What is the difference in the Lakota language between iyótaŋčhila and thečhíȟila?

Answer 1

Both words express the same meaning: "I have affection/love for you".

In certain cases there are gender-specific words in Lakota used by men or women, but this is simply a case of more than one possible way of saying "I love you".

The normal verb meaning "to love" is thehila, but this can only be used in respect of animate objects (it can not refer to a favourite chair, food or garden). The same verb is also written as tecíhila. The -chi- or -ci-element within this word (thechihila) is an internal conjugation meaning "you" - to say "I love them" would be tewicawahíla.