SIOUX LANGUAGE

The Path to History.The seven original bands of the Great Sioux Nation were joined in an alliance called the "Oceti Sakowin," or "Seven Council Fires." This confederation of tribes spoke three dialects. The Shantee spoke Dakota. The yankton originally used Nakota, but many adopted the Dakota dialect in the mid-1800s. And the Teton spoke Lakota. The term "Sioux", short for "nadouessioux" or "little snakes," actually came from the Chippewa, a longtime foe. Over the years, it has been widely adopted. However, the people of the Great Sioux Nation prefer to be called Dakota, Lakota, or Nakota, according to their language group. Their rich oral tradition relates the values, culture, and spirituality of the Great Sioux Nation. The stars are known as the "Great Spirit's" holy breath, the sun as "Father Sky" and the earth as "Mother Earth", and they are prominent in their traditions and culture. Today, as yesterday, the people of the Great Sioux Nation seek to live in harmony with the universe.

Pronunciation Guide
The Lakhota Sioux alphabet does not contain starting letters: F, R, V, X.
The mark "<" is placed behind a syllable of strong emphasis.

'H similar to glottal sound in German ach
'G similar to glottal 'H. 'G pronounced glottal he
'S similar to English word she minus e
'C similar to English word chin minus n
N when ending with N, similar to English letters ng
U similar to English word too minus t
T similar to the English letter d
E similar to the English long a
I similar to the English long e
O similar to the English long o
A similar to the English word ah

PEOPLE

girl----wi`cin
boy----hok<sila
woman----win yan< 
man----wi`ca<`sa
grandmother----un`ci<(or) kun<`si
grandfather----ta<la (or)tun ka<`sila

knife----mi<la
water----mni
coyote----`sung<manitu tan ka
horse----`sun ka<wa kan
Buffalo----ta tan<ka
bear----ma to<
eagle----ma to<
hawk----`ce tan<
wolf----mi`ne<ta tan ka

Months

January "moon of hard winter" wi ote<`hi ka wi
February "moon of popping trees" `can na<popa wi
March "moon of snow blindness" i`sta<wi`ca niyan wi
April "moon of tender grass" pehi<to wi
May "moon of green leaves" `can wape to wi
June "moon of June berries" wipa<zunka wa `ste wi
July "moon of red cheeries" `canpa<`sa wi
August "moon of ripening" wa`suton<wi
September "moon of colored leaves" `can wape<'gi wi
October "moon of falling leaves" `can wape<ka `sna wi
November "moon of starting winter" wani<yetu wi
December "moon of middle winter" wani<`cokan wi

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