tooh nílíní
The Navajo word for river is tooh nílíní. Wiktionary also lists tooh.
Meaning: large stream which drains a landmass (noun)
Ways to say it
| Navajo | IPA |
|---|---|
| tooh nílíní | |
| tooh | /tʰòːh/ |
The term refers to a large stream that drains a landmass.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form tooh is used as a noun within place names, such as in Tooh Gila (Gila River).
Did you know?
- The word tooh has been compared to the word дэʼ in the Ket language, spoken in Siberia.
- When you say tooh nílíní, you are not just naming a thing, but describing an action: 'it is a flowing river'.
- While English distinguishes between a 'river' and a 'lake', the Navajo word tooh can refer to both, depending on the context of the landscape.
Examples in context
- Tooh GilaGila RiverThis demonstrates how to name the Gila River using tooh.
- Są́ BitoohSan Juan RiverThis demonstrates how to name the San Juan River using tooh.
- Tooh PecosPecos RiverThis demonstrates how to name the Pecos River using tooh.
Example conversation
Tyler and Amanda are looking at a map of the region.
- TylerTooh nílíní bee łéh dóó hólǫ́.The river has water in it.
- AmandaÁá', tooh nílíní t'áá łáá'í.Yes, it is just one river.
- TylerTooh nílíní bee t'áá áádááł.The river goes all the way through.
- AmandaHózhóóh tooh nílíní bee.It is beautiful by the river.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “river” translations and entries tooh nílíní, tooh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tooh, tooh nílíní, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
