How to Say “Come Here” in Navajo

Did you know?

• If you were to say hágo to an elder or someone of high status, it could be perceived as an unintentional insult. Respect in Navajo communication is often demonstrated by avoiding the most direct grammatical forms of a command.
• Navajo verbs are highly sensitive to the physical position of the speaker. A verb used to say 'come here' would change entirely if the speaker were to move to a different spot, even if the person being called remained in the same place.
• While English uses the word 'come' for both people and inanimate objects, Navajo uses highly specific verbs based on the physical nature of what is being moved.