shitseʼé
In Navajo, "my daughter" is shitseʼé.
This phrase is used to refer to a female child in relation to her parent.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the prefix shi- (my) and tseʼé (daughter).
Did you know?
- The term shitseʼé belongs to a language family called Na-Dené, which some linguists believe has ancient ties to languages spoken in Siberia.
- In Navajo culture, a mother might refer to her own sister's daughter as shitseʼé, as aunts are often considered mothers in the matrilineal system.
- The prefix shi- used in shitseʼé is a first-person possessive marker that is specifically used for kin and body parts, distinguishing it from the general word for 'my'.
Examples in context
- Shitseʼé deezʼááʼ.My daughter is small.
Example conversation
Tyler and Sarah are looking at a family photo.
- TylerKʼééʼyóóó, shitseʼé tʼáá áéí tʼééʼ.Look, that is my daughter.
- SarahTʼáá áásháá, tʼáá ákótʼé.I see, she looks just like you.
- TylerShitseʼé tʼáá áłóó tʼóó bighááʼ.My daughter is very smart.
- SarahTʼáá ákótʼé, tʼáá áłóó tʼáá áéí.That is true, she really is.
