hashkʼaan
/hɑ̀ʃkʼɑ̀ːn/
The Navajo word for banana is hashkʼaan.
hashkʼaan is a noun used to refer to the fruit banana.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/hɑ̀ʃkʼɑ̀ːn/
Did you know?
- The spelling of hashkʼaan with a 'kʼ' represents a specific ejective sound that requires a sudden release of air from the glottis, a physical movement rarely found in English.
- Navajo is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used to say hashkʼaan can change the meaning of a word entirely.
- Because bananas were not native to the Southwest, the word hashkʼaan is a relatively modern addition to the Navajo vocabulary.
Example sentences for Navajo are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Justin and Amanda are preparing a snack in the kitchen.
- JustinHashkʼaan bishłééh.I want a banana.
- AmandaHashkʼaan tʼáá áánílíí tʼáá ályáásh.The banana is very ripe.
- JustinYááʼáásh, hashkʼaan tʼáá áánílíí tʼáá ákʼahgo.Yes, I like a very ripe banana.
- AmandaHózhǫ́, hashkʼaan bishłééh.Alright, here is your banana.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “banana” translations and entries hashkʼaan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
