This collection of over 1,500 Tlingit example sentences and audio recordings was part of a Sealaska Heritage Institute project funded by the Administration for Native Americans between 2005 and 2009. Sentences were provided by elders Keiyishí Bessie Cooley, Kingeistí David Katzeek, Saḵaayí Anita Lafferty, Ḵooteix̱téek Johnny Marks, Aan Yax̱ Saxeex June Pegues, Ḵáachkoo.aaḵw Helen Sarabia, and G̱unaakʼw Fred White. Written examples were compiled by Keri Eggleston. Audio recordings feature the voices of Kingeistí David Katzeek, Saḵaayí Anita Lafferty, Ḵooteix̱téek Johnny Marks, Aan Yax̱ Saxeex June Pegues, Ḵáachkoo.aaḵw Helen Sarabia, and G̱unaakʼw Fred White.
Upload of this resource to this website was made possible by funding from the National Science Foundationʼs Dynamic Languages Infrastructure Program, award #BCS- 2125197 “Morphologically Complex Data Collection and Analysis for Improving Lexicographic Models” to the University of Alaska Fairbanks with Keri Eggleston as PI.
NOTE: We recommend not using Safari as your browser for this resource as it may not load properly. Please note that there are many typos, misspellings, missing tones, etc. in the written examples, as well as many places where the audio recording doesnʼt match up with the written examples in terms of word order. There are also some examples where the audio isnʼt available. The present project however, has concluded, and itʼs not possible to fix these problems at this time. In the interest of making this resource available to the community ASAP, it is being included here despite these issues. The goal during the next phase of the project will be to edit the written examples to match the audio recordings and fix any other typos and correct instances of missing audio. In the meantime, please enjoy the voices of our elders!
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Gáal’ g̲eiyí duxá. Someone is eating clams. gáal’ g̲eiyí
Gáal' has akaháa. They are digging clams. gáal’, has, ka-ya-haa
Gáande wé tl’eex. Put the dirt outside. tl’eex, gáande
Gaan eetí kélt’ k̲ugáas’ yáx̲ yatee. Ashes from the fireplace are gray. gán eetí, kélt’, k̲ugáas’, a yáx̲ + ya-tee1
Gaan kaanáx̲ jiyawsitán. He put his hands over the fire. gaan, a ká, -náx̲, ji-ya-si-taan
Gáanu hás, i yeeg̲áax̲ has sitee. They are outside waiting for you. gáan, -u, hás, i, a yeeg̲áa, has, si-tee
Gáaxw áwé yéi duwasáakw wak̲kals'oox̲' gáaxw. That duck is called a scooter duck. wak̲kals'oox̲' gáaxw
Gandaadagóogu kayéik x̲aa.áx̲ch. I can hear a woodpecker (pecking on a tree). gandaadagóogu, kayéik, ya-.aax̲1
Gandaadagóogu wéit wudik̲een. A woodpecker is flying around there. gandaadagóogu, wé, di-k̲een
Gandaas'aají k̲’eikaxwéin x̲oot kawdliyeech. Bees are flying around among the flowers. gandaas’aají, k̲’eikaxwéin, a x̲oo, ka-dli-yeech
Gandaat has k̲éen. They are sitting around the fire. gandaa, ya-k̲ee
Gandaax’ té áa has akaawachák. They piled rock around the fire. gandaa, té, ka-ya-chaak
Gangukg̲áx̲i has du sitgawsáan atx̲aayí áwé. The fish heads cooked on hot ground around a fire is their lunch. gangukg̲áx̲i, sitgawsáan, atx̲á, áwé
Gangukg̲áx̲i k̲únáx̲ has du x̲’é yak’éi. The fish heads cooked on hot ground around a fire is very tasty to them. gangukg̲áx̲i, k̲únáx̲, du x̲’é, ya-k’ei
Gán kak̲ásti aawas’oow wé x̲’aan yís. He chopped kindling for the fire. gán kak̲ásti, ya-s’oow, wé, x̲’aan, a yís
Gán kak̲ásti k̲óok tóox’ neil awsi.ín. He brought the kindling inside in a box. gán kak̲ásti, k̲óok, a tú, neil, si-.een1
Gánti yaakw kaadé yís gán has aawaxásh. They cut wood to put on the steamboat. gánti yaakw, a ká, a yís, gán, ya-xaash
Gánti Yaakw Séedidáx̲ Lingít áwé. That is a Tlingit from Petersburg. Gánti Yaakw Séedi, -dáx̲, Lingít, áwé
Gánti Yaakw Séedix’ yaakw tlein yíx̲ aawa.aat. People boarded the big boat at Petersburg. Gánti Yaakw Séedi, yaakw, tlein, a yík, ya-.aat1
Gán tléil du jee. He does not have any firewood. du jee, gán
Gán wóoli a kaháadi áa kéi aawatée. He put the cover for the smoke hole up there. gán wóoli, a kaháadi, á, kei ya-tee2.1
Gán yaa has anasxát’ du káani tin. He is hauling wood with his brother-in-law. du káani, gán
Ganyal'óot' ganaltáakdáx̲ kei wjitúk. The flame shot up out of the fire. ganyal’óot, ganaltáak, -dáx̲, shi-took2
Gán yís akaawaxaash wé g̲éechadi. She cut up the dead trees for firewood. gán, a yís, ka-ya-xaash, wé, g̲éechadi
Gawdáan wéix̲ yaa ayanasyék̲. She is leading the horse there. gawdáan, wé, ya-si-yeek̲1
Gax̲toolsáa, a ít tsá gax̲too.aat. We will rest and we will go after that. a ít, dli-saa3
Geesh tóot uwak̲úx̲ wé yaakw. The boat drove in among the kelp. geesh, a tú, ya-k̲oox̲, wé, yaakw
Geesh x̲oot wootlóox’ wé yáxwch’. The sea otter is rolling around in the kelp. geesh, a x̲oo, ya-tloox’, wé, yáxwch’
Géxtl' tléil udál. Aluminum is not heavy. géxtl’, tléil, ya-daal
Gijook wéit kawdliyeech. The mountain or yellow hawks are flying around there. gijook, wé, ka-dli-yeech
Ginjichwáan áwé áx̲ has sitee. They are British. Ginjichwáan, -x̲
Gishoo a kík ax̲ jeet wududzitáa. I was given half of a pig. a kík, gishoo
Gishoo dleeyí haa x̲’é yak’éi. We like pork. gishoo, a dleeyí, haa, x̲’é, ya-k’ei
Gishoo taayí k̲a dleey wóosh teen akawlis’úk. She fried the meat with bacon. gishoo taayí, dleey, ka-li-s’ook
Giyak̲w K̲wáanx̲ sitee ax̲ x̲ooní, Russell. My friend Russell is Alutiq. Giyak̲w, k̲wáan, -x̲, ax̲, x̲ooní
Giyak̲w K̲wáan yóo x̲’atángi k̲óox’ altóow. He is teaching the Alutiq language. Giyak̲w, k̲wáan, yóo x̲’atángi, A-x’ + li-toow
Góon a káx’ yéi wduwa.oo wé guk.át. The earrings are made with gold. guk.át, góon, a ká, -x’, A-x’ + yéi + ya-.oo
Gooch a litká aadé duwatéen wé g̲ooch. You can see the wolf on the ridge of the small hill. gooch, a litká, á, -dé, ya-teen, g̲ooch
Gooch shakée áa has wudlisáa wé lingít. The people rested at the top of the hill. gooch, a shakée, lingít, dli-saa3
Gooch shakéex’ wutusiteen wé sheech dzísk’w. We saw the cow moose on top of the hill. gooch, a shakée, -x’, si-teen, sheech, dzísk’w
Goon dáanaa een áwé kawduwat’íx̲’ ax̲ jeeyís yáa kées. This bracelet was pounded out of a gold coin for me. kées, goon, dáanaa, -een, ka-ya-t’eix̲’
Gooshúk̲ dáanaa yéi x̲’alitseen wé x’úx’. The book costs nine dollars. gooshúk̲, dáanaa, x’úx’, x̲’a-li-tseen
Gooshúk̲ yatee du keidlx’í. He has nine dogs. gooshúk̲, keitl
Gootl kanáx̲ yawjik’én wé naag̲as’éi. The red fox jumped over the mound. gootl, a ká, -náx̲, naag̲as’éi
Gootl kát áa wé g̲áx̲. The rabbit is sitting on the mound. gootl, a ká, -t, g̲áx̲
Goox' sáwé yéi has gax̲dusk̲éi wé t'ukanéiyi? Where will they seat the babies? ya-k̲ee, t'ukanéiyi
Goox̲ k̲aa jee yéi téeyin. People used to have slaves. goox̲, k̲aa, du jee
Goox̲ shayadahéinin ch’áakw. There were lots of slaves long ago. goox̲, ch’áakw, sha-ya-di-haa
Góos' tóonáx̲ ayatéen. S/he sees it through the clouds. góos', a tú, ya-teen
Guk.át ax̲ jeet kawdudli.át. I was given earrings. guk.át, k̲aa ee- + ka-li-.aat
Guk kajaash yéi aya.óo. She is wearing earrings. guk kajaash
Gúkshi yan sa.ín wé kak̲áshx̲i a káa yéi tuwa.oowú kaast. Put the barrel we put the steamed berries in in the corner. kak̲áshx̲i, gúkshi, yan, si-.een1, A-x’ + yéi + ya.-oo1, kaast
Gúk̲l' dleit yáx̲ dag̲aatee. Swans are white. gúk̲l’, dleit, a yáx̲ + ya-tee1.7
Gúk̲l' wéit wusikwaan. Swans are swimming around there. gúk̲l’, wé, -t, si-kwaan
Gunalchéesh ax̲ x̲'éit yeeysa.aax̲í. Thank you all for listening to me. gunalchéesh, ax̲, du x̲’é, -t, k̲aa x̲’éi- + si-.aax̲1
Gunalchéesh ax̲ x̲'éit yeeysa.aax̲í. Thank you all for listening to me. gunalchéesh, du x̲'éi, si-.aax̲1(in)
Gunalchéesh yéi áwé. Thank you that's all.
Gunalchéesh yéi yank̲ak̲aat áyá x̲wdihaan. I stood up to say thank you. gunalchéesh, yéi, ya-k̲aa, áyá, di-haan1
Gúnl’ aax̲ aawaxaash. He cut the burl off. gúnl'
Gúnl’ yéi awa.oo nadáakw ax̲layeix̲ít. He used a burl to make a table. gúnl', nadáakw, A-x̲ + li-yeix̲1
Gúnx̲aa yaka.óot’i aawa.oo. She bought abalone buttons. gúnx̲aa, yaka.óot’
Gúnx̲aa yaka.óot’i du luljíni káx’ akaawak̲áa. She sewed the abalone buttons on her vest. gúnx̲aa, yaka.óot’, luljín, ka-ya-k̲aa2
Gus’shúde duwatéen wé g̲agaan. The sun is visible on the horizon. gus'shú, g̲agaan, ya-teen
Gus’shúde x̲aatéen wé watsíx. I see the caribou on the horizon. gus'shú, watsíx
Gus'k'ik̲wáan l'oowú teen wududliyéx̲ wé nadáakw. The table is made of oak. gus'k'ik̲wáan l'oowú,
Gus'k'ik̲wáan l'oowú tléil yáax’ kooséix̲. Oak trees do not grow here. gus'k'ik̲wáan l'oowú, yáa, ka-ya-.aa3
Gus'yadóoli taakw eetíx’ haax̲ kalyeech. Sandpipers fly here in the spring. gus'yadóoli, taakw eetí, haa, ka-dli-yeech
Gus'yadóoli wéide sax̲aa.áx̲ch. I hear the sandpiper over there. gus'yadóoli, sa-ya-.aax̲1
Gút akaawat’éi. She found herself a dime. gút, ka-ya-t’ei1
Gutéix̲' áwé du éesh. His dad is a Chugach Eskimo. Gutéix̲'
Gút yéi x̲’alatseenín k’óox̲’. Gum used to cost a dime. gút, k’óox̲’, x̲’a-li-tseen
Gútl teen al’óon woogoot. He went hunting with a blunt arrow. gútl, a-ya-l’oon
Gúx’aa a kat’óot kaawadáa wé cháayoo. The tea is filled to part way up the cup. gúx’aa, a kat’óot, ka-ya-daa1, cháayoo
Gúx’aa tú dleeyí aawa.óo. He bought a can of meat. gúx'aa, a tú, dleey
Gwálaa teen ch’áal’ aawas’úw k̲aa x̲’usdeiyí kaax̲. He chopped willows off the foot trail with a machete. gwálaa, ch’áal’, k̲aa x̲’usdeiyí, ya-s’oow
Gwál tleik̲áa x̲’oos áwé a kax̲yee. It must be twenty feet to the ceiling. a kax̲yee, gwál, tleik̲áa, x̲’oos
G̲áatl aawax̲áa He ate pilot bread. g̲áatl
g̲áax̲ shí een áwé yawaxeex wé k̲u.éex’. A cry song took place at the potlatch. g̲áax̲, shí, ya-ya-xeex, k̲u.éex’
G̲agaan át x̲'oos uwatsóow. The sun is poking its feet out (in reference to sun rays). g̲agaan, du x̲'oos, ya-tsoow
G̲agaan daak uwaxíx wé séew ítdáx̲. The sun came out after the rain. G̲agaan, daak, ya-xeex, séew, a ít
g̲alsaayít áwé du yéi jineiyí a nák̲ woogoot. She went away from her work so that she could rest. dli-saa3, yéi jiné, a nák̲, ya-goot1
G̲alyáx̲ K̲wáan áwé G̲alyáx̲ Kaagwaantaanx̲ has sitee. The Kaliakh River people are the Kaliakh River Kaagwaantaan. G̲alyáx̲ K̲wáan, Kaagwaantaan
G̲alyáx̲ K̲wáan áwé Yaakwdaat k̲wáan x̲oox’ yéi s yatee. The Kaliakh River people live among the Yakutat people. G̲alyáx̲ K̲wáan, Yaakwdaat, a x̲oo
G̲ánch áwé aan yéi adaané wéi kat'éx̲'aa yeit. He uses the mortar for pounding his tobacco. kat'éx̲'aa yeit, g̲ánch, aan, yéi + daa-ya-nei
G̲aneix̲ káx̲ sh káa x̲’awdigáx’. She prayed for his salvation. g̲aneix̲, k̲aa káa + x̲’a-di-gaax’
g̲áx̲ awdlidás’. She snared a rabbit. g̲áx̲, dli-daas’
G̲áx̲ dleeyí ágé i x̲'éi yak'éi? Does rabbit meat taste good to you? g̲áx̲, dleey, du x̲'éi, ya-k'ei0.1
G̲ayéis’ hítdáx̲ áwé haa x̲oot yawduwax̲aa Anóoshi yéi kdunéek ch’áakw. Russians were brought among us from jail it is told long ago. g̲ayéis' hít, a x̲oo, Anóoshi, ch’áakw, ka-ya-neek0.1, ya-ya-x̲aa2
G̲ayéis’ layeix̲íx̲ nax̲sateet áwé. She is studying to be an engineer. g̲ayéis' layeix̲í, si-tee1
G̲ayéis’ layeix̲íx̲ nax̲sateeyít sgóoni yoo uwagút. He went to school to become an engineer. g̲ayéis’ layeix̲íx̲, si-tee1, sgóon, ya-goot1
G̲ayéis' a háatl’ix̲ yoo siteek. Iron will rust. g̲ayéis’, háatl’, A-x̲ + si-tee1
G̲ayéis' du hít kát akaawsix’óo. He nailed tin on his roof. g̲ayéis’, ka-si-x’oo, hít ká, -t
G̲ayéis' hít áa yéi jiné. He works at the jail. g̲ayéis’ hít, yéi +ji-ya-nei, á, -x’
G̲ayéis' hítde kawduwanáa. He was sent to jail. g̲ayéis’ hít, ka-ya-naa3
G̲ayéis' k̲’wátl dak̲ yadál. (Cast) iron pots are heavy. g̲ayéis’, k̲’wátl, ya-daal
G̲ayéis' layeix̲í jeedé x̲’awditaan du éet g̲adasheet. She telephoned the engineer to help her. g̲ayéis’ layeix̲í, du jee, x̲’a-di-taan, di-shee1
G̲eey tá déilit awsik̲úx̲ du yaagú. She drove her boat to the shelter of the bay. g̲eey, a tá, si-k̲oox̲, yaakw, déili, -t, du
G̲eey tá héen yaa nalt’íx’. The water in the bay is freezing. g̲eey, a tá, héen, li-t’eex’
G̲eitl’ du x̲’éit uwadáa. He is drooling. g̲eitl’, du x̲’é, ya-daa1
G̲eiwú tléil du jee. She does not have a fish net. du jee, g̲eiwú
G̲eiwú wooch yáx̲ awsinei tle daak ashakaawak̲úx̲. She straightened the net out and then she set it. g̲eiwú, tle, wooch yáx̲ si-nee
G̲íl' yaax̲ kanaadaa wé héen. The water is flowing down the face of the rock cliff. g̲íl’, a yá, ka-ya-daa, wé, héen
G̲íl' yaax̲ kei naltl’ét’ wé yadák’w. The young/teenage boy is climbing the rock face. g̲íl’, a yál, dli-tl’eit’, wé, yadák’w
G̲ítg̲aa ayax̲saháa yóode woogoot. She went over there to gather spruce needles. g̲ítg̲aa, -de, ya-si-haa, yóo
G̲ooch doogú awlixwách. She tanned a wolf hide. g̲ooch, a doogú, li-xwaach
G̲ooch Yanyeidí k̲aa at oohéini áwé. The Wolf is the property of the Yanyeidi Clan. k̲aa at oohéini, g̲ooch, Yanyeidí
G̲u.aa l kwshé iwulx̲éidlik̲. Bless you. (Lit: I hope you get lucky.) kwshé, g̲u.aa, li-x̲eitl
G̲unaax̲oo K̲wáan x̲at sitee. I am from Dry Bay. G̲unaax̲oo K̲wáan
G̲unaax̲oo K̲wáanx̲ has sitee wé lingít. Those people are Dry Bay people. G̲unaax̲oo K̲wáan
G̲unakadeit daat tláagudáx̲ k̲udzitée. There are stories about sea monsters. g̲unakadeit, a daat, tláagu, -dáx̲, k̲u-dzi-tee1
G̲unayáade a daat sh tudinook yeedát. He feels differently about it now. a g̲unayáade, yeedát, a daat, A + sh di-nook
G̲unayéide at x̲aa.áx̲ch. I’m hearing strange sounds. g̲unayéide, at ya-.aax̲1
G̲unayéide kditlawu g̲ayéis' tíx' du jeewú. He has steel cables of different sizes. g̲unayéide, ya-tlaa, g̲ayéis’ tíx’, du jee
G̲uwakaan at xáshti téel ax̲ dachx̲ánk' jeeyís ax̲ tuwáa sigóo. I would like Deer skin moccasins for my grandchild. g̲uwakaan, at xáshti téel, du dachx̲án, du jeeyís, si-goo1
G̲uwakaan déi yaax̲t woo.aat. Deer are walking around on the roadside. g̲uwakaan, déi, ya-.aat1
G̲uwakaan dleeyí aatlein yak’éi. Deer meat is really good. g̲uwakaan dleeyí, aatlein
G̲uwakaan dleeyí stoox tóonáx̲ awsi.ée. She cooked deer meat in the oven. g̲uwakaan dleeyí, stoox, a tú, -náx̲, si-.ee
G̲uwakaan taayí kas’úkx̲u yís akaawaxaash. She cut up deer fat for frying. g̲uwakaan taayí, a kas’úkx̲u, a yís, ka-ya-xaash
G̲uwakaan taayí teen dleey awsi.ée. She cooked meat with the deer fat. g̲uwakaan taayí, dleey, si-.ee
G̲uwakaan yádi kajikáx’x̲. A fawn is spotted. g̲uwakaan yádi, ka-ji-káx’x̲