haʼní

Navajo

Etymology

ho- (“space, area, things”) + -di- (“oral”) + ∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -ní (neuter imperfective stem of root -NIID, “to say”).

Like with ní (“he says”), di- deletes in the third person, but only optionally: hodiʼní.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hɑ̀ʔnɪ́/

• Audio:

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Verb

haʼní

1. they say, it is said

   Kinłání doo ayóo deesdoi da łeh haʼní ― Flagstaff is usually not very hot, it is said.

Usage notes

This is a neuter verb. For conjugations in other modes, see the corresponding active verb haʼniih (Perf. hodooʼniid).

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (∅), third person only.

Related terms

• haʼniih
• haʼníigo
• ní