Tʼáadoo leʼé bił nanitłʼah
The Navajo phrase for "lazy" is Tʼáadoo leʼé bił nanitłʼah.
The phrase is used as an adjective to describe someone who is unwilling to work.
Meaning: unwilling to work (adj)
Did you know?
- The phrase Tʼáadoo leʼé bił nanitłʼah relates to the Navajo cultural value of 'Hózhó', which emphasizes balance and harmony, making laziness a disruption of that natural order.
- The component bił shares an ancient root with the -ł third-person form in the now-extinct Wailaki language of California.
- Navajo is a member of the Athabaskan language family, meaning the roots of this phrase are related to languages spoken in Alaska and Canada.
Example conversation
Kyle and Amanda are talking about a roommate.
- KyleTʼáadoo leʼé bił nanitłʼah.He is lazy.
- AmandaDíísááʼ yááʼááł?Does he not work?
- KyleÁáko, tʼáadoo leʼé bił nanitłʼah.No, he is just lazy.
- AmandaÁánígo.I see.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bił, tʼáadoo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
