yáʼátʼééh
Navajo
Etymology
yá- (thematic) + -ʼá- (comparative) + -Ø- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -Ø- (classifier) + -tʼééh (neuter imperfective stem of root -TʼÉÉH, “to be good”).
Often anglicized as "yatahey" or "yah-ta-hey".
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /jáʔátʔɛ́ːh/
Audio (NV) (file)
Interjection
yáʼátʼééh
- greetings, hello
- bye, see you later
Verb
yáʼátʼééh
- he/she/it is fine, suitable, good
- yáʼátʼééh náshdleeł ― I’m feeling better.
- doo yáʼátʼéeh da ― he is bad, evil, not good.
- he/she/it is pretty
- he/she is well, good
- yáʼáníshtʼééh ― I am well.
- yáʼánítʼééhísh ― are you well?
- must
- like
- shił yáʼátʼééh ― I like it (reflects a personal preference).
- doo shił yáʼátʼéeh da ― I don’t like it (reflects a personal preference).
- Díí naaltsoos shił yáʼátʼééh ― I like this book.
- Éí movie nił yáʼátʼééh yaʼ ― You like that movie, right?
- Aooʼ, áh yáʼátʼééh ― Yes, it's good.
Usage notes
This is a neuter verb that uses only the imperfective mode.
Conjugation
Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).
| IMPERFECTIVE | singular | duoplural | plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person | yáʼáníshtʼééh | yáʼániitʼééh | yáʼádaniitʼééh |
| 2nd person | yáʼánítʼééh | yáʼánóhtʼééh | yáʼádanohtʼééh |
| 3rd person | yáʼátʼééh | yáʼádaatʼééh | |
| 4th person | yáʼájítʼééh | yáʼádajitʼééh | |
| Unspecified | — | Passive A | Passive B |
| Spatial | yáʼáhootʼééh | — | — |
Antonyms
- (hello): hágoóneeʼ (goodbye)
Derived terms
- yáʼátʼééh abíní (“good morning”)
- yáʼátʼééh iʼííʼą́ (“good evening”)
Related terms
- yáʼátʼéehgo