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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Yaa Aangóont áyá la.áa haa hídi Aanx'aagi Hít yóo duwasáakw. Our clan house standing in Angoon is called Aanx'aagi Hít. Aangóon, li-.aa1, hít, ya-saa2
Yáa a daat x’úx’ yáx̲ áwé a daax’ yéi jix̲waanei. I worked on it according to the book. a yáx̲, a daat, x’úx’
Yaa at gag̲ayaayít yéi aya.óo wé gukkudayáat’. He is using the donkey to pack things. wé, gukkudayáat’, yéi + ya-.oo1, ya-yaa2
Yáa ax̲ éesh yinaanáx̲ k̲u.aa áyá Anóoshix̲ wusitee, Héenx̲ K̲uwala.aadíx̲ wusitee. My father's side was Russian, he was a baptizer. du éesh, yinaanáx̲, Anóoshi, si-tee1
Yaa ax̲ léelk'w ax̲ tláa yinaanáx̲ K̲éin yóo dusáagun yaa Xutsnoowúdáx̲. My grandmother on my mother's side, her name was K̲éin from Angoon. du léelk'w, du tláa, yinaanáx̲, ya-saa2, Xutsnoowú
Yaa gagú a yinaadé wé áa agax̲tool’oon yé. Walk towards the place we will hunt. a yinaadé, ya-goot1, a-ya-l’oon, áa
Yaa indashán óosh gé! If only you were getting old! óosh, gé, di-shaan
Yaa kanajúx wé toolch’án. The top is spinning. toolch'án, ka-ya-joox
Yáakw áa kát wuk̲oox̲. A boat is traveling on the lake (by motor.) yaakw, áa, ya-k̲oox̲1
Yaakwdaatx’ áwé ch’iyaash kát át k̲uyawagoowún héen kát. Flat bottomed canoes were used for travel in Yakutat in the rivers. ch'iyaash, ya-ya-goo2
Yaakwdaatx’ hél k̲oostí kalchaneit. There is no mountain ash in Yakutat. kalchaneit, Yaakwdaat, -x’, k̲u-dzi-tee1
Yaakwdaatx’ yéi has yatee yeedát G̲unaax̲oo K̲wáan. The Dry Bay people now live in Yakutat. G̲unaax̲oo K̲wáan, Yaakwdaat
Yaakw k̲a g̲eiwú asg̲eiwú jishagóonx̲ sitee. A boat and a net are a seine fisherman’s tools. jishagóon, g̲eiwú, A-x̲ + si-tee1, asg̲eiwú
Yaakw tlénx’ has ax̲áach, dax̲áchx’i. The tugboat tows large vessels. dax̲áchx'i, yaakw, ya-x̲aach
Yaakw yíx’ yan tí wéi kas’éet kag̲éikwaa. Leave the wrench in the boat. kas’éet kag̲éikwaa, yaakw, a yík, -x’
Yaa k̲aa lunagúg̲u a kayéik has aawa.áx̲. They heard the sound of people running. k̲aa, lu-ya-gook̲, a kayéik, ya-.aax̲1
Yaa k̲u.éex' k̲óox' k̲u.aa áyá ax̲ yá wdudlit'áa yá saa K̲aajaak̲wtí. Though during potlatches they call me K̲aajaak̲wtí. k̲u.éex', a k̲óox', li-t'aa, saa
Yáa k̲utaanx’ aadéi k̲ugax̲tootéen ixkée ch’a g̲aax̲tusatéen wé sháa. This summer we are going to travel down south just to see the girls. k̲utaan, k̲u-ya-teen, ixkée, ch’a, si-teen, sháa
Yaa L'úx yinaanáx̲ yá saa áyá yaa L'úx áyá has aawahéin. They claimed the name Mt. Edgecumbe as their crest. yinaanáx̲, saa, ya-hein
Yaa nak̲úx̲ stéen kaa x̲’anaat áwé hán wé dzísk’w tlein. The big moose was standing in the way of the steam train. a x̲'anaa, ya-k̲oox̲1, dzísk’w, tlein
Yaa naxúk ax̲ naa.ádi. My clothes are drying. yaa, ya-xook, ax̲, naa.át
Yaa neechx̲ yaa neegúdi yéi kg̲isateen yá katóok. As you walk along the shoreline you will see the cave. neech, -x̲, ya-goot1, katóok, si-teen
Yaa ntoo.ádi áwé, daak wudzigít yax̲ akaawax̲ích wutuwa.ini kaneilts’úkw. When we were walking, she fell straight down and spilled all the swamp currants we picked. yaa, ya-.aat1, daak, dzi-geet1, A- + ka-ya-x̲eech, ya.een1, kaneilts’úkw
Yáat aayi kát ag̲waax̲sateenín. If he'd been sitting here, he would have seen it. yá, -t, aa, a ká, si-teen
Yáat hán du x'óowu teen. Here he stands with his robe. yá, -u, du, x’óow, -t, aan, ya-haan
Yá atk’átsk’u li.oos ch’ak’yéis’ yáx̲. This child is as playful as a young eagle. ch'ak'yéis', atk’átsk’u, li-.oos
Yaa uháan haa naax̲ sitee, Yéil áyá haa shukáx̲ sitee. For our clan, Raven is our main crest. naa, si-tee1, yéil, du shuká
Yaawat’ayi káaxwei ínx'eesháa tóot haat aawsi.ín. She brought hot coffee in a bottle jug. ínx'eesháa, ya-ya-t’aa, haa, -t, si-.een1
Yaawdig̲íl du túlaayi. The drill became dull. túlaa, ya-di-g̲eel
Yaax’át yá kas’úwaa ax̲ jeeyís. Sharpen this chopper for me. ya-x’aat, kas’úwaa
Yá ax̲ l'eix̲ k'oodás' a wán shóot at k̲á. Sew something to the edge of my dance shirt. k'oodás', a wán, ya-k̲aa2, a shú
Yadál wé tináa. A copper shield is heavy. tináa, ya-daal
Yagéi a kaayí wé áa tlein. The measure of that big lake is immense. ya-gei, a kaayí, áa, tlein
Yaka.óot’ x’óow aawak̲áa du séek’ jeeyís. She sewed a button blanket for her daughter. yaka.óot’ x’óow, ya-k̲aa2, du séek’
Yá kas’úwaa teen a yíkdáx̲ x̲út’. Chip the inside out with this chopper. yá, kas’úwaa, -teen, a yík, -dáx̲, ya-x̲oot’2
Yá kat’íshaa at xáshdi téel aan x̲ak̲éis’. I sew moccasins with this needle. kat'íshaa, at xáshdi téel, aan, ya-k̲aa2
Yá keijín yagiyeedáx̲ katíx̲’aa s’aatíx̲ x̲at gux̲satée. After friday I will be the jailer. keijín yagiyee, -dáx̲, katíx̲’aa s’aatí, x̲at
Yak’éi wé kaháakw laak̲’ásgi x̲oox’. The fish eggs are good with black seaweed. kaháakw, laak̲’ásk, a x̲oo, -x’
Yak’éiyi aa g̲ayéis’ neil tí kduch’áak’w lítaa sákw. Bring home a good piece of iron for a carving knife. g̲ayéis', neil, lítaa, ka-ya-ch’aak’w, ya-tee2.1
Yak’éiyi daa.át aax̲ du.óow wé hoon daakahídi. Good clothing can be bought from that store. hoon daakahídi, daa.át, ya-.oow
Yak’éiyi náakw áwé yéi awsinei yáa kaxweitl káa yéi aawa.oo. He picked some good medicine and put it on the rash. náakw, A + si-nee, yá, kaxweitl, a ká, -x’, A-x’ + yéi + ya-.oo
Yak´éiyi x̲´ayeit áwé du jeewú ax̲ aat. My father’s sister has good tableware. x̲'ayeit, aat
Yá k̲ut'aayg̲áa gági ugootch yee éesh. During the warm season your father would come out. yá, k̲u-ya-t’aa, -g̲aa, gági, gagée + ya-goot1.4, -ch, yee, du éesh
Yalik’áts’ du g̲altulítayi. His pocketknife is sharp. ya-li-k’aats’, g̲altulítaa
Yan aas daadáx̲ kayeix̲ áwé átx̲ gag̲ilayéix̲ s’agwáat yáx̲ kaséik̲’x̲u sákw. Shavings from a hemlock tree is what you will use for the brown-like dye. yan, aas, a daa, -dáx̲, kayeix̲, A-x̲ + li-yeix̲1, s’agwáat, a yáx̲, kaséik̲’x̲u, sákw
Yan ashawlihík yá haa tláach. This mother of ours has completed everything. yan sha-li-heek, yá, haa, du tláa, -ch
Yan awsinéi du s’ís’aa hídi eetí yís. He fixed up the place for his tent. s’ísaa hít, a eetí, a yís, yan si-nee0.2
Yanéegu lingít x̲ánde wudoowax̲óox̲ wé íx̲t'. The medicine man was called to the sick person. íx̲t', ya-neekw, lingít, du x̲án, -dé, ya-x̲oox̲
Yanshukáx’ áwé k’idéin wutuliyéx yaa k’anáaxan. We built the fence really well out here in the wilderness. k'anáaxan, yanshuká, -x’, k’idéin, li-yeix̲1
Yan shwudzinéi. She’s all dressed up. sh dzi-nee
Yan tután. Keep hoping. tután
Yan uwaneiyi hít kaságu g̲áa kawduwak̲áa. He was sent for ready-made rafters. hít kaságu, ka-ya-k̲aa1, yan ya-nee
Yan yéi jiwtooneiyí a ítnáx̲ tsá gax̲too.aat. After we have finished work, then we will go. yan ya-nee, a ítnáx̲, ya-.aat
Yasátk aadéi ashigóogu yé wéi kaldáal’i. The typist knows how to type fast. kaldáal’i, ya-sátk, shi-gook1
Yat’aayi héen a káa yéi na.oo wéi kát yadu.us’ku át. Put hot water in the wash basin. yat’aayi héen, a ká, -x’, kát yadu.us’ku át
Yat’aayi héen du k̲áawu x̲’éit awsi.ín. She gave her husband’s clan brother coffee. yat’aayi héen, du x̲’é, -t, si-.een, du k̲áawu
Yat’éex’ át akawdusgaaní gán láx̲’i. It is hard to burn the wet outer part of firewood. ya-t’eex’, ka-si-gaan, gán láx̲’i
Yá washéen katág̲ayi wooshaash. This engine’s cylinder wore out. washéen katág̲ayi, ya-shaash
Yawóol yá deegáa. this net has holes. deegáa, ya-wool
Yáxwch’ áwé yax̲ has ayawsix̲áa haa aanídáx̲ wé k̲'alkátsk. The sea otter has devoured the yellowneck clams on our land. k̲'alkátsk, yáxwch’, yax̲ ya-si-x̲aa1, haa, aaní, -dáx̲
Yá x̲´atas´aak̲ k̲únáx̲ k̲usi.áat’i yéix’ áwé yéi has yatee. Eskimos live in a very cold place. X̲'atas'aak̲, k̲u-si-.aat’, ya-tee1.2
Yax̲ kei kg̲wadláax̲’w wé yaakw. The boat will get stuck on the beach. yax̲ + ya-dlaax̲’w, kei, wé, yaakw.
Yá yaakw a yá gax̲toonéegwál', aatlein kuwóox̲ sateeyích. We will paint this side of the skiff, since it's the widest. yaakw, a yá, ya-néegwal', si-tee1
Yeedát yagiyee yak’éi g̲aatáa yéi daané yís yáa kaxwaan káx̲ yaa nagúdi. Today is a fine day for walking out on the frost to check the traps. kaxwaan, yeedát, yagiyee, ya-k’ei, g̲aatáa, a yís, yéi + daa-ya-nei, yá, a ká, -x̲, yaa, ya-goot1
Yee k’idaaká k̲u.óowu gaysax̲án. Love your neighbor. du k'idaaká, si-x̲án, k̲u-ya-.oo1
Yées aa áadaa aawa.oo. He bought a new spear. áadaa, yées
Yées aa aas dláwaa áwé. That is a new peavey. aas dláwaa
Yées aa a kádi awliyéx̲. He made a new spear head. yées, aa, a kádi, li-yeix̲
Yées aa gútl du jeet wududzitán. He was given a new blunt arrow. gútl, yées, k̲aa jee- + si-taan
Yées aa gwálaa aawax̲oox̲. He asked for a new dagger. gwálaa, ya-x̲oox̲
Yées aa g̲altulítaa du léelk’w jeeyís aawa.óo. He bought his grandpa a new pocketknife. yées, g̲altulítaa, du léelk’w, du jeeyís, ya-.oo2
Yées aa kach'ák’waa aawa.oo. He bought himself a new rounded chisel. kach'ák’waa
Yées aa kas’éet katíx̲’aa g̲aa neelhóon Ace Hardwaredáx̲. Go to Ace Hardware and buy a new screwdriver. kas'éet katíx̲'aa, yées, aa, dli-hoon, -dáx̲
Yées aan s’aatí has du jee yéi yatee. They have a new mayor. aan s’aatí, yées
Yées daséikw g̲aa woogoot. He went to get fresh air. daséikw, yées
Yées dís áwé haadé yaa nagút. A new month is coming. dís
Yées jig̲wéinaa du léelk’u jeet awli.át. He gave his grandmother new towels. jig̲wéinaa, yées, du léelk’w, li-.aat2
Yées k̲áa áwé has du s'aatí. Their boss is a young man. k̲aa s'aatí, yées
Yées t’á g̲ík̲si sitgawsáanx’ has aawax̲áa. They ate fresh salmon barbequed over the fire at noon. yées, t’á, g̲ík̲si, sitgawsáan, ya-x̲aa1
Yées túlaa eetéenáx̲ x̲at yatee. I need a new drill. túlaa, yées, a eetee-nax̲ + ya-tee
Yées washéen a geekt satéen wé yaakw. There is a new motor at the stern of that boat. yées, washéen, a geek, si-teen2, yaakw
Yeeytéen has du téix̲' tóotx̲ áyá toodé has yee uwaxích haa k̲u.éex'i. You all can see that our guests thank you from their hearts. ya-teen, haa, ya-.éex’, has, du téix̲’, a tú, -dáx̲, áyá, -de, yee, ya-xeech
Yéi agux̲dagáan yáa yagiyee, ldakát át kaadáx̲ tláakw gug̲watée kax’áasjaa. When it sunshines today everything will be dripping off fast. kax'áasjaa, yá, yagiyee, ldakát át, a ká, -dáx̲, tláakw, a-di-gaan1, A + ya-tee1
Yei andagán. The sun is beginning to shine. a-di-gaan1
Yéi át ax̲wdishée iwulnáalx̲i. I wish you wealth. yéi, á- + a-di-shee1.5, li-náalx̲
Yéi áwé wduwasáa Kayáash Hít L’uknax̲.ádich. The Coho Salmon tribe has named it Platform House. kayáash¸ hít, L’uknax̲.ádi, -ch, ya-saa2
Yéi áyá x̲at duwasáakw. That is my name. ya-saa2
Yéi daayaduk̲á, “Líl kadéix' haa káx̲ eeteek̲.” He was told “don’t bring shame on us.” kadéix', A + daa-ya-ya-k̲aa1, haa, a ká, -x̲, ya-tee2
Yéi dzigeiyi aa k̲ákw áwé akooshtánin yéi adaanéiyin ax̲ léelk’w. My grandmother loved to make those little baskets. k̲ákw, yéi + dzi-gei, ka-shi-taan, yéi + daa-ya-nei
Yei googénk'i at x̲éidi tín áwé x̲waat'úk wé t'aawák̲. I shot the Canada goose with a small arrow. at x̲éidi, ya-t'ook, t'aawák̲
Yéil x´óow aawak̲áa du x̲án aa jeeyís. She made a Raven blanket for her husband. yéil, x’óow, du x̲án, ya-k̲aa2, du jeeyís
Yéi sh kadulneek a yahaayí k̲udzitee dáanaa. They say money has a spirit. ka-dli-neek, du yahaayí, dáanaa, k̲u-dzi-tee1
Yóo áyú awasáakw du sée ax̲ tláa. That's what my mother named her daughter. ya-saa2, du sée, du tláa
Yóode luwagoog̲ú dzísk’w a ítde akk̲wal’óon. I will go hunting those moose that ran over that way. lu-ya-gook̲, dzísk’w, a ít, a-ya-l’oon
Yóode wujixeexi dzísk’w a ítde woogoot ax̲ éek’. My brother went after the moose that ran off that way. a ít, ji-xeex, dzísk’w, éek’
Yóo diyáanax̲ aadáx̲ áwé haat kax̲waaháa wéi kax’ás’ti haa hídi sákw. I hauled the lumber from across the other side to build our house. kax'ás'ti, diyáanax̲ á, yóo, haa, hít, sákw, ka-ya-haa(st)?
Yóo katán wé tuháayi. The nail is bent. tuháayi, yóo + ka-ya-taan
Yoo akaajeek wé a káx̲ yaa nagudi dei. He wondered about the measure of the road he was walking on. ka-ya-jee1, a káayi, ya-goot, dei
Yoo ANB hall yeedéi áwé k̲ooduwa.éex’ People were invited to the ANB hall. a yee, ya-.eex’
Yóot sgoon tl’átgi tlein, a góonnáx dax yanaagóo wé káa. The cars are traveling on the isthmus of the big school yard. sgoon, tl’átk, tlein, a goon, dax̲, ya-ya-goo, káa
Yóo tliyaa aasdéi ksaxát wéi kaxées’ ax̲ at shí k̲óok gúgu yís. Attach the wire to that tree over there for my radio antenna. yóo, tliyaa, aas, -de, A- + ka-si-xaat1, kaxées’, at shí k̲óok, gúk, a yís
Yúxch’ a x̲aawú x̲’alitseen. Sea otter fur is valuable. a x̲aawú, yúxch’, x̲’a-li-tseen