A collection of useful phrases in Lakota Sioux, a Siouan language spoken in parts of the USA and Canada.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person); pl = plural; m = male (said by men); f = female (said by women).
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
| English | Lak'ota (Lakota Sioux) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Taŋyáŋ yahí (sg) Taŋyáŋ yahípi (pl) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Hau (m) |
| How are you? | Tókheškhe yaúŋ he? Toníktuha he? Taŋyáŋ yaúŋ he? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Wašté |
| Long time no see | Théhaŋ waŋčhíŋyaŋke šni |
| What's your name? | Táku eníčiyapi he? |
| My name is ... | ... emáčiyapi |
| Where are you from? | Tukténitaŋhaŋ he? |
| I'm from ... | |
| Pleased to meet you | Wíyuškiŋyaŋ waŋčhíŋyaŋke ló (m) Wíyuškiŋyaŋ waŋčhíŋyaŋke (f) |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Híŋháŋni Híŋhaŋni laȟči Híŋhaŋni wašté |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
|
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
|
| Good night | Hanhepi wašté |
| Good luck! | Tókhi wániphika ní! |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
|
| Have a nice day | Aŋpétu wašté yuhá yo (m>sg) Aŋpétu wašté yuhá ye (f>sg) Aŋpétu wašté yuhá po (m>pl) Aŋpétu wašté yuhá pe (f>pl) |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Taŋyáŋ ománi (m>sg) Taŋyáŋ ománi ye (f>sg) Taŋyáŋ ománi po (m>pl) Taŋyáŋ ománi pe (f>pl) |
| I don't understand | Owákaȟniǧe šni |
| Please speak more slowly | Ȟ’ahíya wóglaka yo (m>sg) Ȟ’ahíya wóglaka ye (f>sg) Ȟ’ahíya wóglaka po (m>pl) Ȟ’ahíya wóglaka pe (f>pl) |
| Please say that again | Akhé eyá yo (m>sg) Akhé eyá ye (f>sg) Akhé eyá po (m>pl) Akhé eyá pe (f>pl) |
| Please write it down | Owá yo (m>sg) Owá ye (f>sg) Owá po (m>pl) Owá pe (f>pl) |
| Do you speak ? | …iyá wóyaglaka he? |
| I'm learning Lakota | Lakȟól’iyapi kiŋ uŋspémič’iye Lakȟótiyapi kiŋ uŋspémič’ičhiye |
| How do you say ... in Lakota? | … tókhel Lakȟótiya ehápi he? |
| Excuse me | Émičiktuŋža yo (m>sg) Émičiktuŋža ye (f>sg) Émičiktuŋža po (m>pl) Émičiktuŋža pe (f>pl) |
| How much is this? | Lé mázaska tóna he? |
| Sorry | |
| Please | Yé Ičhé |
| Thank you | Philámayaye |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Otȟáŋkaye kiŋ tuktél úŋ he? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | |
| This lady will pay for everything | |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Wayáčhi yačhíŋ he? |
| I love you | Thečhíȟila Iyótaŋčhila Čhaŋtóčhignake |
| Get well soon | Ečháŋni aníčisni kte ní! |
| Leave me alone! | Amáyuštaŋ yo (m>sg) Amáyuštaŋ ye (f>sg) Amáyuštaŋ po (m>pl) Amáyuštaŋ pe (f>pl) |
| Help! | Ómakiya yo (m>sg) Ómakiya ye (f>sg) Ómakiya po (m>pl) Ómakiya pe (f>pl) |
| Fire! | Pȟéta! |
| Stop! | Ayúštaŋ yo (m>sg) Ayúštaŋ ye (f>sg) Ayúštaŋ po (m>pl) Ayúštaŋ pe (f>pl) |
| Call the police! | Čhaŋksáyuhá kiŋ wičhákiyuȟla yo (m>sg) Čhaŋksáyuhá kiŋ wičhákiyuȟla ye (f>sg) Čhaŋksáyuhá kiŋ wičhákiyuȟla po (m>pl) Čhaŋksáyuhá kiŋ wičhákiyuȟla pe (f>pl) |
| Christmas greetings | |
| New Year greetings | |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Nitȟá-aƞpétu Wašté |
| One language is never enough | Tóhaŋni waŋžíla iyápi iyóhi šni Tóhaŋni waŋžíla iyápi iyóhi šni yeló |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Iyéčhiŋkiŋyaŋka čha kiŋyáŋ mitȟáwa kiŋ hoká ožúla! Iyéčhiŋkiŋyaŋka čha kiŋyáŋ mitȟáwa kiŋ hoká ožúla yeló! |
Download the audio files (Zip format, 897K)
Lakota translations provided by Jan Ullrich, Linguistic Director of the Lakota Language Consortium, with additions by Michael Katalenich, and recordings from Jared Woods.
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Lakota | Phrases | Numbers | Lakota and Dakota learning materials
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