akʼos
/ʔɑ̀kʼòs/
The Navajo word for neck is akʼos.
akʼos is a noun used to refer to the part of the body that connects the head and the trunk.
Meaning: part of body connecting the head and the trunk (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔɑ̀kʼòs/
Did you know?
- The term akʼos is a linguistic cousin to the word -kʼos used in the Ahtna language of Alaska. This connection survives despite the thousands of miles separating the Navajo people from their Proto-Athabaskan ancestors.
- Because the Navajo language is verb-heavy, describing an action involving the akʼos often requires a specific verb that indicates the shape and movement of the neck, rather than just using a general verb like 'move'.
- The sound kʼ in akʼos is an ejective consonant, created by closing the glottis and pushing air out with the tongue. This sound does not exist in English and requires a distinct 'pop' of the throat.
Example sentences for Navajo are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Kyle and Jessica are talking about a sore muscle.
- KyleShí akʼos tʼáá ákʼééh.My neck is really sore.
- JessicaDíí tʼáá ákootʼééh.It really is like that.
- KyleDootłʼizhii łichííʼ akʼos.The thin neck is hurting.
- JessicaNíyááłtah dadiʼááh.Rest for a while.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “neck” translations and entries akʼos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries akʼos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
