Binááʼ ádaałtsʼózí
The English word "asian" is translated into Navajo as Binááʼ ádaałtsʼózí.
This term is an adjective used to describe something or someone that is of, relating to or from the continent of Asia.
Meaning: of, relating to or from Asia (adj)
Did you know?
- The word for 'Asian' contains the root binááʼ, which literally translates to 'his, her, or its seed' or 'his, her, or its eye'.
- Because Navajo is a verb-based language, many terms describing people or places function more like descriptions of 'being' or 'coming from' a certain state.
- Navajo descriptors for people often focus on the direction from which they originated relative to the speaker.
Example conversation
Michelle and Justin are looking at a map in a classroom.
- MichelleKóʼ Binááʼ ádaałtsʼózí biiʼąąʼ łáʼí yinááʼ.This is an Asian country.
- JustinÁáʼá, tʼáá ályaa.Yes, it is very large.
- MichelleBinááʼ ádaałtsʼózí tʼáá łahjįʼ tʼáá ályaa.Asian places are very diverse.
- JustinHózhǫ́ǫ́, tʼáá íínísh.That's beautiful, I agree.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries binááʼ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
