Diné Bizaad (Navajo)
[aka Diné Bizaad, Navajo, Navaho]Classification: Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit
·at risk
Today's Navajo Word of the Day is "Bił Nijoobałí," which is the slang term in Navajo for "cell phone." The more proper way to say cell phone in Navajo is "Béésh Bee Hane'é T'óó Naat'áhígíí." As I said in a previous lesson, telephone is "Béésh Bee Hane'é." The "T'óó Naat'áhígíí" portion describes it as being portable or hand-held. In this lesson, "Bił Nijoobałí" describes an object that people spin with. Another common term for cell phone is "Bił Nijooyisí," which describes someone moving their phone around trying to catch the signal. There are many ways on the reservation to say "cell phone." :-) Anyway, the sentence used in today's example is, "Bił nijoobałí bi'niitsá. Éí naa éí ndeeshbish nisin," which means, "The cell phone is dying. For that reason, I want to charge it." The breakdown: Bił nijoobałí: cell phone Bi'niitsá: it is dying Éí naa: for that reason (a shortened version of "éí biniinaa") Éí: it (meaning the cell phone) Ndeeshbish: I will charge it Nisin: I want to Again, any questions on any of these or have any other comments, let me know! :-D