dahyiitį́hii
The Navajo word for hummingbird is dahyiitį́hii.
The term refers to any of the various small American birds belonging to the family Trochilidae.
Meaning: any of various small American birds in the family Trochilidae (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of elements suggesting a bird or creature that flies or hovers with rapid motions.
Did you know?
- If you were to change the verbal aspect in the word dahyiitį́hii, you would no longer be describing the same bird. The 'identity' of the bird is grammatically locked into its movement.
- In many Navajo descriptions of nature, the name for an animal is often a 'clausal noun'. This means the name functions like a whole sentence, such as 'the one that does X'.
- While English speakers see a bird that 'hums', a Navajo speaker sees an entity that is defined by the act of 'hovering' or 'staying in place while moving'.
Example conversation
Brandon and Jessica are looking at a garden.
- BrandonJessica, dahyiitį́hii bikááʼgo yááł.Jessica, a hummingbird is flying over there.
- JessicaÁáá, tʼáá łíní!Oh, it is so small!
- BrandonDahyiitį́hii tʼáá bizaad.The hummingbird is very fast.
- JessicaHózhóą́It is beautiful.
