yá'át'ééh hiiłch'į'
The Navajo phrase for "goodnight" is yá'át'ééh hiiłch'į'.
This phrase is a greeting used when you are leaving someone or when you are going to sleep at night.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of yá'át'ééh, meaning "it is good" and hiiłch'į', meaning "it becomes night" or "at the time of night".
Did you know?
- The concept of 'good' in yá'át'ééh is closely tied to the concept of 'Hózhó', a complex Navajo philosophy meaning balance, harmony and beauty.
- The Navajo language is an 'agglutinating' language, meaning a single word like hiiłch'į' is built by adding various prefixes and suffixes to a root to convey complex ideas about time and state.
- Because Navajo is a tonal language, changing the pitch or the length of the vowel in yá'át'ééh can change the meaning of the word entirely.
Example conversation
Justin and Amanda are saying goodnight before going to their separate rooms.
- JustinYá'át'ééh hiiłch'į', Amanda.Goodnight, Amanda.
- AmandaYá'át'ééh hiiłch'į', Justin.Goodnight, Justin.
- JustinHózhóogo naat'á.Sleep in peace.
- AmandaÁákóhóósh.I will.
