niimas

Navajo

Etymology

ni- (“round shape”) + -yi- (semelfactive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -Ø - (thematic) + -mas (semelfactive imperfective stem of root -MÁÁZ, “to roll”).

The stem -máás (“globular, spherical, ball-like shape”) is cognate with -bą́ą́z (“hooplike, ringlike shape”), and they have the same origin, which possibly is Proto-Athabaskan *wątsʼ (“roll”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nìːmɑ̀s/

Verb

niimas

1. he/she/it is rolling up into a ball, is curling up (a cat, a person in a bed)

Conjugation

Paradigm: Semelfactive (yii/si).

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	niisØmas	niidØmas	daniidØmas
2nd person	niiØmas	noohØmas	danoohØmas
3rd person	niiØmas		daniiØmas
4th person	jiniiØmas		dazhniiØmas

PERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	néØmas	needØmas	daneedØmas
2nd person	níníØmas	sinooØmas	dasinooØmas
3rd person	neezØmas		daneezØmas
4th person	jineezØmas		dazhneezØmas

Related terms

• chʼémáás
• chʼííłmáás
• haamáás
• haiłmáás
• iiłmáás
• iimáás
• naamaas
• neiłmaas
• nímaz
• yiłmáás
• yíłmáás
• yiłmaz
• yimáás
• yímáás
• yimas
• yiniiłmas
• yiniłmas
• yoołmas

 

See also

• iiłbąąs