yiniłmas

Navajo

Etymology

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -ni- (“round shape”) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier, causative) + -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): /jɪ̀nɪ̀ɬmɑ̀s/

Verb

yiniłmas

1. he/she is rolling it into a ball (as dough, snow), is clenching it (one's fist)

   Yas néłmas. ― I made a snowball.

   Béésh adishahí dínéesmas. ― I will roll up the barbed wire.

   Shílaʼ néłmas. ― I clenched my fist.

Conjugation

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	nismas	niilmas	daniilmas
2nd person	níłmas	nołmas	danołmas
3rd person	yiniłmas		deiniłmas
4th person	jiniłmas		dazhniłmas

PERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	néłmas	neelmas	daneelmas
2nd person	níníłmas	sinoołmas	dasinoołmas
3rd person	yineesmas		deineesmas
4th person	jineesmas		dazhneesmas

FUTURE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	dínéesmas	díníilmas	dadíníilmas
2nd person	dínííłmas	dínóołmas	dadínóołmas
3rd person	yidínóołmas		deidínóołmas
4th person	dízhnóołmas		dazhdínóołmas

Related terms

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

See also

• iiłbąąs