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SAMPLE Shm'algyack DICTIONARY
There are 385 root words (sentences coming real soon), picked at random and listed alphabetically.
The association of pictures and sounds helps the remembering of root words and their use in sentences.

Please be patient as it may take time to load, depending on your system.

All of the sounds were recorded by:
Doris Reece & Mel Booth (Metlakatla, AK), John Dalton (Seattle, WA),
Conrad Ryan (Ketchikan, AK) and Donna May Sumner-Roberts (Shelton, WA)


CLICK ON WORDS IN WHITE.

You can replay the words & sentences as many times as needed. If the sounds cut-out restart them.

afraid (to be)
baash
The cat was afraid when it saw a dog.
Baasha doosh hlat nee hash.

alcohol
laam
Don't buy alcohol.
Giloamdsa geega laam.

among, between
shbaggiet
Pour out the water among the rocks.
Kshagudsa aksh da shbaggiet loab.

anchor
ggadailpk
Throw out the anchor.
Uksh'oy ggadailpk.

ankle
homhom
My ankle hurts.
Sheepga homhomu.

antler, horn
ggaggawsh
How many antlers does the deer have?
nda shgaboo ggaggaw2sha wun?

axe, hatchet
gigyoatk
I lost my hatchet.
'Gwatga na gigyoatgu.

bait
'naa
I have to buy my bait before we go fishing.
Dm geegu 'naa nagoaga dm oom hoanm.

ball
hla'at
That ball is too big.
Ggal 'weelaeksha hla'ata gwee.

barnacles
'dsimaay
There were a lot of barnacles on the rocks.
'Lee hultga 'dsimaay da lack loab.

barrel, keg
'n-hla'naggan
Pass that big wooden barrel over here.
Wie ya'an 'wee 'nhla'naggan da gwa'a.

basket
goack
The children used small berry baskets to pick berries.
Goacka hoy 'gubatguuhlg hla ggashimaayt.

beach (down the)
hahlgeeka
I'll meet you on the beach.
Ndm tckal'waayan da hahlgeeka.

beads on a string, necklace
ggahood
The woman is wearing beautiful beads.
Lu'kwil hoyshga ggahooda hoy hana'ack.

bear
ol
Bears are dangerous.
Shuulga ol.

beard
eemgg
The man's beard is long.
'Naga eemcka 'yoota.

beaver
sh'dsoal
Busy little beaver.
Hlgu 'kwiloa'ackum sh'dsoal.

bed
ha'linoak
I think the shoes are under the bed.
Ha'liggoadu nhluu ha'linoak wil shguu 'dsoacksh.

bee, yellow jacket, hornet
ab
I got stung by a bee.
Gyehlga'nu ab.

bell
hashoick
Ring the bell when you want me.
Yedsa hashoyck dsida hashackanee.

belly, stomach, tummy
ban
My tummy hurts when I eat too much bread.
Sheepga banu hlan guba ggal hailda anaay.

belt
bilaan
I want a new belt.
Hashacku shu bilaan.

berries, fruit
maay
Are you going berry picking?
Ahl dm shimaaya'nee?

blackboard
'lee'dameeshm ggan
Write your name on the blackboard.
'Dm na waan da lack 'lee'dameeshm ggan.

blanket
wush
Wash this blanket.
Yoaksha wusha gwa'a.

blind
shuunsh
That man there is blind.
Shuunsha hlgu 'yoota gwee.

blizzard
shda 'magsha shdoa ggan
It was a blizzard yesterday.
Na yaa 'maakwsh ashda gi'dseeb.

blood
ihlay
That cat's head is bleeding
Ihlay 'dmggowsha doosha gwee.

blueberry
'tu'its-gm maay
We’ll have blueberries when we eat.
xxxx

boat
boad
I am going to Metlakatla by boat.
Dm kshagyoatguu da Ta'gwaan da 'dsm boad.

bone
shayb
The dog buried the deer bone.
Wa'ackda hasha shaybm wun.

box
ckbeesh
Open the bigger box.
'Kacka 'ka 'weelaekshm ckbeesh.

braid
ggadeeshg
Who braided your hair?
Naahl en ggadeeshga na ggawshn?

brain
woon ggawsh
The alcohol makes my brain dizzy.
Sheen na woon ggawshu.

bread
anaay
I am buying some bread for my mom.
Dm geegu anaay danoayu.

break, crack (to)
'gwash
My eyeglasses are cracked.
'Gwasha na wileelm tgwayu.

broken (to be)
'gwish'gwash
The window is broken.
'Gwish'gwasha 'nakshuuneeshg.

broom
ha'dooshg
Put the broom away.
Macka ha'dooshg.

bucket, pail
oomhl
I lost my pail.
'gwaatga na oomhlu.

bull, cow
mishmoosh
I don't see any cows where we live.
AHLgandee nee mishmoosh da wil dsoackm.

burn
gwalg
The fire burning.
Hla gwalga lag.

butterfly
adabeesh
The butterfly is very red.
Shm mashga adabeesh.

cabbage
gabids
I’m going to cook some cabbage.
Dm dsamu gabids.

camp
ggaldoa
I really like this camp.
Lu'kwil anoacku ggaldoa gwa'a.

cane
'ka'at


cannon
gga-lipleep
The child cried when she heard the thunder.
Wee howtga hlguwoamhlg hlat tcka'noo ggalipleep.

canoe
ckshoa


cap
ggai-dm'dsagg
I'm going to give my husband a cap.
Dm 'gilumu ggaidm 'dsagg da nakshu.

car, wagon, vehicle
'dsig'dsig
I am going to buy a car in Ketchikan.
Dm geegu 'dsig'dsig da Gitsgaan.

caribou, reindeer
woo'dzee
Are there any caribou in this area?
Ayinhl shguuhl wo'dsee da gwa'a?

carrot
gal'lot
I am eating carrots.
Yagwa na guba galot.

cat
doosh
I see a dog and a cat.
Needsu hash ada doosh.

celery, wild
'beensh
In the spring is when we pick wild celery.
Hla goaym dup wil guul 'beensh.

chair
ha'li'daa
My mother wants a chair.
Ha'li'daa hashacksh noayu.

cheek
da'oagg
I want to poke your little round cheeks.
Hashacku ndm gyehla hlgu tguyehlga da'oackn.

chin
maaw
The boy’s chin is trembling.
Babaa maaw hlgu 'yoota.

cliff, rock wall
biyaackl
I was dizzy when i looked down the cliff.
Shee'nu wil tgineeetsgu da biyaackl.

clock, watch
waadz
My watch has stopped.
Giloa na waadzu.

cloud, day
sha
The day was warm when we picked berries.
Gyamga sha hla wil shamaaym.

coat
gooda'ats
Where is your coat?
Ndadu gooda'atsn?

cockle
ggaboack
Let's gather some cockles.
Wiedza sha ggaboackm.

coffin
nishguushk
That coffin is very beautiful.
Lu'kwil hoyshga 'nishguushga gwee.

cold
gwatg
It’s cold today.
Gwatga sha.


creek, river, stream
'kala'aksh
There are fewer fish in the stream.
Shayaa shgaboo hoan da 'kala'aksh.

cross, gable of roof
ggadsaagg
The lumber on the house looked like a cross.
Hida ggadsaagg wila dsaba taggan da lack waab.

crow
'kaw'kaaw
Crows eat everything.
Tcka'nee goa guba 'kaw'kaaw.

cry (to), weep
weehowtg
This little child is crying.
Weehawtga hlguwoamhlga gwa'a.

dance
meelg
Dance with me?
Shilameelgee?

dawn, daybreak
akshyaagwadseewsh
The boat will leave at dawn.
Dm dawhla boad dsihla akshyaa gwa dseewsh.

daylight, daytime
dseewsh
We’ll leave at daylight.
Dm ggadaawhlm dsihla dseewsh.

dead, to die
dsag
The deer is dead.
Dsaga wun.

deer
wun
I'm really hungry for deer meat.
Lu'kwil kwdee'nu da shameeym wun.

desk, table
ha'li'dameesh
Put the box on the table.
'Lee shguu ckbeesh da lack ha'li'dameesh?.

devil fish
ha'dsalt
I really want to taste devil fish.
Lu'kwil hashacku ndm backa ha'dsalt.

dish, plate
noahl
My wife uses an iron dish when she cooks.
Ggiehlam'do'otsk hoy nakshu hla googt.

dog
hash
I see a dog and a cat.
Needsu hash ada doosh.

dogfish
ggashggaads
Do you like the taste of dogfish?
Ahl dee 'tsamaa'anee ggashggaads?

doll
hlgu-hlgm noahlt
I am making a dress for Kayla's doll.
Yagwan dsaba dm na'acka hlguhlgm noahlsh Kayla.

dolphin, porpoise
dseeuu
I haven't swam with a porpoise.
Ha'wahlgndee shila hadikshadseeyuu.

door
likshoack
Open the door. It’s warm outside.
'Kacka likshoack. giamga gyalck.

dress
na'ack
The little baby girl is very content.
Lu'kwil taggoada hlgu na'ack.

driftwood (bleached), European
umshewa
I am a European (White man).
Umsheewa'nu.

drum
'noahl


duck
hou'ts
I haven't seen the ducks fly.
Ha'wahlgan dee nee wil gipaiga hou'ts

eagle
ckshgeeg
There are lots of eagles where we are.
Hailda ckshgeeg da wil 'daam.


earth, world
ha'lidsogg
I want peace on the earth.
Hashacku dm gyeksha ha'lidsogg.

earth, island, ground, land, soil
yuub
There are lots of mink on my land.
Hailda lish'yaan da nlack yuubu.

earthquake
'yaagw


egg
hlgumad
The seagull has lots of eggs.
Hailda hlgumad da ggagoom.

elbow
maoan
I hit my elbow.
Gyidi'oksha ma'oanu.

elderberries
loa'ds
We'll pick elderberries tomorrow.
Dm guuldm loa'ds dsihla dsigi'dseeb.

electricity
'dsamtee
I didn't see the lightening.
Ahlgandee nee 'dsamtee.

erase
shahleel
Erase your name.
Shahleel na waan.

eye
wil'leel
My eye is aching.
Sheepga wileelu.

eyebrow, eyelashes
lageel
The woman is plucking her eyebrows.
Yagwat 'kockda haNA'ack na lageelt.

face, to fillet fish
'dsal
His face gets very red when he's ashamed.
Lu'kwil mashga na 'dsalt hla dsoackt.

falling snow
maadam
It's going to snow.
Hladm yaa maadm.

fast, quick
'tmyaa
The little cat goes fast when it smells fish.
'Tmyaa hlgu doosh hlat hoom hoan.

father
ba'a
My father is hunting for deer.
Yagwa goom wunsh aabdu.

fawn
gwish'dseeg
There’s a little fawn walking on the beach.
Hlgu gwish'dseega hahlyaat da hahlgeeka.

feet
gga-shishee
The boy's feet were hurt when he jumped.
Shgaaygshga ggashishee hlgu 'yoota dawil ggusht.

fern-like plant
damtee
We put the fish on the fern (leaves).
Dup 'leedoaym hoan da lack damtee.

fight
dal
Those dogs are going to fight.
Hladm dildal hashhaasha gwee.

finger, first
ha'dsaick
My index finger is swollen.
Geetga ha'dsaicku.

finger, little
hlgu shggay
My little finger hurts
Sheepga hlgu shggayu.

fingernails
hlack-shm'tsiwaalt
Your fingernails are a pretty color.
Ama'basha wil gyeda hlackshm'dsiwaaltn.

finger, ring
hashdalksh
The third finger is where you use a ring.
Hashdalksha wilt hoyda gyad gwishgwashm an'on.

fingers
gga-dsiwaald
The little boy has long fingers.
'Nik'nuunga ggadsiwaalda hlgu 'yoota.

fire, firewood
lag
Let's gather wood.
Wie dsadp shietdoa lag.

fireplace
nlag
I will light the fireplace.
Hladm shagwaldu nlag.

fireweed
haash
I like the color of the fireweed.
Anoacku wil gyeda haash.

firewood
lag
Let's gather wood.
Wie dsadp shietdoa lag.

fish
hoan
My father is eating fish.
Yagwa guba nagwaadu hoan.

fish hook
'da'wil
The fish hook you're using is too small.
Ggal'dsushga 'da'wil hoyn.

fisherman
aadid


fishing boat
shacksh oomhoan
I am going to Metlakatla by fishing boat.
Dm kshagyoatgu da Ta’gwaanda 'dsm shacksh oomhoan.

fishing for salmon
oom hoan


flood (to)
geetga'aksh
The lake is flooding.
Geetga aksh a lack'daa.

flower
madsi-ggalay
The flower (house plant) is beautiful inside the house.
Ama'bash wil macksh madsiggalay da na 'dsaaw waab.

fly
geek


foam
ckaygg
Have you see where there's a lot of foam down the beach?
Ahl needsinee wil 'tsuu ckaygg da hahl geeka?

fog
yain
The fog is very thick on the lake.
Lu'kwil 'dsuu yain a lack'daa.

foot, leg
ashee
My foot hurts.
Shgaaygshga asheeyu.

football
kw-hlackshhla'at
Why do people really like football?
Goahl shm anoacka gyad kwhlackshhla'at?

forehead
woapck
The little child has a cut on his forehead.
'Kaa woapcka hlguwoamhlg.

forest, pieces of wood
gganggan
Gather more pieces of wood.
Shackdoa gganggan.

fork
hayaawckg
I like the length of the fork you’re using.
anoaggu shga 'naga hayaawckga hoyn.

frog
gganaow
I heard a frog by the lake.
Tcka'nooyu gganaow da awaa lack'daa.

frozen, ice
daaw
We're lucky today. We are able to freeze our food.
Ayaalttgm sha gya'wn. Da'ackhlgm dm sha daaw wineayam.

frying pan
lapwail
My frying pan is burned inside.
Lu tckalgwalga na lapwailu.

full moon
hultga giamg
It will be a full moon again.
Dm gik hultga giamg.

funny
ashguu
The little dog is funny.
Ashguu hlgu hash.

funny acting, silly
shishnankshg
The little cat acted silly when it saw the mouse.
Shishnankshga hlgu doosh hlat nee wu'dseen.

gamble (to)
ckshan
It's not good for people to gamble.
Ahlgadee aam ckshan gyad.

garden
shi'indoyntk
The carrots are growing well in my garden.
Aam wila macksha galot a shi'indoyntkgu.

glove
'balt
Wear gloves when it's cold.
Hoy 'balt da gwatg.

goat
daway
Some people raise goats
Shamacksha nagga'dsaaw gyada daway.

gold
gool
Alec found gold on the mountain.
'Waaysh Alik gool da lack shga'neesh.

goose
hakk
Haven't you tasted roasted goose?
Ha'weenhl backanee yoam hakk?

grass
kyoagg
New grass is starting to grow around the new house.
Hla macksha shu kyoagg da kwduun shu waab.

gun
gga'bala
I'm really afraid of guns.
Ap lu'kwil na baashu gga'bala.

hair
ggawsh
Who braided your hair?
Nahl en ggadeeshga na ggawshn?

half moon
na shdoa giamg
It is half moon now.
Shm 'na shdoa giamg sha gya'wn.

halibut
tckow
Halibut tastes very good.
Lu'kwil 'tsamaatga tckow.

hammer
dackhl
My hammer is lost.
'GWAATga na dackhlu.

hand, arm
an'on
My arm is aching.
'Woamckga an'onu.

hat
ggaid
My hat is too big.
Ggal 'weelaeksha ggaidu.

hat (rain)
ggaidm-shgyen
The child forgot his rain hat.
'Goa'olda hoguwoamhlg na ggaidm shgyent.

hat (rimmed)
ggaidmboashen
I don't like the rimmed hat you're wearing.
Ahlgandee anoacka ggaidm boashn hoyn.

hat (yarned)
ggaidm shihoo
My grandmother made many yarn hats.
Dsabsh n'dse'etsu hailda ggaidm shihoo.

hatchet, axe
gigyoatk
I lost my hatchet.
'Gwatga na gigyoatgu.

hawk
ckdso'otsk
I haven't seen a hawk since we've been at our camp.
Ahlgandee neehl ckdso'otsk shga 'naga wil ggaldsockm.

head
'dmggowsh
My head hurts because I did so much yesterday.
Hla sheepga 'dmggowshu, ggal 'dsuu wila gyoayu ashda gi'dseeb.

heart
ggoad
That man is very kind.
Ama ggoada 'wee 'yoota gwee.

herring
shga
Fisherman use herring to fish.
Shga dee hoy fishman hla oom hoant.

hill
dee
The deer can be found on the hill there.
Lack dee awaan wil wun wun.

horse
gyuwadun
There are no horses here, just down below.
Ahlga 'dahla gyuwadun da gwa'a, ksha geeka wil 'dahlt.

house
waab
People did a good job on our house. It looks very good now.
Hla shm ama dsaba gyad da na waabm. Lu’kwil aam wila dsabt gya'wn.

hungry
kwdee
I'm hungry.
Hla kwdeeyu.

I walk
ya'nu


ice
daaw
We're lucky today. We are able to freeze our food.
Ayaalttgm shagyaA'wn. Da'ackhlgm dm sha daaw wineayam.

in a hurry
mala
I'm in a hurry to finish my work.
Ap lu'kwil mala'nu dm gowdee hahlalshu.

In Heaven
'Tsm Lackaga
Have you heard what the weather is going to do tomorrow?
Ahl tckanooynee goal dm wila waal Lackaga dsigi'dseeb?

in the mouth
'tsm aack


in the woods
gilhouli


Indian bread
hlioan
Wow! My wife sure knows how to make Indian bread.
Eh! Wil'laay nakshu dsaba hli’oan.

Indian food
wineayam Tsm'shian
We put up our own Tsm’shian Indian food.
Wie wineaym Tsm’shian dee lup dsabm.

inebriated
lusheen
Don't get drunk. What you are doing is not good.
Giloa sheen. Ahlgadee aamhl wila gyoan.

instrument with holes for playing
hackshgweekwshg
The sound of the whistle you made is very good.
Lu'kwil aam wila how hackshgweekwshg dsabn.

intestine
haad
Don't eat the intestine of the bear.
Giloamdsa guba haada ol.

island
liksh'daa
The island is where we plant potatoes.
Liksh'daa gyalck wil wun shgoosheedm.

it is good - OK
wie aam


jam
dsaam
The jam tastes real good.
Ap LU'kwil 'tsaMAATga dsaam.

jealous
gyeshk


judge
dap


jump
ggush


jump rope
ggal-kshaggush


killwerwhale
'naackhl


kingfisher
'tsiyol'g



knife, curved for carving
hlaggiack


knockout
kwhlee'doosh



land otter
'watsa


leaf
'yansh


leg
ashee



light
laakwsh


lion
hawhaw




lumber
taggan


man (Indian)
'yoota


marry
naksh


mask
ameelg


mask, shaman's
aam-halaayt


massage
'man


meat
shamee


medicine
haldaaksh


milk - breast
me'ish


mosquito
geek


moss
bilagg


mouse
wu'tseen


mussel
gyelsh


Nass River
Klushumsh


navel
'di'ik


Navy ship
Malwoa



necklace
ggahood


needle
'lagg


net
aad


net fish
aa-dm hoan


nose
'tsack


octopus
ha'tsal


oil
'man


ointment
haldaaksh


old people
'woa'da gyad


on shore wind
dsa-ggmbaashg


on the ground
lackyuub


on the hill
lackdee


on the road
lack guyna


on the water
lackaksh


on top of
lackoa


one dollar each
mihla'guul


one flat object
'gyaag


one person
'goal gyad


open
'kack


opening in roof for smoke/b>
ala


pants
'backsh


path
guyna


people
gyad


pet food dish
ggalm wineaya


pet water dish
ggalm aksh


pillow
mahluu


pipe for smoking
hack'biyaan


plank
taggan


playground
ha'li-galmeelg


pocket
n-tawa'at


pocket knife
hackback


point at
'ge'ets-ckan


polar bear
moaksh-gm ol


porcupine
awta


possessions
liggiwaal


potatoes
shgoosheed


rain
waash


rainbow
maackie


rapids
doyksh


raspberries
naashu


raven
ggaack


reindeer
woo'dzee


rib
pdal



robin
gillakyo


rock
loab


rose (wild)
'kalaamsh


safety pin
ggan'doa


sailboat
ha-hloamboad


salmon
hoan


salt
moan


sand
awsh


sandy beach
lackawsh


sawmill
moolaa


scarf
golksh


school
shgool


school house
waabshgool


scissors
ha-ggagietk


sea lion
'deebn


sea otter
phloan


sea urchin
ashwn


seagull
ggagoom


seal
uula


seaweed
hla'ashg


sheep
mati


shelf
ha'litoa


shirt
kshlushg



shoot
kwdag


short
dalpg


shoulder
'dmkkai


sit
'daan


skunkl
ggain


skunk cabbage
woanoack


smell
hoom


smoke
'biyaan


smoke tobacco
ck'biyaan


snow falling
maadm


snow on the ground
moaksh


sparrow
gushguuds


spear
hawaal


spider
adashged


squirrel
dushck



steering wheel
hadaay


strawberry
magool


stump
ha'ats


stump of old tree
dipckan



sweep
'doo


swim
hadish


table (dinner)
ha'li-tckoackg

.

take out
kshagaa


teeth
'waan


telling the truth
shmhow


tennis shoes
'dsoack-shm hahloa


that
gwee


thread
nloo'pish


throat
'ka-lmhow


thumb
moash


tongue
doola


totem pole
p'tsaan



uncle
beeb

.

under
n-hluu


underpants
luk-hlee'backsh



upset stomach
'la 'daa ggoa-du


valuable
'dauckg


vehicle
'dsig'dsig


very ripe
de'gwun


very windy
'tsuu baa-shg


village
ggaldsap


visible
ggontgahl


vision
noogit


visit
'dsilaay


vote
goo


waves
ggoab


whirlpool
'dsalksh




wolf
gibaaw


wood
ggan


worm
laald


wristwatch
waadsm an'on


year
'goahl


yeast
eash


yellow jacket
ab


yes
oa


you
'nuun


you owe
aishken