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
X´aadáx̲ wook̲oox̲ wé yaakw. The boat motored around the point. x'aa, yaakw, ya-k̲oox̲1.VII.4
X’aa g̲eiyí niyaadé kei ayawli.át. He steered (his boat) toward the inside of the point. x’aa, a g̲ei, a niyaadé, kei + ya-li-.aat 2.7
Xáak hél daa sá a toowú. There is nothing in the bivalve shell. xáak
X´aa luká áwé áa yéi nateech wé tsaa. The seal is on a point of land. x'aa luká, tsaa
X’aalx’éi yak’éi lag̲wán yís yéi wdusneiyí. Douglas maple is good for making a bow. x'aalx'éi, lag̲wán
Xáanaa atx̲aayí yís g̲áx̲ akawlis’úk. She fried rabbit for dinner. xáanaa, atx̲á, a yís, g̲áx̲, ka-li-s’ook
Xáanaax’ áwé du.áx̲ji nooch tsísk’w. Owls are heard at night. tsísk'w, xáanaa, ya-.aax̲1
X’aan át iwax̲oot´í tlél ushk´é. Anger pulling you around is not good. x'aan, ya-x̲oot’1
X´áan yinaa.át yéi aya.oo. He is wearing war clothes. x'áan yinaa.át
Xaas al´oon woogoot. She went hunting for muskox. xaas, a-ya-l’oon
X´áas tóot áwé át woohaan. She is standing around in the waterfall. x'áas, a tú
X´áat´ káx´ áwé yéi wootee Naatsilanei. Naatsilanei stayed stayed an island. x'áat', a ká, ya-tee1.2
Xáatl´ák̲w du x̲´éi yatee. She has an ulcer in her mouth. xáatl'ák̲w, x̲’éi
Xáatl kát woojixíx wé yaakw. That boat ran into an iceberg. xáatl, a ká, ji-xeex, yaakw
Xáats´de yaa k̲unahéin. It is becoming twilight. xáats', k̲u-ya-haa
X´áax´ kahéeni yéi wtusinei. We made apple juice. x'áax' kahéeni
X’áax´ yak´éi g̲uwakaan dleeyí een. Apple is good with deer meat. x'áax', g̲uwakaan, dleey
X´ádaa yéi ndu.ooch lítaa yís. A file is used to make a knife. x'ádaa, lítaa
Xákwde ayawadlaak̲. He made it to the sand bar. xákw, ya-ya-dlaak̲0.1
Xákwl´ee yak´éi yéi wdusneiyí. Soapberries are good when they’re prepared. xákwl'ee
Xán hél ushk´é wé microwave tóox´ yéi du.oowú, yéi áwé x̲waa.áx̲. I heard that plastic is not good to be used in the microwave. xán, a tú, ya-.aax̲1, ya-.oo1.2
Xáshaa yéi ndu.ooch gán yéi daa duneiyí. A saw is used to work on wood. xáshaa, gán
X´at´daa yéejayee héenák´w át nagútch. The plover walks around in shallow water. x'at'daa yéejayee, ya-goot1, héenák’w
X´átgu áwé Shangukeidí has du at.óowux̲ sitee. The dogfish is an artifact of the Thunderbiird people. x'átgu, at.óow, Shangukeidí
X´éedadi kaanáx̲ yéi ax̲ wudzigít at gatóox’. I fell over a stump in the woods. x'éedadi, dzi-geet1.1
Xéel´i kútx̲ at tukayátx’i yagéi. Crowberries have too many seeds. xéel'i, at tukayátx’i, ya-gei1.1
Xéen áwé woogéi yá k̲utaan. There were a lot of blue bottle flies this summer. xéen, ya-gei1.1, k̲utaan
X´eesháa yaa anatán. She is carrying a bucket. x'eesháa, ya-taan0.1
Xéesh áwé du lidíx̲´ yéi yatee. He has a rash on his neck. xéesh, du lidíx̲´
Xéidu x̲waa.oo. I bought a comb. xéidu
X’éig̲aa átx̲ sitee k̲usax̲án. Love is true. x'éig̲aa, k̲usax̲án
X´eig̲aa Lingít áwé wa.é. You are a true Lingít. x'éig̲aa, Lingít
Xein woogéi yá k̲utaan eetíx´. After the summer there were a lot of old salmon. xein, a eetí, k̲utaan
X´éitaa nageich Jilk̲ootx´. There are a lot of cut-throat minnow at Chilkoot. x'éitaa, Jilk̲oot, ya-gei1.1
Xéitl a káa kawduwach’ák’w yá kées. A Thunderbird is carved on this bracelet. xéitl, a ká, -x’, kées
Xéitl kakéin k’oodás’ ax̲ yageeyí kaadéi áa k̲aa jee kaawak̲aa ax̲ léelk’wch. My grandmother commissioned a Thunderbird sweater for my birthday. kakéin k'oodás’, xéitl, du léelk’w, -ch, ka-ya-k̲aa1
Xeitl l´úkgu yóo tliyaawú. The flashing lightenting is way over there. xeitl l'úkgu
Xeitl naax̲ has sitee Shangukeidí. The Shangukeidí are thunderbird. xeitl, naa, Shangukeidí
Xeitl táax´ayi x̲at wusitáax’. A horsefly bit me. xeitl táax'ayi, si-taax’0.1
X´éix̲ k̲aa x̲´éi yak´éi. Crab is a delight to the mouth. x'éix̲
Xén tlél ushk´é kaháakw een yéi wdusneiyí tlél áyáx̲ daa yéi jinduneiyí. Using plastic to prepare salmon eggs is not good if not handled right. xén, kaháakw, ji-ya-nei0.1
Xi.aat k̲uwaháa. The time for dusk has come. xi.aat, k̲u-ya-haa
Xídlaa yéi wdu.oowú, yaaw teen tlél uldzée nooch. Using a herring rake when working with herring is easy. xídlaa, yaaw, tin, li-dzee
Xít´aa een du neilí axít’ nooch. He sweeps his house with a broom. xít'aa, neil, ya-xeet’
Xíxch’ at.óow woosh jeedé du héin nooch. The frog crest is claimed by more than one clan. xíxch’, at.óow, ya-hein
Xíxch' a yáx' kax̲waach'ák'w. I carved a frog on it's face. xíxch', a yá, ka-ya-ch'aak'w
X´óol´ áa litseen Aangóon tuwán. The tide is strong in Angoon. x'óol', Aangóon, tuwán
Xóon wuduwanúk. A north wind is blowing. xóon, doo-ya-nook2.1
Xoots k’oodás’ tóot ax̲waal’eix̲. I danced in a brown bear shirt. k'oodás’, xoots, a-ya-l’eix̲
Xóosht’ has du yá yéi has ana.eich x̲áade yaa has jinda.ádi. The dark burnt ashes would be put on their face when going to war. xóosht', du yá, x̲áa, ji-di-.aat1
Xóots du x̲’us.eetí áwé awsiteen wé kíki aa. The younger one saw the footprint of the bear. xóots, du x̲'us.eetí, kíki
Xóots tlein áwé aawaják̲ wé k̲áa. That man killed a big brown bear. xóots, tlein, ya-jaak̲
Xóow héen wát yéi wdudzinei. They put a memorial pile of rocks on the edge of the water. xóow, héen, a wát
X´óow yéi aya.óow. She is wearing a blanket. x’óow
Xudzidaa K̲wáan áwé Aangóon k̲u.oo. The people of Angoon are known as Xudzidaa K̲wáan. Xudzidaa K̲wáan, Aangóon
X´úkjaa héen káa yéi wootee. Steam was on top of the water. x'úkjaa, héen, a ká
Xunaa K̲áawu áwé tlax̲ k̲únáx̲ has litseen. Hoonah people are very strong. Xunaa K̲áawu, tlax̲
X’ús´ tlax̲ k̲únáx̲ si.áax´w. Pacific crabapples are very sour. x'ús', si-.aax’w1
X’úx’ kaadé awsiteen gáaxw yahaayí. She saw a picture of a duck in a book. x’úx’, a ká, -dé, du yahaayí, si-teen
X’úx’ wux̲áax’u yeeg̲áa áyá took̲éen. We are waiting in anticipation of the mail delivery. yeeg̲áa, x’úx’
X'éetadi a tóox´ awdlisín. The person hid in a tree stump. x'éetadi, li-seen
X'oon gaawx' sá? At what time? x’oon, gaaw, -x’, sá
X'ús' teen shawduwax̲ích. He was hit with a club. x'ús', sha-ya-x̲eech
X̲aaheiwú tleik̲wx̲ sitee. Gooseberry is a fruit. x̲aaheiwú, tleik̲w, si-tee1
X̲’áakw hél a kajeig̲í k̲oostí. The freshwater sockeye doesn’t have any scales. x̲’áakw, a kajeig̲í
X̲’áakw útlx̲i yéi awsinei. She made freshwater sockeye soup. x̲'áakw, útlx̲i, si-nee0.1
X̲´áal´ toox´ wutusi.ée. We cooked it in skunk cabbage. x̲'áal', a tú, si.ee
X̲’aan aan dulyéix̲ téil. Pitch is used to make fire. téil, x̲’aan
X̲aanás´ awliyéx̲ wé k̲áa. That man built a raft. x̲aanás', k̲áa, li-yeix̲1.1
X̲’aan ch’éen i shax̲aawú tóox’ kei kg̲wak’éi. A red ribbon in your hair would be good. ch'éen, x̲’aan, du shax̲aawú, a tú
X̲´aan gooknáx̲ áwé yéi ak̲eech. In front of the fire is where people sit. x̲'aan gook, ya-k̲ee
X̲’aan kakéin haat yéi x̲wsiné kasné yís. I brought you some red yarn for your knitting. x̲’aan, kakéin, kasné
X̲’aan kawlikís’ k̲u.aa wé kélt’ ch’a uwat’áa. The fire has gone out but the ashes are still warm. x̲’aan, ka-li-kees’, k̲u.aa, wé, kélt’, ch’a, ya-t’aa
X̲’aan yáx̲ kakéin g̲aa neelhoon. Go and buy me some red yarn. x̲’aan, a yáx̲, kakéin, -g̲aa, li-hoon
X̲’aan yáx̲ kawdiyés’ wé g̲áach. The rug is colored red. g̲áach, x̲’aan, ka-di-yeis’
X̲’aan yáx̲ teeyí gis’óok̲, tlél dultínx̲ When the northern lights are red, they aren’t to be looked at. gis'óok̲, x̲’aan, a yáx̲, tlél, li-tín
X̲´aan yáx̲ x̲´akasék̲´waa yéi aya.óo. She is wearing red lipstick. x̲'akasék̲'waa, x̲’aan
X̲’aan yáx̲ yatee ax̲ k’oodás’ i. My shirt is red. k’oodás’, x̲’aan, a yáx̲, ax̲, k’oodás’
X̲´aan yáx̲ yatee du washká. His cheek is red. du washká, x̲’aan
X̲aat áyá kagax̲tooháa. We're going to dig spruce roots. x̲aat, ka-ya-haa0.1(tr)
X̲áat jeig̲í du lítayi kaax̲ aawa.óos’. She washed fish scales off her knife. x̲áat, a jeig̲í, lítaa, a ká, ya-.oos’
X̲áat teen áwé shawdudlihík kaxwénaa. The brailer bag was filled with salmon. x̲áat, -teen, kaxwénaa, sha-li-heek
X̲áat yádi g̲ík̲s yís akaawaxáash. She cut the whitefish to barbeque hanging over the fire. x̲áat yádi, g̲ík̲s, a yís, ka-ya-xaash
X̲áat yádi héen sháakdáx̲ asg̲eiwú. She nets whitefish from the head of the river. héen sháak, x̲áat yádi, a-dzi-g̲eiwoo
X̲áat yik.ádi yak’éi k’ínk’ x̲oox’. The fish guts are good in fermenting stink heads. a yikádi, x̲áat, k’ínk’, a x̲oo
X̲áat yís áwé has akawliník Yéilch, wé kéidladi k̲a kag̲eet. Raven talked the seagull and loon out of the salmon. x̲áat, kag̲eet, ka-li-neek, yéil, -ch, kéidladi
X̲aatl´ áwé yagéi Jilk̲aatx´. There is a lot of freshwater grass in the Chilkat. x̲aatl', ya-gei1.1, Jilk̲aat
X̲áaw yan x̲út´. Pull the driftwood to shore. x̲áaw, ya-x̲oot’1
X̲´áax´w útlx̲i áwé yak´éi. Boiled ling cod is good. x̲'áax'w, útlx̲i
X̲áay een áwé x̲waliyéx̲ wé kanéist. I built that cross out of yellow cedar. x̲áay, -een, áwé, kanéist, li-yeix̲1
X̲aayi naadé nax̲too.aadí. Let’s go into the steam bath house. x̲aay, naa
X̲áay kayeix̲ tág̲u a takáx’ yéi na.oo. Put yellow cedar shavings in the bottom of it. kayeix̲ tág̲u, x̲áay, a taká, -x’, A-x’ + yéi ya-.oo1
X̲´agáax´ áwé litseen yéi yaawak̲aa ax̲ léelk’w. My grandparent said that prayer is powerful. x̲'agáax', li-tseen0.1(st), léelk’w, ya-ya-k̲aa1.1
X̲’agáax’ daakahídix’ ali.áx̲ch wé g̲íx̲'jaa k̲óok. He plays the organ at the Church. g̲íx̲'jaa k̲óok, li-.aax̲, x̲’agáax’ daakahídi, -x’
X̲’agáax’ has du g̲aneix̲íx̲ sitee. Prayer is their salvation. x̲’agáax’, g̲aneix̲, A-x̲ + si-tee1.14
X̲’agáax’ hítx’ áwé kashéex̲’ shí áa dushí. Songs of praise are sung in church. x̲’agáax’ hít, -x’, áwé, kashéex̲’, shí, á, -x’, ya-shee2
X̲’agáax’ tóonáx̲ k̲aa yakg̲wahéiyagu litseen. Prayer strengthens a person’s soul. k̲aa yakg̲wahéiyagu, li-tseen(st), x̲’agáax’, a tú, -náx̲
X̲’aháat a kináak áwé át akawsix’óo, wé du saayí. He nailed (the board with) his name above the door. X̲’aháat, a kináak, á, ka-si-x’oo, saa
X̲´akakeix̲í aan wuduwa.áx̲w. He was bound with a chain. x̲'akakeix̲í, aan, ya-ya-.aax̲w
X̲alak´ách’ katéix̲i ax̲ x̲’éi yak´éi. Porcupine soup is delightful to my mouth. x̲alak'ách', katéix̲
X̲´al´daakeit awliyéx̲. She built a small covered box. x̲'al'daakeit
X̲´al´daayéeji éik̲t woojixeex. The sandpiper is running around the beach. x̲'al'daayéeji, éek̲, ji-xeex
X̲aldleit kinaa.át yéi aya.óo wé g̲unanaa k̲áa. That interior Indian man is wearing a white fox overcoat. x̲aldleit, g̲unanaa, kinaa.át
X̲´alitseen wé x̲alt´ooch’ doogú. The skin of a black fox is expensive. x̲alt'ooch', a doogú, x̲’a-li-tseen
X̲askáax´ g̲aatáa x̲´éit oogootch. The red fox would walk into the mouth of the trap. x̲askáax', g̲aatáa, a x̲’éi, ya-goot1
X̲át´aa yéi awsinei ax̲ éesh. My father made a whip. x̲át'aa
X̲at wulixwétl wé seew. I’m tired of the rain. li-xweitl, seew
X̲´awool kayáashi kát áwé át woonook wé shaawát. The woman was sitting around on the porch. x̲'awool kayáashi, a ká, ya-nook1
X̲éel hítx̲ dulyeix̲. Granite is used to build a house. x̲éel, hít, li-yeix̲1.2
X̲eel neech ká yéi nateech xóon wudunoogú. Foam is on the beach when the northwind blows. x̲eel, neech, xóon, di-nook1
X̲éet’ a daat sh kalneek k̲udzitee. There is a story about a giant clam. x̲éet', sh kalneek, k̲u-dzi-tee1
X̲éex̲ wuduwa.áx̲. A small owl was heard. x̲éex̲, ya-.aax̲1
X̲eil yáx̲ x̲’ayatee. It looks like foam. x̲eil, ya-tee3.2
X̲´eint’áax’aa ch’áakw du x̲’éi yéi ndu.eich shaawát. Long ago women would wear a labret. x̲'eint’áax'aa, ch’áakw, du x̲’éi, shaawát, di-.oo1
X̲´eis´awáa l’eix̲í kuljée nooch. The dance of the ptarmigan is a wonder to behold. x̲'eis'awáa, ka-ya-jee1
X̲´éishx´w áwé nageich k̲utaan ítdax̲. After the summer is over there are a lot of bluejays x̲'éishx'w, ya-gei1.1, a ít
X̲’oon yéi ndu.ooch wé at doogú kaséik̲’w yís. Soft brown wood is used for coloring the skin. x̲'oon, a doogú, a kaséik̲’w
X̲’wáat’ héen táakde has ayatéen. They see trout in the river. héen táak, x̲’wáat’
X̲'áakw at x̲'úx̲u haa x̲'éis sa.í stoox kaanáx̲. Cook us red sockeye soup on the stove. x̲'áakw, at x̲'úx̲u, si-.ee, stoox
X̲'aan wusit'áax̲'. The fire is burning hot. x̲’aan, si-t’aax̲’
X̲'aan yáx̲ wutuwanéegwál' a yá. We painted the face of it red. x̲'aan, ya-néegwal', a yá