shizhéʼé
The English word "dad" is translated into Navajo as shizhéʼé.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
shizhéʼé is a combination of the prefix shi-, meaning "my" and zhéʼé, meaning "father".
How does it change in a sentence?
The term shizhéʼé includes the first-person possessive prefix, so it literally translates to "my father" rather than just "father".
Did you know?
- In Navajo culture, the term zhéʼé is often used to refer to any man in the paternal lineage, such as a grandfather or a great-uncle, rather than only a biological father.
- The glottal stop, written as an apostrophe in shizhéʼé, is a distinct consonant sound produced by closing the vocal cords, similar to the catch in the middle of 'uh-oh'.
- The accent mark in shizhéʼé represents a high tone, which is a fundamental part of Navajo grammar and can change the meaning of a word entirely.
Examples in context
- Shizhéʼé yáʼátʼéé.My dad is good.
Example conversation
Brandon and Jessica are talking about their families.
- BrandonShizhéʼé áééʼshį́į́ʼ.I love my dad.
- JessicaDoo tʼáá áánígo?Is he really like that?
- BrandonÁádo, shizhéʼé shimáá yee hwiih.Yes, my dad gets along with my mother.
- JessicaTʼáá áání.That is true.
