hooghan
/hòːɣɑ̀n/
The Navajo word for home is hooghan.
hooghan refers to a house or structure in which someone lives, serving as a noun for a dwelling or abode.
Meaning: house or structure in which someone lives (noun)
Which one should you use?
While hooghan is the noun for a house, the related form hooghandi is an adverb meaning "at home" and hooghangóó is an adverb meaning "homewards".
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/hòːɣɑ̀n/
Did you know?
- A traditional hooghan is built with a circular floor plan and a door that always faces east to welcome the rising sun.
- In Navajo culture, the hooghan is not just a shelter but a sacred space used for ceremonies and spiritual healing.
- The word hooghan is built from a prefix that specifies a space and a verb stem that means 'to live', effectively making the word mean 'the place where living happens'.
Examples in context
- Tóó hooghanjigo dah diish’na’.I set off home, crawling.This sentence shows the use of hooghan in the context of moving towards a home.Tatoeba #7561704 by Atomo, translation #7561705 by Atomo
Example conversation
Jessica and Brandon are walking through a neighborhood.
- JessicaHóshééh, kǫʼ hooghan?Look, is that your home?
- BrandonÁáá, t'áá ádaago hooghan.Yes, that is my home right there.
- JessicaHózhóóh lą́ʼ hooghan.Your home is very nice.
- BrandonAhéheeʼ, Jessica.Thank you, Jessica.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “home” translations and entries hooghan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hooghan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
