atsá
/ʔɑ̀t͡sʰɑ́/
The Navajo word for eagle is atsá.
atsá is a noun used to refer to any of the large carnivorous birds belonging to the family Accipitridae.
Meaning: any of several large carnivorous birds in the family Accipitridae (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔɑ̀tsʰɑ́/
Did you know?
- Navajo is part of the Athabaskan language family, which means the root of atsá can be traced back to prehistoric languages spoken in Siberia and Alaska.
- In Navajo culture, the eagle is often viewed as a messenger between the human and spiritual worlds, making the bird a powerful symbol of protection and strength.
- The word atsá is derived from a root meaning 'to grasp with teeth or beak', focusing on the bird's hunting method rather than its appearance.
Examples in context
- Atsá.An eagle.
Example conversation
Tyler and Jessica are looking at birds in the sky.
- TylerDoolááʼ, atsá yáá!Look, an eagle is flying!
- JessicaÁádááʼ, tʼáá áání.Yes, it really is.
- TylerAtsá łééʼ yáá.The eagle is flying high.
- JessicaHózhǫ́ náyáá.It looks beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eagle” translations and entries atsá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries atsá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
