Dena'ina Qenaga
Dena'ina language
Shq'ayna gun Dena'ina dudghełdin.
I taught my children Dena'ina.
Dena’ina is the traditional language of the Cook Inlet and the Kenai Peninsula and up to Lake Iliamna. The name Dena’ina comes from two parts: dena meaning person and ina, the human plural marker in Dena’ina. About 50 people speak Dena'ina as a first language. Dena’ina language classes are held at Kenai Peninsula College and at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Dena’ina, like many other Alaska languages, is polysynthetic, meaning a whole sentence can be expressed with just one word. For example, the single word nuntnghel'ił means ‘I will see you again.’
Phrases
Naghe Nduninyu.
You came to us. (greeting)
Chin'an.
Thank you.
Aa'.
Yes.
Nch'u.
No.
Yaghali du?
Are you fine?
Aa', yaghali eshlan, ninki du?
Yes, I'm fine, and you?
Aa', yaghali eshlan, chi'nan.
Yes, I'm fine, thank you.
Ughast'yi.
Hurry up.
Nitsut.
Sit down.