dootłʼizh
/tòːt͡ɬʼɪ̀ʒ/
Green in Navajo is dootłʼizh.
dootłʼizh describes something green. The same word also covers blue, since Navajo traditionally uses one color term for both.
Meaning: having green as its colour (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Like other Navajo color words, dootłʼizh is a verb form, so it changes with the person. In the example, you are green becomes dinítłizh.
How do you pronounce it?
dootłʼizh is pronounced /tòːtɬʼɪ̀ʒ/. The tłʼ is a single sound, a breathy l with a catch and the final zh sounds like the s in measure.
Did you know?
- In Navajo, the word dootłʼizh is used to refer to a ten-cent dime coin. This usage originates from the green color of fractional currency notes issued during the American Civil War.
Examples in context
- Haʼátʼáo lá dinítłizh?Why are you green?dinítłizh is the form for you, so the question asks why you are green.
Example conversation
Kyle and Amanda are looking at a garden.
- KyleDootłʼizh tʼáá łahááʼ bitsʼą́ąʼ.Everything around here is green.
- AmandaÁádóó tʼáá áádááʼ łééchxǫ́ʼ.And it is all very fresh.
- KyleDootłʼizh tʼáá ákʼelgai.That green grass is beautiful.
- AmandaHózhǫ́ǫ́ʼ tʼáá ałtsé.It is very pleasant.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dootłʼizh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dootłʼizh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
