łééchąąʼí

Navajo

FWOTD – 14 March 2014

łééchąąʼí

Etymology

From łį́į́ʼ (“pet”) + chąąʼ (“shit”) + -í (nominalizer); literally, "shit pet" (pet that eats excrement). Replaced the old simplex łį́į́ʼ, which shifted meaning to "horse" following the reintroduction of the horse to North America, which led to the horse replacing the dog as the most favored "pet." Compare Chipewyan łį, Tsuut'ina tłíchʼà, Ahtna łicʼae.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɬéːt͡ʃʰɑ̃̀ːʔɪ́/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

łééchąąʼí (possessed form bilééchąąʼí)

1. dog

Inflection

possessives of łééchąąʼí

	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	shilééchąąʼí	nihilééchąąʼí	danihilééchąąʼí
2nd person	nilééchąąʼí	nihilééchąąʼí	danihilééchąąʼí
3rd person	bilééchąąʼí
4th person (3o)	yilééchąąʼí
4th person (3a)	halééchąąʼí
Indefinite (3i)	alééchąąʼí

Derived terms

• łééchąąłgaii
• łééchąąłkiizh
• Nahatʼeʼiitsoh Bikéyahdę́ę́ʼ łééchąąʼí ałchiní (“dingo”)