Mode
The mode of a Navajo verb conveys information about the timing of an action or condition. There are seven modes: Imperfective, Perfective, Future, Iterative, Usitative, Optative, and Progressive. This website provides descriptions of each mode and provides example sentences that illustrate the modes. Certain adverbial expressions are compatible with only some of the modes. Examples of these are included also.
Here is one example with a verb in the optative mode:
Each sentence is displayed with the Navajo text on the first line, an English translation on the third, and a gloss of words and word parts on the second. The verb stem is in italics and indicates the mode. There is also a red button which, when clicked, will allow you to hear a recording of a speaker saying the sentence. For more information on the gloss of words and word parts visit this link. For this project we draw on previous work by Fernald & Perkins (manuscript), Young & Morgan (1987), Young, Morgan & Midgette (1992), and others cited in References [link].
In the box below you can search for sentences by verb, mode, or adverb.
An example search has returned 100 entries
’Adą́ą́dą́ą́’ shá bíighah kintahdi tádísháahgo shee ’i’íí’ą́.
yesterday sun proportionate town-at 1-go.about.Prog-GO 1-on 3-sun.went.down.P’Adą́ą́dą́ą́’ shichidí tsé bik’ą́ą́h yíłbą́ą́z.
yesterday 1-car rock 3-against 3-run.P’Ahbínídą́ą́’ t’áadoo ’ííyą́ą́’góó biniinaa wónáásdóó dichin shi’niiłhį́.
morning-past NEG 1-eat.P-NEG.GO because soon hunger 1-3-kill.P’Ahbínídą́ą́’ t’áadoo ’ííyą́ą́’góó biniinaa wónáásdóó sitsiits’iin díínii’.
morning-past neg 1-eat.P-GO.NEG because soon 1-head 3-ache.P’Ahwééh yishdlį́į́h ’áádóó naanishgóó yishááh.
coffee 3-1-drink.U and.then work-toward 3-1-go.U’Ashkii yázhí bee’eldǫǫh yik’ee ’ádadeeznih.
boy little gun 3-on.account.of REFL-3-hurt.P’Atsiniltł’ish dóó tó dayókeedígíí baa ’áłah ’aleeh lá.
electricity and water pl-3-request.I-NOM 3-for meeting DISC’Ayóo deesk’aazgo beeldléí ditánígíí biih násh’nah.
very cold-GO blanket 3-thick.NI-ÍGÍÍ 3-into 1-crawl.R’Ałk’idą́ą́’ ’ayóo nahałtin ńt’éé’.
long.ago very areal-rain.I past’Ałk’idídą́ą́’ kin ’áshłaa ńt’éé’ ’éí t’ahdii bii’ shighan.
quite.long.ago house 3-1-make.P past it still 3-in 1-home’Áádę́ę́’ nánísdzáago łį́į́’ bá nida’deeshjoł.
from.there 1-return.P-GO horse 3-for pl-1-set.out.NCM.F’Ádą́ą́dą́ą́’ásh nishínílnish?
yesterday-Q 2-work.P-chą́’
craving, addicted to, fond of
bookmark-deená
-íighah
-k’eh + -jí
in a language e.g. diné k’ehjí ’in Navajo’
bookmark-k’i
-kéé’
Ch’iyáán nináhíłnihgo haa nízahjį’ ’ánádįįh?
food 3-2-buy.R how 3-long.N-up.to 3-become.none.RCh’óóshdą́ą́dą́ą́’ Na’nízhoozhídi kééhasht’į́ ńt’éé’.
formerly Gallup-at 1-live.I pastCh’ééh jiyáán hooghangóó dah dii’ągo shee nikihoníłt.
watermelon home-toward up 3-1-move.SRO.P 1-with area-start-rain.PChidí kǫ́ǫ́ ndaajeehígíí t’áá ’ániidígo dahodeezlįįd.
car here 3-run.pl.I-COMP just recently pl-3-become.PChidí naat’a’í nihił dah diit’a’.
airplane 1dpl-with up 3-fly.PChidí naat’a’íísh hooghankáá’góó ch’ínísaal ’éí doodaii’ dziłghą́ą́’góó daats’í?
airplane house-over-along over-3-fly.P TOP or mountain-attached-along perhapsChidíísh bee hólǫ́ doodago ni daats’í chidí nee hólǫ́?
car-Q 3-with 4-exist.N or 2 maybe car 2-with 4-exist.NIDoes s/he have a car or do you have a car?
bookmarkChidíísh bee hólǫ́ doodaii’ ni daats’í chidí nee hólǫ́?
car-Q 3-with 4-exist.NI or you perhaps car 2-with 4-exist.NIDoes s/he have a car or do you have a car?
bookmarkDa’ Ron saad nináánéíłkaah ya’?
Q Ron word 3-3-investigate.I QDa’adánídi ’áts’ą́ą́’ deeshghał.
restaurant-at ribs 3-1-eat.FDibé bighan báátis dah yiishte’.
sheep corral 3-over up 1-climb.PDichinísh doodaii’ dibáá’ísh dzinízin?
hunger-Q or thirst-Q 4-want.NIDíigi ’át’éego yigááł.
this-similar.to 3-walk.ProgDíí chizh shá ’ałk’íniishóósh.
this firewood 1-for 3-2-split.Idíkwíí
Díkwíísh ninááhai?
how.many-Q 2-winter.NIDlǫ́ǫ́’ ba’áán góne’ yah ’adeeshnii’go dlǫ́’áyázhí shishhash.
prairie.dog 3-hole into down1-3.to.reach́.out.hand prairie.dog-little 1-bite.Pdoo ’ashohodoobéézhgóó
doo --- le’ ’át’éégóó
Doo bił bééhózin da ya’?
neg 3-with 3-know.CI neg QDoo choshijooł’į́į́’ le’ ’át’éégóó shił hóyéé’.
NEG 3-1-make.use.O proof.against-NEG 1-with lazy.NIDooládó’ shį́į́ ’adą́ą́dą́ą́’ shich’ohoos’ni’ da kintah góyaa yishááł ńt’éé’ béeso naadiinígíí ńdiiłtsooz.
wow probably yesterday 1-lucky.P town areal down 1-go.I Past money twenty-NOM 3-sit.FFO.PDził bit’ááhgi bįįh halzheeh.
Mountain 3-close.to-at deer 3-3-hunting.CIGowééh ła’ ’ádá dooshkááł laanaa.
coffee one for.self pl.3-1-handle.OC.O wishHa’a’áahgo shilį́į́’ bá niná’áshjoł.
east-GO 1-horse 3-for again-1-feed.NCM.RHa’át’éegoshą’ t’áadoo ’azee’ál’į́į́góó nisíníyáa da?
why-Q NEG hospital-to 2-go.sg.P NEGha’át’éejį’
Ha’át’ííshą’ hastiin dóó ’at’ééd ’áyiilaa?
what-Q man and girl 3-3-make.PHa’ąądi dibé bighan.
areal-other.side sheep 3-corralhaa nóolin
Haa’í lá neezgai?
where Q 3-hurt.NHaidą́ą́’ ’a’áán góne’ nishishnish ńt’éé’ --- doo shił yá’áhoot’éeh da.
winter-past mine.shaft 1-work.P past neg 1-with 3-good.N negHatáálgóó déyáago shikélchí t’óó tsxį́į́łgo bił ’ada’shéshiizhgo ńdaséłkad.
ceremony-1-go-Fut-GO 1-moccasin merelyhurry.GO 3-with 3-1-pierce-GO 3-1-sew-Pháá-P.ENCLITIC
where. The expressions formed with ’háá-’ have a postpositional enclitic following them which indicates information about direction, location, or path.
bookmarkHádą́ą́’sh Dibé Nitsaadę́ę́’ néínídzá?
when-past-Q Colorado 3-return.PHáí lá tsinaa’eeł ’áyiilaa?
who Q boat 3-3-make.PHwééldigóó nda’aznánę́ędą́ą́’ nihahastóí yę́ę ła’ béédaho’dooszįįd.
Kin Łánídiísh ’éí doodago Bee’eldííldahsinildi daats’í naniná?
Flagstaff-at-Q TOP or Albuquerque-at perhaps 2-go.around.CIAre you at Flagstaff or at Albuquerque?
bookmarkKintah góyaa yishááł ńt’éé’ béeso ńdiiłtsooz
areal-down 1-go.Prog past money 3-1-pick.FFO.PMary ha’át’íísh nayiisnii’?
Mary what-Q 3-to.buy.INa’nishkaadgo nídíshchííyaagi hanáshyį́į́h ńt’éé’ ’iiłhaazh lá, t’ah nít’éé’ shilééchąą’í ch’ééshinísid.
1-herd.I-GO pinetree-under-at 1-rest.I past 1-slept.P DISC all.of.sudden 1-dog 1-woke.up.P
listen
When I was out herding I was resting under a pinetree and I went to sleep but suddenly to my surprise my dog woke me up.
bookmark- Imperfective (I) (∅, ni, si, yi-∅)
- na’nishkaad herd, go out herding
- Imperfective (I) (∅, ni, si, yi-∅)
- hanááshyį́į́’ rest
- t’ah ńt’éé’ all of a suddenfind in Navajo Adverb Lexicon
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)
- ’iishháásh sleep
- Perfective (P) (yi, ni, si, yi-∅)
- ch’ééníssííd awaken him/her
- -yaa under, beneath, downfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- location
- -gi atfind in Navajo Postposition Lexicon
- location
Na’nízhoozhígóó náádínídzáago háadish ’adeeshį́į́ł nínízin?
Gallup-toward again-2-go.R-GO where-Q 1-eat-F 2-want.NINaakaii Bito’gi béégashii bee łá’í ’ídlínígíí bee ’anishtah.
mexican water-at cow 3-with one-unify.P-COMP 3-with 1-among.NINáhookǫ́sdę́ę’go ních’igo ’ayóo deesk’aaz.
north.from-GO breeze-GO very cold.SPNNdáa’di shizhé’é diné ła’ yił ’ahi’niigą́ą’go bita’ niséyá.
summer.ceremony-at 1-father man one 3-fight.P-GO 3-in between 3-1-go.siPNidlóóhísh doodaii’ doo daats’í nidlóoh da?
2-cold.I-Q or neg perhaps 2-cold.I negNiísh ’ałdó’ t’áá ’ákwíinínízin?
2-Q also just 2-think.so.NINimá yázhí bighangóó díílwoł dóó ’áájí ’awéé’ baa ’áhólyą́ą dooleeł.
your aunt 3-house-to 2-run-and that-way baby 3-for 2-care.FutNizhe’é ha’át’íísh yaa naaghá?
2-father what-Q 3-about 3-do.CINíká ’adeeshwoł biniiyé níyá.
2-for 1-run.F 3-purpose.of 1-came.Pnéishjį́į́h
R mode-1-become black, get sunburned.RŃléí ’asdzą́ą́ sáníshą’ háí ’át’į́?
there woman old-Q what 3-be.NShichidí t’ahdii yá’át’ééh, ’át’ah ’índa ła’ ninááhideeshnih.
1-car still 3-good.N later one again-3-1-buy.FShidá’í dóola yilááh ’ábóodziil jiní.
1-Uncle bull 3-greater 3-strong.NI 4-say.PShikéédę́ę́’ naa hodoolzhish.
1-behind-from 2-passing become.FShilééch’ąą’í hats’ąą ńdóosht’į́į́ł laanaa nízin yę́ę bik’íníyá.
1-dog areal-away.from 1-hide.O wishful 3-want past 3-1-find.PShimá sání t’áá shídin ’ííyá.
Shimá sitsilí bibéésh bee hane’í bits’ą́ą́’ náádii’ą́.
1-mom 1-little.brother 3-cellphone 3-away.from 3-3-return.PShiníbaal doo tó biníkáogeeh le’ ’át’éégóó ’íishłaa.
1-tent NEG water 3-through-3-flow.O proof.against-NEG 3-1-make.PShí ’éí t’áá naanishdóó kingóó déyá.
I TOP just work-from town-to 1-go.IShį́įgo ch’ééh jiyáán yishį́į́h áádóó tó lą’í yishdlį́į́h.
summer-GO watermelon 3-1-eat.U and.then water lots 3-1-drink.UShį́į́dą́ą́’ łį́į́’ yázhí shee hazlį́į́’.
summer-past pony 1-with 3-become.Pt’ahdii
T’áá ’ákwíízhíní tó dah siyínígóó ’ałnánáshdááh.
every summer lake-toward again-1-go.RTáá’ daats’í shinááhaigo Hwéeldi hoolyéégóó shił dah ’adiiná níigo halne’ łeh shicheii.
three maybe 1-year.P-GO Fort.Sumner areal-be.called-toward 1-with start.off 3-migrate.P 3-say.NI-GOTsé ’ayóí ’áníłtso léi’ tsékooh góyaa hadah ch’ééłmááz.
rock remarkably large INDEF canyon areal-down areal-edge out-3-1-roll.PTł’éédą́ą́’ ńléí dził bine’jí ’adildííl yiits’a’ ni’.
night-past there mountain 3-behind-way thunder 3-sound.P recallYadiizíníshą’ haa néelt’e’go nínízin?
can-Q how 3.many.N-GO 2-want.NIHow many cans do you want? (YM 1987:429)
bookmarkyóó’
away (disappearing, getting lost)
bookmarkŁį́į́’ ’áhidiníłnáago sizį́.
horse Recip-3-opposite-GO 3-du-stand.SPNThere are currently 1051 entries, 989 audio files, and 0 images.
All content copyright © the Navajo community. (2021)
This lexicon was authored by Devon Denny, Natalie R. Desiderio, Jeremy Fahringer, Theodore B. Fernald, Ronald Gene, Johnny Harvey, Betsy H. Horner, Sammy Largo, Lorene B. Legah, Sharon Nelson, Tyler Tinhorn, and Ronald Yazzie.
Dictionary produced by Ted Fernald, K. David Harrison and Jeremy Fahringer. (2021)
Supported in part with funding from a NSF grant (PI Fernald, Collaborative Research: Training the next generation of Navajo language scientists, Award #1563672).
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
All rights reserved. Do not distribute or reproduce without permission.
how to cite:
Fernald, Theodore B., Devon Denny, Natalie R. Desiderio, Jeremy Fahringer, Ronald Gene, Johnny Harvey, Betsy H. Horner, Sammy Largo, Lorene B. Legah, Sharon Nelson, Tyler Tinhorn, and Ronald Yazzie. 2021.
Navajo Verb Modes: grammar and examples.
Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/navajo_verb_mode
Interface and database design under the direction of Jeremy Fahringer and Swarthmore College ITS.
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