gohwééh
/kòhʷéːh/
Coffee in Navajo is gohwééh, also heard as ahwééh. If unsure, use gohwééh.
Meaning: beverage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Navajo | IPA |
|---|---|
| gohwééh | /kòhʷéːh/ |
| ahwééh | /ʔɑ̀hʷéːh/ |
gohwééh is the everyday word for coffee as a drink.
What does it mean word for word?
gohwééh is a loanword from English, adapted to the sounds of Navajo.
Which one should you use?
ahwééh is a second form of the same word, without the initial g.
How do you pronounce it?
gohwééh is pronounced /kòhʷéːh/, with a low tone on the first syllable and a long, high vowel in the second.
Did you know?
- While gohwééh comes from the English word 'coffee', the alternative form ahwééh is derived from the Spanish word café.
- In traditional Navajo hospitality, offering a drink like gohwééh is part of a cultural protocol of welcoming guests that emphasizes harmony and generosity.
- The glottal stop at the start of ʼAhwééh represents a distinct consonant sound that does not exist as a standalone letter in the English alphabet.
Examples in context
- Gohwééh éí shił łikan.I like the coffee.Gohwééh starts the sentence, and shił łikan means I like it.
- Kʼad gohwééh łaʼ shaa níkaah!Now pour me some coffee!łaʼ means some, so gohwééh łaʼ is some coffee.
- Ńdiiʼnééh! ʼAhwééh łaʼ nidlą́!Get up! Drink some coffee!This sentence uses the other form, written ʼAhwééh with a glottal stop.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jessica and Brandon are in the kitchen in the morning.
- JessicaGohwééh éí tʼáá łahááʼ kʼad nishłááʼ.The coffee is just now ready.
- BrandonTʼáá ákóóshnííh, gohwééh łah shichįʼThat's great, some coffee for me.
- JessicaDíí gohwééh éí tʼáá áłchíní.This coffee is very hot.
- BrandonAhééh, Jessica.Thank you, Jessica.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations and entries gohwééh, ahwééh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahwééh, gohwééh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
