Frequently Requested Topics

Food

"What are some names of traditional Yurok foods?"

SEE Nue-ne-pueh: Food 


traditional food cards - cake walk

Animals

"We are planning curriculum for Head Start. Can you help with the spellings for these animal words?"


SEE Yurok Writing System
SEE  Hoo-re'-mos: Animal Terms
SEE Nue-ne-pueh: Food
SEE Ney-pe'-weesh: Sealife 
SEE 'A'-te-meyr neeen': Read it!
SEE Pyuer-keyr-es: Play it


For audio, see the sections above. Here are the YLP spellings:

"How do I say blue jay?"
Steller's Jay: k'ooy'
Scrub Jay: sraat

Phrases

"How do I say 'My name is _____.'?"

"How do I say 'Happy birthday'?"

Yurok people did not celebrate birthdays, but in today's society, we sometimes use these phrases:

"How can I learn a Yurok prayer?"

Prayers are deeply personal. We recommend connecting with a Yurok language speaker. 


You may join a morning prayer M-Th. See the Yurok Language Event Calendar for details

SEE Language Calendar

Tree Studies

"Can you help me with spellings for these tree terms?"

SEE Trees 

"I was also wondering if there is a generic term for tree and the parts of a tree: trunk, leaves, roots, pine needle, pinecone?"

Yurok is a very specific language, especially with terms for things in our natural environment. 

For example, werh-kweech is fir-tree bark, roo-get is tanoak bark, etc. 

The words that are available can be found in Trees

Plants

"Can you help me with some names for native plants and their uses?"

SEE Trees
SEE Plants
SEE Nue-ne-pueh: Food 

Environment

"Can you help me with spellings for these terms?"
SEE Trees
SEE Plants
SEE Yurok Orthography (Writing System)

Birds

"What are some bird names in Yurok?"

SEE Birds

Language Request: TANF birdhouse project

Songs

"Where can I listen to Yurok language songs?"

SEE Sing it!
SEE Watch it!
SEE Yurok Language Program YouTube Channel

Carole's Language CD

"Will you please share some Circle Time songs?"

SEE Sing it!
SEE Watch it!
SEE Yurok Language Program YouTube Channel

Morning Song: LISTEN HERE

Skue-yen' 'ue-koy 'ne-rah-cheen.
(Good morning, my friends)

Skue-yen' 'ue-koy 'ne-rah-cheen.
(Good morning, my friends)

Skue-yen' 'ue-koy 'ne-rah-cheen,
(Good morning, my friends)

Keech 'ee' roo kee 'ne-ruer-o-woo'-moh!
(It's time for us to sing!)

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Goodbye Song: LISTEN HERE

Chuue', 'ne-rah-cheen.
(So long, my friends)

Chuue', 'ne-rah-cheen.
(So long, my friends)

Chuue', 'ne-rah-cheen,
(So long, my friends)

Keech 'ee' roo kee 'ne-ke-mey-e'-moh!
(It's time for us to to go home!)

 

Greetings/Goodbyes

"How do I say 'good morning,' 'good afternoon,' thank you,' and 'you're welcome'?"


These phrases are a bit more complex than word-for-word translations. Both "good morning" and "good afternoon" are English greetings that were adopted into common conversation later. 


Good morning: skue-yen' 'ue-koy

Good afternoon: skue-yen' 'ue-ke-choyhl


For other ways to greet and take leave in Yurok, SEE Greetings 


I was told that ko-weesh-cho'  is for things that you are consuming or using temporarily (food, water, etc.), whereas, wok-hlew is for things like prayer and long-lasting appreciation.


We express 'you're welcome' by saying things like pee'-woh "sure" and 'ohl-kuem "of course" (which I was told is somewhat more common for women to use).  Some concepts in Yurok don't have words (like "I'm sorry") because it is something that you show not say. 

Critters (non-mammals, bugs, insects, reptiles)

"How do I say different types of bugs in Yurok?"


SEE Critters 

Body Parts

"How do you tell someone to wash their hands?"


SEE Sing it!

"Will you please send me some terms for body parts?"


SEE Sing it!

"Can you help us with some translations for Covid safety?"


Stories

"Where can I hear a Yurok story?"


Cultural Coordinator, James Gensaw, shares a story every Friday. See the Yurok Language Event Calender for details


SEE Language Calendar

SEE Yurok Language Program YouTube Channel

SEE Read it!


"How do you say 'acorns' in Yurok?"


SEE Language Calendar

SEE Yurok Language Program YouTube Channel

SEE Read it!






More

"How do I access the apps?"


We have two published apps, and more are on the way! Search "Yurok" or "Yurok language" in the Apple or Android App stores.