-ʼĄ́

From Proto-Athabaskan *ʼa (“to handle compact object”), with nasalized perfective *ʼa-nʸ.
One of the most productive root occurring in all Athabaskan languages, in a wide range of themes and specialized meanings.
Cognate root found in Ahtna zʼaan (“it is in position”), yiniʼaan (“he arrived carrying it”), diniʼaan (“he brought the news”), nikuniʼaan (“it is planned”), [Term?] (“sun moves”), with similar extended meanings.


áłchíní binaaltsoos

From áłchíní (“children”) + bi- (3rd person possessive prefix) + naaltsoos (“book”).


ííłʼį́

áshʼį́ (first-person imperfective singular)
íilʼį́ (duoplural first-person imperfective)
ádeiilʼį́ (first-person imperfective plural)
áníłˊį (imperfective second-person singular)
ółʼį́ (duoplural imperfective second-person)
ádaahłʼį́ (imperfective plural second-person)
ííłˊį (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
ádeiłˊį (imperfective plural third-person)
ájíłʼį́ (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
ádajiłˊį (fourth-person imperfective plural)

ʼá- (“thus”) + -y- (3rd person object prefix) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier) + -ʼį́ (durative imperfective stem of root -ʼĮĮD, “to make”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ʼį́</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ʼĮĮD</i>

Azeeʼ áshʼį́.

he/she makes it, is a maker of it (by profession)


í-

(disjunct prefix of position I); postpositional prefix meaning “against”; it is often found in contraction with ná- (“around”, reversionary) as (b)éé-, where it converges in shape with -é (“about”)

postpositional prefix meaning “against”; it is often found in contraction with ná- (“around”, reversionary) as (b)éé-, where it converges in shape with -é (“about”)
► Navajo terms prefixed with í- (postpositional)


yá-

yáłtiʼ (“he is speaking/talking”)


-TSʼǪ́Ǫ́D

From Proto-Athabaskan *kʸʼə̓tʼ (“to stretch”). Maybe cognate with -TSʼID (“tough, sinewy”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna nicʼetʼ (“it is stretched out”).


-BĄ́Ą́Z

The root -BĄ́Ą́Z (“hooplike, ringlike shape”) is cognate with the root -MÁÁZ (“globular, spherical, ball-like shape”), both possibly originating from Proto-Athabaskan *wątsʼ (“roll”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna ghalbas (“it is rolling along”), nelbaatsʼ (“it is spherical”).


nástáán

From the root -TĄ́ (“to handle a slender stiff object”).


dijééʼ

di- (adjectival) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -jééʼ (neuter imperfective stem of root -JÉÉʼ, “to adhere, to stick, to grease”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-jééʼ</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-JÉÉʼ</i>

nv-link-to-root

it is sticky, gummy, viscous (as pitch, resin, glue)


bídiijeeh

bídiijeh (imperfective singular third-person)
bídiijééʼ (perfective singular third-person)
bididoojah (future singular third-person)

b- (3rd person indirect object prefix) + -í- (“against, reaching”) + -di- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -jeeh (imperfective stem of root -JÉÉʼ, “to adhere, to stick”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-jeeh</i>

it is sticking to it, is adhering to it (as a sticker to a wall)


-JÉÉʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *džeq’, a root with multiple meanings throughout the Athabaskan languages, related to sticky matter, and to the handling or movement of a liquid, viscous or granular mass or of a plurality of objects.
Compare Carrier dzeh (“gum, resin”), esdzeh (“to glue, to weld”), nenesdzeh (“to put liquid, grease”), nedisdzeh (“to put hay or moss”), Mattole dehdidžeɣ (“they float”), Koyukon nitoxadaniłdzaq (“a lot of driftwood has accumulated in the water”), Dena'ina -džax (“pl. S run”), nə-džax (“pl. S fly”).
Occurs in Navajo in bases related to the parallel positioning of plural elongated subjects (sticks, ropes or animated), to the running of plural subjects (see also yideeł and yilé for a similar connection between the movement of rope-like objects (SFO) and running), and to the greasing or sticking of objects.

cog

plural S lie, recline
 2. plural S run
 3. to stick, to cause to adhere, to smear, to grease


-NAʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *na (“to live, to move, to work”). Related to -NÁÁʼ (“to move”) and to -NÁÁD (“to last”). Maybe originating in several distinct roots.
Cognate root found in Ahtna ghetnaa (“he is working”), Chipewyan ɣɛna (“he is alive”), Carrier nelnaʼ (“to be slow, sluggish”).

inh

to live
 2. to last, to endure (supplies)
 3. to act slowly


-NAʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *nə̓q’ (“to swallow”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna itełnaʼ (“he swallowed it”).


-NAʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *nəɢ, with a wide semantic range including “a flat flexible object (as sheets) moves”, “to last, to endure, to become tired”.
Compare with -NAʼ above for the meaning "to last, to endure".
Cognate root found in Ahtna naghinak (“(a blanket) fell down”), łdaniniłnak (“it lasted a long time”), taatnak (“he is tired”).

cog

FFO moves, falls (blanket, surface of water)
 2. to crawl, to creep


-TʼAʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *tʼɑɢ (“to fly”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna nitʼak (“it arrived flying”), Gwich'in naałtʼak (“I flew a plane”).


-TʼOD

Exact identification of the root is difficult.
Possibly cognate with -TʼÓÓD (“to suck”) from Proto-Athabaskan *tʼutʼ (“to suck, or muddy matter moves”) describing the subject's mud-like texture. Compare Ahtna kultʼotʼ (“ground is soft”), Koyukon xɑltʼut (“area is muddy”), Tsuut'ina -t’ùd-ā (“to be boiled soft”), Tsuut'ina -t’ùh-ā (“to be silky, velvety”).
Alternatively, cognate with -TʼÓÓD (“to tear”) from Proto-Athabaskan *tʼučʼ (“to peel, to strip”), describing the subject's tearing apart from being too soft or overboiled.

inh

to be soft, tender, flexible, over-boiled


-TʼOD

Perhaps from Proto-Athabaskan *tʼʊɢ (“to shoot an arrow”), with an irregular coda evolution (*-g> -ʼ or -h would be expected). The original velar resurfaces in béésh astʼogii (“flint arrowhead”). See -TʼOH for the regularly derived root.
Alternatively, from Proto-Athabaskan *tʼut’ (“to suck”). Compare Koyukon utʼʊtʼ (“it sticks by suction, (fabric) sticks to the needle”). See -TʼÓÓD for the regularly derived root.


-TʼÓÓD

From Proto-Athabaskan *tʼutʼ (“to suck”). Related to -TʼOD (“to be soft”) and -TʼOH (“to smoke”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna ighiłtʼuutʼ (“he sucked it”), kultʼotʼ (“ground is soft”), Koyukon yiltʊt (“he sucked it on it once”), Carrier əst’ət (“to smoke”).


-TʼÓÓD

Perhaps from Proto-Athabaskan *tʼučʼ (“to peel, to strip”), with an irregular coda evolution (*-čʼ> -sh would be expected). See also -TʼOD (“arrow sticks”) for a similar issue.
Compare Ahtna idghiltʼuutsʼ (“he peels it”), Carrier əst’us (“to strip”), hanəzt’ûz (“to be bald”), with meanings identical to the ones found in Navajo.

to tear, to peel, to wear out
 2. to wipe


-TÁÁL

From Proto-Athabaskan *tatłʼ (“to act abruptly with the foot”), in bases related to stepping, stomping, kicking. Also occurs in a meaning related to bursting and exploding.
Cognate root found in Ahtna yiztał (“he shoved it once with his foot”), yuninitaatlʼ (“he kicked at it”), iʼdiiłtatlʼ (“I burst something”), Carrier əstał (“to kick”), dîstəł (“to explode”).


-TÁÁL

Probably identical to the above root. Occurs in Southern Athabaskan in bases related to singing or holding a ceremony.
Compare Ahtna deltatl’ (“make a speech”), Lower Tanana deltutł (“he is talking loudly”), Carrier dəztəl (“to shout”), themselves extension of the bursting / explosion meaning above.


-TŁIZH

Cognate root not found outside of Southern Athabaskan.


-WOD

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɣ̇ʊ̓t’ (“to be bent, curved”). Occurs also in a secondary meaning related to wriggling, jiggling, and by extension, in some Athabaskan languages including Navajo, to being agile and running.
Cognate root found in Ahtna dezghotʼ (“it is bent”), Carrier nəlɣwət (“to wriggle”), nəsɣwət (“to be agile, rapid”).
Occurs in Navajo in two additional extended meanings related to limping and to rocking. The “rock” theme uses a different momentaneous stem set, and might be a different root altogether.

inh

to bend, to flex, to disjoint; to limp
 2. to rock
 3. to run


Ahééhałtį́į́h Hahoodzo

Literally, the state where it rains year-round, from ahéé- (“round in a circle”) + ha- (3rd-person subject pronoun denoting space) + -ł- (classifier) + -tį́į́h (momentaneous usitative stem of root -TĄ́, “to rain”) + hahoodzo (“state”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tį́į́h</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TĄ́</i>


aghaʼdiitʼaahii

lawyer (professional person authorized to practice law), attorney


agąąziz

Compound of agaan (“arm”) + azis (“sack”).


álátłʼááh

shílátłʼááh (first-person singular)
nihílátłʼááh (duoplural first-person)
danihílátłʼááh (first-person plural)
nílátłʼááh (second-person singular)
nihílátłʼááh (duoplural second-person)
danihílátłʼááh (plural second-person)
bílátłʼááh (third-person)
yílátłʼááh (fourth-person)
hálátłʼááh (fourth-person)
álátłʼááh (indefinite)


-GOʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɢʊ̓k’ (“to bump into, to rush”).

inh

to fall (animate), to rush (stream), to billow (fog)
 2. to tackle, to butt, to collide; (tr.) to bang O, to hit O


Tónteel Chʼínílį́

From tónteel (“sea”) + chʼínílį́ (“to make it flow out horizontally, to drain it out”).


-ZǪ́Ǫ́Z

From Proto-Athabaskan *huˑs (“to stretch”), from Pre-Proto-Athabaskan *həwəs. Cognate with -LÓÓZ (“to lead”) and -DZĮ́Į́Z (“to drag”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna niniyuus (“stretch it out!”), Koyukon kʼətalhuł (“to spread something out”), Chipewyan tɛsθuθ (“I am dragging it”), naasdðuθ (“I usually turn it inside out”), Mattole -yoos (“to skin it”).

cog

to pull or tear gently
 2. to be striped


-ZĮĮD

From Proto-Athabaskan *zən (“to think”). Relates to the mind.
Cognate root found in Ahtna nizen (“he thinks”), Chipewyan yɛnɛsθən (“I think”), Gwich'in yiyindhan (“he wants it”).


-TŁʼÁ

From Proto-Athabaskan *tłʼa ~ *tłʼe (“herd moves”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna teltłʼaa (“a herd started moving”), Chipewyan ɛltłʼɛł (“it (a caribou) is trotting”).


-DO

From Proto-Athabaskan *dʊɣ̇ (“gas moves”).
Describes the movement of gas (air, cloud, smoke) in motion themes and the bursting of gas containers (as a sack of air, a tyre) in successive themes.
Cognate root found in Ahtna kekuldogh (“area becomes foggy”), ldogh (“it cracked”).

to float in the air (smoke, cloud, balloon)


-JID

Derivation uncertain. This root is not found outside of Navajo.


-KĘ́Ę́Z

From Proto-Athabaskan *qʷetsʼ (“stick-like or heavy object falls”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna naghilkaetsʼ (“(knife, box) fell down”), Chipewyan -kɛ́θ (“long object drops”).
The nasal vowel, found only in Navajo, is unexplained. See also -KÉÉZ where some confusion has arisen.


nitséés

nitséés (imperfective singular third-person)
neeztsiz (perfective singular third-person)
dínóotsis (future singular third-person)

ni- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -tséés (imperfective stem of root -TSIZ, “to die out, to become extinguished”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tséés</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TSIZ</i>

nv-link-to-root

atsiniltłʼish nitséés.

it goes out, dies (a fire, a light, a motor)


anitséés

anitséés (imperfective singular third-person)
aneeztsiz (perfective singular third-person)
adínóotsis (future singular third-person)

ʼa- (unspecified person subject prefix) + -ni- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -tséés (imperfective stem of root -TSIZ, “to die out, to become extinguished”).

nv-prefixes

Daʼneeztsiz.

The lights went out, there is a power outage.


diilkos

diiskos (first-person imperfective singular)
diilkos (duoplural first-person imperfective)
dadiilkos (first-person imperfective plural)
diilkos (imperfective second-person singular)
doołkos (duoplural imperfective second-person)
dadoołkos (imperfective plural second-person)
diilkos (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dadiilkos (imperfective plural third-person)
jidiilkos (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhdiilkos (fourth-person imperfective plural)
déskos (first-person perfective singular)
deelkos (duoplural first-person perfective)
dadeelkos (first-person perfective plural)
dínílkos (perfective second-person singular)
disoołkos (duoplural perfective second-person)
dadisoołkos (perfective plural second-person)
deeskos (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
dadeeskos (perfective plural third-person)
jideeskos (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dazhdeeskos (fourth-person perfective plural)

di- (“oral”) + -yi- (semelfactive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -kos (semelfactive imperfective stem of root -KÉÉZ, “to cough”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kos</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KÉÉZ</i>

he/she/it is coughing once, lets out a cough


-KÉÉZ

From Proto-Athabaskan *qʊs-x (“to cough”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna delkos (“he is coughing”), Carrier dəlkwəs (“he coughs”).
Occurs in Southern Athabaskan along with tsí-thematic in bases related to thinking. This meaning is probably rather related to the non-nasalized form of -KĘ́Ę́Z (in which the nazalization is non-etymological).

to cough
 2. to think, to ponder, to decide


-ZIIL

From Proto-Athabaskan *zəl (“to be hot”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna ʼiziił (“it got warm”), Carrier hodinzil (“weather is warm”).


-KʼAAZ

From Proto-Athabaskan *q’ɑ̓ts’ (“to be cold”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna nezkʼatsʼ (“it is cold”), Carrier sək’əz (“to be cold”), Chipewyan huk’að (“cold weather”).


-ZO

From Proto-Athabaskan *zʊɣ̇ (“to scrape”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna ighizogh (“he scraped it”), Carrier təszoh (“to rake it”).
In Southern Athabaskan, the root evolved to mean “to mark”, “to draw a line or a border”. In Navajo, it is also found in bases related to the four operations.

to mark, to draw, to write
 2. to add, to subtract, to multiply


-DZĮ́Į́Z

From Proto-Athabaskan *huˑs (“to stretch”), from Pre-Proto-Athabaskan *həwəs. Cognate with -LÓÓZ (“to lead”) and -ZǪ́Ǫ́Z (“to pull”).


ninishníísh

first-person singular imperfective of niilníísh


-NISH

From Proto-Athabaskan *nəš-x (“to move quickly”).
Cognate root found in Chipewyan násnís (“I move quickly”), Northern Tutchone naɣadəlniš (“he is working”).


-TŁÉÉʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *tłeqʼʷ, classificatory root for mushy or decrepit objects (as mud, butter, a rotten rag), or animate object sharing such characteristics (as a frog, a drunken person).
Cognate root found in Ahtna ghitlaeʼ (“he handed (some mud)”), nałtloʼ (“it became wet”), Gwich'in naałtłik (“I threw it (a rotten cloth) down”).
Also occurs in Navajo along with hi-seriative in a motion theme describing the hopping of a frog (literally, a mushy object throwing itself successively).

to handle or propelmushy matter (as butter, mud)
 2. to be wet


ádįįh

áshdįįh (first-person imperfective singular)
íidįįh (duoplural first-person imperfective)
ádeiidįįh (first-person imperfective plural)
ánídįįh (imperfective second-person singular)
áhdįįh (duoplural imperfective second-person)
ádaohdįįh (imperfective plural second-person)
ádįįh (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
ádaadįįh (imperfective plural third-person)
ájídįįh (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
ádájiłdįįh (fourth-person imperfective plural)
ásédįįd (first-person perfective singular)
ásiidįįd (duoplural first-person perfective)
ádasiidįįd (first-person perfective plural)
ásínídįįd (perfective second-person singular)
ásoodįįd (duoplural perfective second-person)
ádasoodįįd (perfective plural second-person)
ásdįįd (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
ádaasdįįd (perfective plural third-person)
ájísdįįd (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
ádajisdįįd (fourth-person perfective plural)
ádeeshdįįł (first-person future singular)
ádiidįįł (duoplural first-person future)
ádadiidįįł (first-person future plural)
ádíídįįł (future second-person singular)
ádoohdįįł (duoplural future second-person)
ádadoohdįįł (future plural second-person)
ádoodįįł (duoplural future singular third-person)
ádadoodįįł (future plural third-person)
ázhdoodįįł (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
ádazhdoodįįł (fourth-person future plural)
óoshdįįh (first-person singular)
óodįįh (duoplural first-person)
ádaoodįįh (first-person plural)
óódįįh (second-person singular)
óohdįįh (duoplural second-person)
ádaoohdįįh (plural second-person)
óodįįh (duoplural singular third-person)
ádayódįįh (plural third-person)
ájódįįh (duoplural fourth-person singular)
ádajódįįh (fourth-person plural)

ʼá- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -dįįh (imperfective stem of root -DĮĮD, “to disappear”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-dįįh</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-DĮĮD</i>

he/she/it is becoming extinct, dying out


Tó Haachʼiʼ

census-designated place
census-designated place

Tohatchi (a census-designated place in New Mexico, United States)


diłhiłgo dootłʼizh

diłhiłgo (“dark”) + dootłʼizh (“turquoise, green, blue”)

he/she/it is dark blue, indigo, navy blue


ndaʼiiníísh

ndaʼiiníísh (imperfective singular third-person)
ndaʼiizhnish (perfective singular third-person)
ndaʼdiyoonish (future singular third-person)

ni- (terminative) + -da- (plural) + -ʼa- (unspecified person subject prefix) + -hi- (seriative) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -níísh (imperfective stem of root -NISH, “to work”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-níísh</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-NISH</i>

work is being stopped, people stop working one after another


-LÓÓZ

From Proto-Athabaskan *lus (“to drag, usually with a rope”), from Pre-Proto-Athabaskan *ł-həwəs. Cognate with -DZĮ́Į́Z (“to drag”) and -ZǪ́Ǫ́Z (“to pull, to tear”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna daluus (“he is dragging it”), Koyukon yolułtł (“he is dragging it along”).


-ʼEEZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *ʼe̓ž (“to string fish or beads”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna *inezʼaes (“he strung them”).
Evolved in Navajo to mean “lead 2+ objects”, in contrast with -LÓÓZ, “lead a single object”.

inh

to lead plural object
 2. to stringbeads


niilníísh

ninishníísh (first-person imperfective singular)
niniilníísh (duoplural first-person imperfective)
ndaniilníísh (first-person imperfective plural)
ninílníísh (imperfective second-person singular)
ninołníísh (duoplural imperfective second-person)
ndanołníísh (imperfective plural second-person)
niilníísh (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
ndaalníísh (imperfective plural third-person)
njílníísh (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
ndajílníísh (fourth-person imperfective plural)
ninishnish (first-person perfective singular)
niniilnish (duoplural first-person perfective)
ndaniilnish (first-person perfective plural)
níínílnish (perfective second-person singular)
ninoołnish (duoplural perfective second-person)
ndanoołnish (perfective plural second-person)
niilnish (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
ndaashnish (perfective plural third-person)
njílnish (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
ndajishnish (fourth-person perfective plural)
ndeeshnish (first-person future singular)
ndiilnish (duoplural first-person future)
ndadiilnish (first-person future plural)
ndíílnish (future second-person singular)
ndoołnish (duoplural future second-person)
ndadoołnish (future plural second-person)
ndoolnish (duoplural future singular third-person)
ndadoolnish (future plural third-person)
nizhdoolnish (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
ndazhdoolnish (fourth-person future plural)

ni- (terminative) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier, thematic) + -níísh (imperfective stem of root -NISH, “to work”).


-TSOOZ

From Proto-Athabaskan *kʸu̓z, classificatory root for flat flexible objects, as fabric, skins or paper.
Cognate root found in Koyukon yitłkuł (“he has it (a blanket) there”), Carrier tətšus (“to carry it off (as sheets)”).


ooljééʼ dah yiitą́

ooljééʼ (“moon”) + dah (“up”) + yiitą́ (“it hung in mid-air”)


-TĄ́

From Proto-Athabaskan *tan ~ *tən (“to handle stick-like objects or vessels”), probably one of the most polysemous root across all Athabascan languages.
Cognate root found in Ahtna deztaan (“(elongated object) is in position”), datiił (“he is counting”),
natadghitaan (“water drips down”),
hwghitaʼ (“it stops”),
tinitaan (“there is a trail”),
łtaan (“(enclosed object) is in position”), dełtaan (“(body of water) is in position”), sa dinhwtniłten (“explain to me!”), titahdiniłtaan (“they rushed off in a group”), l+taan (“animate rests”), among many other meanings in the sole Ahtna language.
Occurs in Navajo as momentaneous perfective -TĄ́ or -TĄ́Ą́ʼ, in themes related to the handling of stick-like objects (SSO), to raining, to teaching, to the gallopping of a horse, and also acts as the suppletive neuter stem of -BIN (plural S sit).

cog

to handle a slender stiff object
 2. to rain
 3. to teach; to understand, to guess
 4. plural S sit
 5. to gallop


-DǪǪD

From Proto-Athabaskan *dəmʼ (“to become taut”). Maybe cognate with -DON (“to explode”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna nidonʼ (“it is taut”), nełdonʼ (“he jerks it”).


-DON

From Proto-Athabaskan *dəmʼ (“to become taut, full to burst”). Cognate with -DǪǪD (“to straighten up”).

to blast, to explode, to shoot, to fire a gun


hw

A letter of the Navajo alphabet, written in the Latin script.


-TSAII

From Proto-Athabaskan *tsaˑʼy (“to be dry”).


-TSEII

From Proto-Athabaskan *tsaˑʼy (“to be dry”). Cognate root found in Ahtna naghaltsaay’ (“they dried up”).
Also spelt as -TSAII.


-KWI

From Proto-Athabaskan *qʊɣʸ (“to vomit”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna natkoy (“he is vomiting”).


-TŁʼIS

From Proto-Athabaskan *tł’əts’ (“to be hard, solid”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna ʼitlʼiitsʼ (“it hardens, coagulates”).


-GAN

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɢa̓nʸ (“to be dry”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna zggan (“it is dried”). See also Navajo asgąʼ (“dried remains”).


-TŁʼÍÍD

From Proto-Athabaskan *tł’it’ (“liquid or granular matter moves or splashes; to fart”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna naghitlʼiitʼ (“(water, sand) fell down”), ztlʼiitʼ (“it farted”).
Also occur in Navajo with the meaning “to limber up, to rest up”, of uncertain derivation.

cog

to throw, to toss plural objects
 2. to spurt, to fart
 3. to recuperate, to rest up, to limber up


-TSʼǪ́Ǫ́Z

From Proto-Athabaskan *ts’ųts’ (“to suck, to kiss”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna yiztsʼos (“he is sucking it once”).


naaltsoos ahiʼnííł

naaltsoos (“paper, ballot”, from -TSOOZ) + ahiʼnííł (“it is tossed away one after another”, passive seriative of iinííł, from -NIL)


-KĄĄD

From Proto-Athabaskan *qanʸ (“to be sweet, to taste good”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna ilkaanʼ (“it became tasty”).


yiikʼai

yiishkʼaih (first-person imperfective singular)
yiikʼaih (duoplural first-person imperfective)
deiikʼaih (first-person imperfective plural)
yiikʼaih (imperfective second-person singular)
woohkʼaih (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daoohkʼaih (imperfective plural second-person)
yiikʼaih (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dayiikʼaih (imperfective plural third-person)
jiikʼaih (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dajiikʼaih (fourth-person imperfective plural)
sékʼaih (first-person perfective singular)
siikʼaih (duoplural first-person perfective)
dasiikʼaih (first-person perfective plural)
síníkʼaih (perfective second-person singular)
sookʼaih (duoplural perfective second-person)
dasookʼaih (perfective plural second-person)
yizkʼaih (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
deizkʼaih (perfective plural third-person)
jizkʼaih (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dajizkʼaih (fourth-person perfective plural)
deeshkʼaih (first-person future singular)
diikʼaih (duoplural first-person future)
dadiikʼaih (first-person future plural)
dííkʼaih (future second-person singular)
doohkʼaih (duoplural future second-person)
dadoohkʼaih (future plural second-person)
dookʼaih (duoplural future singular third-person)
dadookʼaih (future plural third-person)
jidookʼaih (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
dazhdookʼaih (fourth-person future plural)

yi- (semelfactive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -kʼaih (semelfactive imperfective stem of root -KʼAIʼ, “to spread legs”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kʼaih</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KʼAIʼ</i>


yiyiiłtáás

yiistáás (first-person imperfective singular)
yiiltáás (duoplural first-person imperfective)
deiiltáás (first-person imperfective plural)
yiiłtáás (imperfective second-person singular)
woołtáás (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daoołtáás (imperfective plural second-person)
yiyiiłtáás (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dayiiłtáás (imperfective plural third-person)
jiiłtáás (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dajiiłtáás (fourth-person imperfective plural)
yiiłtaaz (first-person perfective singular)
yiiltaaz (duoplural first-person perfective)
deiiltaaz (first-person perfective plural)
yiniłtaaz (perfective second-person singular)
woołtaaz (duoplural perfective second-person)
daoołtaaz (perfective plural second-person)
yiyiiłtaaz (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
dayiiłtaaz (perfective plural third-person)
jiiłtaaz (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dajiiłtaaz (fourth-person perfective plural)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -yi- (transitional) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier, causative) + -táás (imperfective stem of root -TAAZ, “to bend”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-táás</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TAAZ</i>


yidiiłkǫǫh

diishkǫǫh (first-person imperfective singular)
diilkǫǫh (duoplural first-person imperfective)
dadiilkǫǫh (first-person imperfective plural)
diiłkǫǫh (imperfective second-person singular)
doołkǫǫh (duoplural imperfective second-person)
dadoołkǫǫh (imperfective plural second-person)
yidiiłkǫǫh (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
deidiiłkǫǫh (imperfective plural third-person)
jidiiłkǫǫh (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhdiiłkǫǫh (fourth-person imperfective plural)
diiłkǫʼ (first-person perfective singular)
diilkǫʼ (duoplural first-person perfective)
dadiilkǫʼ (first-person perfective plural)
diniłkǫʼ (perfective second-person singular)
doołkǫʼ (duoplural perfective second-person)
dadoołkǫʼ (perfective plural second-person)
yidiiłkǫʼ (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
deidiiłkǫʼ (perfective plural third-person)
jidiiłkǫʼ (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dazhdiiłkǫʼ (fourth-person perfective plural)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -di- (thematic) + -yi- (transitional) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier, causative) + -kǫǫh (transitional imperfective stem of root -KǪʼ, “to be smooth”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kǫǫh</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KǪʼ</i>

he/she is making it smooth, smoothing it down


yiyiiłkah

yiishkah (first-person imperfective singular)
yiilkah (duoplural first-person imperfective)
deiilkah (first-person imperfective plural)
yiiłkah (imperfective second-person singular)
woołkah (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daoołkah (imperfective plural second-person)
yiyiiłkah (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dayiiłkah (imperfective plural third-person)
jiiłkah (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dajiiłkah (fourth-person imperfective plural)
séłkah (first-person perfective singular)
siilkah (duoplural first-person perfective)
dasiilkah (first-person perfective plural)
síníłkah (perfective second-person singular)
soołkah (duoplural perfective second-person)
dasoołkah (perfective plural second-person)
yiskah (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
deiskah (perfective plural third-person)
jiskah (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dajiskah (fourth-person perfective plural)
deeshkah (first-person future singular)
diilkah (duoplural first-person future)
dadiilkah (first-person future plural)
dííłkah (future second-person singular)
doołkah (duoplural future second-person)
dadoołkah (future plural second-person)
yidoołkah (duoplural future singular third-person)
deidoołkah (future plural third-person)
jidoołkah (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
dazhdoołkah (fourth-person future plural)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -yi- (semelfactive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier) + -kah (semelfactive imperfective stem of root -KAI, “to shoot arrow”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kah</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KAI</i>


-ZĄ́Ą́ʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *zan (“to beat wife or spouse”).

inh

to beat one's wife, to have a violent domestic quarrel


-ZHIZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *žəž (“to sip hot liquid”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna izes (“drink (tea)”), Carrier əszəz (“drink soup with a spoon”).


-YEʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɣe (“to call a name”).


-CHA

From Proto-Athabaskan *čʷe̓ɣ (“to cry”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna tsagh (“he is crying”).


-CHʼĄĄʼ

Cognate root not found in other Athabaskan languages.

to decorate, to draw, to paint; to trick


tsʼaaʼ

bitsʼaʼ (possessed-form)
sitsʼaʼ (first-person singular)
nihitsʼaʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihitsʼaʼ (first-person plural)
nitsʼaʼ (second-person singular)
nihitsʼaʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihitsʼaʼ (plural second-person)
bitsʼaʼ (third-person)
yitsʼaʼ (fourth-person)
hatsʼaʼ (fourth-person)
atsʼaʼ (indefinite)

From Proto-Athabaskan *tsʼakʸʼ (“plate, basket”).


-DLÉÉZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *łe̓dž (“to plaster with mud”). Cognate with łeezh (“soil, dirt, ashes”), dleesh (“white clay”).


iinííł

iishnííł (first-person imperfective singular)
iiʼnííł (duoplural first-person imperfective)
adeiiʼnííł (first-person imperfective plural)
aninííł (imperfective second-person singular)
oohnííł (duoplural imperfective second-person)
adaahnííł (imperfective plural second-person)
iinííł (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
adaanííł (imperfective plural third-person)
ajinííł (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
adajinííł (fourth-person imperfective plural)
íínil (first-person perfective singular)
iiʼnil (duoplural first-person perfective)
adasiiʼnil (first-person perfective plural)
íínínil (perfective second-person singular)
oonil (duoplural perfective second-person)
adasoonil (perfective plural second-person)
íínil (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
adaaznil (perfective plural third-person)
ajíínil (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
adajiznil (fourth-person perfective plural)
adeeshnił (first-person future singular)
adiiʼnił (duoplural first-person future)
adadiiʼnił (first-person future plural)
adíínił (future second-person singular)
adoohnił (duoplural future second-person)
adadoohnił (future plural second-person)
adoonił (duoplural future singular third-person)
adadoonił (future plural third-person)
azhdoonił (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
adazhdoonił (fourth-person future plural)

ʼa- (“away”) + -y- (3rd person object prefix) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -nííł (imperfective stem of root -NIL, “to handle several objects”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-nííł</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-NIL</i>

he/she is putting them or tossing them away out of sight (plural relatively large objects)


-BÉÉZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *-weˑdžʷ (“to cook by boiling”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna yełaets (“I'm cooking it”), Koyukon *ləbats (“it got cooked by boiling”),


-BÉÉZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *wədž (“to spread, to stretch”). Cognate with -BIZH (“to braid”).

inh

to lie scattered
 2. to be dirty with adhering matter


-ZHIʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *ži (“to name it”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna yuzii (“he is calling him”).


-DZIL

From Proto-Athabaskan *dzəl (“to be solid, firm, thick”). Compare also Navajo dziil (“strength”) and dził (“mountain”).

to make an effort, to strain
 2. to be strong, to firm


-GEED

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɢed (“to stick, to poke”), also found in a number of disparate meanings, including “to crawl, to go on all four” (giving the Navajo meaning “to buck”).
Related to Navajo god (“knee”).

yą́ą́ʼdíłgééd yą́ą́ʼdíłgééd#Navajo

yą́ą́ʼdíłgééd yą́ą́ʼdíłgééd#Navajo

to dig, to shovel; to stick, to jab
 2. to buck, to move bucking (a horse)


dildzííł

disdzííł (first-person imperfective singular)
diildzííł (duoplural first-person imperfective)
dadiildzííł (first-person imperfective plural)
díldzííł (imperfective second-person singular)
dołdzííł (duoplural imperfective second-person)
dadołdzííł (imperfective plural second-person)
dildzííł (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dadildzííł (imperfective plural third-person)
jidildzííł (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhdildzííł (fourth-person imperfective plural)
désdzil (first-person perfective singular)
deeldzil (duoplural first-person perfective)
dadeeldzil (first-person perfective plural)
díníldzil (perfective second-person singular)
disoołdzil (duoplural perfective second-person)
dadisoołdzil (perfective plural second-person)
deesdzil (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
dadeesdzil (perfective plural third-person)
jideesdzil (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dazhdeesdzil (fourth-person perfective plural)
dideesdził (first-person future singular)
didiildził (duoplural first-person future)
dadidiildził (first-person future plural)
didííldził (future second-person singular)
didoołdził (duoplural future second-person)
dadidoołdził (future plural second-person)
didooldził (duoplural future singular third-person)
dadidooldził (future plural third-person)
dizhdooldził (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
dazhdidooldził (fourth-person future plural)

di- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -dzííł (imperfective stem of root -DZIL, “to be strong”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-dzííł</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-DZIL</i>

he/she/it makes an effort (as in pulling)


-LOʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *lʊk’ (“to handle rope-like object”).

inh

to act with a rope: to carry suspended, to drive, to lasso, to weigh...


adiloh

adishłoh (first-person imperfective singular)
adiidloh (duoplural first-person imperfective)
daʼdiidloh (first-person imperfective plural)
adíloh (imperfective second-person singular)
adohłoh (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daʼdohłoh (imperfective plural second-person)
adiloh (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
daʼdiloh (imperfective plural third-person)
azhdiloh (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhʼdiloh (fourth-person imperfective plural)

ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + -di- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -loh (iterative stem of root -LOʼ, “to act with a rope”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-loh</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-LOʼ</i>

Níléí akałii ayóo adiloh.

Kóʼóolyéenii ayóo łį́į́ʼ yikááʼdóó adiloh dahoʼdiʼní.

These were said to have good riding and roping skills.

he/she/it is a roper, is good at roping, lassoing


yidileeh

dishłeeh (first-person imperfective singular)
diidleeh (duoplural first-person imperfective)
dadiidleeh (first-person imperfective plural)
díleeh (imperfective second-person singular)
dohłeeh (duoplural imperfective second-person)
dadohłeeh (imperfective plural second-person)
yidileeh (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
deidileeh (imperfective plural third-person)
jidileeh (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhdileeh (fourth-person imperfective plural)
déloʼ (first-person perfective singular)
deedloʼ (duoplural first-person perfective)
dadeedloʼ (first-person perfective plural)
díníloʼ (perfective second-person singular)
disooloʼ (duoplural perfective second-person)
dadisooloʼ (perfective plural second-person)
yideezloʼ (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
deideezloʼ (perfective plural third-person)
jideezloʼ (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dazhdeezloʼ (fourth-person perfective plural)
dideeshłoh (first-person future singular)
didiidloh (duoplural first-person future)
dadidiidloh (first-person future plural)
didííloh (future second-person singular)
didoohłoh (duoplural future second-person)
dadidoohłoh (future plural second-person)
yididooloh (duoplural future singular third-person)
deididooloh (future plural third-person)
dizhdooloh (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
dazhdidooloh (fourth-person future plural)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -di- (inceptive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -leeh (imperfective stem of root -LOʼ, “to act with a rope”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-leeh</i>

he/she starts to drive it along (a vehicle, originally by means of reins or cables)

he/she starts to carry it along by a handle, string, or cord (as a suitcase)


Tsinłání

Arboles (a census-designated place in Colorado, United States)


bee iináanii

bee (“by means of it”) + iiná (“there is life”) + -n- (ligature) + -ii (nominalizer)


iiʼ sizíinii

head

iiʼ sizíinii (possessed form biiʼ sizíinii)

iiʼ (“inside one”) + sizį́ (“it stands”) + -n- (ligature) + -ii (nominalizer)


dziłbąąh

From dził (“mountain”) + bąąh (“beside it”).


dziłgiizh

From dził (“mountain”) + -giizh (“gap, cut”).


dziłlátah

From dził (“mountain”) + álátah (“tip, end, peak”).


dziłtsį́į́góó

dziłtsį́į́góó

From dziłtsíín (“foot of a mountain”) + -góó (“along”).


dziłtsíín

From dził (“mountain”) + atsíín (“foot, base”).


dziłtsį́į́gi

From dziłtsíín (“foot of a mountain”) + -gi (“at”).


dziłghą́ą́ʼ

From dził (“mountain”) + aghą́ą́ʼ (“top, summit”).


wóniłchxoní

Literally a bug that stinks, from wó- (“insect, bug”) + niłchon (“it stinks”) + -x- (emphatic infix) + -í (nominalizer)


-TSĄ́

From Proto-Athabaskan *tsa-nʸ (“to catch sight of”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna yiłtsaan (“he caught sight of”).


-TSĄ́

From Proto-Athabaskan *da̓-tsa-nʸ (“singular S dies”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna daztsaan (“he dies”).


yikǫs

yikǫs (plural progressive singular third-person)
deíkęęs (distributive plural progressive third-person)

yi- (progressive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -kǫs (progressive stem of root -KĘ́Ę́Z, “a slender stiff object moves”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kǫs</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KĘ́Ę́Z</i>

nv-link-to-root

it is sailing through the air (as a flying arrow)


halchííʼ

ho- (“space, area, things”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -chííʼ (neuter imperfective stem of root -CHIIʼ, “to be red”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-chííʼ</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-CHIIʼ</i>

Eʼeʼaahjí halchííʼ.


awóchiiʼ

shiwóchiiʼ (first-person singular)
nihiwóchiiʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihiwóchiiʼ (first-person plural)
niwóchiiʼ (second-person singular)
nihiwóchiiʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihiwóchiiʼ (plural second-person)
biwóchiiʼ (third-person)
yiwóchiiʼ (fourth-person)
hawóchiiʼ (fourth-person)
awóchiiʼ (indefinite)

From awooʼ (“tooth”) + -chiiʼ (neuter perfective stem of root -CHIIʼ, “to be red”).

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-chiiʼ</i>


awótsįʼ

shiwótsįʼ (first-person singular)
nihiwótsįʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihiwótsįʼ (first-person plural)
niwótsįʼ (second-person singular)
nihiwótsįʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihiwótsįʼ (plural second-person)
biwótsįʼ (third-person)
yiwótsįʼ (fourth-person)
hawótsįʼ (fourth-person)
awótsįʼ (indefinite)

From awooʼ (“tooth”) + atsįʼ (“meat, flesh”).


tsíłkę́ę́h

head

tsíłkéí, tsíłkéyóó

tsíłkę́ę́h (possessed form bitsíłkęʼ, plural tsíłkéí, tsíłkéyóó)

bitsíłkęʼ (possessed-form)
tsíłkéí (plural)
tsíłkéyóó (plural)
sitsíłkęʼ (first-person singular)
nihitsíłkęʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihitsíłkęʼ (first-person plural)
nitsíłkęʼ (second-person singular)
nihitsíłkęʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihitsíłkęʼ (plural second-person)
bitsíłkęʼ (third-person)
yitsíłkęʼ (fourth-person)
hatsíłkęʼ (fourth-person)
atsíłkęʼ (indefinite)

Compare Ahtna ciił (“boy”) and Tanacross tsiil gaay (“young boy”). Related to atsilí (“younger brother”).

kid, young man, young boy, adolescent, teenager (aged 13 to 30)

shidáʼí bitsíłkęʼ

(in the possessive) someone's kid, young son


wólázhiní

From wólá- (“ants”) + -zhin (“black”) + -í (nominalizer).


-TAAZ

From Proto-Athabaskan *tatsʼ (“to twist, to roll”).


yiitáás

yiistáás (first-person imperfective singular)
yiitáás (duoplural first-person imperfective)
deiitáás (first-person imperfective plural)
yiitáás (imperfective second-person singular)
woohtáás (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daoohtáás (imperfective plural second-person)
yiitáás (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dayiitáás (imperfective plural third-person)
jiitáás (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dajiitáás (fourth-person imperfective plural)
yiitaaz (first-person perfective singular)
yiitaaz (duoplural first-person perfective)
deiitaaz (first-person perfective plural)
yiitaaz (perfective second-person singular)
wootaaz (duoplural perfective second-person)
daootaaz (perfective plural second-person)
yiitaaz (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
deitaaz (perfective plural third-person)
jiitaaz (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dajiitaaz (fourth-person perfective plural)

yi- (transitional) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -táás (imperfective stem of root -TAAZ, “to bend”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-táás</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TAAZ</i>

he/she becomes bent, stooped over (with the age or rheumatism)


łį́į́ʼkąʼii

From łį́į́ʼ (“horse”) + -kąʼ (“male”) + -ii (nominalizer).


łį́į́ʼtsaʼii

head

łį́į́ʼtsaʼii

From łį́į́ʼ (“horse”) + tsaʼii (“reproducing female”).


tsaʼii

reproducing female, an animal capable of reproducing


łį́į́ʼ yáshchʼį́į́d

łį́į́ʼ yáshchʼį́į́d


tsiih

Contraction from atsįʼ (“flesh, meat”) + -iih (“into”)


tsééh

Contraction of tsé (“rock”) + -iih (“into”)


kééh

Contraction of ké (“shoe”) + -iih (“into”)


ééh

Contraction of ééʼ (“garment, clothing”) + -iih (“into”)


tsʼííh

Contraction of atsʼíís (“body”) + -iih (“into”)


kįįh

Contraction of kin (“house”) + -iih (“into”)


-NÁ

From Proto-Athabaskan *naʸ (“to move nomadically, to migrate”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna nininaa (“he arrived at a place with a group”).

cog

to move household, to migrate, crowd moves


-NÁ

From Proto-Athabaskan *na (“to capture, to enslave”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna elna (“slave”).


-NÁ

From Proto-Athabaskan *naʸ (“to become depleted”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna tneznaan (“it went to waste”), hwnełnaan (“he won at gambling”).

plural S die, (impf.) plural S get sick
 2. to win (in a competition)


atsą́stíín

Literally, the one who sits in the belly, from atsą́ (“belly”) + sitį́ (“it sits”) + -ii (nominalizer)


atsáłbáí

From atsá (“eagle”) + łibá (“gray”) + -í (nominalizer).


atsáłtsoii

From atsá (“eagle”) + łitso (“yellow”) + -ii (nominalizer).


ániʼ

shíniʼ (first-person singular)
nihíniʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihíniʼ (first-person plural)
níniʼ (second-person singular)
nihíniʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihíniʼ (plural second-person)
bíniʼ (third-person)
yíniʼ (fourth-person)
hániʼ (fourth-person)
ániʼ (indefinite)


atsą́

sitsą́ (first-person singular)
nihitsą́ (duoplural first-person)
danihitsą́ (first-person plural)
nitsą́ (second-person singular)
nihitsą́ (duoplural second-person)
danihitsą́ (plural second-person)
bitsą́ (third-person)
yitsą́ (fourth-person)
hatsą́ (fourth-person)
atsą́ (indefinite)

From the root -TSĄĄD (“to be pregnant”), from Proto-Athabaskan *kʸan (“belly”).
Compare also Ahtna ucaan (“his/her abdomen”).


-SǪS

Probably related to Proto-Athabaskan *səmˀ (“star”).
Compare Navajo sǫʼ (“star”), Chiricahua sǫǫs (“star”). Other cognates found in Tanacross sénʼ (“star”) and Ahtna sonʼ (“star”).
In Navajo this root is attested only in the neuter imperfective stem.


hodootłʼizh

ho- (“space, area, things”) + -di- (“color”) + -oo- (yi-perfective 3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -tłʼizh (neuter perfective stem of root -TŁʼIIZH, “be blue, green”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tłʼizh</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TŁʼIIZH</i>


hodisxǫs

ho- (“space, area, things”) + -di- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + sǫs (neuter imperfective stem of root -SǪS, “glitter, sparkle”), with emphatic infix -x-

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">sǫs</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-SǪS</i>


aghą́ą́ʼ

shighą́ą́ʼ (first-person singular)
nihighą́ą́ʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihighą́ą́ʼ (first-person plural)
nighą́ą́ʼ (second-person singular)
nihighą́ą́ʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihighą́ą́ʼ (plural second-person)
bighą́ą́ʼ (third-person)
yighą́ą́ʼ (fourth-person)
haghą́ą́ʼ (fourth-person)
aghą́ą́ʼ (indefinite)


haltso

ho- (“space, area, things”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -tso (neuter imperfective stem of root -TSOII, “be yellow”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tso</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TSOII</i>


hodiłhił

ho- (“space, area, things”) + -di- (“color”) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier) + -yił (neuter imperfective stem of root -YÉÉL, “be dark”)
The initial y of the stem assimilates to h after the classifier -ł-.

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-yił</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-YÉÉL</i>


átsą́ą́ʼtsʼin

head

átsą́ą́ʼtsʼin

From átsą́ą́ʼ (“rib”) + atsʼin (“bone”).


alzį́į́h

silzį́į́h (first-person singular)
nihilzį́į́h (duoplural first-person)
danihilzį́į́h (first-person plural)
nilzį́į́h (second-person singular)
nihilzį́į́h (duoplural second-person)
danihilzį́į́h (plural second-person)
bilzį́į́h (third-person)
yilzį́į́h (fourth-person)
halzį́į́h (fourth-person)
alzį́į́h (indefinite)


dilchį́į́h

dishchį́į́h (first-person imperfective singular)
diilchį́į́h (duoplural first-person imperfective)
dadiilchį́į́h (first-person imperfective plural)
dílchį́į́h (imperfective second-person singular)
dołchį́į́h (duoplural imperfective second-person)
dadołchį́į́h (imperfective plural second-person)
dilchį́į́h (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dadilchį́į́h (imperfective plural third-person)
jidilchį́į́h (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhdilchį́į́h (fourth-person imperfective plural)

di- (“sensory”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -chį́į́h (conative imperfective stem of root -CHĄ́Ą́ʼ, “to smell”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-chį́į́h</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-CHĄ́Ą́ʼ</i>

(with dah) he/she/it is trying to sniff, to get a scent


-TSĄĄD

From Proto-Athabaskan *kʸan (“belly”). Cognate with atsą́ (“belly, abdomen”).
Maybe related to the root -TSĄ́Ą́ʼ (“to rain”).


-NIID

From Proto-Athabaskan *ni (“to feel, to think, to want, to wish”). Relates to the mind.
Cognate root found in Ahtna uniʼoʼolnii (“I am attracted to her”), Tanacross shiiníʼ (“my mind”).
-NIID shares many stems with the roots -NÍÍD, -NIIʼ, -NÍÍʼ, -NIʼ, -NÍ, -NIH, -NIIH ~ -LĮH and -NEʼ, each of these being themselves a conflation of several originally distinct roots with at times overlapping meanings, which makes their actual identification often speculative.


-NIID

From Proto-Athabaskan *də-ni (“to say”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna desnii (“I say”), sełnii (“he says to me”), Carrier hotni (“it is said”).


-NIID

From Proto-Athabaskan *ni ~ *ni̓gʸ (“to be joyful”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna neniic (“happiness”), Carrier honəsni (“to be joyful”).


-NIID

to affect, to be the solution for, to cure


-NÍÍD

-NÍÍD shares many stems with the roots -NIID, -NIIʼ, -NÍÍʼ,-NIʼ, -NÍ, -NIH, -NIIH ~ -LĮH and -NEʼ, each of these being themselves a conflation of several originally distinct roots with at times overlapping meanings, which makes their actual identification often speculative.


yoochʼííd

shiyoochʼííd (first-person singular)
nihiyoochʼííd (duoplural first-person)
danihiyoochʼííd (first-person plural)
niyoochʼííd (second-person singular)
nihiyoochʼííd (duoplural second-person)
danihiyoochʼííd (plural second-person)
biyoochʼííd (third-person)
yiyoochʼííd (fourth-person)
hayoochʼííd (fourth-person)
ayoochʼííd (indefinite)

Jáan diné nilínígíí yoochʼííd átʼé.

Yooch'ííd bee iiséłbą́.

Doo dadíítsaał da níigo yoochʼííd áyiilaa.

He lied to you saying you would never die.

Biyoochʼííd.


aaníí

aaníí (imperfective singular third-person)
áánííd (perfective singular third-person)
adooniił (future singular third-person)
anáʼniih (iterative singular third-person)
aonííʼ (optative singular third-person)

ʼa- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -níí (neuter imperfective stem of root -NÍÍD, “to be true”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-níí</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-NÍÍD</i>

tʼáá aaníí ádíshní

doo shił aaníi da

doo shił áánííd da

(in the negative only) he/she is not pleased by it, he/she doesnʼt like it.


diłhį́hí

Literally, the one that melts. From diłhį́į́h (“to melt”) + -í (nominalizer)


dilyį́h

di- (“fire”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -yį́h (neuter imperfective stem of root -YĮ́Į́ʼ, “to melt”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-yį́h</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-YĮ́Į́ʼ</i>


tsiishgaii

From atsiiʼ (“head”) + -sh- (ligature) + -gai (neuter imperfective stem of root -GAII, “to be white”) + -ii (nominalizer). Literally, the white-headed one.

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-gai</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-GAII</i>


yiyį́į́h

yiyį́į́h (imperfective singular third-person)
yíyį́į́ʼ (perfective singular third-person)

y- (peg element) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -yį́į́h (imperfective stem of root -YĮ́Į́ʼ, “to melt”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-yį́į́h</i>


diłhį́į́h

diłhį́į́h (imperfective singular third-person)
dííłhį́į́ʼ (perfective singular third-person)

di- (“fire”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier) + -yį́į́h (imperfective stem of root -YĮ́Į́ʼ, “to melt”)


yókeed

yíníshkeed (first-person imperfective singular)
yíníikeed (duoplural first-person imperfective)
deíníikeed (first-person imperfective plural)
yíníkeed (imperfective second-person singular)
yínóhkeed (duoplural imperfective second-person)
deínóhkeed (imperfective plural second-person)
yókeed (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dayókeed (imperfective plural third-person)
jókeed (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dajókeed (fourth-person imperfective plural)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -ó- (“directed at”, combining form of yíní- in the 3rd person) + -∅- (classifier) + -keed (imperfective stem of root -KID, “to ask”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-keed</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KID</i>


hadilchą́ą́ʼ

hadishchą́ą́ʼ (first-person imperfective singular)
hadiilchą́ą́ʼ (duoplural first-person imperfective)
hadadiilchą́ą́ʼ (first-person imperfective plural)
hadílchą́ą́ʼ (imperfective second-person singular)
hadołchą́ą́ʼ (duoplural imperfective second-person)
hadadołchą́ą́ʼ (imperfective plural second-person)
hadilchą́ą́ʼ (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
hadadilchą́ą́ʼ (imperfective plural third-person)
hazhdilchą́ą́ʼ (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
hadazhdilchą́ą́ʼ (fourth-person imperfective plural)

ha- (thematic) + -di- (“sensory”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -chą́ą́ʼ (repetitive stem of root -CHĄ́Ą́ʼ, “to smell”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-chą́ą́ʼ</i>

it sniffs for something (in an effort to find it)


niilkʼoł

niishkʼoł (first-person imperfective singular)
niilkʼoł (duoplural first-person imperfective)
daniilkʼoł (first-person imperfective plural)
niilkʼoł (imperfective second-person singular)
noołkʼoł (duoplural imperfective second-person)
danoołkʼoł (imperfective plural second-person)
niilkʼoł (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
daniilkʼoł (imperfective plural third-person)
jiniilkʼoł (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhniilkʼoł (fourth-person imperfective plural)

ni- (thematic) + -yi- (semelfactive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -kʼoł (semelfactive imperfective stem of root -KʼOL, “to undulate, to move as a wave”).
Compare niilchʼił (“to blink one time”) from -CHʼIL for a similar relationship between "curling" and "blinking".

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kʼoł</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KʼOL</i>

nv-link-to-root

he/she is blinking his/her eyes (one time)


-YĮ́Į́ʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɣ̇en (“to melt, to thaw”).


-YĮ́Į́ʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɣʸikʸ ~ *ɣʸitšʼʷ (“to breathe, to rest”), later confused with Proto-Athabaskan *ɣ̇en (“to melt, to thaw”).
Cognate with the root -DZÍÍʼ (“to breathe”), which can ultimately be analyzed as -d- (classifier) + -YÍÍʼ (?), and with -YIH (“to pant”). Compare also Navajo ayih (“breath”).

*ɣʸikʸ ~ *ɣʸitšʼʷ


yiniłkʼah

nishkʼah (first-person imperfective singular)
niilkʼah (duoplural first-person imperfective)
daniilkʼah (first-person imperfective plural)
níłkʼah (imperfective second-person singular)
nołkʼah (duoplural imperfective second-person)
danołkʼah (imperfective plural second-person)
yiniłkʼah (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
deiniłkʼah (imperfective plural third-person)
jiniłkʼah (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhniłkʼah (fourth-person imperfective plural)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -ni- (“round shape”) + -∅- (classifier) + -∅- (classifier) + -kʼah (conclusive imperfective stem of root -KʼAII, “to be fat”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kʼah</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KʼAII</i>


nahidiłhį́į́h

nahidiłhį́į́h (imperfective singular third-person)
nahideesxį́į́ʼ (perfective singular third-person)

na- (“downward”) + -hi- (seriative) + -di- (“fire”) + -ł- (classifier) + -yį́į́h (imperfective stem of root -YĮ́Į́ʼ, “to melt”)

nv-prefixes

Akʼah diltłiʼí nahidiłhį́į́h.


akʼah diltłiʼí

Literally, burning grease. From akʼah (“fat, grease”) + diltłiʼ (“it is burning”) + -í (nominalizer)


hodiltłiʼ

ho- (“space, area, things”) + -di- (“fire”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -tłiʼ (neuter imperfective stem of root -TŁAH, “to burn”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tłiʼ</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TŁAH</i>

the area is on fire, is burning (a forest)


ayóóʼáyóʼní

ayóo (“very”) + ʼá- (“thus”) + -y- (3rd person object prefix) + -ó- (“directed at”, combining form of yíní- in the 3rd person) + -d- (classifier) + -ní (neuter imperfective stem of root -NIID, “to desire, to love”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ní</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-NIID</i>


-TŁAH

From Proto-Athabaskan *tłɑx̣d (“to jump up, to move quickly, to blaze up”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna tiltlaat (“single subject moves quickly, runs”), diltlet (“it caught on fire”).
Occurs in Navajo in bases related to burning, and also in a few bases of disparate meanings in relation with nervosity and heightened feelings, some with unusual prefix compounds, listed below without further grouping.

cog

to burn, to blaze up, to catch fire
 2. to be agitated, hysterical, angry


-TŁAH

Possibly cognate with -TŁAH (“to jump up, to burn”) above. Compare with interjection in Ahtna ostla! (“stop it!”).


-TŁAH

From Proto-Athabaskan *tłɑɣ̇ (“to rub oil, to grease”). Perhaps related to -TŁÉÉʼ, classificatory root for mushy matter.
Cognate root found in Ahtna ełtlagh (“I'm rubbing it with oil”).


ńʼdíłhį́į́h

ńʼdíshhį́į́h (first-person singular)
ńʼdiilyį́į́h (duoplural first-person)
ńdaʼdíłhį́į́h (first-person plural)
ńʼdíłhį́į́h (second-person singular)
ńʼdołhį́į́h (duoplural second-person)
ńdaʼdíłhį́į́h (plural second-person)
ńʼdíłhį́į́h (duoplural singular third-person)
ńdaʼdíłhį́į́h (plural third-person)
ńʼjidíłhį́į́h (duoplural fourth-person singular)
ńdaʼjidíłhį́į́h (fourth-person plural)
ńʼdííłhį́į́ʼ (first-person perfective singular)
ńʼdiilyį́į́ʼ (duoplural first-person perfective)
ńdaʼdiilyį́į́ʼ (first-person perfective plural)
ńʼdííníłhį́į́ʼ (perfective second-person singular)
ńʼdoołhį́į́ʼ (duoplural perfective second-person)
ńdaʼdoołhį́į́ʼ (perfective plural second-person)
ńʼdííłhį́į́ʼ (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
ńdaʼdííłhį́į́ʼ (perfective plural third-person)
ńʼjidííłhį́į́ʼ (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
ńdaʼjidííłhį́į́ʼ (fourth-person perfective plural)

ná- (“back”, reversionary) + -ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + -di- (“fire”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier, causative) + -yį́į́h (imperfective stem of root -YĮ́Į́ʼ, “to melt”)

nv-prefixes

Niwooʼ biiʼ ńʼdíłhį́į́h.

He fills your tooth (lit. He melts something back into your tooth).


yiyiiłchįh

yiishchįh (first-person imperfective singular)
yiilchįh (duoplural first-person imperfective)
deiilchįh (first-person imperfective plural)
yiiłchįh (imperfective second-person singular)
woołchįh (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daoołchįh (imperfective plural second-person)
yiyiiłchįh (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dayiiłchįh (imperfective plural third-person)
jiiłchįh (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dajiiłchįh (fourth-person imperfective plural)
shéłchįh (first-person perfective singular)
shiilchįh (duoplural first-person perfective)
dashiilchįh (first-person perfective plural)
shíníłchįh (perfective second-person singular)
shoołchįh (duoplural perfective second-person)
dashoołchįh (perfective plural second-person)
yishchįh (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
deishchįh (perfective plural third-person)
jishchįh (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dajishchįh (fourth-person perfective plural)
deeshchįh (first-person future singular)
diilchįh (duoplural first-person future)
dadiilchįh (first-person future plural)
dííłchįh (future second-person singular)
doołchįh (duoplural future second-person)
dadoołchįh (future plural second-person)
yidoołchįh (duoplural future singular third-person)
deidoołchįh (future plural third-person)
jidoołchįh (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
dazhdoołchįh (fourth-person future plural)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -yi- (semelfactive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier) + -chįh (semelfactive stem of root -CHĄ́Ą́ʼ, “to smell”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-chįh</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-CHĄ́Ą́ʼ</i>


náhályį́į́h

náhályį́į́h (imperfective singular third-person)
náhoolyį́į́ʼ (perfective singular third-person)

ná- (“back”, reversionary) + -ho- (“space, area, things”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + yį́į́h (imperfective stem of root -YĮ́Į́ʼ, “to melt”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">yį́į́h</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-YĮ́Į́ʼ</i>

the area thaws, there is a thaw (as snow on the ground)


taaʼ

From tó (“water”) + -iiʼ (“inside of it”).


kééʼ

From ké (“feet, shoes”) + -iiʼ (“inside of it”).


łeeʼ

From łeezh (“ground, soil”) + -iiʼ (“inside of it”).


-CHʼI

From Proto-Athabaskan *tšʼʷəy ~ *tšʼʷi (“wind blows”).

inh

*tšʼʷəy ~ *tšʼʷi


yíchʼííh

yíchʼííh (imperfective singular third-person)
níchʼi (perfective singular third-person)

y- (peg element) + -◌́- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -chʼííh (imperfective stem of root -CHʼI, “wind blows”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-chʼííh</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-CHʼI</i>


atsʼiil

sitsʼiil (first-person singular)
nihitsʼiil (duoplural first-person)
danihitsʼiil (first-person plural)
nitsʼiil (second-person singular)
nihitsʼiil (duoplural second-person)
danihitsʼiil (plural second-person)
bitsʼiil (third-person)
yitsʼiil (fourth-person)
hatsʼiil (fourth-person)
atsʼiil (indefinite)

From the root -TSʼIL (“to shatter, break”).


yaskááʼ

From yas (“snow”) + -kááʼ (“on the surface”).


yiził

y- (peg element) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -ził (progressive stem of root -ZID, “a month passes”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ził</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ZID</i>

a month is passing by, a lunation is in progress


naalgeed

naalgeed (imperfective plural singular third-person)
ndaalgeed (distributive imperfective plural third-person)
naasgeed (perfective plural singular third-person)
ndaasgeed (distributive perfective plural third-person)
ndoolgoł (future plural singular third-person)
ndadoolgoł (distributive future plural third-person)

na- (atelic, circuital) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -geed (continuative imperfective stem of root -GEED, “to buck”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-geed</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-GEED</i>

it is bucking around, is going around bucking (as a horse)


asbáala

Borrowed from Spanish espadas (“swords”). Spanish (and Italian) cards traditionally had chalices, gold coins, swords, and batons.


báasdos

Borrowed from Spanish bastos (“batons”). Spanish (and Italian) cards traditionally had chalices, gold coins, swords, and batons.


góobas

Borrowed from Spanish copas (“chalices”). Spanish (and Italian) cards traditionally had chalices, gold coins, swords, and batons.


adikaʼ

adishkaʼ (first-person imperfective singular)
adiikaʼ (duoplural first-person imperfective)
daʼdiikaʼ (first-person imperfective plural)
adíkaʼ (imperfective second-person singular)
adohkaʼ (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daʼdohkaʼ (imperfective plural second-person)
adikaʼ (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
daʼdikaʼ (imperfective plural third-person)
azhdikaʼ (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhʼdikaʼ (fourth-person imperfective plural)
adííkaad (first-person perfective singular)
adiikaad (duoplural first-person perfective)
daʼdiikaad (first-person perfective plural)
adííníkaad (perfective second-person singular)
adookaad (duoplural perfective second-person)
daʼdookaad (perfective plural second-person)
adííkaad (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
daʼdííkaad (perfective plural third-person)
azhdííkaad (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dazhʼdííkaad (fourth-person perfective plural)

ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + -di- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -kaʼ (repetitive imperfective stem of root -KAAD, “flatness moves”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kaʼ</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KAAD</i>


-KAAD

From Proto-Athabaskan *qa̓tʼ (“to spread out, fall scattered, collapse, slap, clap”).
Found in Navajo in a wide range of themes related to the moving or spreading of "flatness", including classificatory root for the moving / falling or propelling of objects of the PlO2 (profusion) or OC (open container) classes, the herding of sheep over a surface, or the slapping of hands.

inh

PlO2 (as seeds) or OC (as a bucket and its content) falls, spills, scatters
 2. to herdsheep, to drive sheep
 3. to slap, to clap hands
 4. flatness moves(other minor themes)


dikad

di- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -kad (neuter imperfective stem of root -KAAD, “flatness moves or stands”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kad</i>


-ZID

From Proto-Athabaskan *zəd (“a single object undergoes cyclical process”). Found across all Athabaskan languages in a wide range of disparate themes.

inh

a monthpasses
 2. to gather awareness: to wake up, to inspect
 3. to treat with respect, handle carefully


sizid

sézid (first-person perfective singular)
siidzid (duoplural first-person perfective)
dasiidzid (first-person perfective plural)
sínízid (perfective second-person singular)
soozid (duoplural perfective second-person)
dasoozid (perfective plural second-person)
sizid (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
daazid (perfective plural third-person)
jizid (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dajizid (fourth-person perfective plural)

si- (modal) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -zid (neuter perfective stem of root -ZID, “to handle carefully”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-zid</i>

Shaa sínízid doo.

(with baa) he/she treats him/her/it with respect, spares him/her/it

baa sézidgo


yiyiitsah

yiistsah (first-person imperfective singular)
yiitsah (duoplural first-person imperfective)
deiitsah (first-person imperfective plural)
yiitsah (imperfective second-person singular)
woohtsah (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daoohtsah (imperfective plural second-person)
yiyiitsah (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dayiitsah (imperfective plural third-person)
jiitsah (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dajiitsah (fourth-person imperfective plural)
sétsah (first-person perfective singular)
siitsah (duoplural first-person perfective)
dasiitsah (first-person perfective plural)
sínítsah (perfective second-person singular)
sootsah (duoplural perfective second-person)
dasootsah (perfective plural second-person)
yiztsah (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
deiztsah (perfective plural third-person)
jiztsah (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dajiztsah (fourth-person perfective plural)
deestsah (first-person future singular)
diitsah (duoplural first-person future)
dadiitsah (first-person future plural)
díítsah (future second-person singular)
doohtsah (duoplural future second-person)
dadoohtsah (future plural second-person)
yidootsah (duoplural future singular third-person)
deidootsah (future plural third-person)
jidootsah (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
dazhdootsah (fourth-person future plural)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -yi- (semelfactive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -tsah (semelfactive stem of root -TSAʼ, “to grasp with teeth”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tsah</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TSAʼ</i>

Náshdóítsoh léiʼ dibé yázhí yiztsahgo yił dah diilwod!

A lion grabbed a lamb with its mouth and ran off!

it grasps it, clamps down on it (with teeth, beak, pliers)


-TSAʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *tsαɢ (“to act with teeth by biting”).
In Navajo this root often occurs with the emphatic infix -x-.
It is related to the noun atsá (“eagle”).

inh

to bite down, to grasp (with teeth or beak), to clench


yiłtsééh

yiłtsééh (imperfective singular third-person)
yíłtsaʼ (perfective singular third-person)
yidoołtsah (future singular third-person)

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier) + -tsééh (imperfective stem of root -TSAʼ, “to grasp with teeth”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tsééh</i>

Yiih yiłtsééh.

Taah yiłtsééh.

it carries it clamped in teeth or beak to somewhere


bááh łikaní

From bááh (“bread”) + łikan (“it is sweet”) + -í (nominalizer).


dikʼą́

di- (adjectival) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -kʼą́ (neuter imperfective stem of root -KʼĄĄD, “to tilt, slant”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kʼą́</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KʼĄĄD</i>

Bááh łikaní dikʼą́ągo.

tsinsitą́ dikʼą́

adéesʼeez dikʼą́


-KʼĄĄD

From Proto-Athabaskan *qʼanʸ (“slant, slope”).


yikęęs

yikęęs (imperfective singular third-person)
yíkę́ę́z (perfective singular third-person)

y- (peg element) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -kęęs (imperfective stem of root -KĘ́Ę́Z, “a slender stiff object moves”)

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-kęęs</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-KĘ́Ę́Z</i>

nv-link-to-root

Yiih yikęęs.

Łeeh yikęęs.

Taah yíkę́ę́z.

it flies through the air, it falls to somewhere (a stick-like object as a pencil)


ńdízííd

ńdízííd (imperfective singular third-person)
ńdeezid (perfective singular third-person)
ńdidooził (future singular third-person)

ná- (“back”, reversionary) + -di- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -zííd (imperfective stem of root -ZID, “month passes”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-zííd</i>


hoʼdizhchį́įgi

Literally the place where someone was born. From ho- (“space, area, things”) + biʼdizhchį́ (“he/she was born”) + -gi (“at”)


atsiin

sitsiin (first-person singular)
nihitsiin (duoplural first-person)
danihitsiin (first-person plural)
nitsiin (second-person singular)
nihitsiin (duoplural second-person)
danihitsiin (plural second-person)
bitsiin (third-person)
yitsiin (fourth-person)
hatsiin (fourth-person)
atsiin (indefinite)

tsin bitsiin

bee atsidí bitsiin


díízhíní

From díí (“this”) + shį́ (“summer”) + -í (nominalizer).


-ZHĮ́

From Proto-Athabaskan *šen (“summer”).
In Navajo, the initial fricative *š of Proto-Athabaskan didn't sonorize to zh, so in verbal stems and in the nominal stem shį́ (“summer”) the initial voiceless fricative sh is maintained (with the exception of the adverbial derivative díízhíní (“this summer”), which shows a later sonorization). However, for consistency, the stem set of this root is presented with an analogical voiced initial zh. See also -HAI (“winter”) for a similar situation.


atsʼáozʼaʼ

ńdíshchííʼ bitsʼáozʼaʼ


dííghaaí

From díí (“this”) + hai (“winter”) + -í (nominalizer).


-HAI

From Proto-Athabaskan *x̣aɣʸ (“winter”).
In Navajo, the initial fricative *x̣ of Proto-Athabaskan didn't sonorize to gh, so in verbal stems and in the nominal stem hai (“winter”) the initial voiceless fricative h is maintained (with the exception of the adverbial derivative díí ghaaí or dííghaaí (“this winter”), which shows a later sonorization). See also -ZHĮ́ (“summer”) for a similar situation.


-DĄĄD

From Proto-Athabaskan *danʸ (“spring”).
The noun daan (“spring, springtime”) is derived from this root.


-TSʼIL

From Proto-Athabaskan *kʸʼəl (“to rip, tear, split”).
The noun atsʼiil (“fragment”) is derived from this root.


eʼeʼáád

eʼeshʼáád (first-person imperfective singular)
iʼiitʼáád (duoplural first-person imperfective)
adaʼiitʼáád (first-person imperfective plural)
iʼíʼáád (imperfective second-person singular)
oʼohʼáád (duoplural imperfective second-person)
adaʼohʼáád (imperfective plural second-person)
eʼeʼáád (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
adaʼaʼáád (imperfective plural third-person)
iʼjiʼáád (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
adaʼjiʼáád (fourth-person imperfective plural)
iʼííʼah (first-person perfective singular)
iʼiitʼah (duoplural first-person perfective)
adaʼiitʼah (first-person perfective plural)
iʼííníʼah (perfective second-person singular)
oʼooʼah (duoplural perfective second-person)
adaʼooʼah (perfective plural second-person)
iʼííʼah (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
adaʼazʼah (perfective plural third-person)
iʼjííʼah (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
adaʼjizʼah (fourth-person perfective plural)
iʼdeeshʼał (first-person future singular)
iʼdiitʼał (duoplural first-person future)
adaʼdiitʼał (first-person future plural)
iʼdííʼał (future second-person singular)
iʼdoohʼał (duoplural future second-person)
adaʼdoohʼał (future plural second-person)
iʼdooʼał (duoplural future singular third-person)
adaʼdooʼał (future plural third-person)
izhʼdooʼał (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
adazhʼdooʼał (fourth-person future plural)

ʼa- (“away”) + -ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -ʼáád (imperfective stem of root -ʼAH, “to propel a flat flexible object”), lit. “to toss (some paper) away”

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ʼáád</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ʼAH</i>

nv-link-to-root

Iʼííʼah!

Iʼdííʼał!

he/she is casting a ballot, he/she is voting


łeʼ

Baa łeʼ nisin.

Iʼm jealous (lit., feel jealousy) about him/her.

Baa łeʼ niisįįh.

łeʼ hasin

there is jealousy; jealousy has been caused.

łeʼ hasįįh

Hastiin beʼasdzą́ą́ yaa łeʼ nízin.


łoh

łoh . (canonical)
biloh (possessed-form)
shiloh (first-person singular)
nihiloh (duoplural first-person)
danihiloh (first-person plural)
niloh (second-person singular)
nihiloh (duoplural second-person)
danihiloh (plural second-person)
biloh (third-person)
yiloh (fourth-person)
haloh (fourth-person)
aloh (indefinite)

From the root -LOʼ (“to act with a rope”).


béésh adishahí

béésh (“metal”) + adishah (“it snags”) + -í (“nominalizer”)


béésh daʼahólzhaʼí

béésh (“metal”) + da- (plural marker) + ahólzhaʼ (“it is hooked one to another”) + -í (“nominalizer”)

béésh ahólzhaʼí yee dah yiyiiztłʼǫ́


dibah

di- (adjectival) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -bah (neuter imperfective stem of root -BAH, “to be powdery”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-bah</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-BAH</i>

abeʼ dibahí

akʼáán dibahí

gohwééh dibahí

yas dibahí

dibahgo íílééh


adishah

ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + -di- (thematic) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier) + -zhah (iterative stem of root -ZHAʼ, “to be curved”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-zhah</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ZHAʼ</i>

it snags, it is snaggy, hooked, sharp-pointed


dahtooʼ

dew (moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc.)


oodláanii

oodlą́ (“he believes”) + -ii (nominalizer)


ałkʼíniilgizh

jerky (thin strips of meat dried and preserved by exposure to the sun)


joobaʼ

jiinishbaʼ (first-person imperfective singular)
jooshbaʼ (first-person imperfective singular)
jiiniibaʼ (duoplural first-person imperfective)
dajiiniibaʼ (first-person imperfective plural)
jiiníbaʼ (imperfective second-person singular)
jiinohbaʼ (duoplural imperfective second-person)
dajiinohbaʼ (imperfective plural second-person)
joobaʼ (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
dajoobaʼ (imperfective plural third-person)
jijoobaʼ (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dajijoobaʼ (fourth-person imperfective plural)

ji- (“emotion”) + -oo- (meaning unclear, combining form of yini- in the 3rd person) + -∅- (classifier) + -baʼ (neuter imperfective stem of root -BAʼ, “to be kind”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-baʼ</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-BAʼ</i>

Tązhii éí joobaʼ.

A turkey is caring, compassionate, and loving.

Chʼiyáán áádóó ééʼ bee naa jooshbaʼ doo.

I will help you out with food and clothes

he/she/it is kind, generous, helpful, caring, compassionate, loving


joobaʼ

Bijoobaʼ éí dahináanii índa daneeznáanii doo yóóʼ iidiʼaah da.

He had not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. (Ruth 2:20)


agháhwiizídí

laxative (medicine that loosens the bowels)


naʼaztseed

massacre (murder of a large number of people)


-TEEL

From Proto-Athabaskan *te̓l (“to be wide, broad”).

inh

to be wide, broad
 2. to range, to roam (as a herd, a tribe)


iinééʼ

shiinééʼ (first-person singular)
nihiinééʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihiinééʼ (first-person plural)
niinééʼ (second-person singular)
nihiinééʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihiinééʼ (plural second-person)
biinééʼ (third-person)
yiinééʼ (fourth-person)
hwiinééʼ (fourth-person)


hanííbą́ą́z

full moon (phase of moon when in opposition to the sun)


honishgish

From the root -GIZH (“make a motion with a sticklike object”).


oodlą́

ooshdlą́ (first-person imperfective singular)
iiniidlą́ (duoplural first-person imperfective)
daʼiiniidlą́ (first-person imperfective plural)
iinídlą́ (imperfective second-person singular)
iinohdlą́ (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daʼiinohdlą́ (imperfective plural second-person)
oodlą́ (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
daʼoodlą́ (imperfective plural third-person)
ajoodlą́ (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
daʼjoodlą́ (fourth-person imperfective plural)

ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + -oo- (meaning unclear, combining form of yini- in the 3rd person) + -d- (classifier) + -lą́ (neuter imperfective stem of root -LĄĄD, “to believe”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-lą́</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-LĄĄD</i>


-GIZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɢəž (“to act with a stick, to be forked”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna delggez (“it is forked”), gges (“skewer”).
Found in Navajo in a number of disparate themes related to cutting, to forked or gapped shape, to seeping/spreading, and to acting with a stick or gestures.
Also found in a base related to flashing, probably a corruption of the root -GĘZH, of similar meaning (see -KĘ́Ę́Z/-KÉÉZ for a similar situation).

inh

to cut, to incise; to be forked, to have a gap
 2. to soak, to seep, to spread
 3. to act with a stick or gestures
 4. to flash


Níłchʼi Bidaʼiiníziinii Binantʼaʼí

níłchʼi (“spirit”) + da- (plural marker) + biʼiiníziinii (“demon, evil”) + binantʼaʼí (“their king”)


iiníziin

shiiníziin (first-person singular)
nihiiníziin (duoplural first-person)
danihiiníziin (first-person plural)
niiníziin (second-person singular)
nihiiníziin (duoplural second-person)
danihiiníziin (plural second-person)
biiníziin (third-person)
yiiníziin (fourth-person)
hwiiníziin (fourth-person)


-KʼAII

From Proto-Athabaskan *qʼ'a̓ɣ̇ (“fat, to be fat”).
Cognate root found in Ahtna lkʼaax (“it is fat”).


iidiʼaah

adishʼaah (first-person imperfective singular)
adiitʼaah (duoplural first-person imperfective)
adadiitʼaah (first-person imperfective plural)
adíʼaah (imperfective second-person singular)
adohʼaah (duoplural imperfective second-person)
adadohʼaah (imperfective plural second-person)
iidiʼaah (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
adeidiʼaah (imperfective plural third-person)
azhdiʼaah (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
adazhdiʼaah (fourth-person imperfective plural)
adííʼą́ (first-person perfective singular)
adiitʼą́ (duoplural first-person perfective)
adadeetʼą́ (first-person perfective plural)
adííníʼą́ (perfective second-person singular)
adooʼą́ (duoplural perfective second-person)
adasidooʼą́ (perfective plural second-person)
iidííʼą́ (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
adeideezʼą́ (perfective plural third-person)
azhdííʼą́ (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
adazhdeezʼą́ (fourth-person perfective plural)
adideeshʼááł (first-person future singular)
adidiitʼááł (duoplural first-person future)
adadidiitʼááł (first-person future plural)
adidííʼááł (future second-person singular)
adidoohʼááł (duoplural future second-person)
adadidoohʼááł (future plural second-person)
iididooʼááł (duoplural future singular third-person)
adeididooʼááł (future plural third-person)
azhdidooʼááł (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
adazhdidooʼááł (fourth-person future plural)

ʼa- (“away”) + -y- (3rd person object prefix) + -di- (“relinquish”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -ʼááh (imperfective stem of root -ʼĄ́, “to handle a solid roundish object”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ʼááh</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ʼĄ́</i>

nv-link-to-root

Nihá yóóʼ iididooʼááł.

Yóóʼ adashideezʼą́.

(with yóóʼ) he/she forsakes him/her/it, forgives him/her/it, gives up on it


Záágweb

Zagreb (the capital and largest city of Croatia)


biib

(onomatopoeia) beep, the characteristic sound made by the horn of a car


hał

club (weapon used by Naayééʼ Neizghání to kill Fear)


jóósh

shijóózh (first-person singular)
nihijóózh (duoplural first-person)
danihijóózh (first-person plural)
nijóózh (second-person singular)
nihijóózh (duoplural second-person)
danihijóózh (plural second-person)
bijóózh (third-person)
yijóózh (fourth-person)
hajóózh (fourth-person)
ajóózh (indefinite)


adih

more, better, a lot, more than anticipated or thought (with verbs of doing)


gad diltáłii

alligator juniper, checkerbark juniper (Juniperus deppeana)


kétłoh

Compound of ké (“feet”) + -tłoh (“application”, usitative stem of root -TŁÉÉʼ, “to be wet”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tłoh</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TŁÉÉʼ</i>

tłʼééʼjí kétłoh

any of many different infusions (a ceremonial potion made from water and herbs. It is drunk by the patient and applied to the body, beginning from the feet.)


shééʼ

shizhééʼ (first-person singular)
nihizhééʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihizhééʼ (first-person plural)
nizhééʼ (second-person singular)
nihizhééʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihizhééʼ (plural second-person)
bizhééʼ (third-person)
yizhééʼ (fourth-person)
hazhééʼ (fourth-person)
azhééʼ (indefinite)


sitsʼil

si- (modal) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -tsʼil (neuter perfective stem of root -TSʼIL, “to shatter”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tsʼil</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TSʼIL</i>


dajółdonígíí

From dajółdon (“people shoot at it multiple times”, from -DON, “to explode”) + -ígíí (nominalizer).


-GIZ

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɢətsʼ (“twist, wring”). Compare Carrier nasguz (“wash wet linen”) and Tanacross nachʼegétth (“wash (especially clothes)”).
In Navajo the momentaneous imperfective stem is attested in the doublet: -géés / -gíís. This root is related with -GEEZ (“to be twisted, crooked”).


átágoʼ

shítágoʼ (first-person singular)
nihítágoʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihítágoʼ (first-person plural)
nítágoʼ (second-person singular)
nihítágoʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihítágoʼ (plural second-person)
bítágoʼ (third-person)
yítágoʼ (fourth-person)
hátágoʼ (fourth-person)
átágoʼ (indefinite)

From átááʼ (“forehead”) + goʼ (neuter perfective stem of root -GOʼ, “to flow in the air”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">goʼ</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-GOʼ</i>


Halchíítah

From halchííʼ (“there is a red area”) + -tah (“among”). Literally, among the red areas.


-CHIŁ

to glitter, to glisten (like the sunlight, a jewel or a pearl)


bináałii

From binááł (“s/he witnesses”) + -ii (nominalizer). Ultimately from the quasi-verb root -NÁÁŁ (“to witness, be in one's presence”).


-TSʼĮĮL

In today's Navajo this root is obsolete and appears to be related to -TSʼÍLÍ (“to be clear”).


-NÁÁŁ

From Proto-Athabaskan *-nαɣ̇αɬ (“be in one's presence”). Compare also Navajo anááʼ (“eye”).
This quasi-verb root is alway bounded with possessive prefixes indicating the subject, like in the phrase shinááł, meaning “I witness” (literally, “it is in my presence”).

inh

to witness, to watch, to be in one's presence


bighájíchiiʼ

b- (3rd person indirect object prefix) + -ghá- (“through”) + -dzi- (“away into distance”) + -◌́- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -chiiʼ (neuter perfective stem of root -CHIIʼ, “to be red”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-chiiʼ</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-CHIIʼ</i>

it is translucent red (as a glass of red wine)


bighádzígai

b- (3rd person indirect object prefix) + -ghá- (“through”) + -dzi- (“away into distance”) + -◌́- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -gai (neuter perfective stem of root -GAII, “to be white”).

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-gai</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-GAII</i>

it is translucent white (as a thin cloud)


bighádzíbá

b- (3rd person indirect object prefix) + -ghá- (“through”) + -dzi- (“away into distance”) + -◌́- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -bá (neuter perfective stem of root -BAʼ, “to be gray”).

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-bá</i>

it is translucent gray, muddy (as dirty water)


bighádzideetłʼizh

b- (3rd person indirect object prefix) + -ghá- (“through”) + -dzi- (“away into distance”) + -di- (“color”) + -ee- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -tłʼizh (neuter perfective stem of root -TŁʼIIZH, “to be blue, green”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tłʼizh</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TŁʼIIZH</i>

it is translucent blue, green (as a blue ink)


bighádzítso

b- (3rd person indirect object prefix) + -ghá- (“through”) + -dzi- (“away into distance”) + -◌́- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -tso (neuter perfective stem of root -TSOII, “to be yellow”).

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tso</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TSOII</i>

it is translucent yellow (as a piece of amber)


naalnishí

From naalnish (“s/he works”) + -í (nominalizer).


tsinlátah

Compound of tsin (“tree”) + álátah (“tip, summit”).


-TʼÉ

Uncertain. Possibly from Proto-Athabaskan *tʼe (“roast, cook”).


dą́ą́ʼ

dáʼ- (in-compounds)
dáʼá- (in-compounds)

Possibly from the root -YĄ́Ą́ʼ (“to eat”).


dáʼákʼeh

Compound of dą́ą́ʼ (“food, corn”) + -kʼeh (“place”).


daʼnílʼínígíí

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daʼnílʼínígíí

From da- (plural) + ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + nílʼį́ (“it is looked at”), passive form of yiníłʼį́ (“he looks at it”) + -n- (ligature) + -ígíí (nominalizer).


akaz

sikaz (first-person singular)
nihikaz (duoplural first-person)
danihikaz (first-person plural)
nikaz (second-person singular)
nihikaz (duoplural second-person)
danihikaz (plural second-person)
bikaz (third-person)
yikaz (fourth-person)
hakaz (fourth-person)
akaz (indefinite)


adichʼą́ą́h

adishchʼą́ą́h (first-person imperfective singular)
adiichʼą́ą́h (duoplural first-person imperfective)
daʼdiichʼą́ą́h (first-person imperfective plural)
adíchʼą́ą́h (imperfective second-person singular)
adohchʼą́ą́h (duoplural imperfective second-person)
daʼdohchʼą́ą́h (imperfective plural second-person)
adichʼą́ą́h (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
daʼdichʼą́ą́h (imperfective plural third-person)
azhdichʼą́ą́h (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
dazhʼdichʼą́ą́h (fourth-person imperfective plural)
adéchʼąąʼ (first-person perfective singular)
adeechʼąąʼ (duoplural first-person perfective)
daʼdeechʼąąʼ (first-person perfective plural)
adíníchʼąąʼ (perfective second-person singular)
adishoochʼąąʼ (duoplural perfective second-person)
dadiʼshoochʼąąʼ (perfective plural second-person)
adeezhchʼąąʼ (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
daʼdeezhchʼąąʼ (perfective plural third-person)
azhdeezhchʼąąʼ (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
dazhʼdeezhchʼąąʼ (fourth-person perfective plural)
adideeshchʼąh (first-person future singular)
adidiichʼąh (duoplural first-person future)
dadiʼdiichʼąh (first-person future plural)
adidííchʼąh (future second-person singular)
adidoohchʼąh (duoplural future second-person)
dadiʼdoohchʼąh (future plural second-person)
adidoochʼąh (duoplural future singular third-person)
dadiʼdoochʼąh (future plural third-person)
azhdidoochʼąh (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
dadizhʼdoochʼąh (fourth-person future plural)

ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + -di- (inceptive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -chʼą́ą́h (momentaneous imperfective stem of root -CHʼĄĄʼ, “to decorate”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-chʼą́ą́h</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-CHʼĄĄʼ</i>

to start to make a design, a drawing, a decoration


-CHʼĮ́Į́DÍ

Probably derived from the root -CHʼĮ́Į́D (“to be reduced”) + -í (nominalizer). Cognates found in Carrier ntsʼid (“be few”) and Hupa -chʼid (“die, become exhausted”).


daʼnílʼį́

From da- pl + ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + nílʼį́ (“it is looked at”), passive form of yiníłʼį́ (“he looks at it”). Literally, things are looked at.


-CHʼĮ́Į́D

This root only occurs in a neuter perfective base which serves as an enclitic word attached to a noun stem. The original meaning of this root appears to be reduced or abbreviated, but nowadays it refers to the hoarseness and stubbiness of ears and horns of animals, and to the change of voice during adolescence. Probably cognate with -CHʼĮ́Į́DÍ (“to be few”).


-CHʼĮ́Į́D

From Proto-Athabaskan *čʼʷenʸ (“be jealous”). It only occurs in neuter imperfective bases.


atłʼááh

shitłʼááh (first-person singular)
nihitłʼááh (duoplural first-person)
danihitłʼááh (first-person plural)
nitłʼááh (second-person singular)
nihitłʼááh (duoplural second-person)
danihitłʼááh (plural second-person)
bitłʼááh (third-person)
yitłʼááh (fourth-person)
hatłʼááh (fourth-person)
atłʼááh (indefinite)


tódááʼ

Compound of tó (“water”) + adááʼ (“edge, lip”).


zábąąh bee yichxíhí

From zábąąh (“lips”) + bee (“with it”) + yichííh (“s/he putting rouge on it”) + -í (nominalizer) + -x- (emphatic infix).


adághaaʼ

shidághaaʼ (first-person singular)
nihidághaaʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihidághaaʼ (first-person plural)
nidághaaʼ (second-person singular)
nihidághaaʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihidághaaʼ (plural second-person)
bidághaaʼ (third-person)
yidághaaʼ (fourth-person)
hadághaaʼ (fourth-person)
adághaaʼ (indefinite)

Compound of adaaʼ (“lips”) + aghaaʼ (“fur, hair”).


azábąąh

sizábąąh (first-person singular)
nihizábąąh (duoplural first-person)
danihizábąąh (first-person plural)
nizábąąh (second-person singular)
nihizábąąh (duoplural second-person)
danihizábąąh (plural second-person)
bizábąąh (third-person)
yizábąąh (fourth-person)
hazábąąh (fourth-person)
azábąąh (indefinite)

/ʔɑ̀zɑ́pɑ̃̀ːx/

Compound of azééʼ (“mouth”) + bąąh (“beside it”).


naaldzil

naasdzil (first-person imperfective singular)
neiildzil (duoplural first-person imperfective)
ndeiildzil (first-person imperfective plural)
nanildzil (imperfective second-person singular)
naałdzil (duoplural imperfective second-person)
ndaałdzil (imperfective plural second-person)
naaldzil (duoplural imperfective singular third-person)
ndaaldzil (imperfective plural third-person)
njildzil (duoplural fourth-person imperfective singular)
ndajildzil (fourth-person imperfective plural)
nisisdzil (first-person perfective singular)
nisiildzil (duoplural first-person perfective)
ndasiildzil (first-person perfective plural)
nisíníldzil (perfective second-person singular)
nisoołdzil (duoplural perfective second-person)
ndasoołdzil (perfective plural second-person)
naasdzil (duoplural perfective singular third-person)
ndaasdzil (perfective plural third-person)
njisdzil (duoplural fourth-person perfective singular)
ndajisdzil (fourth-person perfective plural)
ndeesdził (first-person future singular)
ndiildził (duoplural first-person future)
ndadiildził (first-person future plural)
ndííldził (future second-person singular)
ndoołdził (duoplural future second-person)
ndadoołdził (future plural second-person)
ndooldził (duoplural future singular third-person)
ndadooldził (future plural third-person)
nizhdooldził (duoplural fourth-person future singular)
ndazhdooldził (fourth-person future plural)

na- (atelic, circuital) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -l- (classifier) + -dzil (continuative imperfective stem of root -DZIL, “to strain”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-dzil</i>

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-DZIL</i>

he/she/it strains, puts a continuous effort (as in pulling or lifting a heavy object)


azhą́

Azhą́ shibéeso hólǫ́ǫ ndi doo łaʼ naa deeshʼáał da.

Although I have money, I won't give you any.

despite the fact that
despite the fact that

even though, despite the fact that, notwithstanding, although


índída

then, and then, only then, at that time, only when


łeeshtah

From łeezh (“ground”) + -tah (“among”). Literally, among the dirt.


dziłeezh

Compound of dził (“mountain”) + łeezh (“soil”).

(synecdochically) herbs used in ceremonies found on mountains


ayaadááʼ

shiyaadááʼ (first-person singular)
nihiyaadááʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihiyaadááʼ (first-person plural)
niyaadááʼ (second-person singular)
nihiyaadááʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihiyaadááʼ (plural second-person)
biyaadááʼ (third-person)
yiyaadááʼ (fourth-person)
hayaadááʼ (fourth-person)
ayaadááʼ (indefinite)

From ayaa (“under it”) + adááʼ (“edge, lip”).


adááʼ

shidááʼ (first-person singular)
nihidááʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihidááʼ (first-person plural)
nidááʼ (second-person singular)
nihidááʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihidááʼ (plural second-person)
bidááʼ (third-person)
yidááʼ (fourth-person)
hadááʼ (fourth-person)
adááʼ (indefinite)

edge, rim, brink (of a rock or a canyon)


-ZÉÍ

From Proto-Athabaskan *saxʸ ~ *zay (“sand, to crumble”). Compare Navajo séí (“sand”).
Cognates found in Tanacross thaayh (“sand”) and also Tlingit xagw (“sand”).

inh

to crumble, be crumbly (as soft sandstone)


dizéí

di- (adjectival) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -zéí (neuter imperfective stem of root -ZÉÍ, “to crumble”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-zéí</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-ZÉÍ</i>


-TSĄ́Ą́ʼ

From Proto-Athabaskan *kʸan (“rain”). Possibly related to the root -TSĄĄD (“to be pregnant”).
Navajo níłtsą́ (“rain”) originates from this root. Other cognates are found in Ahtna caan (“rain”), Dena'ina kun (“rain”), Koyukon konh (“rain”) and Hupa kyangkyoh (“hailstorm”).


atsʼǫʼ

sitsʼǫʼ (first-person singular)
nihitsʼǫʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihitsʼǫʼ (first-person plural)
nitsʼǫʼ (second-person singular)
nihitsʼǫʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihitsʼǫʼ (plural second-person)
bitsʼǫʼ (third-person)
yitsʼǫʼ (fourth-person)
hatsʼǫʼ (fourth-person)
atsʼǫʼ (indefinite)


azahdił

Compound of azééʼ (“mouth”) + dił (“blood”).


anéʼédił

Compound of ánííʼ (“nose, nostrils”) + dił (“blood”).


anádił

Compound of anááʼ (“eye”) + dił (“blood”).


chʼíhonítʼiʼ

/tʃʔɪ́.hò.nɪ̃́.tʔɪ̀ʔ/

chʼí- (“out horizontally”) + -ho- (“space, area, things”) + -ní- (ni-perfective 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -tʼiʼ (neuter perfective stem of root -TʼIʼ, “a slender flexible object extends”).

nowrap

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-tʼiʼ</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="nv">-TʼIʼ</i>


chʼíhonítʼiʼ

/tʃʔɪ́.hò.nɪ̃́.tʔɪ̀ʔ/

(weaving) spirit line, spirit pathway (a woven line of contrasting color extending out from the center to the textile's edge which allows the weaver's spirit to exit the object, separating the weaver from the weaving and from any harmful thoughts that may come into contact with it as it is used or exhibited)


achʼííʼ bitsʼániʼnísą́

Achʼííʼ bitsʼániʼnísą́ ńtʼiʼ łóód silį́į́ʼ


The ogonek diacritic ⠨ and the letter ⠁ (a)


The ogonek diacritic ⠨ and the letter ⠷ (á)


The ogonek diacritic ⠨ and the letter ⠌ (í)


The ogonek diacritic ⠨ and the letter ⠊ (i)


The ogonek diacritic ⠨ and the letter ⠮ (é)


The ogonek diacritic ⠨ and the letter ⠬ (ó)


The ogonek diacritic ⠨ and the letter ⠕ (o)


naadįįtááʼ

From naadiin (“twenty”) + tááʼ (“three”).


ánítʼį́į́hii

head

ánítʼį́į́hii

From ánítʼį́į́h (“s/he practices sorcery”, from -TʼĮ́Į́H, “to practice witchcraft”) + -ii (nominalizer).


-GĄĄZH

Unknown. The underlying meaning is also obscure. According to Young and Morgan, it is related to the noun íígąsh (“semen”).


-TʼĮ́Į́H

Possibly a cognate with the root -ʼĮĮD (“to bark”), which in turn appears to be related to -ʼĮ́Į́ʼ (“to see, look”).
It only occurs in the neuter imperfective mode.

to practice witchcraft, be a witch or a wizard


-YÉÉʼ

to be dreadful, be terrifying, be menacing


chąąłtązhii

/t͡ʃʰɑ̃̀ːɬtʰɑ̃̀ʒìː/


tó díchʼííʼí

head

tó díchʼííʼí

tó díchʼííʼí

From tó (“water”) + díchʼííʼ (“it is bitter”, from -CHʼÍÍʼ, “to be hot, bitter”) + -í (nominalizer).


-WOZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *x̣əš (“thorn”). The noun hosh (“cactus”) comes from this root.


-WOZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɣ̇ətšʼ (“to tickle”).


áchį́į́shnííʼ

head

áchį́į́shnííʼ

shíchį́į́shnííʼ (first-person singular)
nihíchį́į́shnííʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihíchį́į́shnííʼ (first-person plural)
níchį́į́shnííʼ (second-person singular)
nihíchį́į́shnííʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihíchį́į́shnííʼ (plural second-person)
bíchį́į́shnííʼ (third-person)
yíchį́į́shnííʼ (fourth-person)
háchį́į́shnííʼ (fourth-person)
áchį́į́shnííʼ (indefinite)

Compound of áchį́į́h (“nose”) + ałnííʼ (“center”).


áchį́į́hlátah

shíchį́į́hlátah (first-person singular)
nihíchį́į́hlátah (duoplural first-person)
danihíchį́į́hlátah (first-person plural)
níchį́į́hlátah (second-person singular)
nihíchį́į́hlátah (duoplural second-person)
danihíchį́į́hlátah (plural second-person)
bíchį́į́hlátah (third-person)
yíchį́į́hlátah (fourth-person)
háchį́į́hlátah (fourth-person)
áchį́į́hlátah (indefinite)

Compound of áchį́į́h (“nose”) + bílátah (“its tip”).


áchį́į́stah

shíchį́į́stah (first-person singular)
nihíchį́į́stah (duoplural first-person)
danihíchį́į́stah (first-person plural)
níchį́į́stah (second-person singular)
nihíchį́į́stah (duoplural second-person)
danihíchį́į́stah (plural second-person)
bíchį́į́stah (third-person)
yíchį́į́stah (fourth-person)
háchį́į́stah (fourth-person)
áchį́į́stah (indefinite)

From áchį́į́h (“nose”) + -tah (“among”).


áchį́į́stsʼiin

shíchį́į́stsʼiin (first-person singular)
nihíchį́į́stsʼiin (duoplural first-person)
danihíchį́į́stsʼiin (first-person plural)
níchį́į́stsʼiin (second-person singular)
nihíchį́į́stsʼiin (duoplural second-person)
danihíchį́į́stsʼiin (plural second-person)
bíchį́į́stsʼiin (third-person)
yíchį́į́stsʼiin (fourth-person)
háchį́į́stsʼiin (fourth-person)
áchį́į́stsʼiin (indefinite)

Compound of áchį́į́h (“nose”) + atsʼin (“bone”).


kʼistsʼóóz

From kʼish (“alder”) + áłtsʼóózí (“it is slender”, from -TSʼÓÓZÍ, “to be slender”).

nv-term

(botany) speckled alder, hoary alder (Alnus incana)


yaayááhálzhiin

Compound of ayaayááh (“throat”) + łizhin (“it is black”) + -ii (nominalizer). Literally, “black throat”.


-KʼǪSH

From Proto-Athabaskan *qʼutšʼ (“to be sour, rancid”).
In Northern Athabaskan languages, the stem Proto-Athabaskan *qʼəž, with the same meaning, is derived from Proto-Athabaskan *qʼəš (“alder”), whence Navajo kʼish (“alder”).

inh

to be sour, be rancid, be bitter, be salty


-YĄĄD

From Proto-Athabaskan *ɣʸanʸ (“to be wise, be aged”). Nouns such as są́ (“old aged”) and sání (“elderly, old one”) both belong to this root.
Possibly related to the root -YĄ́ (“to grow”).


ayaayááh

shiyaayááh (first-person singular)
nihiyaayááh (duoplural first-person)
danihiyaayááh (first-person plural)
niyaayááh (second-person singular)
nihiyaayááh (duoplural second-person)
danihiyaayááh (plural second-person)
biyaayááh (third-person)
yiyaayááh (fourth-person)
hayaayááh (fourth-person)
ayaayááh (indefinite)


-TʼÉÉZH

From Proto-Athabaskan *tʼetšʼ (“to blacken with charcoal”). Compare also Navajo tʼeesh (“charcoal”).


azhiʼtsʼin

Compound of azhiʼ (“body”) + atsʼin (“bone”).


ázhiʼ

shízhiʼ (first-person singular)
nihízhiʼ (duoplural first-person)
danihízhiʼ (first-person plural)
nízhiʼ (second-person singular)
nihízhiʼ (duoplural second-person)
danihízhiʼ (plural second-person)
bízhiʼ (third-person)
yízhiʼ (fourth-person)
házhiʼ (fourth-person)
ázhiʼ (indefinite)

From the root -ZHIʼ (“to call by name”).


náhookǫs bikąʼii

From náhookǫs (“north”) + bikąʼ (“her male mate”) + -ii (nominalizer).


náhookǫs biʼáadii

From náhookǫs (“north”) + biʼáád (“his female mate”) + -ii (nominalizer).


-CHĮĮD

The noun áháchįʼ (“anger”) derives from the contraction of the neuter imperfective verb hachįʼ (“it is nasty”) and the postposition á (“for someone”).
The momentaneous perfective stem of this root is either -chįįd or -chįʼ.


-CHĮĮD

Compare Carrier -tsin (“to be weak”).
This root is attested only in the durative aspect.


chąądił

Compound of chąąʼ (“excrement”) + dił (“blood”).


jį́ʼaniʼįįhí

head

jį́ʼaniʼįįhí

From jį́ (“day”) + aniʼįįh (“he is a thief”, from -ʼĮ́Į́ʼ, “to steal”) + -í (nominalizer). Literally, “the one who steals during daytime”.


nááłtsoii

From anááʼ (“eye, seed”) + łitso (“yellow”) + -ii (nominalizer). Literally, the one with yellow seeds.


łééchąąłkiizh

From łééchąąʼí (“dog”) + łikizh (“it is spotted”) + -ii (nominalizer).