ts'axokdęyh
I feel sad
dzeen uudíh díigha lé'e ts'axokdęy
for some reason all day I felt sad.
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
Y
main page
sad
ts'axokdęyh
I feel sad
dzeen uudíh díigha lé'e ts'axokdęy
for some reason all day I felt sad.
Salcha
Sahcheeg
saliva
séek
syn spit
salmon
Salmon do not run in any significant numbers in the
immediate Tanacross area.
łuug delt'el
sockeye salmon
literally 'red fish'
łuug chox
king salmon
literally 'big fish'
salmonberry
nkáatl
(Rubus chamemorous)
salt
lsel
saltshaker
lsel tiił
Sam Creek
Taak'etth Ndiig
Sam Creek on the south side of the Tanana River
Sha' Theeg Ndiig
Sam Creek that flows into Sam Lake from the northwest
Official USGS name is Sand Creek.
Sam Lake
Ch'inchedl Měnn'
Official USGS name is Sand Lake
same
niłk'enel'ąą
same amount
niłk'exnel'ąą ts'į́' xútl'ach'ųhchuut dé'
give them the same amount of food.
sand
thaayh
also gravel
sandbar
thaayh téeł
sandhill crane
deeł
syn crane
(Grus canadensis)
sane
xunsųų nanich'etthet
she or he is sane, rational
sap
(birch)
k'įįł
birch sap
sheen tah shę́ę' k'įįł xołeex
they only collect birch sap during the summer
saucer
ch'eketl'aagh'
save
dheksheyh
I saved him or her
saw
ch'itl'ęy'
handsaw
tsets intl'ęyh
saw the firewood
Sawmill Creek
Maa Ch'et-tl'eeg Ndîig
\de
say
diinih
you say
| dihnih | xonih |
| dinih | dahnih |
| nih | xenih |
| dihní' | dziní' |
| diní' | dahní' |
| diní' | xdiní' |
nedíhnih
I say to you, I'm telling you
medíhnih
I say to her or him
shedíinih
you say to me, you tell me
medíinih
you say to him/her
xuu'edíinih
you say to them
yehnih
she or he says to her/him
t'êey xú' díinih
say it again
scale
łuug ekguuth
I am scaling fish
| ekguuth | ts'ehguuth |
| įhguuth | ahguuth |
| ehguuth | xehguuth |
scalp
shtthits'ědl'
my scalp
scar
shétth
scar
wunę́ę' k'et shétth ée'ąą
his face is scarred
scarce
nintsîin
it is scarce
sheen dą́'ą jêg nintsîin ts'į́' k'á jêg néktsí́il
this past summer berries were scarce so I didn't pick berries
see few
scare
nnekjíit
I scared you
menegjet
I am scared of it
naa łii diineltl'ûun menegjed sínt'eh
I am scared of that dog tied up there
scared
see afraid
scarf
ttheet'aał
scatter
naytetdek
she is scattering it
staniłxnetdeetl
they scattered, ran away in different directions
scattered
(about)
niłch'edûug tah
scattered about
Jah keey niłch'edûug tah shax xuudlah
the houses are scattered about here and there
scaup, lesser
(duck)
naltthogh
(Aythya affinis)
school
xáxdeldiix shax
scissors
łétdeldôdz
eek tedhektsiin gha ch'ěl' ekdóts
I'm cutting material to make a dress
scold
yédadée'ah
she or he is scolding him or her
ts'enîin etdzuug gha wunąą yédadée'ah
the mischievous child was scolded by his or her mother
scorch
łaadéłuut
he or she scorched it, charred it (done by accident)
see crisp
scoter
(duck)
ndêl
white-winged scoter
(Melanitta fusca)
taatsą́ą' ndêl
surf scoter
(Melanitta perscpicillata)
scrape (skins)
yehjeeyh
she or he is scraping it
| ekjeeyh | yits'ehjeeyh |
| įhjeeyh | ahjeeyh |
| yehjeeyh | xiyehjeeyh |
ihtthox
I am scraping it
| ihtthox | ts'etthox |
| intthox | ahtthox |
| yetthox | xiyetthox |
ch'ethéth étthox
he or she is scraping a hide
ghįntthą́ą'ą
scraped skin ready for tanning
scraper
ch'itthogh'
scraper tool for tanning skins
náhttheł
flesher; scraper tool for removing flesh from skin
scraps
ch'edǔul'
scraps, bits and pieces
ch'egěddh'
scraps, leftover pieces of moose or caribou skin
scratch
shits'ét
she or he scratched me
nihts'ét
you scratched me
edishts'ét
I scratched myself
xoots'ét
he, she or it is scratching an area
shłǐig' nah'âaz xoots'ét
my dog is scratching over there (for example, to
come in)
shk'ech'itxuts
I got a scratch (on my skin)
screw
see twist
scrub
see wash
seagull
There are several species of gulls found the Tanacross
area. See 'gull' for the details.
mehk'ą̂ąy
mew gull
(Larus canus)
syn gull
seal
see glued
seam
ch'eką́ą' k'ée
seam in sewing
search
mikah naxtegsheek
I am searching, rummaging around for it
mikah nats'eneta'
we are searching, looking for him or her
Sears Creek
(AK Hwy xng @ Mile 1374)
T'ees K'en' Chox Ndiig
Xk'ann' Nda'
\de
secret
daxtneedhįh'įį
keep it secret
ch'enǎasheg tah daaninshah
she or he came into the house secretly, came in unnoticed
see
Words for 'see' and 'look' are the same.
nek-'ęh
I see (it)
| nek-'ęh | ts'eneh'ęh |
| nįh'ęh | nah'ęh |
| yineh'ęh | xiyneh'ęh |
| nek-'ę́' | ts'eneh'ę́' |
| nįh'ę́' | nah'ę́' |
| yineh'ę́' | xiyneh'ę́' |
díi nį́h'ęh?
what do you see?
ch'enasheg tah dendeh dendîig neh'ęh
Down below the man sees a moose
nnek-'ęh
I see you
shnįh'ęh
you see me
see look
seed
(in berry)
wunihtth'eey'
natnalsheegh
seeds
seek
see search
seize
see grab
seldom
niłch'eduug tah
rarely, seldom
niłch'eduug tah shęę shéł etdaax
he or she seldom visits me
xaatáa tah
seldom
xaatáa tah shęę sh'éł éedaax
he or she seldom visits me
also scattered
sell
én' tedhihdlah
I sold it
semipalmated plover
theen ch'enelzhaay
\de
(Charadrius semipalmatus)
send
níníh'ąą
I sent it
k'ahdan dą́'ą wuts'į́' níyíníh'ąą
I sent it to him or her yesterday
sense
wuk'éníghíhthet
I sensed its presence
separate
ekketl
I am separating it
ch'emet ehketl
he or she is separating the stomach lining
This word is only used for this action.
niłts'edíndlah
it is separated
niłk'exughihdlah
I separated them
łeexetxaan gha niłchedenh níxú'inihdlah
I separated them because they were fighting
September
wunenh ch'et'ą̌ą' dit-tsiig
literally 'month when the leaves turn yellow'
serve
wutl'ách'ekchuut
I served him or her food
settlement
keey
syn village
seven
niłk'etaag wuk'ed
sew
nâach'enihtl'ú'
I am sewing
| nâach'enihtl'ú' | nâats'inetl'ú' |
| nâach'enintl'ú' | nâach'ahtl'ú' |
| nâach'enetl'ú' | nâach'axnetl'ú' |
éth íntl'uh
you are making (sewing) a dipnet
nanihtl'ú'u
the sewing
sewing kit
t'ahxúdlâay
shade
saa naat'aagh
shade from the sun
shadow
wushǐig'
it's shadow
saa naat'aagh
shadow of the sun
shake
detndiiyh
it is shaking
see shiver
| dishdiiyh | dzetndiiyh |
| ditndiiyh | datndiiyh |
| detndiiyh | xdetndiiyh |
nejet ts'enh xadishndiiyh
I am shaking from fright
ch'edzes éł shax detndiiyh
the house is shaking from the dance
dihxaat
I am shaking it (blanket) out
tuu ihtl'ek
I am shaking water (in a container)
shallow
texnįhk'ôdl
water is shallow
nadaxnink'odl
depression in ground (hole, gully) is shallow, bank
(of river) is not steep
shallows
dees
shallows in creek
dees k'et dehłęęyh
water flows over shallows
shaman
deshen
syn medicine man
share
niłts'i'alsheeyh
share it
na'aa ts'enh tsets niłts'e'alsheeyh
share some wood from the pile out there
sharp
dehk'eyh
it is sharp
jah seey dehk'eyh
this is a sharp knife
ts'iit ch'ox dehk'eyh
porcupine quills are sharp
sharpen
nak'á'éhtseyh
she or he is sharpening it
shatter
łatnaldox
it shattered, broke to pieces
menh k'et łuut łatnaldox
the ice on the lake shattered
shave
xa'etnet-t'aath
she or he is shaving (body hair)
xa'etnisht'aath
I am shaving
eksees
I am shaving, planning wood
kón' yi'éł naduh k'aay gha ch'esees
he or she is shaving wood to make wood shavings for the fire
shavings
(wood)
ch'esees
she
Tanacross does not have non-specific words that refer to
the gender of 'that other' person. A separate word for 'he,
she or it' 'is rarely used. Instead, who or what is involved
is a necessary part of the verb. A separate word can be
used to point out or emphasize a particular 'she' and is
often translated as 'that person'.
nâan
that one (person or thing)
naan nt'sé miisí'?
what is that person's name?
shed
(feathers)
see molt
sheep
demee
Dall sheep
(Ovis dalli)
Sheep Creek
(AK Hwy xng @ Mile 1342)
Demee Ndaag
literally 'sheep lick'
shin
sdzaad'
my shin
shine
neldzeeyh
it (light other than sun) is shining
shenįhdzeeyh
shine the light on me
xesadin'ąą
sun is shining
shirt
ch'esek
shirt, blouse
eek
shirt, dress, coat
ch'et'aa eek
undershirt
dlaat eek
shirt
shiver
dissiis
I am shivering (from cold)
| dissiis | ts'etsiis |
| ditdsiis | dat-siis |
| det-siis | xdet-siis |
shock
(excl)
edzíi'
\de
shoe
nondlêed kentsįįth
modern shoes
kentsįįth
shoes
also slipper, moccasin
shoot
Two different words can be used to refer to shooting a
gun or bow.
dhekdeyh
I shot it
maydegdék
I shoot and missed it
ká' tedhekdeyh
I fired a gun
dedhehk'ax
I shot it
k'á' téldek
a gun fired, went off
shooting star
sén' tsáan'
syn meteor, falling star
shore
taamâagh
syn beach
menh mâagh
lake shore
short
(short distance, length)
dink'odl
short (e.g. any plant material, hair)
tsets dink'odl shęę t'įh'ęh
pick out only short wood
nink'odl
short (e.g. rope-like objects, mountains)
tth'éex nink'odl ts'į́' inxąą
make short pieces of sinew
xnink'odl
short distance
(short time)
nihkodl dą́ą'
short time ago
nihk'odl dé' tah
in a little while
k'á níntthógh
not long (temporal)
tetth dą́'ą k'á nín tthógh ihté́e'
last night I didn't sleep much
shortening
xee
syn grease, lard
shoulder
shxěddh'
my shoulder
shoulder blade
shgaanchěnn'
my shoulder blade
shout
ihsek
I'm shouting
| ihsek | ts'esek |
| insek | ahsek |
| esek | xesek |
Nah'ǒg ts'inkeey iin xesek
The kids are outside shouting
wuts'į́' ihsek
I am shouting to him or her
see shriek
shove
see push
shovel
see sweep
shoveler
(duck)
daałeeł
daalemets
(Anas clypeata)
show
nech'axnek-'ęh
I am showing it to you
shshax meech'axnek-'ęę'
I showed him her or her my house
shrew
tsudaakeey
(Sorex arcticus)
shriek
ihseł
I am shrieking, screaming
shch'áa éseł
he or she shrieked away from me
delts'ux
an animal, bird shrieks, screams
dihtl'iis
I am shrieking (in terror)
shrike
jîiz maay
syn northern shrike
(Lanius excubitor)
shrivel
natelts'ųųts
it shriveled up, became smaller
jêg natelts'ųųts
the berries shriveled up
shut
(door)
see close
shy
nee'exų́hshąą
it is shy, wary of us (like a fox)
siblings
sh'éł ts'enindêg iin
my siblings
sick
ehts'iik
he is sick
| dhekts'iik | ts'ehts'iik |
| dhįhts'iik | dhahts'iik |
| ehts'iik | xehts'iik |
ehts'iig éł na'itshah xúu' xditndeyh ts'į́' sitdę́'ę
she or he usually comes home sick
sickness
ts'iik
syn ailment, disease
ts'iik t'ishíłáak
I am ill, sick
side
wuts'ęy
dists'ęy taghinhaał
walk on this side
wusts'ęy taghinhaał
walk on this side (the outside) of the trail
side-by-side
niłk'eddh
next to each other, side by side
niłk'eddh náxedéex
they are standing side-by-side
sign
wuts'į́' xáxáltsįį
she or he had a sign of something to come
syn premonition
wuk'eh
sign of an animal--can refer to things like a patch of fur, or
a scent marking
signal
see wave (hand)
silent
daadehxetl
he, she or it is being silent
silly
tsą́ą'el'ęę
she or he is acting silly, clowning around
datnet-ttheey
she or he is being funny, telling jokes
silt
łéemah
also dust
silverberry
nihmá'
(Elaegnus commutata)
similar
k'eh
similar, like
shk'eh sitdę'ę
she or he is doing it like me
niłts'į́' at-t'ęę
they are similar in appearance
simple
shée' k'et'êey
simple
shée' k'et'êey maa t'iyíit'eh
it is simple for him or her
It is injih to say something is simple or easy for yourself.
sinew
tth'éex
sing
ch'edihłih
I am singing
| ch'edihłih | ts'edzełih |
| ch'dinłih | ch'edahłih |
| ch'edełih | ch'exedełih |
singe
dets'ên dzehłet
we are singeing ducks
ts'iit ekłet
I am singeing porcupine
ts'iit wunach'udéełed
singed porcupine
single
(not married)
dish_ę́ę' éedaay
an unmarried person
sink
tetayinin'ąą
it sank (went to the bottom)
sinus
\cl
shinchit'ah
my sinus
sip
tedhegts'eek
I sipped it
nategts'áax
I am sipping it
wuts'enh ch'ilts'eex
take a sip from this
nach'elts'eex
he sipped it
sister
Tanacross uses different words for older and younger
sisters.
shaadeh
my older sister
shdéedz'
my younger sister
sister-in-law
Tanacross has different words for referring to a man's
sister-in-law or a women's sister-in-law.
shxeh
my sister in-law (man's)
shtlęę
my sister-in-law (women's)
sister's child
(man's)
sh'aaz
sit
Different Tanacross words are used for when talking about
one or more than one person.
didhihdah
I am sitting
xdélttth'ih
they are sitting
| didhihdah | didzéltth'ih |
| didhindah | didédhaltth'ih |
| di'eedah | dixdélttth'ih |
xunsųų deh didhihdah
I'm sitting here comfortably
dítl'ádédhíshdah
I sat for a long time (without getting up)
dítl'ádédhishttháat
I sat back down (quickly)
six
niłk'etaag
size
ndóxk'e ghįhchaax?
what size is it?
skate
nátéljeyh
she or he is skating, sliding on ice, walking on ice by shuffling
feet
luu k'et nátéljeyh
he or she is skating on the ice
skeleton
dendeh tth'ěnn'
\de
skin
shthéth
my skin
ch'ethéth
it is hide, pelt, skin
ch'ethéth tatnit-tthogh
a tanned skin
syn pelt, hide
nat'u'ekte'
I am skinning it (used only for small animals like a rabbit or
muskrat)
gah nat'u'ekte'
I am skinning a muskrat
nat'udhekch'eł
I�m skinning it (small animal) by tearing the skin off
see flesh, tan
skin house
niimaal shax
traditional skin house
skin stretcher
ch'eshítadi'aay
skinny
nelgęyh
he, she or it is skinny
also dry
ehts'iik dą́'ą ts'enh nelgęyh
he or she is skinny because he or she was sick
skip
(motion)
yajehchék
she or he is skipping (like skipping rope)
skipping rocks
tedhek-k'eeyh
I am skipping it (rocks across the water)
tthee ts'ehk'eeyh
we are skipping rocks
skirt
ch'etl'áh théth
skull
shtthitth'en2nn'
my skull
sky
shaa
shaa k'et cheltsonh
the sky is clear
díi yaa k'et nį́h'ęh?
What you see in the sky?
slam
łdatneninsheł
she or he slammed the door
łdach'etneninsheł
she or he slammed it shut
slant
naxk'ą́ąy tah di'ee'ąą
it is slanted
nak'ą́ąy ts'į́' dídétaan
a tree is slanted
k'ą́ąy ts'į́' táxk'éghíh'ąą
I put it in slanted, sideways
slap
nédhihkét
I slapped him or her
shneekét
he or she slapped me
yinekét
she or he is slapping him or her
slate
tthee ch'ithogh
slate or shale
literally 'scraper rock'
This kind of rock was used to make the tool for
scraping skins.
slave
eldaax
a slave, drudge
sled
xetl
sled, especially modern sled with a raised basket
łii xědl' ghá' ch'e jah níníhshaay
I got here by dogsled
meth
toboggan style sled
Parts of a sled
xetl théth
sled cover
xetl keetl'aad
sled runner
xeth daamaath
brushbow
xetl tį́į'
sled handlebars
xetl dzaad'
sled stanchion
kexnats'éł
sled brake (the brake anchored to the sled)
sleep
Three different Tanacross words are used when talking
about 'sleep'. One refers to sleep as a thing, while two
others words refer to sleep as an event.
meł shdehtląą
I am sleepy
meł ndehtląą?
are you sleepy?
xaameł yįhtęę
she or he fell asleep
shch'aa meł delneyh
I couldn't fall asleep
Different action words are used for talking about one
or more than one person.
eetęę
she or he is sleeping
xehteets
they're sleeping
| dhihtęę | ts'ehteets |
| dhintęę | dhahteets |
| eetęę | xehteets |
| ghihté' | ts'įhteets |
| ghinté' | ghahteets |
| ghinté' | xghįhteets |
xunsųų ghihté'
I slept well
shíi nehté'
he or she slept deeply
xeelach'uhté'
he or she overslept
tneetęę
she or he is going to sleep
sleet
ch'et-suux
sleeve
shmǎad'
my sleeve
shmǎad' xanektąą
I'm rolling up my sleeves
slice
ektsaat
I am slicing it
yits'enh xach'éhtsaat
he is slicing off a piece of it
see cut
slick
see slippery
slide
xda'eljeyh
he or she is sliding down
ts'inkeey iin xetl shíi xdáxghéljeyh
children were sliding down in a sled (repeatedly).
slimy
ch'etl'ěey'
something slimy
łuug tl'ěey'
fish slime
slip
łuut k'et keech'édhekjaak
I slipped on the ice
tl'uuł mintl'á' ts'enh xanat-ts'eth
rope slipped out of his or her hand
slipper
kentsįįth
also shoe, moccasin
slippery
xultlet
it (area) is slippery
nah'og xúltlet
it's slippery outside
slope
teyh k'iig
slope of a hill
slowly
xá' tah
slowly
xá' tah xninhéeyh
talk slowly
xá' tah aahaał
he or she is walking slowly
slurp
nach'egts'eex
I'm slurping
slushy
naxnit-seex
it is slushy
shétth nitdzeex
snow is slushy
small
gaay
tsûug tsúugaay éł nûun gaay éł eldíił
marten eat birds and small animals
díi gaay ch'e t'ih'en!
what a small amount!
ntsûudl
it is small
teltsedz ntsûudl
mice are small
smart
ndaxdinshąą
he or she is smart
ndaxdinshá'
he became smart, received an education
smash
xatnekxotl
I smashed it
smear
yinech'aak
she or he smeared him or her (with mud, jelly, googy
stuff)
smell
ektsenh
I smell it
| ektsenh | ts'ehtsenh |
| įhtsenh | ahtsenh |
| yehtsenh | xiyehtsenh |
ndée ts'enh ch'e łet ts'ehtsen?
where is the smoke we smell coming from?
mexaltsenh
it smells
smile
tsąąyinehthenh
he's smiling
| tsąąyinekhthenh | tsąąts'iyinįhthenh |
| tsąąyinįhthenh | tsąąyinahthenh |
| tsąąyinįhthenh | tsąąxiyinįhthenh |
shee' t'eey tsąąxiyinįhthenh
they are smiling for no particular reason
smoke
łet
smoke
wushax ts'enh łet xadetjut
smoke is coming out of the house
jehłet
he or she is smoking a skin (part of tanning
processes)
jehk'én'
he's smoking a cigarette
łet nadalt'enh
it is smokey (for example from forest fires)
smoke hole
łet ndǔ'
smokehouse
má' shax
literally 'dry fish house'
smoking pipe
ts'edutthé'
smolder
yidehjut
it is smoldering
tth'êy ch'aa łet detjut
the smoldering fire keeps moquitoes away
natnét-tthet
fire is smoldering
smooth
xiyehsees
he or she made it smooth
This refers to using a tool to smooth the surface of
something solid like wood.
snack
xkéen'
snacks, rations
xkéen' unindiyh
get some snacks
snag
dałųų'delneyh
it is snagged, stuck, hung up on something
sax dałųų'delneyh
my gaff hook is snagged
snail
tl'aas
also clam, mussel
snap
wuk'edénínshiits
snap, break it off
nah'óg ts'enh k'ę́y' k'edínshiidz shtl'adintiiyh
give me a willow branch that you snapped off outside
snare
gaał
snare
míił
caribou snare
xok
spring type snare for rabbits
tixxod
xoł
snare barricade (used esp. for rabbits)
gaał k'ée
area that snares are set
yiłųų'
he or she snared it
| idhihłų́ų' | ts'iiłų́ų' |
| ídhinłų́ų' | ídhahłųų' |
| yiłų́ų' | xíyiłų́ų' |
gah eełų́ų'
she or he snared a rabbit
sneak around
nach'axtnel'iik
she or he is sneaking around
nach'etneg'iik
I am sneaking around
sneeze
suu' eg'ęh
I sneezed
literally 'I had a premonition of something'
suu' el'ęh
he or she sneezed
sniff
ch'ehtsenh
it is sniffing something
snipe
(bird)
yáatthų̂ų
common snipe
snore
ch'utnehxonh
she or he is snoring
| ch'utnekxonh | ts'itnehxonh |
| ch'utnįhxonh | ch'utnahxonh |
| ch'utnehxonh | ch'axtnehxonh |
snort
sha'eh'ąą
wudzih sha'eh'ąą
a bunch of caribou are making noise, snorting
snout
(animal's nose)
minchedl'
its snout
snow
Tanacross has similar but not identical words for
'snow falling' and 'snow on the ground'
shétth
snow (on ground)
ch'inseex
slushy snow
dahshêddh
snow on trees
ched
top layer of deep snow
ttheeyh
coarse bottom snow (good for melting for water)
ch'et-suux
snow grains, ice pellets
ch'ets'į́' dahkég
snow drift
ch'udaaméet
snow-free spot
xłuu
ice crust on snow
words about 'snow the event' follow:
ehsháatth
it is snowing
xunchaagh t'êey ehsháatth
it's snowing really hard
ghįhsháatth
it snowed
téhshatth
it is starting to snow
xá'xuh ehsháatth
snow flurry
tęy k'et det-ts'iik
snow is blowing on the trail
snowbird
Also known as a snow bunting
xgeek
snowbird
(Plectrophenax nivalis)
wugaał sęy
black snow bunting
snowshoe
aayh
snowshoe
The various parts of a snowshoe have special names.
aayh dechenh
snowshoe frame
wu'éł níyíde'aayh
crossbrace
ch'inch'a'aał
footstrap
kehłęyh
broad webbing
ch'inxet
thin snowshoe webbing
snowy owl
shétth ch'emaa
\de
(Nyctea scandiaca)
so
(therefore)
gha
shos shtétkêey gha xâanishshah
a bear surprised me, so I went back in.
éł
k'á náchíháadl éł díhts'įį
I didn�t eat so I�m hungry
soak
na'ektseł
I am soaking it, making it damp
na'ehts'ół
it is soaking wet
nah'og ehchaan éł sh'ěeg' ná'ehts'ół
my shirt got soaking wet because of the rain
soap
taatleex
soar
natelk'eyh
it (bird, airplane) is soaring, gliding
sob
shiineltséex
she or he is sobbing
shiinedhegtséex
I am sobbing
tsax éł téhteex
she or he is sobbing
socks
keetéł
socks
téł
old time foot wrappings
soda pop
tuu elkęyh
soda pop, any sweetened beverage
literally 'sweet water'
soft
det-tlog
it is soft
syn tender
shí' xnintthǒgh' éemeedz éł k'ôd det-tlog
the meat cooked for a long time so now it�s soft
soften
yeshes
she or he is softening a skin (by rolling skin between the
hands).
gah théth éshes
he or she is softening a rabbit skin
soggy
tuutlok
it is soggy
sole
(of foot)
shkeetl'áa'
sole of my foot
solid
(sturdy)
dįhteyh
it is sturdy, tough
solstice
(winter)
saa dzé'edeex de'
literally 'when the sun divides'
some
ch'ehłaad
some, part of
ch'ehłaad shę́ę' údhihdíik
I just took some of it.
something
díi lé'e
something
díi lé'e nek'ęh
I see something
sometimes
xatáatah
syn occasionally
xatáatah shę́ę' nek-'íix
I sometimes see him or her
somewhere
ndée lé'e
somewhere
ndée lé'e ts'enh me'egdęyh
I know him or her from somewhere
son
Different words are for referring to a man's son or a
women's son. The word to use is that appropriate for the
parent, not the speaker.
shshé'e
my son (man's)
shshaas
my son (women's)
song
ch'ełiik
syn tune
son-in-law
The same terms for grandchildren
shchâay
women's son-in-law
shtthûuy
man's son-in-law
soon
xnihk'ôdl dé'
soon
xnihk'ôdl dé' nantneg'íił ha'
I will see you soon
sore
ch'ekaa k'ée
sore, wound
syn wound
sorrowing one
edzúu'
sort
wutah naxtegsheek
I am sorting through it
niłk'eh xultsįį ts'į́' wutah xaach'ihłeeyh
I am sorting based on appearance
soul
shshíits
my soul
syn spirit
sound
xuhts'į́' daxdelsok
there is a sound
xdelts'íits
there is a crunchy, rustling sound
tohłuu k'et ts'į́' xdelts'íits
there is a sound on the winter trail
xdelsok
there is a quiet sound
xdelsaas
a quiet crunching, creaking sound, for example an
animal moving in woods
medaxdínt'ęę
a recognizable sound
soup
tuutheł
syn broth
sour
tnínts'íik
it is sour
syn bitter
ch'ondeyh tnínts'îig t'êey ghishná'
medicine usually tastes bitter
souvenir
kǎay'
also gift, present
syn keepsake
spark
kón' ts'îil
sparrow
des nęy
white crown sparrow
spatter
see splash
speak
see say
spear
There are different Tanacross words for different kinds of
spears and actions.
tiiged
bear spear
tiigóg'
fish spear
yihchéth
she or he speared it
| ekchéth | ts'ehchéth |
| įhchéth | ahchéth |
| yehchéth | xiyehchéth |
łuug xehchéth
they are spearing fish
speech
(potlach)
deltêdl
speech maker, one who makes a potlatch speech
deltéł
he is making a potlatch speech
spend the night
see camp
spider
kelahdzeey
spider
kelahdzeey gǎal'
spider web
syn cobweb
spill
tuu nadét-tl'îid
spilled water
tuu nadédhéktl'íit
I spilled the water
shtǔu' dáladegnęyh nadehtl'íit
I bumped my water with my hand and it spilled
spin
see turn
spinal cord
shnehts'ųų
my spinal cord
spine
shinchenn'
my spine
shnehts'ųų
my spinal cord
syn backbone
spirit
shshíits
my spirit, breath
syn soul
mink'âadz
ghost, spirit of someone deceased
spit
séek
spit, saliva
syn saliva
tédhihséek
I spat
tinsaax
you are spitting
splash
tuu tétshos
water splashed
split
(wood)
niłdzeydįht'ox
he split it (wood)
| niłdzedekt'ox | niłdzedzeht'ox |
| niłdzedįht'ox | niłdzedaht'ox |
| niłdzeydet'ox | niłdzexiydeht'ox |
tsets niłk'eydeht'ox
he or she is splitting wood
tsets dalt'ogh
wood that has been split
split open
wunitnaldox
it split open, dented
yinehtthed éł wúnítnáldox
he hit on the head and it broke the skin, split open
spoil
see rot
spongy
deldlųųts
it is spongy
spoon
k'áhtsêdl
spoon
demee dé' k'áhtsêdl
sheep horn spoon
ts'ekaał
old time wooden ladle
spouse
wu'éł dhíhdaay
my spouse
sprain
telget
shké' télget
I sprained my ankle
spread out
used to refer to a flat object, but not, for instance, sand
xedetmets
it is spread out
spread (on something)
wukáhch'íhłeeyh
I'm spreading (it)
| wukáhch'íhłeeyh | wukáyíts'ełeeyh |
| wukáhch'1inłeeyh | wukách'áhłeeyh |
| yikáhch'éłeeyh | xiykáhch'éłeeyh |
masdlah wukáh'íhłeeyh
I'm spreading butter on it
spring
(season )
'Saa ndeeth' refers to the time of year when the days are
getting warmer but snow has not started to melt. Dęy
refers to the time of active snow melt.
saa ndeeth
early spring
dę̂y
spring
spring
taakaatú'
spring; overflow water on ice
spring
(rebound)
niłk'etaa nîinét-tseth
it sprung back, rebounded
sprout
see blossom
spruce
ts'ôgh
general term
ts'ôgh tl'eg
white spruce, young straight spruce
taatthaayh
black spruce
ch'elaats'eyh
bark
éł
spruce boughs
tth'êy
dry spruce twigs or branches
ch'elahdzol
spruce cone
syn cone
éł géddh'
needle of spruce tree
xeyh
spruce root
ts'ôgh dehtsel
green spruce
tatníitthôgh
rotten spruce
spruce hen
deyh
(Falcipennis canadensis)
syn grouse
squat
ch'etlets'eh'ąą
she or he is squatting
ch'exeesdhék-'ąą
she or he is squatting down, crouching
squeal
delch'ąąk
squeal of a baby or rabbit
squeeze
sh'éł xenintset
squeeze me
sh'éł da'endeyh
give me a gentle squeeze
squirrel
dlêg
red tree squirrel
(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
tthel
arctic ground squirrel
(Spermophilus parryii )
ts'enal'eg
flying squirrel
(Glaucomys)
stab
The same basic Tanacross word is also used for
mosquitoes stinging, an injection or for digging in
the ground.
yigot
he stabbed it
| ihgot | ts'egot |
| ingot | ahgot |
| yegot | xiyegot |
dhekchéth
I stabbed it
stack
tsets xatnalts'ok
wood is stacked (in an orderly manner)
staff
(walking stick)
tétth
syn cane, walking stick
stagger
natnishkeyh
I am staggering
stamp
see thump
stanchion
xetl dzaad'
sled stanchion
stand
Different words are used for one or more than one person
ná'éthet
she or he is standing
| ná'íhthet | náts'edéex |
| ná'ínthet | ná'ahdéex |
| ná'éthet | náxedéex |
náts'udeex
let us stand
star
sén'
sén' ndlâan nek-'ęh
I see lots of stars
sén' tsáan'
falling star
stare
shíhgeets
she or he's staring at me
nidhékgeets
I am staring at you
idhekgeets
I am staring at him/her
shidhį́hgeets
you are staring at me
shaxíhgeets
they are staring at me
start
nadekk'ąą
I started it up
applies to cars and other machines
shkár' nádį́hk'aay
start my car!
kón' díik'ąą
a fire started up
startle
tedhíshkeyh
I was startled
díi ntéhkeyh?
what startled you?
shdaadzeey nin'ąą
it startled me
literally 'it made my heart stop'
starvation
detsenh
syn famine
detsenh ts'enh xghinłaak
they died of starvation
stay
see live (dwell)
stay up
teddh na'et-tth'ek
he stays up late
teddh ghintth'et
he or she stayed up all night
teddh uud1ih dég dhíhdah
I stayed up through the night
steal
ch'ene'íiyh
he or she is stealing (something)
náhts'įįth éeł ts'enh ch'ene'íiyh
wolverine steals from traps
needhíh'įį
I stole it
ch'eneedhíh'įį
I stole something
steam
dząą
wuts'enh xadząąghįh'ah
steam is coming out of it
k'áhmén tah tuu k'et dząą xołeex
during the morning there is steam over the water
steambath
ttheetheł
nech'in'áatl tl'âan ttheetheł dal'ę́ę'
after he ate he took a steambath
steel
ts'íitsiy
also metal
steep
xnetch'ek
it is steep
steer
see drive
stem
wuchěnn'
it's stem
ch'echěnn'
stem, stump (of a plant)
also trunk
step
xudhih'étth
I stepped (on it)
yiteth ghin'éetth
he stepped over it
tídéneg'éetth
I stepped out
stern
(of a boat)
ts'eyh tl'á'
ts'eyh tl'á' k'et shaa didhindah
sit in the stern for me
stick
dechenh
stick, small piece of wood
gés
stick used for stirring campfire
sticky
xetnelch'aak
it is sticky
stiff
nedhegk'aas
I am stiff (from sitting or staying in one position)
shxǒl' nélk'aas
my legs are stiff
still
(continuing)
tth'ihtah
still, yet
tth'ihtah k'á tth'êy nek-'é́n
I still haven't seen any mosquitoes
tth'ihtah wukó́l
he or she is still not here
tth'iht'eey
still, continue
tth'iht'eey Dihthâad xt'een iin aanděg' shaa dadint'eh
Tanacross language still sounds good to me
still
(quiet)
daadhahdeen
you all be still, sit quietly
sting
For a bee or mosquito sting the same basic Tanacross word
meaning 'stab' is used.
shíigot
it stung me
tth'êy shíigot
the mosquito stung me
stinging nettles
gųų xǒz'
stingy
ch'adet-tsį́į'
she or he is stingy
stir
ch'enihtthek
I am stirring (something)
| wu'éł ch'éníhtthek wu'éł ts'ínétthek | |
| wu'éł ch'éníntthek wu'éł ch'énáhtthek | |
| yi'éł ch'énétthek xi'éł | ch'énétthek |
stockings
sdoogin
stomach
shmét
my stomach (the organ)
see belly
wutsaamét
it's (animal's) stomach
ch'etthíinikónn'
stomach lining
ch'ech'ąąshú'
stomach fat (moose or caribou)
stomp
wuk'et xúdhihtéł
I stomped on it
xotétl
she or he is thumping, stomping their foot
stone
tthee
syn rock
stool
stsą́ą'
my stool, poop
syn excrement
stop
sų́'ų xú' díghundę́'ę
stop that!, don't do that!
dadhindeen
be still!, stop what you are doing!
store
(building)
ch'utkeet shax
store
(keep, set aside)
nínekchúut
I stored food (put food up for the winter)
xnik'aatth de'ukah nínekchúut
I stored food for winter
stormy
xághints'eyh
it's stormy
storyteller
naxaldêg
story teller or news reporter
stove
wushíi xdéek'énn'
stovepipe
sdoo thuuł
stow
see put away
straight
xtth'idee'ah
it is straight
jah ts'enh nâan tęy tth'ixdee'ah
from here the trail is straight
straight down
yatth'iishég'
yatth'iishég' tuu ts'į́' tęy xtee'ah
there is a trail straight down to the water
straight up
yatth'iideg
yatth'iideg tęy shaa xexuntsaath
it is hard for me to go straight up the trail
strain
(liquid)
tuu medaghxedhéktseth
I strained water
stranger
xeltthaan
also visitor
strangle
ch'etnedhegdek
\au
I strangled it
strap
ch'e'aał
snowshoe strap
ts'enîin tl'ǔul'
strap for carry a baby
straw
ch'iithuul'
a straw
ts'íisuul
a willow straw
stream
see creek
stretch
nenint'eyh
it (rope, cloth) is stretched
néníhhuuth
I stretched it, strung it across (a rope)
tl'uuł xunâan néníhhuuth
I stretched a rope across there
stretchy
(elastic)
neduuth
it is stretchy, elastic
strike
kón' tédhihthét
I struck a match
string
(bail)
ih'ées
I am stringing (it)
| ch'enih'ées | ts'ine'ées |
| ch'enin'ées | ch'enah'ées |
| ch'ene'ées | ch'axne'ées |
łuug ih'ées
I am stringing fish
striped
wuk'et nach'enéet'êey
it is striped
strong
Two different, but similar stems can be used to refer to physical strength.
nadint'eyh
you are strong
| nadiht'eyh | nats'edet'eyh |
| nadint'eyh | nadaht'eyh |
| nadint'eyh | naxdint'eyh |
dįhteyh
it is really strong
ch'éliitthǒgh' dį́hteyh
brown bears are strong
ldîil tatnínts'îig
strong (bitter) tea
coffee net-ts'îig
strong coffee
stub
(toe)
dekelaats'ǒgh' éł xékéch'énétthet
he or she stubbed their toe
stubborn
xech'udetkeey
he or she or it is stubborn
stubby
ch'ett'ónn'
it is stubby, short
níidûuy ché' t'ónn' xúnłęę
lynx has a stubby tail
stuck
xnitnelgot
it is stuck in one place
ch'in'ěy' shaa xnitnelgot
the axe is stuck for me
stuff
see belongings
stuff
(compress, cram)
shěg' nį́ht'enh
stuff it in there
dahtsáa shíi xnektthúuk
I am stuffing the cache
stumble
see trip
stump
(tree)
ch'aachěnn'
also trunk (tree)
stupid
This refers to overall mental ability and not
inexperience with a topic.
ts'axninłuud
she or he is stupid
see inexperience
suck
eht'ók
she or he is sucking
ts'enîin gaay dinlahchétth eht'ók
the baby is sucking his or her own thumb
sucker fish
tats'aht'ôl
suddenly
jah ch'e xenh
all of a sudden
jah ch'e xenh ni'éeshah
suddenly he or she got up
suffocate
shíitneltéł
she or he suffocated
sugar
sųgąąy
summer
sheen
sheen taatl'ěd'
mid-summer
saandîidz
middle of the summer
summit
ddheł tthit'aag
summit of a mountain
syn peak
sun
saa
xesadin'ąą
it is sunny
saa dintl'ak'eddh kón' déhken'
sundog
xasaaghin'ąą
sunrise
nasaghin'ąą
sunset
surf scoter
(duck)
taatsą́ą' ndêl
(Melanitta perspicillata)
surface
kaag
surface of something
wukaa inłeeyh
spread it on the surface
surprise
shdadzenin'ąą
I am surprised
ndadzenih'ąą
I surprised you
suspect
nâan xú' udihn̨ey sínt'eh
I suspect that person
suspenders
shxétth niit'eey
my suspenders
swallow
(bird)
kets'iht'ón'
swallow (general term)
kets'iht'ón' shax
swallow nest
jahnęy
barnhouse swallow
swallow
ch'etédhekndék
I swallowed it
tédhegtéts
I swallowed it
negt'ų́ų'
I swallowed something stringy
gah tsǐig' nilt'ų́ų'
you swallowed macaroni
swamp
xaałeł
swamp, muskeg, area of soft ground
syn bog
swan
taagos
trumpeter swan
(Cygnus buccinator)
swap
see trade
sweat
shéetaníit'é'
I am sweating
méetanét'eh
he or she is sweating
sweep
The same word is used for sweeping or shoveling (snow).
dihthet
I am sweeping it
nashog wu'éł jet-thîid éł naxdinthet
sweep the floor with the broom
ahłet ní'ihthet
I am sweeping it into a pile
sweeper
(in creek or river)
maałii
sweet
Also means 'tasty' in general
elkęęy
sweet, tasty
jêg elkęyh
blueberries are tasty, sweet
swell
ilshúutl
it is swollen
wudǎagh' tsetl ilshúutl
she or he has a swollen black eye
iltúuts
it is swollen, bruised
swift
tanint'eyh
the water is swift
see fast
swim
Words ending in -meeL refer to movement across
from one point to another. Words ending in -'ok refer
to floating or swimming in one place.
aameeł
he is swimming
| ghihmeeł | ts'aameeł |
| ghinmeeł | ghahmeeł |
| aameeł | xaameeł |
natetmeek
he or she swam
taats'el'ok
we are swimming
dzenh aameeł
a muskrat is swimming
tsá' natel'ok
beavers are swimming
łuug natel'ok
fish are swimming
see wade
swing
dahmíił
baby swing
egmíił
I am swinging
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
Y
main page
Copyright © 2006 Alaska Native Language Center. The materials on this site, including Tanacross language transcriptions and audio recordings are intended for educational and reference purposes only. Commmercial use is strictly prohibited. Reproduction for non-profit educational purposes is permitted, provided appropriate citation is included. See complete terms of use. Please direct questions and comments to gary.holton@uaf.edu.