How to Say “Grey” in Navajo

By •
łibá
/ɬɪ̀pɑ́/
The Navajo word for grey is łibá.
łibá is used to describe the color that is a mix of black and white.

How do you pronounce it?

/ɬɪ̀pɑ́/

Did you know?

  • Many Navajo color words are used metaphorically to describe age. A person's hair turning łibá is a marker of wisdom and transition in life stages.
  • Because the word is derived from a verbal stem, describing a 'grey' object in Navajo is more akin to saying it 'is greying' or 'acts grey'.
  • The sound of the ł in łibá is a voiceless alveolar lateral fricative. It is produced by pushing air around the sides of the tongue without vibrating the vocal cords.

Example conversation

Kyle and Michelle are looking at a piece of fabric.

  1. Kyle

    Díí łibá yee?
    Is this one grey?
  2. Michelle

    Ááʼ, łibá tʼáá łéʼéʼ.
    Yes, it is completely grey.
  3. Kyle

    Tʼaai łibá yee naʼashdlį́.
    I only see a grey one.
  4. Michelle

    Áádááʼ tʼáá łibá.
    That one is definitely grey.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏
Gertrude Faith
Gertrude FaithHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
guest
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Scroll to Top