top of page

Dena'ina Qenaga

Dena'ina language

e3ae10_ea899726e8bc429a86165d5c9a783028.jpg

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.

Resources

Parque_Eagle_River,_Anchorage,_Alaska,_Estados_Unidos,_2017-09-01,_DD_02.jpg

Dictionaries

Alaska_-_Cook_Inlet_-_Turnagain_Arm_-_May_2008_(2539144409).jpg

Online Courses & Apps

Cook_Inlet,_photographed_from_Glen_Alps._Anchorage,_Alaska.jpg

Other Resources

Dena'ina Videos
Ruth Łchav'aya K'isen Miller: Why I Vote, Dena'ina
03:04
More Everyday Expressions
08:58
9 Dena'ina Language Introduction
01:07:31
Dena'ina Verb to Be - Are you Dena'ina? (3 versions, revised)
02:40
Upper Inlet Dena'ina Introduction
05:02
bottom of page