Maskoke Language Conservancy, Oklahoma

Alphabet

a

-ah-

ayo

hawk

Long as in father.

   

akketv

to bite

Short as in box. (Short a is only found before h or k.)

c

-che-

cesse

mouse

As in such. (At times pronounced like “j” as in taklik-cvmpv – cake)

e

-e-

efv

dog

Short as in if

ē

-ē-

ēkvnv

earth

Long as in feed.

f

-fe-

fo

bee

As in foot. (May sound like v between vowels as in ehvfe – his/her thigh)

h

-he-

hvcko

ear

As in heel.

i

-aye-

noricetv

to cook

As in hey.

   

Lētkis.

I’m running.

As in bed. (at the end of sentences)

k

-ke-

kapv

coat

As in skin (sometimes makes a “g” sound as in ekvnv – land).

l

-le-

lucv

turtle

As in low.

m

-me-

meskē

summer

As in mouse.

n

-ne-

nerē

night

As in not.

o

-oh-

ofv

inside

Long as in code.

   

ōpv

owl

Short as hotel.

p

-pe-

penwv

turkey

As in spin. (sometimes makes a “b” sound as in sapetv – to scratch).

r

-thle-

rvro

fish

As in athlete. (some speakers prounce with a “thee” sound as in worthy.

s

-se-

svmpv

basket

As in sound. (also produces a “z” sound, especially between vowels as in hvse – sun).

t

-te-

-de-

totkv

fire

As in time or dime (unaspirated so it makes a sound between a “t” and “d”).

u

-oo-

sutv

sky

Short as in took.

v

-uh-

vce

corn

Short as in sofa.

w

-we-

wotko

raccoon

As in wait.

y

-ye-

yvnvsv

buffalo

As in yet.

DIPTHONGS

vo

-aw-

hvo

okay

As in low. (older texts use the spelling “au”).

ue

-oy-

hopuetake

uewv

children

water

As in boy or queen.