ayóí
The Navajo word for niece is ayóí.
This term is used to refer to a niece who is the daughter of one's sibling, whether that sibling is a brother or a sister.
Meaning: fraternal or sororal niece (noun)
Did you know?
- A niece might be addressed using terms that imply she is a 'clan sister' or 'clan daughter' depending on the speaker's clan alignment.
- Because Navajo is a tonal language, the meaning of the words used to describe family members can change entirely based on the pitch of your voice.
- An ayóí might be referred to using different terms if she is the daughter of a cross-cousin, as Navajo distinguishes between parallel and cross-relatives.
Example conversation
Brandon and Sarah are looking at a family photo.
- BrandonKʼééʼyáásh, ayóí yinááʼáá?Relative, is your niece sleeping?
- SarahÁáʼYes.
- BrandonAyóí tʼáá áánígo bishłááʼ.Your niece is very cute.
- SarahAhéheeʼ, Sarah.Thank you, Sarah.
