másání
The Navajo word for grandma is másání.
másání is used to refer to a grandmother.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Did you know?
- The term másání belongs to a linguistic family known as Athabaskan, which shares distant roots with languages spoken in Alaska and Canada.
- Navajo kinship terms are matrilineal, meaning the word másání is central to a system that traces descent and clan membership through the mother's line.
- Navajo is a tonal language, meaning a slight change in the pitch of másání can technically change the meaning or grammatical function of the word.
Examples in context
- Másání bee yáʼátʼééʼ.It is good because of grandma.
Example conversation
Sarah and Brandon are visiting their family home.
- SarahMásání, shóó hólǫ́?Grandma, are you coming?
- BrandonÁáʼ, tʼáá ályaa.Yes, I am ready.
- SarahBrandon, shimásání tʼáá ályaa.Brandon, my grandma is ready.
- BrandonTʼáá áko.That is good.
