Language

The Seminole Indians use two distinct but similar languages, both traditionally and today; however, they are not written traditionally. These two languages are Muscogee (Creek) and Miccosukee. Many members of the tribes are fluent in both of the languages, but usually only speak it to one another. Many Florida cities, counties, places, and water landmarks are named by the Seminole Languages. The two languages are related, but based on words and pronunciation, they are different. One similarity they possess is that many of the sounds and their use of grammar in the languages do not exist in the English language. Some examples of their similarities and differences to between their languages and the English language include:

Bread would be pronounced "tak-la-eek-i" in the Muscogee dialect and "pa-les-tee" in Miccosukee.

Dog is "ef-fa" in Creek, "ee-fe" in Miccosukee.

Cow is "wa-ka" in Creek, "waa-ke" in Miccosukee. 

Miccosukee	English
Apalachicola	place of the ruling people
Chattahoochee	marked stones
Hialeah	prairie
Immokalee	my camp
Miami	that place
Ocala	spring
Palatka	ferry crossing
Yeehaw	wolf
Pahokee	grassy water
Apopka	potato eating place
Okeechobee	big water
Homosassa	pepper place
Thonotosassa	flint place

Learn a Few Seminole Words

Miccosukee	English
ee-cho	deer
ya-laahe	orange
o-pa	owl
hen-le	squirrel
sho-ke	pig
laa-le	fish
yok-che	turtle
chen-te	snake
ke-hay-ke	hawk
nak-ne	man
coo-wah-chobee	big cat
wannke-cha-be	dragon fly
coo-wah-chobee	big cat
Ee-te Yo-ga-hé	Fire
hah-yo-ke	chickee roof
cha-cee	pumpkin
kowechobe	panther
Numpagalaale laknalon	Flowers are yellow
Ko-wah-yah- lot to chené pahén empom	Three horses are eating hay

 

 

 

American Anthropological Association

  2013 Culture Who We Are: Language. Electronic Document, 

       http://www.semtribe.com/culture/Language.aspx, accessed March 1, 2013.