How to Say “Spider” in Navajo

By Trevor Fred • Updated October 2, 2026

naʼashjéʼii

The Navajo word for spider is naʼashjéʼii.

This noun is used to refer to the arthropod known as a spider.

Meaning: arthropod (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The term is a verb-based noun that literally means it crawls or it creeps.

Did you know?

In Navajo culture, the 'Spider Woman' is a revered deity who taught the people how to weave.
The term naʼashjéʼii captures the 'stickiness' of the spider's web as a defining characteristic of the creature itself.
In Navajo, many animal names are actually descriptions of what the animal 'does' to the world around it.

Example sentences for Navajo are not verified yet.

Example conversation

Michelle and Tyler are looking at a web in the garden.

Michelle

Naʼashjéʼii łáʼí bee nitsááʼí.
There is one spider on top.
Tyler

Áánííh, tʼáá áánííh.
Yes, it is right there.
Michelle

Naʼashjéʼii tʼáá ákooda.
The spider is just like that.
Tyler

Áádá ałtah.
It is very small.

Sources

Wiktionary, “spider” translations and entries naʼashjéʼii, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.

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About The Author

Trevor Fred

Hózhǫǫgi doo shikisheeshłį́į́gi, Trevor yinishyé. A polymath with a passion for decoding cultures, I've spent my life enjoying the poetry of the Navajo language, and reveling in the synchrony of sounds that make this Indigenous language so enchanting. When I'm not engrossed in articulating the intricacies of Navajo, you'll find me exploring the wild, chasing the autumn colors, or cuddling my cats and my dog named 'hogan'. Internet, grab your boots, and come ride with me on a linguistic adventure through the Navajo landscapes!

Trevor FredHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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