dééh
/téːh/
The Navajo word for tea is dééh. Wiktionary also lists chʼil ahwééh.
Meaning: drink made from leaves of tea plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| Navajo | IPA |
|---|---|
| dééh | /téːh/ |
| chʼil ahwééh | /t͡ʃʼɪ̀l ʔɑ̀hwéːh/ |
This refers to the drink made from the leaves of the tea plant.
Which one should you use?
dééh is the standard form for the drink, while chʼil ahwééh is another way to express the concept.
How do you pronounce it?
/téːh/
Did you know?
- While dééh is the standard term, using chʼil ahwééh literally describes the drink as 'plant coffee'.
- In many Navajo homes, the word for tea refers to a brew of native herbs like greasewood rather than the leaves of the actual tea plant.
- The Navajo word for tea, dééh, is actually a loanword from the Spanish word 'té'.
Example sentences for Navajo are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Amanda and Brandon are relaxing in the living room.
- AmandaDééh łínííʼ tʼáá áánííh.I'll make some tea.
- BrandonÁáshį́į́h, tʼáá łééh.Yes, please.
- AmandaDééh yee tʼáá ááníh.I'm making the tea now.
- BrandonAhéheeʼ, Amanda.Thank you, Amanda.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tea” translations and entries dééh, chʼil ahwééh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahwééh, chʼil, chʼil ahwééh, dééh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
