báʼóltaʼí
/pɑ́ʔóltʰɑ̀ʔɪ́/
Teacher in Navajo is báʼóltaʼí, a person who teaches.
báʼóltaʼí is the general word for a teacher, for example at a school.
Meaning: person who teaches (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes at the start to show whose teacher it is. His, her or their teacher is yáʼółtaʼí, your teacher for one person is báʼííníłtaʼí and your teacher for several people is báʼíínółtaʼí.
How do you pronounce it?
báʼóltaʼí is pronounced /pɑ́ʔóltʰɑ̀ʔɪ́/, with glottal stops where ʼ is written.
Did you know?
- The word báʼóltaʼí is built around the concept of 'reading is done'. To say someone is a teacher, you are essentially saying they are a person 'for whom reading is done'.
- While báʼóltaʼí is used for school teachers, the broader Navajo concept of teaching often involves 'showing' or 'demonstrating' through action, which uses different terminology than the formal word for a classroom instructor.
- Because the word for teacher is rooted in the verb for 'reading', the term became more prominent as Western-style schooling and literacy were introduced to the Navajo people.
Examples in context
- yáʼółtaʼíHis/her/their teacheryáʼółtaʼí means his, her or their teacher.
- báʼííníłtaʼíYour (singular) teacherbáʼííníłtaʼí means your teacher when speaking to one person.
- báʼíínółtaʼíYour (plural) teacherbáʼíínółtaʼí means your teacher when speaking to several people.
Example conversation
Justin and Amanda are talking about their school day.
- JustinHózhǫ́ą́áda báʼóltaʼí t'áá ííníh.The teacher is very good.
- AmandaÁá, t'áá ádaat'é.Yes, that is true.
- JustinKééyááłtį́į́ báníyááłtį́í báʼóltaʼí éí níyá?Is your teacher the one from the other class?
- AmandaÁą́yá, éí níyá.Yes, that is the one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “teacher” translations and entries báʼóltaʼí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries báʼóltaʼí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
