łichííʼ
Navajo
Etymology
łi- (adjectival) + -Ø- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -Ø- (classifier) + -chííʼ (neuter imperfective stem of root -CHIIʼ, “to be red”).
Compare Dogrib dekʼo, Ahtna ltʼeli.
The łi- prefix appears to have originated historically from the -ł- classifier. When this prefix appears immediately in pre-stem position, it takes the shape of a -l- classifier.
Verb
łichííʼ
- he/she/it is red
- Tsídii łichííʼ ― The (one or two) bird is red.
- Tsídii daalchííʼ ― The (three or more) birds are red.
Usage notes
This is a neuter verb that only uses the imperfective stem.
Conjugation
Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).
| IMPERFECTIVE | singular | duoplural | plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person | łinishchííʼ | łiniichííʼ | dałiniichííʼ |
| 2nd person | łiníchííʼ | łinohchííʼ | dałinohchííʼ |
| 3rd person | łichííʼ | daalchííʼ, dałichííʼ | |
| 4th person | jilchííʼ | dajilchííʼ | |
Noun
łichííʼ
- the colour red
- a penny
Derived terms
- Biʼééʼ Łichííʼí bikéyah (“Russia”)
- béésh łichíiʼii (“copper, bronze”)
- bílátah łichííʼígíí (“tulip”)
- Bitsiighaʼ Łichííʼí bikéyah (“Ireland”)
- dibéłchíʼí (“brown”)
- didzéchííʼ (“cherry”)
- łichííʼí, łichíiʼii, łichííʼígíí
- łichííʼ ałnáʼásdzoh (“Red Cross”)
- łichxíʼí (“reddish orange”)
- téél halchíʼí (“American robin”)
- tsinlátah shash łichíʼígíí (“red panda”)
See also
| Colors in Navajo · nidaashchʼąąʼígíí (layout · text) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| łigai | łibá (dark gray: dinilzhin) | łizhin | ||
| łichííʼ | łichxíʼí (light orange: diniltsxo) ; dibéłchíʼí, yishtłizh (dark brown: dinilzhin) | łitso (light yellow: diniltso) ; dinilgai | ||
| dinooltłʼizh, chʼilgo dootłʼizh | ||||
| dootłʼizhii | yágo dootłʼizh | dootłʼizh | ||
| diłhiłgo dootłʼizh | tsédídéehgo dootłʼizh | dinilchííʼ | ||