łizhin

Navajo

Etymology

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

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.

Compare Dogrib dezǫ, Ahtna delzen (“dark colored”) and Hupa łiwhin (“it is black”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɬɪ̀ʒɪ̀n/

Verb

łizhin

1. it is black.

   Mósí łizhin ― The (one or two) cat is black.

   Mósí daalzhin ― The (three or more) cats are black.

Usage notes

This is a neuter verb. As such, it has only the imperfective stem.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).

imperfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	łinishzhin	łiniijin	dałiniijin
2nd person	łinízhin	łinohzhin	dałinohzhin
3rd person	łizhin		daalzhin
4th person	jilzhin		dajilzhin

Derived terms

• dibé biniiʼ daalzhinígíí (“Hampshire Down sheep”)
• dinilzhin (“dark gray”)
• Kéʼ łizhiní (“Blackfeet”)
• łizhiní
• Naakaii Łizhinii (“Black person”)
• naalʼeełí łizhinígíí (“scoter”)
• shash łizhinii (“black bear”)
• zhį́ʼii (“raven”)

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