon” U			Kukahaa dísi “November” “Digging / scratching moon; when bears dig and prepare their winter dens” U			Sháanáx dísi “December” “Through-the-head month; when hair shows on the seal embryo’s head” U
T’aawák dísi “January” “Canada Goose month; when geese fly and call” U			S’eek dísi “February” “Black bear month; when the cubs are born” U			Héen taanáx kayaaní dísi “March” “Month of underwater plant budding” U
X’éigaa kayaaní dísi “April” “Month of true plant budding; when land plants begin to bud and sprout” U			At gadaxit yinaa dísi “May” “Month before giving birth (literally, “breeding”)” U			At gadaxit dísi “June” “Birth moon; when animals give birth” U

April 25, 2005 Goodéi sá ituwatee? “Where do you want to go?” U			Aandéi kwagoot “I’m going to go to town” U			I een naka.aat kwshé? “Can I come with you?” U
Naxtoo.aat. “Let’s go!” U
April 18, 2005 Éekka.ádi “Beach” U			Neechdéi xwaagoot. “I went to the beach.” U			S’ook xwasiteen. “I saw barnacles.” U
Noow s’áawk’ xwasiteen. “I saw hermit crabs.” U			Ts’ésx’w xwasiteen. “I saw snails.” U			Yéil ts’áaxu xwasiteen. “I saw limpets.” U
Weix’ xwasiteen. “I saw tidepool sculpins.” U			Yaak xwasiteen. “I saw mussels.” U			Tayataayí xwasiteen. “I saw sea anemones.” U
Nées’ xwaasieen. “I saw sea urchins.” U			Yéin xwasiteen. “I saw sea cucumbers.” U			S’áx xwaatéen. “I saw sea stars.” U
Shaaw xwasiteen. “I saw gumboots.” U
April 11, 2005 Wáa sá sh tudinookw i tláa?“How is your mother feeling? U			”Wáa sá kuwanóok i éesh?“What is your Dad doing?” U			I léelk’w éet gé yaan.uwaháa?“Is your grandmother hungry?” U
Ax yítk’ shaawakúx. “My son is thirsty.” U			Wáa sá duwaasáakw i dachxán? “What is your grandchild’s name?” U
April 4, 2005 Terms of address:
Atlée “Mom” U				Éesh “Dad” U	yítk' “son” U
sík' “daughter” U				chxánk' “grandchild” U	léelk'w “grandparent” U
kélk' or kálk'w “niece/nephew” U				ax “my” U	i “your” (singular) U
du “his/her” U				haa “our” U	yee “your” (plural) U
has du “their” U
March 28, 2005 At gatooxaayí! “Let’s eat!” U				Ax jeet kasatán wé ách at dusxa át. “Hand me a fork.” U	Ax jeet tán wé s’íx’ “Hand me a plate.” U
Ax jeet sa.ín wé kaaxwéi. “Hand me some coffee.” U				Nadáakw káx' yan yéi sané. “Put them on the table.” U	Yak'éi gé i atxaayí? “ Is your food good?” U
Kunáx ax x’éi yak’éi. “This is delicious!” U
March 21, 2005 Basketball game dé yaa ntoo.át. “We’re going to the basketball game. U				Ash kanaxtoolyát! “Let’s play!” U	Kei Kagéex’! “Shoot!” U
Yak’éi! “Good!” U				Yan yeené! “Be ready! (Defense!)” U	Aasá kuyaawadlaak? “Who won?” U
(Team) yaawadlaak. “(Team) won.” U
March 14, 2005 Gáax’w ax éet uwaháa. “I’m hungry for herring eggs.” U				Gáax’w gé i jeewú? “Do you have any herring eggs?” U	Aasá gáax’w a jeewú? “Who has herring eggs?” U
Gáax’w gé i tuwáa sigóo? “Do you want herring eggs?” U		Gáax’w gatooxaayí! “Let’s eat herring eggs!” U
March 7, 2005 X’oon gaaw sáyá? “What time is it?” U
Déix gaaw áyá. “It’s 2:00.” U	Déix gaaw ka ashoowú áyá. “It’s 2:30.” U							S’ootaat atxá gaawú áyá. “It’s time for breakfast.” U
Sitgawsáan atxá gaawú áyá. “It’s lunch time.” U	Xáanaa atxá gaawú áyá. “It’s dinner time.” U							Tá gaawú áyá. “It’s time for bed.” U

Feb. 28, 2005 tléix’ “one” U	déix “two” U							nás’k “three” U
daax’oon “four” U	keijín “five” U							tleidooshú “six” U
daxadooshú “seven” U	nas’gadooshú “eight” U							gooshúk “nine” U
jinkaat “ten” U	jinkaat ka tléix’ “eleven” U							jinkaat ka déix “twelve” U
tleikáa “twenty” U	tleikáa ka tléix’ “twenty-one” U							nás’k jinkaat “thirty” U
daax’oon jinkaat “forty” U	keijín jinkaat “fifty” U							tleidooshú jinkaat “sixty” U
daxadooshú jinkaat “seventy” U	nas’gadooshú jinkaat “eighty” U							gooshúk jinkaat “ninety” U
tléix’ hándit “one hundred” U	déix hándit “two hundred” U
Feb. 21, 2005 Wáa sá sh teedinook? “How are you feeling?” U
Tléil ushk’é. “Not good.” U	Xat yanéekw. “I’m sick.” U							Xat wudixwétl. “I’m tired.” U
Tléil ushk’é. “Not good.” U	Xat yanéekw. “I’m sick.” U							Xat wudixwétl. “I’m tired.” U
Feb. 14, 2005 Xat isixán agé? “Do you love me?” U
Ixsixán! “I love you!” U	Ldakát wuháanch, itusixán. “We love you.” U							I likoodzée! “You’re awesome!” U
Feb. 7, 2005 Ax toowóo sigóo ixwsakoowú! “I’m happy to know you!” U	I shakligéi! “You’re cute!” U							Haandéi I jín! “Shake hands!” U
Jan. 31, 2005 Ax éet idashí. “I need help." U
Gunalchéesh ax éet yidasheeyí. “Thank you for helping me.” U
Jan. 24, 2005 Daa sá i éet uwaháa? “What are you hungry for?” U
Xáat ax éet uwaháa. “I’m hungry for fish.” U
Ishaawakúx gé? “Are you thirsty?” U	Héen gé ituwáa sigóo? “Do you want water?” U							Tsook’ gé? “Do you want more?” U
Déi áwé. Xat shaawahík. “That’s enough. I’m full.” U
Dec. 20, 2004 Gu.aal kwshé yak’éi itáakw ijeet wugoodík “May a good year come to you” U
Dec. 13, 2004 Neildé gé gageegóot atxá yís? “Are you coming home to eat?” U
Aáa, wéidé yakáa wuháa “Yes, I’ll be there” U	Tléik’ “No.” U
Dec. 6, 2004
I yéi jiné yí yak’éi ”You do good work” U	Yak’éi i een yéi jixanéyí ”It’s good to work with you” U
Nov. 29, 2004
Tsu yéi ikkwasatéen ”I’ll see you again” U	Jinkwát sheeltín ”Take care” U							Igu.aa yax x’wán ”Have courage” U
Nov. 22, 2004 Wáa sá kuwatee? "How’s the weather?" U
Tlél kooshk’é "The weather isn’t good" U	Kei kunas.áat’ "It’s getting cold" U							Séew daak wusitán "It’s raining" U
Dleit daak wusitán "It’s snowing" U	Kuligóos’ "It’s cloudy" U
Nov. 15, 2004 Wáa sá keeyanóok? "What are you doing?" U
Yéi jixané. "I am working" U	Xadatóow. "I am reading" U							Kaxashxeet. "I am writing" U
Nov. 8, 2004 Daa sáwé gees.ée? "What are you cooking?" U
Xáat gaxas.ée "I am cooking fish" U
Nov. 1, 2004 Daa sá i tuwáa sigóo yei daa i neiyí? “What do you want to do?” U
Ax tuwáa sigóo xwataayí “I want to sleep” U	Ax tuwáa sigóo at xwaxayí “I want to eat” U							Neildéi ax tuwaatee “I want to go home” U
Oct. 25, 2004 Goodéi sá yaa neegút? “Where are you walking to?” U
Neildéi yaa nxagút “I’m walking home” U	Atxá daakahídidéi yaa nxagút “I’m walking to the restaurant” U							Dáanaa daakahídidéi yaa nxagút “I’m walking to the bank” U
Oct. 18, 2004 Daat naax sá i sitee? “What moiety are you?” U
Yéil naax xat sitee “I’m Raven” U	Ch’áak’ naax xat sitee “I’m Eagle” U
Oct. 11, 2004 Goox’ sá yéi i yatee? “Where do you live?” U
Dzántik’i héenix’ yéi xat yatee. “I live in Juneau” U	Sheet’káx’ yéi xat yatee. “I live in Sitka” U
Oct. 4, 2004 Daat eeteenáx sá i yatee? “What do you need?” U
Dáanaa eeteenáx xat yatee “I need money” U	Héen eeteenáx xat yatee “I need water” U
Sept. 27, 2004 I éet agé yaan.uwaháa? “Are you hungry?” U
Aáa, ax éet yaan.uwaháa “Yes, I’m hungry” U	Tléik’, tlél ax éet yaan.uwaháa “No, I’m not hungry” U
Sept. 20, 2004 Daa sáwé eexá? “What are you eating?” U
Xáat xaxá “I’m eating fish” U	Gáax’w xaxá “I’m eating herring eggs” U
Sept. 13, 2004 Wáa sá i yatee? “How are you?” U
Xat yak’éi “I’m fine” U	Tlél wáa sá “OK” U
Sept. 6, 2004
Yak’éi ixwsateení “It’s good to see you” U	Yak’éi yee xwsateení “It’s good to see you all” U

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