ayóóʼáníshʼní
The English phrase "I miss you" is translated into Navajo as ayóóʼáníshʼní.
The phrase ayóóʼáníshʼní is used to express emotional longing or the feeling of missing someone's presence.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to the concept of "it is a great thing that I am thinking of you" or "you are a great thing to me".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ayóóʼáníshʼní is specifically used when a first-person singular subject ("I") is acting upon a second-person singular object ("you").
Did you know?
- The Navajo language is 'verb-heavy', meaning that a single word like ayóóʼáníshʼní contains the subject, the object and the action all in one, functioning like an entire English sentence.
- Because Navajo is a tonal language, changing the pitch or the length of the vowels in ayóóʼáníshʼní can change the meaning of the word entirely.
- The glottal stop, represented by the apostrophe in ayóóʼáníshʼní, is a full consonant sound created by closing the vocal folds, which is rarely used as a distinct letter in English.
Examples in context
- Ayóó anííníshní.I miss you.
- Shí ayóóʼáníshʼní.I miss you (emphasizing 'I').
Example conversation
Sarah and Justin are talking on the phone.
- SarahYáʼátʼééh, Justin.Hello, Justin.
- JustinYáʼátʼééh, Sarah.Hello, Sarah.
- SarahAyóóʼáníshʼní.I miss you.
- JustinAyóóʼáníshʼní áánílah.I miss you too.
