Níłchʼitsʼósí
/nɪ́ɬt͡ʃʼɪ̀t͡sʼósɪ́/
The Navajo word for December is Níłchʼitsʼósí.
Níłchʼitsʼósí is the name used for the twelfth month of the Gregorian calendar.
Meaning: twelfth month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
How do you pronounce it?
/nɪ́ɬtʃʼɪ̀tsʼósɪ́/
Did you know?
- The name Níłchʼitsʼósí is a compound word that literally means 'slender wind'.
- Unlike English, where 'December' comes from the Latin word for ten, Níłchʼitsʼósí contains no numerical reference to the month's position in the year.
- The sound ł in Níłchʼitsʼósí is a voiceless lateral fricative, a sound produced by placing the tongue as if saying 'L' but blowing air around the sides.
Example conversation
Tyler and Michelle are talking about a winter trip.
- TylerNíłchʼitsʼósí tʼáá áéí nagoó, łáʼáʼí bíyaagi.It is already December, for some reason.
- MichelleÁáko, tʼáá ákóóshį́į́h.Yes, it went by very quickly.
- TylerYááʼádaaí Níłchʼitsʼósí bikááʼ łáʼáʼí?Will you go some time in December?
- MichelleHéésh, tʼáá áłlááʼí.Yes, very soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Níłchʼitsʼósí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Níłchʼitsʼósí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
