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Mvskoke Langauge

The preservation of the Mvskoke language is critical to the future of our culture. We make only a small portion of the Mvskoke language available here, but we hope that Tribal members and other Mvskokes will use this as a resource to learn more.


Alphabet:

See the above graphic, especially "C," (ch) "V,"  (uh) "E,"  (i) "I," (Ee) "O,"  (Oh) "U" (Uu).


Sentence Order:

(1) Subject (2) Subject's Adjectives (3) Object (4) Object's Adcetives (5) Adverbs (6) Verbs, or S-a-O-a-av-V.


Pronouns:

Vc/Cv - Me

Vne - I / Self (as object)

Cvm(e) - My (object/animal)

Vn/Vm - My

Vntat - As for me

Vntv? - And me?


Ce - You

Cen/Cem - Your

Cemeo - You too!

Centv - And you?


E/Em/En - He/She/It/They/Theirs/THem

--- Em - when before a vowel

--- E/En - when before a consonant

Heyv/Heyvn/Yvmv/Yvmvn - This/Here

Mv/Mvn - That/There

Momet - That, over there

Momen - And then

Mvta? - And that?

Yv - This

Nake - The thing


Emetake - They

Pume - We

Pu - We

Pom/Pun - Us

Pumeo - Us too

Puntv? - And us?


Nouns:


-at - The (changing -e to -at makes a definite noun, e.g. Katcv Lvste = Black Panther; Katcv Lvstat = The Black Panther

-t - A (changing -e to -et makes an indefinite noun, e.g. Katcv Lvste = Black Panther; Katcv Lvstet = A Black Panther

-sasv - place with, suffix (e.g. Katcv-sasv = Place with Panthers)


Akcvohko - Water bird, like a crane

Atvme - Automobile/Car

Ayo - Hawk

Achi- corn (c.f. sofke, ecko)

Cahtv - Blood

Canv – Flies

Cesse - Mouse

Cesse Thlakko - Rat

Cepan - Boy

Cufe - Rabbit

Cufe Honeco  - Woodsrabbit

Cufe Thlakko - Jackrabbit

Culv - Fox

Cuntv - Maggot / gross worm

Cetto - Snake

Choko - House

Efv - Deer

Efvlke - Deer Clan

Este - Person

Estepapv - Man-Eater

Ethlo - Squirrel

Ecko - Dried Corn

Efa - Dog

Ekvnsatkv - Marks on the Earth/Tracks

Ekvnwv - Earth

Este - Man

Este-thlmethlketvn - the needy , the poor , the suffering

Eto - Tree

Fehpv - Flute

Fullan - Air

Fus - Bird

Fuswvlke - Bird Clan

Fus-cahtv - Cardinal, lit. Blood Bird

Fus-Cate - Red Bird

Fuco - Duck

Fuco Lvste - Black Duck, like the American Coot

Fucosule - Muscovy Duck

Hvnthlv [Cuk]Wuce - Hummingbird

Hokte - Girl

Hotvle - Wind

Hotvlke - Wind Clan

Hoktvci - Little Girl

Hoktvle - Woman

Hvcce - Stream (always lengthen pause following doubled letters)

Hvce - Tail

Hvlwe talwvlke - High towns / Heaven

Iste-Cate– Red People / Native Americans

Ito ici – Leaves / tree hair

Katcv - Wildcat, like a Cougar or Panther

Katcvlke - Wildcat Clan

Kokkv - Swan

Kute - Treefrogs

Kvfko- Fleas

Kvsappv -  North

Kwv - Osprey

Lekothv - South

Lvmhe – Eagle

Mvhayv - Teacher

Nokuse - Bear

Nokvsvlke - Bear Clan

Nokuse-Lvste – Blackbear

Nake - Thing or What

Nene istemethlketvn- Trail of Tears, lit. Way of the suffering people 

Nene – Way / Path

Nethle - Night

Noksukcv - Pelican

Okyeha - Mosquito

Oka/Oiwa- water

O Thlakko - Great Blue Heron

Osawv - Crow

Papv - Eater

Pvce-Lane - Parrot (Yellow Dove)

Pvce - Dove 

Pvnnvtv - Wild animals

Penwv - Turkey

Pokko Thlakko - Basketball

Sake-Lv - Black bird

Satkv - Mark

Sofke - Hominy grits

Thlakko - Horse, lit. "Big", originally "Efv Thlakko" or "Big Deer"

Thlakko Pihkv - Mule

Thlakko Pihkv Hakv - Donkey 

Thlvtce-Kuphe - Camel 

Tafv - Feather

Totkv - Fire

Toknawah - Money

Tomatv - Tomato

Vpuekv - Tame Animals

Vce - Corn

Vhv - Potato

Vhvlke - Swamp Potato Clan

Wasko- Chigger

Wotko - Raccoon

Wotkvlke - Raccoon Clan

Wotko-Este - Monkey, lit. Raccoon Man

Wvko Hvtke - White Egret

Wvnwv - Sister

Wvcenv - United States, lit. "Virginia"

Uewv - Water

Yupo - Nose

Yupo Luwake - Elephant

Yvhv - Wolf

Yvnvsv - Buffalo

Yvpefikv- Sheep

Yvpe-Thlakke - Ram


Adjectives: 

Afvcke - Happy/Joyful

Cate - Red

Cefke - Thick

Cutke - Small

Cvpakke - Angry

Fvmpe - Stinky

Fvmcuse - Fragrant

Fvske - Sharp

Hethle - Good

Hethleko - Bad

Hiye - Hot (Temperature)

Hvlwe - High

Home - Spicy/Hot

Honne - Heavy

Hopiye - Far

Hvlvlatke - Slow

Hvtke - White

Leske - Old

Lvpke - Hurry

Lvne - Yellow

Lvste - Black

Kvsvppe - Cold

Kocukne - Short

Luwake - Weak

Lopucke - Little

Lopice - Obedient

Mapohiceko - Disobedient

Mahe - Tall

Mocvse - New

Mvnette - Young

Neskv-Cuko - Store (as in, shop)

Polokse - Round

Polse - Slow

Pvfne - Fast

Pvthko ome - Purple

Svtahe - Square

Tefne - Dull

Thlemhe - Thin

Toske - Sour, as in fermented

Topaske - Bland

Thlakko/e - Big/Large

Tvhokne - Light (Bright)

Vcle - Old

Vceweseko - Very soon/Not long

Vwole - Close

Yekce - Strong

Yomucke - Dark

Hofune Yomucke - Long Dark, lit. Late at Night


Verbs:

-n - adverbs; add an -n to a -e or -et verb ending to create an adverb; e.g. Pvfne -> Pvfnen to create an adverb. Align adverb prefix to verb prefix:

-vlke - people

-tos - It is, suffix (e.g. Homa-tos = It is spicy.)

-toko - It is not, suffix (e.g. Homa-toko = It is not spicy.)

-towa? - Is it?, suffix (e.g. Homa-towa? = Is it spicy.)


     Verb Prefixes

     Vc/Cv - Me

     Ce - You

     Pu - We

     Pun - Us

     Vn/Vm - My

     Cen/Cem - You

     En/Em = His/Her/Its


-vs/cvs is a command suffix turning a verb into a command

-cis is a 1st person suffix

 -etv - infitive suffix added to verb meaning "to ___" or "____ing"

-kot - Don't , a negating suffix equivalent to adding "don't" before a word in English

-kv - Do , a positive suffix equivalent to adding "do" before a word in English


Emvnicetv - To Help

Hayetv - To Make

Hocetv - To Grind

Hoccicetv - To Write

Hompetv - To Eat

Cvnetv - To Do

Liketv - To Sit (while living)

Tvklakv - To Sit (while inanimate)

Laksetv - To Lie (as in, dishonesty)

Maketv - To Say

Omvtv -To Be

Ocetv - To Have

Tepoyetv - To Fight

Vyetv - To Go

Vtetv - To Come

Vlvketv - To Arrive


Prepositions:

iem - with

o fv - Inside

Tos - Is


Greeting Phrases:

Hethlis-chee - It is good (As question, or as response to estonko)

Estonko - No problems?

 --- Ehe tonko tos - Yes! No problems.

Emonksa? - Everything the same?

--- Emonkos - Nothing's changed.

Moncentv - And how about you?

Cehecathles - I will see you.

Hvtvm cehecathles - I will see you again.

Hvtvm Tehecyvthles - We will see each other again.

Estonkon cukhayvtikv - Did you make it through the night okay?


Phrases:

Ehe - Yes

Enka - You are welcome, Lit. "and you"

Emvnicvs! - Help them! 

He-lah! - Stop that!

Naket ohaks - What is it?

Monko - No

Mvto! - Thank you!
Mvtci - I am thankful!

Mvdowvdee - Thank you all!

Pvcase emvnicvs! - Lord help them!

Vcaketcet os - You are important

Mvskoke opunakv opunayetske omv - Do you speak Mvskoke?

Hvlalotken opunayis - Please speak slowly

Hvtm Makis - Say that again?




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