łichííʼ
/ɬɪ̀t͡ʃʰíːʔ/
The English word "red" translates to Navajo as łichííʼ.
łichííʼ is used to denote the color red as a noun or as an adjective meaning "having red as its colour".
Meaning: colour (noun)
Which one should you use?
The form of the word changes based on the number of objects being described. Use łichííʼ when referring to one or two objects. If you are referring to three or more objects, the form changes to daalchííʼ.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Use łichííʼ for one or two objects, but switch to daalchííʼ for three or more objects.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɬɪ̀tʃʰíːʔ/
Did you know?
- The grammatical structure of łichííʼ includes a hidden 3rd person subject prefix and a classifier, making it more like a short sentence than a simple word.
Examples in context
- Tsídii łichííʼThe (one or two) bird is red.This sentence is useful for describing one or two birds using łichííʼ.
- Tsídii daalchííʼThe (three or more) birds are red.This sentence is useful for describing three or more birds using the plural form daalchííʼ.
Example conversation
Justin and Jessica are looking at a painting.
- JustinŁichííʼ tʼáá átʼééh.It is truly red.
- JessicaÁáʼ łichííʼ tʼáá łéʼéʼąąʼ.Yes, that red is very bright.
- JustinDoo łichííʼ tʼáá áshjééʼ dóó.It is not completely red.
- JessicaÁáʼ, łichííʼ tʼáá átʼééh.Yes, it is definitely red.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry łichííʼ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries łichííʼ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
