ííłní

Navajo

Etymology

ʼá- (“thus”) + -y- (3rd person object prefix) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier) + -ní (neuter imperfective stem of root -NIID, “to say”).

Verb

ííłní

1. he says thus to him
2. he asks him permission

   John bilį́į́ʼ shaʼdooltééł biniiyé ábidishní. ― Iʼm asking John to lend me his horse.

3. he means by it

   Ni dooda, John ábidishní. ― Not you, I mean John.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (∅), with some irregularities.

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	ábidishní	ábidiiʼní	ádabidiiʼní
2nd person	ábidiní	ábidohní	ádabidohní
3rd person	ííłní		ádeiłní
4th person	ábijiní		ádabijiní

See also

• ní
• ání
• yiłní
• yidiłní