Navajo
Etymology
y- (3rd person object prefix) + -yi- (semelfactive) + ∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -tsah (semelfactive stem of root -TSAʼ, “to grasp with teeth”)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /jɪ̀jìːt͡sʰɑ̀h/
Verb
yiyiitsah
- it grasps it, clamps down on it (with teeth, beak, pliers)
- Náshdóítsoh léiʼ dibé yázhí yiztsahgo yił dah diilwod! ― A lion grabbed a lamb with its mouth and ran off!
Conjugation
Paradigm: Semelfactive (yii/si).
| imperfective
|
singular
|
duoplural
|
plural
|
| 1st person
|
yiistsah
|
yiitsah
|
deiitsah
|
| 2nd person
|
yiitsah
|
woohtsah
|
daoohtsah
|
| 3rd person
|
yiyiitsah
|
dayiitsah
|
| 4th person
|
jiitsah
|
dajiitsah
|
| perfective
|
singular
|
duoplural
|
plural
|
| 1st person
|
sétsah
|
siitsah
|
dasiitsah
|
| 2nd person
|
sínítsah
|
sootsah
|
dasootsah
|
| 3rd person
|
yiztsah
|
deiztsah
|
| 4th person
|
jiztsah
|
dajiztsah
|
| future
|
singular
|
duoplural
|
plural
|
| 1st person
|
deestsah
|
diitsah
|
dadiitsah
|
| 2nd person
|
díítsah
|
doohtsah
|
dadoohtsah
|
| 3rd person
|
yidootsah
|
deidootsah
|
| 4th person
|
jidootsah
|
dazhdootsah
|
Stem set
- IMPERFECTIVE: -tsah
- PERFECTIVE: -tsah
- FUTURE: -tsah
- ITERATIVE: -tsah
- OPTATIVE: -tsah