Introduction to Navajo Adverbs
This lexicon is built on a list from Young & Morgan (1987:12-17). This list is a heterogeneous collection of expressions that certainly belong to more than one syntactic category. For instance, it includes time expressions like ’adą́ą́dą́ą́’ (‘yesterday’) and ’ałní’ní’ą́ (‘at noon’), but it also includes the negative frame doo…da and several expressions that are constructed with it, and it includes various particles that tend to appear before the verb (e.g., hah ’quickly’; dah ‘up’). These appear in various places within a clause. Oddly, ńt’éé (a particle denoting past time which is placed after the verb) is in the list, but dooleeł (a particle denoting future time which appears in the same position) is not in the list.
We constructed this tool using Young & Morgan’s list without making adjustments to it. There may be a future version that includes different selections.
An example search has returned 50 entries
’Ak’ah ła’ dishhį́įhgo baa naashá.
lard some 3-1-melt.I 3-to 1-go.CI’Adą́ą́dą́ą́’ shá bíighah ’atah ’adishdiłgo ’i’íí’ą́.
yesterday 1-for 3-passing down 1-play.stick.dice.RI-GO evening’Ahbínídą́ą́’ t’áadoo ’ííyą́ą́’góó biniinaa wónáásdóó sitsiits’iin díínii’.
morning-past neg 1-eat.P-GO.NEG because soon 1-head 3-ache.PI didn’t eat this morning, so my head started to ache.
bookmark- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ’ashą́ eatfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- díínii’ ache, be in painfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- ’ahbínídą́ą́’ this morning
- -niinaa because of, on account offind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
’Ałah ’aleehgóó deesháál nínízinísh doodago béésh nitsíkeesí daats’í bee nidoonááł ’éí doodago t’áá hooghanídi daats’í KTNN yídíiłts’iił?
meeting-to 1-go-F 3-2 want.NI-Q or computer possibly 2-watch.F or just home-at possibly KTNN 3-2-listen.FWill you go to the Chapter meeting in person or watch on the computer or will you stay home and listen to KTNN?
bookmark- -góó to, toward, along, on, with a numeral it indicates a datefind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Future (F)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- déyá start to gofind in Navajo Verb Modes
- Neuter Imperfective (NI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- nisin think, wantfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- doodago orfind in Navajo Conjunction Lexicon
- -ísh enclitic for yes/no questionsfind in Navajo Questions Lexicon
- daats’í maybe, perhaps, possibly
- -ee by means offind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- -di atfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Future (F)find in Navajo Verb Modes
’Áłchíní hastą́ą́ binidááhaidóó deigo hodees’áago t’áá ’ałtso da’ółta’go yá’át’ééh.
children six 3-year.P-from up areal-extend.NP all pl-3-study.NI-GO 3-good.N’Eii łééchą̨ą’í t’áá ’áko taah yilwo’.
that dog immediately water.into 3-run.UAshkiísh t’áádoo nideezhí yíni’ yá ahóólaa da?
boy NEG 2-younger.sister 3-mind 3-for 3s-3-make.P NEGÁt’ah ’índa shaa náádíídááł.
later 1-to again-2-come.FBááh łikanígíí ła’ nisin háálá ayóo łikan.
bread 3-be.sweet.NI.NOM some 3-1-want.NI because very 3-be.sweet.NIBéésh bii’ kǫ’í bizooł dego deez’á.
stove 3-pipe up 3-extend.SPNCh’óóshdą́ą́dą́ą́’ Bilagáanaa Bizaad doo diists’a’ da. K’ad éí t’ááshxǫǫd t’áá bee yáshti’.
formerly English NEG 1-understand.I NEG | now TOP at.least just 3-with 1-speak.IChidí kǫ́ǫ́ ndaajeehígíí t’áá ’ániidígo dahodeezlįįd.
car here 3-run.pl.I-COMP just recently pl-3-become.PDah doónááł lágo!
up 2-go.F don’tDahojitaałgo t’áá hoonaałgo wónáásdóó ’ayóí ’íits’a’go dahojitaał.
Pl-4-sing.I-COMP just areal-3-move.Prog-COMP soon remarkable 3-sound.I-COMP pl-4-sing.IDibé bits’į́’ daodą́ą́’ lágo.
sheep 3-meat pl-3-1dpl-eat.O LÁGOI hope we don’t eat mutton.
bookmarkDíí éé’ shił nizhónígo nahideeshniih nisin nt’éé’ ’áko ndi ayóo ilį́į́ lá.
this clothing 1-with 3-like-GO 3-1-buy.F 1-think.Cl Past even then very 3-expensive DiscI want to buy this dress because I like it but it is expensive.
bookmark- Neuter Imperfective (NI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- -ił withfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Future (F)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- nahashniih buy, sellfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- Continuative Imperfective (CI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- nisin think, wantfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- ńt’éé’ relates to past time
- ’áko ndi even so, even thenfind in Navajo Conjunction Lexicon
- lá I discoveredfind in Navajo Particle Lexicon
Doo ’áłah dadiidleeł da.
NEG together pl-1dpl-meet.pl.F NEGdoo --- ndi
Doo nił bééhózín da lá jiní. T’áá káhí la’ bił hóolne’!
NEG 2-with 3-knowledge.CI NEG disc 4-say.P just never some 3-with 2-tell.FYou don’t know about this. Just don’t say anything!!
bookmark- doo --- da frame to negativize verbs and phrases
- Continuative Imperfective (CI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- bééhózin there is knowledgefind in Navajo Verb Modes
- lá jiní let’s play like, let’s pretend thatfind in Navajo Particle Lexicon
- la’ puzzlementfind in Navajo Particle Lexicon
- -ił withfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
Doo t’áá k’ad bá’ólta’í sélį́į’ da.
NEG just now teacher 1-be.SPN NEGDoozhǫǫgo da’ííłta’ígíí t’éiyá yá’át’éehgo naanish bá dahólǫ́.
satisfactory pl-3-study.P-NOM only 3-good.N-GO work 3-for pl-3-exist.NIDził bíchį́į́shk’ą́ą́h gódeg hoołtį́į́ł.
mountain 3-nose-against areal-up areal-rain.ProgHáísh yiską́ągo ’adoogis?
who-Q tomorrow 3-wash.FHoozdo hoolyéedi deesdoi sha’shin. ’Áyaańda (’áyąą) diné bi’éétsoh t’áá gééd ndaakai.
Phoenix areal-called-at hot possibly no.wonder person 3-coat without pl-3-go.pl.PK’ad cháshk’eh góyaa tó de ’anool’ąął.
now wash down water up 3-rise.ProgK’ad cháshk’eh góyaa tó deg ’anool’ąął.
now wash area-down water up 3-move.ProgK’idadeelyáá nit’éé’ t’óó daazgan, háálá doo nahałtin da.
1pl-plant.P past just 3pl-dry.SPN, because NEG 3-rain.CI NEGWe planted but they just shriveled up, because of the lack of rain.
bookmark- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- k’idishłé plant itfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- ńt’éé’ relates to past time
- Si-Perfective Neuter (SPN)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- háálá for, becausefind in Navajo Conjunction Lexicon
- doo --- da frame to negativize verbs and phrases
- Continuative Imperfective (CI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
Kintah góyaa yishááł ńt’éé’ béeso ńdiiłtsooz
areal-down 1-go.Prog past money 3-1-pick.FFO.PLáshdóón chidí bídadiiltłʼółígíí k’ad hashtʼe dadiilnííł.
ribbon car 3-dist.pl-3-tie.F-ÍGÍÍ now prepare 3-1pl-make.FNa’nízhoozhígóó chídí doo nił dah didoolwoł da.
Gallup-to car NEG 2-with up start-3.drive.F NEGYou will not go to Gallup with the car.
bookmark- Command, negativefind in Navajo Imperatives
- Futurefind in Navajo Imperatives
- -góó to, toward, along, on, with a numeral it indicates a datefind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- doo --- da frame to negativize verbs and phrases
- -ił withfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- dah up at an elevation, off, static, holding
- Future (F)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ’oolwoł drivefind in Navajo Verb Modes
Na’níle’dii béeso ła’ haaníníl, t’áadoo tł’oh nidziisnii’ da.
dismay money some 4-3-1-give.PlO.P NEG hay 3-4-buy.P NEGNaalyéhé bá hooghandi tł’oh hániikai ńt’éé’ ’áníídí yee’ ’ásdįįd lágo ’áadi niikai.
trading.post-at hay 1dpl-go.pl.P past recently very 3-disappear.P DISC-GO there 1dpl-go.pl.PNaʼazhǫǫshgóó dooʼáazhgo nihikééʼ ʼiih deeshwoł.
casino-to 2du-go.F-GO 2pl-follow 3-into 1-run.FShe’abe’ sits’ą́ą́’ wóódlą́ą́’ lágo.
1-milk 1-from 3-2-drink.O LÁGOShikee’ ’ániidígo biniinaa shikee’ bąąh tó’diisool.
1-shoe recently because 1-foot 3-on 3-blister.form.PShimá dóó shizhé’é Yootóodi ’ółta’ ńt’éé’.
1-mother and 1-father Santa.Fe-at 3-go.to.school.NI pastShinaaí ła’í ndi chizh t’áadoo ła’ yaah ayiitą́ą da.
1-older.brother not.even.one but firewood just-NEG some directional-3-3-gather.P NEG.Shiyáázh Damóogo ’índa ’áádę́ę́’ nídeesdzá
1-son Sunday.GO will.be from 2-returning.FShínaaí chidí bił dah diilwodgo bizánághah góne’ łeezh ’adzíísi’.
older.brother car 3-with up 3-run.I-GO 3-around areal-in dust 3-trail.PShínaaí shíká ’adoolwoł nisin ńt’éé’ ’áłt’ąą t’áadoo níyáa da.
1-older.brother 1-for 3-run.F 1-want.NI but after.all NEG 3-come.sg.P NEGI wanted my older brother to help me but unfortunately he didn’t come.
bookmark- -ká after, forfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- benefactive
- Future (F)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- yishwoł run alongfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- Neuter Imperfective (NI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- nisin think, wantfind in Navajo Verb Modes
- ńt’éé’ relates to past time
- ’áłt’ąą after all
- t’áadoo not
- doo --- da frame to negativize verbs and phrases
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- nishááh come, arrivefind in Navajo Verb Modes
Shínaaí łahda bił náhoniidoh.
1-older.brother sometime 3-with 3-become.warm.RT’áadoo yaa nidanoht’áhí.
NEG down pl-3-2dpl-put.SRO.I-ÍT’áá kwe’é shiba’ sínídáa doleeł.
just right.here 1-waiting.for 2-sit.SPN FUTTooh ńłínígíí ha’naa shił ’adeeshdloozh ńt’éé’ łį́į́’ shił deezgo’
water river areal-across 1-with 3-move.P past horse 1-with 3-fall.PTó lą’ígo nidlą́ ’áko bee nitah yá’áhoot’ééh dooleeł.
water many 3-2-drink.DI so 3-with 2-among pl-3-good.NI futureDrink lots of water so that you can be healthy.
bookmark- Imperfective (I) (∅, ni, si, yi-∅)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- ’áko so, so that, so thenfind in Navajo Conjunction Lexicon
- -ee by means offind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- -tah, -taa-, -ta- among, mixingfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- Neuter Imperfective (NI)find in Navajo Verb Modes
- dooleeł future
- dooleeł future




