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February 28, 2002

Cherokee language lesson: Be happy, valentine’s day

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Keywords: cherokee language lesson Cherokee language learn cherokee CHEROKEE LANGUAGE Cherokee Language Lessons how to say be happy in Cherokee language Valentine’s Day study with emphasis on the Eastern dialect or the Giduwa dialect Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian

Author: Bo Taylor

Cherokee language study with emphasis on the Eastern dialect or the Giduwa dialect. Includes sound recordings.

In this lesson you will learn about the Cherokee words for ways to say be happy and a sentence for Valentine’s Day.

You can add the command to be happy to you vocabulary. The audio portion only contains the command for the second person (you) and the description of Valentines Day.

Hi-da-li-he-li-ga
Let us (you all and I) be happy.

Hi-tsa-li-he-li-ga
You all be happy

Ha-li-he-li-ga
You be happy.

Ga-li-?e-li-ga
Let me happy.

Hi-na-li-he-li-ga
You and I be happy.

*Note: In the fourth translation for let me be happy this is not a misprint. Sometimes when you are talking in the first person, I, the (h) changes to slight pause and we use the (?) as a marker to note this variation. Don’t worry too much about it now.

In honor of St. Valentines here is how you would describe Valentines day.

Happy Valentines Day

Ha-li-he-li-g(a) a-da-ge-y(u)-di hu-do-da-gwi-sv-i

Be happy love all day long.

Be Happy.wav

About the Author:


Bo Taylor serves as Archivist for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. He is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian. Mr. Taylor has a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology with a minor in Cherokee Studies from Western Carolina University. He can read and write in the Cherokee language. Mr. Taylor gives lectures on the history of the Cherokee Indian, performs traditional Cherokee dances, and dances at Native American Pow-wows.

Visit the Official Cherokee web site for student lesson plans, Cherokee stories, the latest Cherokee news, and extensive Cherokee cultural information.

The official Cherokee Font is available here.

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