Cherokee/Verbs

As this page is under construction, it may be useful for now to refer to the "Verbs (Raw)" tab in this sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16I5CmBxTY2gb1n9HzMMqW1RuwvyBNrB7rJ5R6tgZUxw/edit?usp=sharing

On Memorization

It is useful to memorize bare roots of verbs. It is also useful to memorize the conjugation class of each verb.

Regarding memorizing exceptions ...

There may be exceptions in individual verbs, mostly in regards to tone or vowel length in a particular suffix. The use of the minor high (H2) in stems also depends on the specific stem. However, it is probably not worth your time to stress over such details, for there is considerable dialectal and idiolectal (i.e. personal) variation in the realm of verb conjugation, and in general, in Cherokee. I would recommend trying to memorize and internalize just the typical stems suffixes (and not the exceptions).

Key

Key

Symbol	Meaning	Notes
i̊	major high	Using "i" to demonstrate. The vowel with the circle diacritic carries a major high (H1) toneme. Read more about H1and other tones here, on the Tone in Cherokee page (listed under the Phonology heading in the Grammar section on the main page).
í	other high	Using "i" to demonstrate. The vowel with the acute accent carries a high tone. In citing suffixes and even some verb roots this refers to a high tone not attributed to the major high. It could be the minor high (H2) or a random high tone associated with the suffix or verb.
:	previous vowel lengthens	Lengthening of the previous vowel (which would be found in the pronominal or reflexive/middle prefix) is considered equivalent to a phoneme (meaningful sound-related element) in the Cherokee.
O	transitive ("Object")	Used to clarify the meaning of certain verbs whose transitivity is ambiguous in English, as transitive (object-taking). For example, "rip" may refer to a piece of paper ripping, or someone ripping something. With the specification "rip O," it becomes clear that it refers to someone ripping something rather than something ripping itself or being ripped (which would be the intransitive version).
(i)	intransitive	Used to clarify that the verb is considered intransitive, i.e. the opposite of "O".
rev	reversive	Verb uses a reversive derivational suffix.
(bi)	aspiration NA	Aspiration consideration is not applicable due to the set B verb being intransitive.
lr	lowfall resonant aspiration class
gs	special glottal aspiration class

General Patterns of the Conjugation Classes

Conjugation class is a property of each verb that identifies which suffixes are attached to the root to create the five stems of the verb. The table below lists the usual suffixes for the five stems for each conjugation class.

Typical Stem Suffixes for the Conjugation Classes

Conjugation Class	Present Continuous	Immediate	Incompletive	Completive	Deverbal Noun	Major High on Infinitive
1a	íh	a	iisg	vvh	vhd	no
1b	ih	a	isg	ahn	ohd
1c	i̊q	v̊–ga	i̊–sg	å–n	o̊–d

List of Verbs

In the Set column, only set A ga- verbs and set B verbs are marked. If unmarked, set A a- is assumed. This is because set A a- verbs are the most common.

The Special column identifies necessary information for using the verb. The Notes column is for information that may be useful but is not strictly necessary.

List of Verbs (All)

Prefixes	Set	Root	Special	Conjugation	Meaning	Notes
		ali-dl		1a	boil (i)	ali + dl
		(a)nå–gal		1a	be lightning
	ga	:jagal		1a	rip O
	ga	qniiy		1a	catch, arrest O; play catcher
		åagoon		1a	target-practice (i)
d		aaliiyo̊os		1a	change >socks
		åasees		1a	withdraw O, pull out (>drawer)
		atlawiid	gs	1a	take off flying, fly away
d		agaleen	pl only	1a	(they) separate
		akwiy	gs	1a	pay (>money)
		alå–sgal		1a	play ball (i)
		aleen		1a	begin O
		al[i]-sdeel		1a	help (generally) (i)
		adaa-jagal		1a	rip (i)
		ad-aleen		1a	begin (i)
	b	adeetiy	(bi)	1a	have a birthday (i)
		adiid		1a	rise from a prone position
	bw	aduul		1a	want O
	ga	hnå–sdeedl	lr	1a	root out O
	ga	hne̊egwad	lr	1a	pry O
		hwaht	lr	1a	find S/AN
		hwiid	lr	1a	take S s.w.
		hyan	lr	1a	call, invite; receive, get AN
		hyvsgiiy	lr	1a	choke O
d		g[a]htl	lh	1a	shell >corn
d		kaneehy	lr	1a	untie O	rev
		gvvhal		1a	cut, slice S	confirm S
	ga	l		1a	take LG out of a container
	ga	nå–hwt	asp?	1a	find FL
	ga	nå–wiid		1a	take AN/FL s.w.
	ga	neehwaht		1a	find LQ
	ga	neehwid		1a	take LQ s.w.
	ga	ne̊egal		1a	peel, skin O
	ga	nvvgal		1a	clean O
		sdeel		1a	help O
		dl		1a	draw LQ out of container
	ga	vhdl	uwv	1a	sharpen O
		y	lr?	1a	pick up LG
		yvvhwaht	lr	1a	find LG
				1b
				1b
				1b
				1b