Useful phrases in Lakota Sioux

A collection of useful phrases in Lakota Sioux. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.

Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person); pl = plural; yo - said by men to a single person.; ye - said by women to a single person; po - said by men to more than one person; pe - said by women to more than one person.

English	Lak'ota (Lakota Sioux)
Welcome	Taŋyáŋ yahí (sg) Taŋyáŋ yahípi (pl)
Hello	Hau (used only by men)
How are you?	Tókheškhe yaúŋ he? Toníktuha he? Taŋyáŋ yaúŋ he?
Long time no see	Théhaŋ waŋčhíŋyaŋke šni
What's your name?	Táku eníčiyapi he?
Where are you from?	Tukténitaŋhaŋ he?
Pleased to meet you	Wíyuškiŋyaŋ waŋčhíŋyaŋke ló (ló used only by men)
Good morning	Híŋháŋni / Híŋhaŋni laȟči Híŋhaŋni wašté
Good night	Taŋyáŋ ištíŋma yo/ye / po/pe
Goodbye	Tókša akhé waŋčhíŋyaŋkiŋ kte Tókša akhé
Good luck	Tókhi wániphika ní!
Have a nice day	Aŋpétu wašté yuhá yo/ye / po/pe
Bon voyage	Taŋyáŋ ománi yo/ye / po/pe
I don't understand	Owákaȟniǧe šni
Please speak more slowly	Ȟ’ahíya wóglaka yo/ye / po/pe
Please say that again	Akhé eyá yo/ye / po/pe
Please write it down	Owá yo/ye / po/pe
Do you speak ...?	…iyá wóyaglaka he?
How do you say ... in Lakota?	… tókhel Lakȟótiya ehápi he?
Excuse me	Émičiktuŋža yo/ye / po/pe
How much is this?	Lé mázaska tóna he?
Thank you	Philámayaye
Where's the toilet?	Otȟáŋkaye kiŋ tuktél úŋ he?
Would you like to dance?	Wayáčhi yačhíŋ he?
I love you	Thečhíȟila / Iyótaŋčhila / Čhaŋtóčhignake
Get well soon	Ečháŋni aníčisni kte ní!
Leave me alone!	Amáyuštaŋ yo/ye / po/pe
Help! Fire! Stop!	Ómakiya yo/ye / po/pe Pȟéta! Ayúštaŋ yo/ye / po/pe
Call the police!	Čhaŋksáyuhá kiŋ wičhákiyuȟla yo/ye / po/pe

Lakota translation provided by Jan Ullrich, Linguistic Director of the Lakota Language Consortium

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