geʼ
The English phrase "be quiet" is translated to Navajo as geʼ.
geʼ is a command used to tell someone to stop making noise.
Did you know?
- The glottal stop at the end of geʼ requires a sudden closure of the vocal cords, a sound that does not exist in standard English.
- In many Navajo households, silence is often more respectful than using a direct command to achieve it.
- In Navajo culture, direct commands like geʼ can sometimes be perceived as unnecessarily harsh or confrontational in many social settings.
Examples in context
- Geʼ!Be quiet!
Example conversation
Tyler and Michelle are entering a library.
- TylerGeʼ, Michelle.Be quiet, Michelle.
- MichelleÁádááʼgeʼ.I will be quiet.
- TylerDoolʼíníísh.I am trying to study.
- MichelleHózhó.Alright.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry geʼ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
