First Nation Greetings

Whitehorse (Southern Tutchone)

All 8 Yukon Native languages do not have exact translations for “hello” or “good bye” instead, people would ask how one another and their families were doing and say only “see you later” or wish each other well, when parting ways.

Phrase

Written greeting


Final pronunciation


How are you?


Dänch’ea


DON-jah


It is sunny


Shra Kwälį


SHAW-koo-lee


It is cloudy


K’u Kwälį


KOO-koo-lee


Thank you


Thank you


Thank you/Thank you very much


Shäw nἱthä*


or


Gunalchîsh*


or


Màhsi’ / Màhsi’ cho*


(not Southern Tutchone, but commonly used)


Show-knee-thun*


or


Gwen-ish-geesh*


or


Mah-see / Mah-see-cho*


Take care


Shäwthän dek’ànnta


SHOW-thun dah-gun-tah


*For ‘Thank You’
Shäw nἱthän = Southern Tutchone
Gunalchîsh = Southern Tutchone, Tlingit and Tagish
Màhsi = Hän, Gwich’in and Northern Tutchone