łichííʼ

Navajo

Etymology

łi- (adjectival) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -chííʼ (neuter imperfective stem of root -CHIIʼ, “to be red”).

Compare Dogrib dekʼo, Ahtna ltʼeli, Wailaki łchiid.

The łi- prefix appears to have originated historically from the -ł- classifier. When this prefix appears immediately in pre-stem position, it takes the shape of a l- classifier.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɬɪ̀t͡ʃʰíːʔ/

Verb

łichííʼ

1. he/she/it is red

   Tsídii łichííʼ ― The (one or two) bird is red.

   Tsídii daalchííʼ ― The (three or more) birds are red.

Usage notes

This is a neuter verb that only uses the imperfective stem.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).

imperfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	łinishchííʼ	łiniichííʼ	dałiniichííʼ
2nd person	łiníchííʼ	łinohchííʼ	dałinohchííʼ
3rd person	łichííʼ		daalchííʼ, dałichííʼ
4th person	jilchííʼ		dajilchííʼ

Noun

łichííʼ

1. the colour red
2. a penny

Derived terms

• atsʼoos łichíʼígíí (“artery”)
• béésh łichíiʼii (“copper, bronze”)
• Bichʼah Łichíiʼii Bikéyah (“Turkey”)
• bílátah łichííʼígíí (“tulip”)
• Bitsiighaʼ Łichííʼí bikéyah (“Ireland”)
• Biʼééʼ Łichííʼí bikéyah (“Russia”)
• dibéłchíʼí (“brown”)
• didzéchííʼ (“cherry”)
• dił bee łichíʼígíí (“hemoglobin”)
• łichííʼ ałnáʼásdzoh (“Red Cross”)
• łichííʼí, łichíiʼii, łichííʼígíí
• łichxíʼí (“reddish orange”)
• Naʼashǫ́ʼiitsoh Łichííʼí Bikéyah (“Wales”)
• téél halchíʼí (“American robin”)
• Tsé Łichííʼ

See also

Colors in Navajo · nidaashchʼąąʼígíí (layout · text)

łigai	łibá (dark gray: dinilzhin)	łizhin
łichííʼ	łichxíʼí (light orange: diniltsxo); dibéłchíʼí, yishtłizh (dark brown: dinilzhin)	łitso (light yellow: diniltso); dinilgai
	dinooltłʼizh, chʼilgo dootłʼizh
dootłʼizhii	yágo dootłʼizh	dootłʼizh
diłhiłgo dootłʼizh	tsédídéehgo dootłʼizh	dinilchííʼ