How to Say “Evil” in Navajo

By Georgia Leonie • Updated October 4, 2026

doo yáʼáshóonii

The English word "evil" is translated into Navajo as doo yáʼáshóonii.

This phrase is used as an adjective to describe something or someone that is morally corrupt.

Meaning: morally corrupt (adj)

Did you know?

In Navajo philosophy, 'evil' is often not seen as a tangible thing one can touch, but rather as a state of being out of harmony with the natural order.
The phrase doo yáʼáshóonii is actually a verb phrase that functions as an adjective, meaning 'it will not be good'.
The word doo is a clipped version of the future tense verb dooleeł, which means 'it will be'.

Example conversation

Sarah and Kyle are discussing a villain in a story.

Sarah

Doo yáʼáshóonii tʼééʼ áání łichíį́h.
That man is really evil.
Kyle

Ááʼááł, tʼáá áání.
Yes, he truly is.
Sarah

Doo yáʼáshóonii tʼééʼ ákʼelgááʼ.
He does evil things.
Kyle

Hózhǫ́ǫ́hóósh łáʼáá.
It is very sad.

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries doo, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Georgia Leonie

Hello! I am Georgia, a dedicated enthusiast of the beautiful Navajo language. As an avid reader and language explorer, my love for the Navajo dialect has allowed me to create comprehensive guides providing riveting insights into the cultural and indigenous languages. My interests don't stop at languages though; as a keen traveler, I've immersed myself into the native cultures, which inevitably led to my exploration of the Navajo dialect. When I'm not exploring languages or new places, I enjoy spending time with animals, pottery and cooking. Examples of some of my work include, 'How to say 'You' in Navajo: Formal and Informal Ways' and 'How to say 'Girlfriend' in Navajo: A Comprehensive Guide'.

Georgia LeonieHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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