Sound Key

Arikara
Letter

English
Equivalent

Arikara
Example

English
Translation

Short Vowels:

a

ago, father

sapat

woman

e

bed

etčiisu’

milk

i

police, pit

inaani’

brother/sister

o

wrote

tAhno’

I made it

u

flute

utkaxIš

grouse

Long Vowels:

aa

pa, ma

aaNU

maybe, perhaps

ee

neighbor

wiiteešutš

young man

ii

machine

wiitA

man

oo

go

oopiinu’

different, strange

uu

rude

suunaaxu’

young woman

Consonants:

č

which

čituu’u’

all, every

h

hit

hatuunu’

road

n

no

neešu’

corn

s

sit

suunatš

girl

š

ship

šiša’

Come!

w

will

wiinaxtš

boy

k

skill

kuNAhux

old man

p

spill

piiratš

child, children

t

still

taataaku

I gave it to them

r

Spanish pero

tara

twins

x

German ich, acht

xuhtš

shoes

oh‐oh

ookaa’aasikAt

in the shade

Others:

(raised i)

extra short i

atⁱna’

mother

Capital letters

(whispered, or voiceless, sounds)

tIhutA

It's windy

Capital Letter Sequence

(whispered sequence)

tAtkUxAxi’

I'm left‐handed