atsiitsʼiin
/ʔɑ̀t͡sʰìːt͡sʼìːn/
The English word head is translated into Navajo as atsiitsʼiin. Wiktionary also lists bitsiiʼ and atsiiʼ.
Meaning: part of the body (noun)
Ways to say it
| Navajo | IPA |
|---|---|
| atsiitsʼiin | /ʔɑ̀t͡sʰìːt͡sʼìːn/ |
| bitsiiʼ | /pɪ̀t͡sʰìːʔ/ |
| atsiiʼ | /ʔɑ̀t͡sʰìːʔ/ |
Which one should you use?
The pack provides three forms for head: bitsiiʼ, atsiiʼ and atsiitsʼiin.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔɑ̀tsʰìːtsʼìːn/
Did you know?
- Navajo shares a distant linguistic relative in the Ket language of Siberia, where the word for 'head' also stems from a similar ancestral root.
- Navajo uses a complex system of prefixes to indicate ownership, meaning the word for 'head' changes if it is 'my head' or 'your head'.
- The high-pitched sounds and glottal stops in atsiitsʼiin are crucial, as changing the tone or the 'stop' can change the meaning entirely.
Example sentences for Navajo are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Kyle and Amanda are talking about a drawing of a person.
- KyleAtsiitsʼiin tʼáá ákooda.The head is just like that.
- AmandaHózhóón.It is beautiful.
- KyleShitsiitsʼiin tʼáá ákooda.My head is just like that.
- AmandaDíí tʼáá ákooda.This one is just like that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “head” translations and entries atsiitsʼiin, bitsiiʼ, atsiiʼ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries atsiitsʼiin, atsiiʼ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
