béeso ádin
/pêːsò ʔɑ́tɪ̀n/word by word
The Navajo phrase for "no money" is béeso ádin.
béeso ádin is used to describe a state of having no money or a lack of financial funds.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of béeso, meaning money and ádin, which is the negative form of the verb meaning "there is" or "exists". Literally, it translates to "money there is not".
How do you pronounce it?
/pêːsò ʔɑ́tɪ̀n/
Did you know?
- The Navajo word for money, béeso, is a loanword derived from the Spanish word 'peso'.
- In Navajo, the concept of 'not having' something is often expressed as that object having 'disappeared' from one's possession.
- The term béeso reflects the historical influence of Spanish trade and currency in the American Southwest long before the US dollar was dominant.
Example conversation
Brandon and Amanda are discussing going to the store.
- BrandonDááshį́į́dáá, béeso ádin.I cannot go, I have no money.
- AmandaTʼáá áánílíí?Is that really true?
- BrandonÁáshį́į́dáá, béeso ádin.Yes, I have no money.
- AmandaKʼééshį́į́dáá, shíní.I can help you, my friend.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (béeso, ádin) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries béeso, ádin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
