Frequently Requested Topics
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Food
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:
chyer'ery' - black bear (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
neek-wech - grizzlytwey-goh - raccoon (audio by 'aa-wok Jimmie)
puuek - deer (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
ney-puy - salmon (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
ney-pe'weesh-neg - river otter (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
key'ween - eel - (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
ko'ses - crab (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
pee'eeh - mussels (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
chey-gel' - seaweed (edible) (audio by 'aa-wok Georgiana)
mue-lah - horse (audio by 'aa-wok Florence)
kwey-ge-ruer' - pig (audio by 'aa-wok Florence)
chee-kee - chicken (audio by Brit)
mues-mues - cow (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
sheeep - sheep (audio by Brit)
hlkwer-terrkws - frog (audio by 'aa-wok Violet)
ner-yert - duck (audio by 'aa-wok Florence)
muuern - river duck (audio by Brit)herk'werh - rabbit (audio by 'aa-wok Aileen)
"How do I say blue jay?"
Steller's Jay: k'ooy'
Scrub Jay: sraat
SEE Bird Terms
SEE Lessons: Birds
Phrases
"How do I say 'My name is _____.'?"
Nek 'new (NAME).
"My name is _______."(NAME) 'new.
"_________ is my name."(NAME) wey-go-nee'.
"They call me (NAME)."Wey-go-nee' (NAME).
"They call me (NAME)."
"How do I say 'Happy birthday'?"
Yurok people did not celebrate birthdays, but in today's society, we sometimes use these phrases:
Tey-wo-mehl 'ue-ke-choyn ("It's a happy day")
Skue-yen' 'ue-ke-choyn ("It's a good day")
"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
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)
keehl - redwood
Tey-poo - Douglas Fir and also sometimes used to talk about types of trees
(for example, 'er-plers 'we-tey-poo "apple tree" because those were not Native to this area so they came up with a name for them later)
Birds
Songs
"Where can I listen to Yurok language songs?"
SEE Sing it!
SEE Watch it!
SEE Yurok Language Program YouTube Channel
"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
"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 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.