Tanacross Learners' Dictionary


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


table
    k'ech'ii'âadl audio

taboo
    injih audio
  syn forbidden

tail
    wuché' audio it's tail

take
    udhihdiik audio I took it
    na'údhíhdiik audio I took it back
    į́hchuut audio take it!, grab it!
    xaghihdlah audio I took them out
    k'áhmén dá'a dahtsaa ts'enh shíi xághíhdlah audio this morning I took some food from the cache
    xats'ełeeyh audio we're taking them out

take away
  see deprive

take it
Said when handing something to someone
    ná' audio

talk
    xunhéeyh audio she or he is talking
  syn speak

imperfective paradigm audio
xnihhéeyhts'axunhéeyh
xninhéeyhxahhéeyh
xunhéeyhxaxunhéeyh

    shdéedz sts'į́' xúnheeyh audio my younger sister is talking to me
    tthaxdelxos audio they're talking among each other
    nah'ôg menh k'et ts'į́' dets'ên tthadelxos audio outside on the lake dcks are talking, making noise
    tthaxdelxoz chíh naxudishtth'íik audio I hear talking them every now and them

tall
The usual way to refer to a tall person is with the word for 'big'. Other tall things can referred to with the word for 'big; or 'long'.
    ncháax audio it is tall, big
    dendeh nchâagh audio tall, big person
    ndéeth audio it is tall, long
    ts'ôgh dinděedh audio a long, tall tree

tallow (rendered fat)
    ch'echáadz' audio

tan (hide)
    tadihtthox audio I am tanning it
    ch'ethéth tátnít-tthogh audio tanned skin or hide
  see flesh, skin

Tanacross
    Tats'áltęy audio

Tanacross Mountain
  syn Mt. Neuberger
    Naxęy Xú' audio literally 'frog tooth'

Tanana River
    Tth'iitú' audio literally 'straight water'
This normally refers to the Tanana River but can in context be used to refer to any big river.

tangle
    stáxánét-tth'aax audio rope, sinew, hair is tangled up
    netthiixá' deh stáxánét-tth'aax audio your hair is tangled up
    niłtanet-tth'aagh audio something tangled
    shtthiixá' niłtanet-tth'ek audio my hair is tangled, messy
    niłtahnetjįįth audio it is really tangled
    stáxánétxots audio brush or trees are tangled up

tap (foot)
    deké'éjéhdzes audio she or he is tapping their own foot (in time with something)
  see thump

tarp
    teet'ey audio

taste
    ekndeyh audio I am tasting it
    įhndeyh audio taste it!
    łéets xunsų́ų' t'êey mexaldeyh audio the bannock tastes really good to him
    elkęyh audio it is tasty also sweet
    łuug elkęyh audio the fish is tasty

tattoo
    yidá' et-tsiin his or her chin is tattooed

tea
    ldîil audio
    ldîil tatnínts'îig audio strong (bitter) tea

teach
    xuu'ech'axdehdiix audio she or he is teaching them
    nuh'edach'axdekdiix audio I am teaching you all (orally)

teacher
    xach'unehten audio

teal, green-winged (duck)
    tuhtsêdl audio

teapot
    ldîil tiił audio
  syn kettle

tear
    ekch'eł audio I'm tearing it
    łatninch'eł audio it is torn
    medihch'eł audio I am tearing it to pieces

tear up
    łayitningáatth audio he tore it up
    xaghihgáatth audio I tore it up

tears
    tsax tú' audio a tear drop
    tsax tuu audio tears

tease
    wu'éł tsąądadihdlih audio I am teasing him, her or it

teeth
  see tooth

tell (a story or narrative)
    naxtédhégdek audio I'm going to tell a story

imperfective paradigm audio
naxogdek nats'exaldek
naxuldeknaxaldek
naxaldek naxaxaldek

    na'ilsêegh gha sh'éł naxuldek audio tell me about your hunting trip

temper
    ts'ani'elt'eey sínt'eh audio he or she has a bad temper

temporarily
    tthé' díndah audio in the meanwhile, temporarily
    jah tthé' díndah dhihdah audio I am temporarily staying here

ten
    ts'ehłox detaan audio

tender
    det-tlog audio soft, tender
  syn soft
    shí' det-tlog ih'aał audio I'm eating tender meat

tenderloin
    ch'eseex tthį́į' audio tenderloin from moose

tent
    taathéth audio tent
    niimaal audio traditional skin-covered shelter
    tsults'og audio temporary teepee-like shelter

tern
    ché' delgez arctic tern (Sterna paradisaaea)

testicle
    shxěez' audio my testicles

thank you
    tsín'ęę audio thank you
    tsíná'ęę audio thank you very much

thankful
    tsín'ęę nłęę audio nkful1.mp3 she or he is thankful
    tsín'ęę ihłęę audio I am thankful

that
    êy audio that
    êy łáan t'ádu'níi'i? audio do you mean to say that?
    nâan audio that one
    xúu' audio that way, like that
    xúu' díinii audio he said it like that

thaw
    na'alxęę' audio it thawed
    shí' na'elxęę' audio the meat is thawing
    wunach'udéełet audio it thawed (on the surface)

the
There is no word in Tanacross that corresponds to English 'a' or 'the'. Rather, whether a specific or non-specific thing is meant comes from the context.

them
  see they

then
    tl'âan audio then
    nee'eł ghindah gha tl'âan natetshah audio he visited us and then went home
    êy tl'âan tédhíhshah audio after that I left
    êy gha tl'âan audio and then

there
    naa audio
    naa nínínłeeyh audio put it there!

these
    jahdûug audio
    jahdûug nats'enuhtseyh audio let's gather these

they
A separate word for "they" or "them" is only used for emphasis or in set phrases, since who or what is involved is a necessary of the verb. A separate phrase can be used to point out or emphasize 'those particular people'.
    nâan iin audio they, those people
    nâan iin xúu' xenih? audio did they say that?

thick
    detkét audio it is thick
    ts'ěd' detkêd audio a thick blanket
    k'od ch'e łuut detkét audio the ice is already thick
    wudzih théth det-łon tl'âan dendîig théth detke1t audio caribou skin is thin and moose skin is thick

thief
    ch'ene'îiy audio
  syn robber

thigh
    shxothchěnn' audio my thigh, upper leg
    sts'ahtthį́į' audio my thigh muscle

thighbone
    shxołtth'ěnn' audio my thighbone
  syn femur

thimble
    sits'u'âay audio
    ssits'u'âay sínt'eh audio that's my thimble

thin
    dzet-t'áan audio it is thin, almost transparent
    gah théth ch'e dzet-t'áan audio rabbit skin is thin
    det-łon audio it is thin
    tadet-łon audio it is very thin
    dzet-łon audio it is thin, flimsy
    nah'ôg neethel gha eek dzet-łon shę́ę' nadelsh_ah audio it is warm outside so I am just wearing a thin shirt.
    nelgęyh audio he, she or it is thin, skinny literally 'dried out'

think
    menaních'ekthét audio I am thinking about it
    yik'eh naních'ethét audio he thinks like him

thirsty
    tuu shdéhtlą́ą audio I am thirsty literally 'I crave water'
    shdá' déníngęyh audio I am thirsty literally 'my throat is dry'

this
    jâan audio this one
    jâan dóo ch'e nt'eey? audio who is this?

thorn
    xos audio

those
    naxûuy audio those here
    naxûuy ch'íh nanįhtseyh audio you gather those too
    nandûug audio those over there
    nandûug ch'íh nanįhtseyh audio gather those back there too
    nah'áa audio those way over there

though
    t'o t'êey audio though, even though
    ehchąą t'o têey Dihthâad ts'į́' ts'edéeł audio even though it was raining we are going to Mansfield
    teghitdek t'o t'êey wu'éł ghínhaał audio even though you�re tired, go with him/her

thread
    ch'eninhuuth audio you thread it
    łóx ndú' ch'énínhuuth audio thread the fish hook

threaten
  see frighten

three
    taag audio
    nah'ôg dendîig taag iin ah'és audio three moose walked by outside

throat
The same word is used for throat and voice.
    shthéeg' audio my throat
  syn esophagus also voice

through
    wuxandú' audio through it
    nduu xandú' ts'énindéetl audio we came through the forest

throw
Different words are used depending on what is being thrown.
    tthetdįhthiiyh audio you throw it (compact object like a rock)
    xełtédhékkeyh audio I threw a stick
    k'á' wuts'į́' tédhékxeł audio I threw him or her a gun
    tthetehdlah audio he threw them (multiple small objects)
    itédhéktl'iit audio I threw them (multiple small objects)
    tédhékdeetl audio I threw it (larger multiple objects)
    tsets xúh ts'į́' dédhékdeetl audio I threw the wood down there
    tsets nadį́hdeetl audio he threw the wood down

throw away
    tátdédhéknęyh audio I threw it away
    tátédhékdeetl audio I threw them away
    taytéhdeetl audio he or she threw them away

thrush
    taatl'ia (lxoreus naevius)

thud
    xejetdón'
    xejetdón' dé'íhtth'ek audio I heard a thud

thumb
    shinlahchétth audio audio my thumb

thump
    xdeldón' audio there is a thumping sound
    xotétl audio she or he is thumping, stomping their foot
  see tap

thunder
    nahtên audio thunder
    nahtên xunheeyh dé' táhchąą audio it is thundering so it is going to rain

tibia
    wudzaatth'ěnn' audio it' s tibia, lower leg bone

tickle
    shehdzaat audio she or he is tickling me
    ekdzaat audio I am tickling him/her
    shthéeg' xóxeeth audio I have a tickle in my throat
    exeedh audio a ticklish feeling, an itch

tie
Tanacross has several different words to refer to "tie"
    dineltl'ųų audio it is tied (up)
    shłǐig' dínéltl'ųų audio my dog is tied up
    ch'êl wuk'ech'udet-tl'uun dahtsaa shíi éedlah audio a bundle of clothes (tied together) are in the cache
    mech'edhekcheth audio I tied something to it, tied it up
    tl'uuł dinekcheth audio I tied a rope
    mech'elcheth audio it is tied together
    mech'edhektsón' audio I bound something to it, tied it tightly
    dineltsón' audio it is bound, tied tightly
    tl'uuł dineltsón' audio the rope is tied tightly
    dinedhekshaas audio I tied it quickly, not carefully
    diynehshaas audio he or she tied it quickly

tight
Can mean 'tight' or 'crowded'
    eltl'ét audio it is tight
    shěeg' eltl'ét audio my coat is tight

tilt
  see slant

time
    ndúhk'eh niłach'eninxeł? audio what time is it?
    xnintthogh' audio a long time
    xnintthogh' t'êey wukol he or she has been gone a long time

timid
  see bashful

tip
  see end

tip over
    niłkedelneyh audio it tipped over

tiptoe
    dekets'éeg' éł áahaał audio she or he is walking on tiptoes
    kech'ídhekts'ék audio I am standing on tiptoes

tired
    teghishdek audio I'm tired

imperfective paradigm audio
teghishdektets'atdek
teghitdekteghatdek
te'atdektexatdek

    ts'axnihthenh audio I am lethargic, have no energy
    ts'axnihthenh há' k'ôd audio I'm out of energy, so that's enough
    shtée' shę́ę' dâa'iltthet audio I came back exhausted

to
  syn toward
    ts'į́' audio to, toward
    hên ts'į́' ghíhhaał audio I am going to the creek

tobacco
    lasgih audio chewing tobacco
    lasgih chěnn' audio tobacco pouch or container

toboggan
    meth audio

today
    dú' dzeen audio today

toe
    shkelaats'ǒgh' audio my toe
    shkelaachétth audio my big toe

toenail
    shkelaagę̌y' audio my toenail

together (group)
    nił'éł ts'į́' audio
    nił'éł náyits'u-'aał audio let's eat together

Tok River
    Tth'iitiy Nda' \de

tomorrow
    k'ahdą́ądé' tomorrow audio

tongue
    shtthǔul' audio my tongue

tonight
    teddh dé' audio
    teddh dé' tahsháatth audio tonight it will snow

tonsil
    shkáaddh' my tonsils

too
  see also

too much
    ch'itêey audio too much (of something)
    sų́'ų ch'itêey ghunté'e audio don't sleep too much

tooth
    shxú' audio my tooth
    shxostl'aaxú' audio my molar
    shinchetthxú' audio my incisor

top
    tthiit'aag audio top
    ddheł tthiit'aag audio mountain top

torment
    yigha ch'exdehtthiit audio she or he is tormenting him, her or it

torso
    ssék audio my torso

toss
  see throw

touch
    medédhégtset audio I touched it

perfective paradigm audio
medédhégtsetmedzéltset
medédhíltset medédháltset
yidéltset xiy'édéltset

    yekedélttheyh audio he or she touched it with their foot

tough
    etch'ét audio it is tough
    shí' detch'ét audio the meat is tough
    dįhteyh audio it is tough, can not be broken

toward
    ts'į́' audio toward, to
    ts'éhxeh kón' ts'į́' éedah audio the woman is sitting toward the fire

toward water
    yaatthúg audio area toward water (distant)
    yaatthúg dendîig ah'es audio moose are walking around down by the river
    na�atthûug tuu níihąą audio toward the water it flooded
    yaatthîiz audio from the water, lowlands (distant)
    yaatthîiz nanihshah audio I came back from Tanacross (said in Mansfield)
    yaatthén' audio down toward the water (distant)
    yaatthén' naxtétdeetl audio they went back down that way

track
    nategkáax audio I am tracking it (animal)
    dendîig natelkáax audio he or she is tracking a moose

tracks
    ké' k'eh audio tracks (of an animal)
    jâan dendîig ké' k'eh sínt'eh audio these are moose tracks

trade
    niłk'éyts'at-'ąą audio we traded, paid each other back
    niłk'éyts'ut-łeeyh audio let's trade them back

trail
    tęy audio trail, road also road, path
    tęy xúltlet audio the trail is slippery
    tęy thǔul' audio main trail
    tohłuu audio winter trail
    tohłuu k'et ts'į́' xdelts'íits audio there is a sound on the winter trail
    xetl tęy audio sled trail

train
    yeghink'áatth audio he trained him (teaching him physical skills, stamina, endurance)
  see exercise

transfer
  see give

trap
    éeł audio trap
    ts'íitsiy éel' audio steel trap
    dechenh éeł audio deadfall trap
    ní'éełníhłeeyh audio I am trapping, setting traps
    maa ní'éełts'éłeek tl'âan wuthédh' én' dzełeek audio we set traps for the furs and sell the skins

trap line
    éeł k'ée audio

travel
  see move

tree
    ts'ôgh audio general word for tree, also 'spruce tree'
    dalaatth'aagh audio stunted tree (growing on the mountains)
    ch'aachěnn' tneexêez audio uprooted tree
    ch'aachěnn' détaan audio a windfallen tree
    tachatne'aay audio a slanted tree
parts of a tree
    ch'elaats'eyh audio bark (of any tree)
    ch'elaa'éł audio tree branch
    ch'aachěnn' audio stump, trunk of tree
    ch'edełá' audio top of a tree
    ch'ethuchěnn' audio stump of branch sticking out after a small branch is broken off or a knot in wood
  see spruce

tremble
  see shake

tribe
    shehłâad iin audio people of my tribe

trick
    nashtnin'aayh audio he tricked me

trim
  see cut

trimming
    ch'ekeechěnn' audio top trimming on mukluks

trip
    xt'akedegnęyh audio I tripped, stumbled

perfective paradigm audio
xt'akédegnęyh
xt'akedílnęyh
xt'akedélnęyh

trip (journey)
The Tanacross words imply a round trip (to somewhere and then back).
    natihhá' audio I am going to take a trip
    Seattle natihhá' audio I am going to take a trip to Seattle
    Dihthâad natédhihhá' I am going to Mansfield
    Dihthâad nâa'eltęyh audio she or he is making trips (back and forth) to Mansfield
    Tats'áltęy ts'enh xâanítshah audio he went as far as Tanacross (and then returned)

trot
Only used for four legged animals
    sełdehtáak audio it trotted by
    łii séłdahtéyh audio the dog is trotting

trouble
    xexuntsaath audio there is trouble
    xexuntsaath deh ní'edéltęę audio she or he got into trouble

true
    łą́'ą' audio
    łą́'ą sítdíhnih audio I am telling the truth

trunk (tree)
    ch'aachěnn' audio tree trunk, stump also stump (tree)

trust
    wuk'aninek-'ah audio I trust him or her

try
    me'ekndeyh audio I am trying it

tube
    wuthǔul' audio

tune
    ch'ełiik audio
  syn song

tunnel
    dzenh tsědz' audio muskrat tunnel

turn
    niłk'edahteth audio he is turning, it back forth
    niłk'edihhuuth audio I am turning it inside out
    niłkedalthek audio it is turning around (rotating, turning over, swiveling around)
    déktáatth audio I turn, twist it (faucet, handle, etc.)
    dédhektáath audio I turned it (faucet, handle, etc.)

turn around-CHECK
    nakedelteex audio turn around
    niłk'edelteex audio you turn aound!
    niłk'edilteyh audio turn around

turn off
    natnédhékdek audio I turned it off

turn on
    nekdzeeyh audio I turned on a light (flashlight, lamp)
    kón' nanekdzeeyh audio I turned on the light

turn over
    niłkedédhekchúuth audio I turned it (flat object) over
    niłkedédhih'ąą audio I turned it (solid object) over
    niłkedédhekchúut audio I turned it (food) over
    niłkedédhéktęę audio I turned it (animate being) over

turnip
    taanes audio

tussock
    tl'ox chinaashéth audio

twelve
    łdíikeyh wuk'et audio \de

twenty
    łdíikeey detaan audio

twice
    łdíikeey audio

twig
    tth'êy audio dry spruce twigs or branches

twilight
    xeł t'aagh audio also afternoon

twist
    déktáatth audio I am twisting it
    xnídektáath audio I am twisting, screwing it in
    niłk'etdédhekt'áath I twisted it on
    delt'ék he or she is twisting it off (for example to make a straw from willow bark)

twitch
    eltsék audio it is twitching
    shdǎagh' eltsék my eye is twitching

two
    łdíikeyh audio



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.