nidóoneʼé
The phrase for "your clans" in Navajo is nidóoneʼé.
nidóoneʼé refers to the ancestral kinship groups to which a person belongs.
Did you know?
- In Navajo culture, knowing someone's 'clans' is often more important than knowing their given name. It functions as a sophisticated social map to determine if two people are related or if they are strangers.
- A person traditionally identifies four clans: the father's clan, the mother's clan, the father's father's clan and the mother's father's clan.
- Navajo 'clans' are often matrilineal, meaning your membership is passed down through your mother's line. This differs from many English-speaking traditions where paternal lineage is often the default focus.
Example conversation
Two people are introducing themselves and discussing their heritage.
- MichelleTʼáá anéí níyééʼ nidóoneʼé.What are your clans?
- TylerKinaaldizaad kʼad Tóʼáʼjí.Kinaaldizaad and Tóʼáʼjí.
- MichelleTóʼáʼjí tʼáá ákótʼégo nidóoneʼé.Tóʼáʼjí is also one of your clans.
- TylerÁáʼá, tʼáá ákótʼé.Yes, that is correct.
