táníilʼáii
The Navajo word for dragonfly is táníilʼáii.
táníilʼáii is a noun used to refer to insects of the infraorder Anisoptera.
Meaning: insect of the infraorder Anisoptera (noun)
Did you know?
- In some Navajo Diné stories, dragonflies are considered messengers of the water, often appearing in tales to signal the coming of seasonal rains.
- Unlike the English 'dragonfly', which evokes a mythical beast, táníilʼáii contains no reference to dragons or monsters.
- The Navajo language uses descriptive compounding, meaning the word táníilʼáii is built from smaller units that describe the insect's nature or appearance rather than a single abstract label.
Example conversation
Sarah and Brandon are looking at a pond.
- SarahTáníilʼáii nihílíí!Look at the dragonfly!
- BrandonÁáʼOh!
- SarahTáníilʼáii bee hólǫ́.It is a dragonfly.
- BrandonTʼáá ákótʼééʼ yá.It flies right there.
