łizhin

Navajo

Etymology

łi- (adjectival) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -zhin (neuter imperfective stem of root -ZHĮ́Į́ʼ, “to be black”).

The łi- prefix appears to have originated historically from the -ł- classifier. When this prefix appears immediately in pre-stem position, it takes the shape of a -l- classifier.

Compare Dogrib dezǫ, Ahtna delzen (“dark colored”).

Verb

łizhin

it is black.
Mósí łizhin ― The (one or two) cat is black.

Mósí daalzhin ― The (three or more) cats are black.

Usage notes

This is a neuter verb. As such, it has only the imperfective stem.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	łinishzhin	łiniijin	dałiniijin
2nd person	łinízhin	łinohzhin	dałinohzhin
3rd person	łizhin		daalzhin
4th person	jilzhin		dajilzhin

Derived terms

dinilzhin (“dark gray”)
Kéʼ łizhiní (“Blackfeet”)
naalʼeełí łizhinígíí (“scoter”)
łizhiní

Colors in Navajo · nidaashchʼąąʼígíí (layout · text)
łigai	łibá (dark gray: dinilzhin)	łizhin
łichííʼ	łichxíʼí (light orange: diniltsxo); dibéłchíʼí, yishtłizh (dark brown: dinilzhin)	łitso (light yellow: diniltso); dinilgai
	dinooltłʼizh, chʼilgo dootłʼizh
dootłʼizhii	yágo dootłʼizh	dootłʼizh
diłhiłgo dootłʼizh	tsédídéehgo dootłʼizh	dinilchííʼ