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!
Index | A | C | D | E | G | H | I | J | K | L | N | P | O | S | T | U | W | X | Y
T’áa kát k̲ushí ax̲ jeeyís - k̲ut kax̲waag̲éex’ ax̲ kawóot ka.íshayi g̲aa. Look on the floor for me – I lost my fine needle. kawóot ka.íshaa, t’áa ká, -t, A-g̲aa + k̲u-ya-shee1, k̲ut ka-ya-g̲eex’
Táakwx’ kals’éesjaa dutéen nooch. You can see blowing snow in the winter time. kals’éesjaa, táakw, -x’
Taakw yís kinaak át áwé x̲waa.oo. I bought a coat for winter. kinaak át, taakw
Taan áa awsiteeni yé a niyaadé g̲unéi uwak̲úx̲. He started driving his boat in the direction he had seen the sea lion. taan, ya-.aa1, si-teen, a niyaadé, g̲unéi, ya-k̲oox̲ 1.1
Taan geení shéi anax yéi yatee. There is blood coming from the sea lion’s tail flippers. taan, a geení, shéi, a-, -náx̲, yéi + ya-tee
Taatch x̲at gug̲ajáak̲. I'm going to fall asleep. (Lit: Night is going to kill me). taat, ya-jaak̲
Taat kanax̲ oonk̲al'eix̲ín. I would have danced all night. taat, a ká, -náx̲, a-ya-l’eix̲
Taat kanax̲ x̲at wusix̲ék̲ wé katl’úk̲jaa. All night I was kept awake by that slow drip. taat, a ká, -náx̲, x̲at, si-x̲eik̲, katl’úk̲jaa
Taatx’ áwé has al’óon wé k’ákw. The owl hunts at night. k'ákw, taat, -x’, a-ya-l’oon
Táax'al' x'aan áwé ax̲ tl'eik̲ tóot yawdig̲ích. The needle point poked my finger. táax'al', x'aan, du tl'eik̲, ya-di-g̲eech
Teet áa kaadé x̲aatéen. I see waves on the lake. áa, teet
Teey woodí dustéix̲. Yellow cedar bark is boiled. teey woodí, si-taa3
Teey woodí naaxeinx̲ dulyéix̲. Yellow cedar bark is used to make a chilkat robe. teey woodí, naaxein, A-x̲ + li-yeix̲1
Té géit kaawagwátl wé kooch’éit’aa. The ball rolled against a rock. té, gé, ka-ya-gwaatl, wé, kooch’éit’aa
Teik̲weidí dachx̲án áyá x̲át. I am the grandchild of Teik̲weidí. Teik̲weidí, du dachx̲án
Téil dei yaax̲t la.át. Scraps of wood are lying along the road. téil, dei, yaa, -x̲, -t, li-.aa1
Téil yéi aya.óo at doogú aklas’ék̲x̲i yís. She is using dry wood for smoking that hide. g̲unanaa tetl, yéi, ya-.oo, a doogú, li-s’eik̲, a yís
T’eixáa een áwé cháatl has aawasháat. They caught halibut with hooks. t'eixáa, cháatl, ya-shaat
Téix’ gwáa wégé átx̲ dulyeix̲ín chooneit sákw. Little stones must have been used to make arrows. té, chooneit
Té k̲áas’de wdzigeet. He fell in the crevice. té k̲áas', dzi-geet1
Té tlein kát áa wé ch’áak’. The bald eagle is sitting on top of the big boulder. té, tlein, a ká, ya-.aa, ch’áak’
Té tlénx’ héen táakde duwatéen. Big rocks are visible on the bottom of the river. héen táak, té
Tínx̲ kaxwéix̲ uwayáa tl’átgi káx’ k̲u.aa ka.eix̲. Bearberries are like cranberries but they grow on the ground. tínx̲, kaxwéix̲, ya-yaa1, ka-ya-.aa3, a ká, tl’átk
Tíx’ k̲a x’óow tin g̲eeg̲ách' awliyéx̲ t’ukanéiyi jeeyís. She made a hammock for the baby with rope and a blanket. tíx’, x’óow, -tin, g̲eeg̲ách’, li-yeix̲1, t’ukanéiyi, du jeeyís
T’óoch’ g̲ayéis' yadál. Black iron is heavy. t’óoch’, g̲ayéis’, ya-daal
T’óoch k̲a tl’áatl’ yáx̲ dag̲aatée gandaas'aají. Bees are black and yellow. t’ooch, k̲a, tl’áatl’, a yáx̲ + ya-tee1.7, gandaas’aají
T’óoch’ yáx̲ yatee a gwéinli wé dzísk’w. The moose’s hoof is black. a gwéinli, t’óoch’, dzísk’w
T’óoch’ yáx̲ yatee wé hít ká x’úx’u. That roofing is black. hít ká, t’óoch’, x’úx’
T’óok’ x̲oodé daa ax̲ wudzigít. I fell into the stinging nettles. t’óok’, dzi-geet1
T’ooch’ aa yéi nateech wé x̲’aan eetí. There’s charcoal where the fire was. t’ooch’, x̲’aan, a eetí
T’ooch’ kaanáx̲ áwé at dus.ée. Coal is used for cooking over. t’ooch’
T’ooch’ k̲a x̲’aan yáx̲ yatee wé yaka.óot’ x'óow. That button blanket is black and red. t’ooch’, x̲’aan, yaka.óot’ x’óow
T’ooch’ yáx̲ shasitee. She has black hair. t'ooch'
T’ooch’ yáx̲ yatee a gooshí wé kéet. The fin of the killerwhale is black. a gooshí, t’ooch’, kéet
T’ook kát as.áa du yádi. He sat his child on the papoose board. t'ook, a ká, si-.aa1
Toow s’eenáa át has akawligán. They lit a candle. toow s'eenáa, A- + a-ka-li-gaan
Toowú néekw jiyeet g̲áax̲ wé shaawát. The woman is crying under the burden of sadness. g̲áax̲, a jiyeet, toowú néekw
Toowú néekw k̲aa káa yéi teeyí, tlél oodul'eix̲. When there is sorrow, there's no dancing. toowú néekw, k̲aa, a ká, yéi, A + ya-tee, tlél, a-ya-l’éix̲
Tóos’ hítdáx̲ du x̲úx̲. Her husband is from the shark house. tóos', hít, du x̲úx̲
Tuháayi teen áwé át kawtusix’óo. He nailed it with a nail. tuháayi, ka-si-x’oo
tuk̲’atáal x̲’usdé awdiyík̲. He put on his pants. tuk̲'atáal, x̲’oos- + di-yeek̲
Tula.aan een du éet x̲’aawatán. He spoke to her with kindness. tula.aan, A- + x̲’a-ya-taan
Túlix̲’aan tín x̲’aan yilayéx̲. Build a fire with the fire drill. túlix̲'aan, x̲’aan, li-yeix̲
Tusconx’ aa sax̲waa.áx̲ gus'yé kindachooneidí. I heard some doves in Tuscon. gus'yé kindachooneidí, sa-ya-.aax̲1
Tux̲'wáns'i náagú náakw dulyeix̲ín ch’áakw. Long ago they made medicine out of pepper. tux̲'wáns'i náakw
T'á x̲'alitséen Juneaux'. King salmon is expensive in Juneau. t'á, x̲'a-li-tseen
Tl’aadéin áwé át tán wé k̲óok. The box is sitting sideways. tl’aadéin, áwé, ya-taan, wé, k̲óok
Tláakw ashawlihík wé kadádzaa yeit. She filled the berry basket quickly. kadádzaa yeit, tláakw, sha-li-heek
Tláakw ax̲áa du aandaayaagú. He is rowing his rowboat quickly. aandaayaagú, tláakw, a-ya-x̲aa2
Tláakw áyá haa kg̲watée wult’éex’i yá kaklahéen. We will be in tough shape if this wet snow freezes. kaklahéen, li-t’eex’, A + ya-tee1, tláakw
Tlaakw naadaayi héen kulix̲éitl’shán. This fast river is dangerous. tlaakw, naadaayi héen, ka-li-x̲éetl’shan
Tláak̲ du eedé ksixát. The arrow is stuck in his body. tláak̲, si-xaat1
Tl’aak̲’wách’ een áwé awsi.ée wé kaxwéix̲. She cooked wild rhubarb with cranberries. tl'aak̲'wách', kaxwéix̲, si-.ee
Tl’áatl’ aas yít wudik̲een. The small bird flew into the tree. tl'áatl', aas, a yee
Tlaax̲ áa yaa kana.éin. Mold is growing. tlaax̲, ka-ya-.aa3
Tlágu aayí aan yaduxas’ át aawat’ei. He found an old-time razor. aan yaduxas’ at, ya-t’ei1
Tlag̲anís aan kwéiyi tugáas’ix̲ has awliyéx̲. They made a flagpole out of a sapling. tlag̲anís, aan kwéiyi tugáas’i
Tlak’g̲aa áwé anax̲ daak has aawal’eix̲. One by one they danced out. tlak'g̲aa, a-ya-l’eix̲
Tlákw Aandáx̲ haa shoow sitee. We stem from Klukwan. Tlákw Aan
Tlákw Aan K̲wáan G̲unanaa has du x̲oodé yóo has .átgin dahoon káx̲. People from Klukwan used to go to the Athabascans to trade. G̲unanaa, Tlákw Aan, a x̲oo, ya-.aat1, ya-hoon
Tlákw kaduk’énx’ wé cheech. Those porpoise jump and dive fast. tlákw, cheech, ka-doo-ya-k’ein
Tlakw s’eenáa a káa yéi teech eech kakwéiyi. There’s always a light on a fixed buoy. s’eenáa, eech kakwéiyi
Tl’átgi káa yagéi wé tl’áak’. There are a lot of dead leaves on the ground. tl'áak', tl’átk, a ká, ya-gei1
Tl’átki káa yéi teex̲ k̲’eishkaháagu. Small cranberries are on the ground. k̲'eishkaháagu, tl’átk
Tle a tuwán áwé atx̲á daakahídi áa wdudliyéx̲. They built a restaurant next to it. tle, a tuwán, áwé, atx̲á daakahídi, á, li-yeix̲
Tle hít tuwán áwé kóok̲ áa kei has akaawaháa. Right next to the house they dug a pit. a tuwán, hít, kóok̲, ka-ya-haa0.1(tr)
Tléi a x'aant áwé daak̲ wudig̲wát' wé yadák'w. The young boy climbed out the limb. a x'aan, yadák'w, di-g̲waat'1
Tléi ch’ákw x̲á wé aatx̲ kéi haa wsidák̲. It was a long time ago that we migrated from there. ch'ákw, si-daak̲2
Tleidahéen, yéi at woonei. Once upon a time, this happened. tleidahéen, A + ya-nee
Tleidahéen áwé Yaakwdaat awlihaash wé kanóox’. One time a turtle floated to Yakutat. tleidahéen, kanóox’, Yaakwdaat, li-haash
Tléi déix̲ k̲’ateil yáx̲ áwé wutusineix̲ shákw kahéeni. We saved two gallons of the strawberry juice. tléi, déix̲, k̲’ateil, shákw, at kahéeni, si-neix̲
Tleidooshú g̲uwakaan wutusiteen tléix’ yagiyee. We saw six deer one day. g̲uwakaan, tleidooshú, yagiyee, tléix’, si-teen
Tleidooshú k̲aa x̲’oos yéi kliyáat’ wé kaay That measuring stick is six feet long. kaay, tleidooshú, k̲aa x̲’oos, ka-li-yaat’
Tleidooshú táakwx̲ áwé sitee ax̲ dachx̲ánk’. My little grandchild is 6 years old. tleidooshú, táakw, du dachx̲án
Tleikatánk áwé kanat’áx̲ x̲oo yéi nateech. Red huckleberries are always among blueberries. tleikatánk, kanat’á, a x̲oo
Tleikatánk kanat’á een yak’éi. Red huckleberries are good with blueberries. tleikatánk, kanat’á
Tléi kawdzitíx' a yá shawtoot'éex̲'i. It's face twisted when we clubbed it. ka-si-teex', a yá, ya-t'eix̲'
Tleik̲áa dáanaa ax̲ éet hís’. Loan me twenty dollars. tleik̲áa, dáanaa, A- + ya-hees’
tleik̲áa k̲a tléix' áwé du katáagu. He is twenty-one years old. tleik̲áa k̲a tléix’, du katáagu
Tleik̲áa waat yéi kg̲waadláan. It’s twenty fathoms deep. waat, ya-dlaan
Tléik̲w at x'aakeidí áwé ts'ítskw gánde nagoodí tóox' yéi nateech. Berry seeds are found in bird poop. tléik̲w, at x'aakeidí, ts'ítskw, gánde nagoodí, a tú, ya-tee1.2
Tléik̲w g̲óot awsi.ée du sakwnéini. She cooked her bannock without berries. a g̲óot, tléik̲w, sakwnéin, si-.ee
Tléik̲w kahéeni awdináa. He drank berry juice. tléik̲w kahéeni, di-naa2
Tléik̲w kahéeni áwé átx̲ dulyéix̲ kasék̲’x̲u yís. Berry juices are used for dye. kasék̲'x̲u, a yís, tléik̲w kahéeni, A-x̲ + li-yeix̲1
Tléik̲w wás’i áa kaawa.aa. Berry bushes are growing there. tléik̲w wás'i, ka-ya-.aa3
Tléik̲w yádi has aawa.ín. They picked raspberries. tléik̲w yádi, ya-.een1
Tléil awuskú xóots k̲oowú káx̲ wugoodí. He did not know that he had come upon a grizzly bear den. tléil, si-koo2, xóots, a k̲oowú, a ká, ya-goot1
Tléil áyáx̲ at wuneiyí, jinaháa áwé yóo daayaduk̲áa nooch. When something bad happens they would say it is bad luck. jinaháa, A + daa-ya-ya-k̲aa, A + ya-nee
Tléil uyaa wé aan káa k̲ududziteeyi yoo x̲’atánk géide k̲udunoogú. It is wrong to act against the law of the land. tléil, ya-yaa1, aan, a ká, a géide, k̲u-ya-nook2, a káa k̲ududziteeyi yoo x̲’atánk
Tléil x̲wasakú g̲eey kanax̲ k̲utées' yóo duwasáagu x̲áat. I do not know the fish called ratfish. tléil, si-koo2, g̲eey kanax̲ k̲utées’, ya-saa2, x̲áat
Tléil yáax’ yéi aa utí g̲unakadeit. There are no sea monsters here. g̲unakadeit, yáa, -x’, A-x’ + yéi + ya-tee1
Tléil yá dáak̲ káx’ yéi utí wé g̲anook. Here in the Inland we don’t have any small sea birds. tléil, dáak̲, a ká, A-x’ + yéi + ya-tee1.2, g̲anook.
Tléináx̲ k̲áa áx̲ yaa nagút. One person is walking along there. tléináx̲ k̲áa
tléináx̲ t’ooch’ k̲áa haa x̲oo yéi yatee. There’s only one black man among us. T'ooch' k̲áa, tléináx̲, a x̲oo
Tléi ult’íx’ch taatx’ wéi hít daadáx̲ kax’áasjaa héen. The water dripping from the house freezes at night. kax'áasjaa, tléi, li-t’eex’, taat, -x’, hít, a daa, -dáx̲, kax’áasjaa, héen
Tléix’ dáanaa yéi x̲’alitseen katíx̲’aa x’úx’ daakahídeex’. A key costs one dollar at the post office. tléix’, dáanaa, x̲’a-li-tseen, yéi, katíx̲’aa, x’úx’ daakahídi, -x’
Tléix’ gút akaawahées’. He borrowed one dime. tléix', gút, ka-ya-hees’
Tléix’ k̲aa x̲’oos, yéi kliyáat’ wé tíx’. That rope is one foot long. k̲aa x̲’oos, tléix’, tíx’, ka-li-yaat’
Tléix’ k̲’ateil yáx̲ áwé liyík wéi xén. That plastic can hold one gallon. k̲'ateil, tleix’, a yáx̲, xén, wé, li-yeik2
Tlék’g̲aanáx̲ áwé has wuduwax̲oox̲. They called them one by name. tlék'g̲aanáx̲, ya-x̲oox̲
Tlé kílaa kát áwé k̲aa x̲’eix̲ has at wootee. They fed the people from platters. kílaa, ya-tee2.5
Tlél aa k̲wasatínch wé k’ákw yóo duwasáagu aa tsísk’w. I have never seen what they call the owl without ear tufts. k'ákw, tsísk’w, si-teen, ya-saa2
Tlél a káx̲ yiseix’aag̲úk̲ wé yaakw kakúxaa. Don’t forget the bailer for the boat. kakúxaa, a ká- + sa-ya-x’aak̲w
Tlél át awu.aat. Nobody arrived there. tlél, á, -t, ya-.aat
Tlél déi x̲wateen ax̲ kawóot ka.íshaa. I can’t see my fine needle anymore. kawóot ka.íshaa, déi, tlél, ax̲, ya-teen
Tlél dé tuk̲daa.át du.ús’k. Diapers aren’t washed anymore. tuk̲daa.át, ya-.oos’
Tlél góos’ k̲oostéeyin tatgé. There weren’t clouds yesterday. góos', tatgé, k̲u-dzi-tee1
Tlél kei gux̲lats'áa i daat shkalneek. Talk about you is not going to smell good. tlél, li-ts’aa, ka-li-neek, a daat
Tlél k'idéin i x̲'éi x̲a.áx̲ch. I don't understand you well. (Lit: I don't hear you well) k'idéin, du x̲'éi, ya-aax̲1
Tlél Lingít sh kalneegí sakú kichx̲.anagaat daat. There aren’t any Tlingit stories about rainbows. kichx̲.anagaat, sh kalneek
Tlél tlax̲ kooshx̲’íl’k yáa kaxwaan. It’s not as slippery with this frost. kaxwaan, tlél, tlax̲, ka-shi-x̲’eel’(st)
Tlél ushik'éiyi aa yoo x̲'atánk áwé tsá a.ax̲ji nooch . She only hears the bad talk. tlél, tléil + shi-k’ei, aa, x̲’a-ya-taan, áwé, tsá, ya-.aax̲1, nooch, yoo x̲’atánk
Tlél ux̲gank̲áas' teen ash kayeelyádik̲! Don’t play with matches! ux̲gank̲áas', ash ka-dli-yát
Tlél x̲´adaadzaayí du jee. It doesn’t have whiskers. a x̲'adaadzaayí
Tle yeedát yáatx̲ haa kagux̲dayáa. We need to leave from here right now. tle, yeedát, yá, -dáx̲, haa, ka-di-yaa
Tl’iknaa.át een duk̲éis’. They use a thimble for sewing. tl'iknaa.át, ya-k̲aa2
Tliyaa aan a k̲wáan haa x̲ánt has uwa.át. The people from that town have come to visit us. tliyaa, aan, a k̲wáan, du x̲án, ya-.aat1
“Tliyéix’, jinaháa haa kát g̲waaxéex,” yóo x̲’ayak̲á du tláa. Her mother said, “behave, bad luck might befall us.” jinaháa, A- + ya-xeex, haa, a ká, -t, du tláa, A + x̲’a-ya-ya-k̲aa
Tl’ook̲ du jín daa yéi yatee. There are sores on his hand. tl'ook̲, du jín, a daa
Tlóox̲ tlél toox̲á. We don’t eat bullhead. tlóox̲, ya-x̲aa1
Tl’úk’x̲ awsiwadi shaawát daatx̲ sh kalneek k̲udzitee. There’s a story about the woman who raised the worm. tl'úk'x̲, si-waat, shaawát, a daat, sh kalneek, k̲u-dzi-tee1
Tsaa doogú at xáshti téel áwé a kaax̲ sh tuklig̲éi. S/he is proud of the seal skin moccasins. tsaa, a doogú, at xáshti téel, a ká, ka-li-g̲ei0.2
Tsaa eex̲í teen yak’éi at x’éeshi. Seal oil is good with dryfish. tsaa, eex̲, at x’éeshi
Tsaa eix̲í du daagú ágé a yanáax̲ at dutaan? Do you put a cover on it when rendering seal oil? a yanáa, tsaa, eix̲, ya-taan0.3(tr)
Tsaa eix̲í tín áwé yak'éi t'á at x̲éeshi. Dry fish king salmon is good with seal oil. tsaa, eix̲, ya-k'ei, t'á, at x̲éeshi
Tsaa Éix̲' kaadáx̲ áwé yawtuwadlaak̲ ch’a k’ikát wé kaneilts’úkw. We finally managed to get some swamp currants from Seal Slough. a ká, -dáx̲, ch’a k’ikát, kaneilts’úkw, ya-ya-dlaak̲
Tsaagál’ át dulyeix̲ín ch’áakw. Spears were used long ago. tsaagál', ch’áakw
Tsaa geení aankadushxit át tin akaawshixít. She took a picture of the seal tail flippers with a camera. tsaa, a geení, aankadushxit át, -tin, ka-shi-xeet
Tság̲aa een yaakw daak has akawliták̲. They are pushing the boat offshore with a pole. tság̲aa, yaakw, li-taak̲1
Ts’ak’áawásh Deishúdáx̲ has aawa.oo. They bought dried fish strips from Haines. ts'ak'áawásh, Deishú, ya-.oo2
Ts’ats’ée áwé x̲waa.áx̲ tatgé ts’ootaat. I heard a songbird yesterday morning. ts'ats'ée, tatgé, ts’ootaat, ya-.aax̲1
Ts’axweil át kawdliyeech. Crows are flying around. ts'axweil, ka-dli-yeech
Ts’éekáx̲k’w has aawa.ín. They picked dwarf blueberries. ts'éekáx̲k'w
Tséek éen has awsi.ée wé chaatl. They barbecued the halibut. tséek, chaatl
Ts’ootaat kéi ax̲ wudzigít. I woke up in the morning. ts'ootaat, kei si-geet1
Ts’ootaat shax̲wdinúk. I got up in the morning. ts’ootaat, sha-di-nook1
Ts’ootsxánch uwasháa ax̲ kéek’. A Tsimshian married my little sister. Ts'ootsxán, du kéek’, ya-shaa1
Tsu tsá yá naax̲ satí k̲u.aa áyá yaa Téel' áyá haa shukáx̲ sitee, L'eeneidí. Also the Dog Salmon is our clan crest, L'eeneidí. naa, si-tee1, téel', du shuká, L'eeneidí
Tsú yáa ax̲ tláa k̲u.aa Sheet'káx' áyá k̲oowdzitee. K̲a du éek' tsú áa k̲oowdzitee. My mother was born in Sitka. And her brother was also born there. du tláa, Sheet'ká, k̲u-dzi-tee1, du éek'
Tsu yéi wunak̲á! You can say that again! tsu, yéi, ya-ya-k̲aa1