bił hajiijééʼ
bił hajiijééʼ is the Navajo word for cousin.
This noun refers to the child of a person's parent's brother or sister.
Meaning: child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister (noun)
Did you know?
- In traditional Navajo culture, certain 'cousins' are categorized as siblings rather than cousins. This depends on the specific gender of the parent and the relative's parent.
- The kinship system used for terms like bił hajiijééʼ is fundamentally tied to the matrilineal clan system. Your clan is inherited from your mother and determines your relationship to others.
- The term bił hajiijééʼ is part of a language family that extends far north to Alaska. It shares a distant ancestry with the Dena'ina and Wailaki languages.
Example conversation
Justin and Sarah are talking about their family members.
- JustinBił hajiijééʼ tʼáá áánígo bee hwiihááł.I am playing with my cousin.
- SarahÁáá, tʼáá áánígo bił hózhǫ́?Oh, is he very happy?
- JustinÁá, bił hajiijééʼ tʼáá áánígo bił hózhǫ́.Yes, my cousin is very happy.
- SarahTʼáá áánígo bił hózhǫ́.He is very happy.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bił, CC BY-SA 4.0.
