yiniiłmas

Navajo

Etymology

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -ni- (“round shape”) + -yi- (semelfactive, punctual) + ∅- (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): /jɪ̀nìːɬmɑ̀s/

Verb

yiniiłmas

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

Paradigm: Semelfactive (yii/si).

imperfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	niismas	niilmas	daniilmas
2nd person	niiłmas	noołmas	danoołmas
3rd person	yiniiłmas		deiniiłmas
4th person	jiniiłmas		dazhniiłmas

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