nilį́

See also: nili, Nili, and nílʼį́

Navajo

Etymology

ni- (modal) + ∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -lį́ (neuter imperfective stem of root -LĮ́Į́ʼ, “to be, to become”).

Verb

nilį́

1. he/she is (some thing, or some quality)

   Diné nílį́ ― you are Navajo.

Usage notes

This verb is generally used for animate subjects. When describing something inanimate, use the verb átʼé in most cases. For existence and location, use the verb hólǫ́.

This is a neuter verb. As such, it is only used in the imperfective.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).

NEUTER IMP	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	nishłį́	niidlį́	daniidlį́
2nd person	nílį́	nohłį́	danohłį́
3rd person	nilį́		danilį́
4th person	jílį́		dajílį́

Other modes are suppleted by forms of yileeh:

PERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	sélį́į́ʼ	siidlį́į́ʼ	dasiidlį́į́ʼ
2nd person	sínílį́į́ʼ	soolį́į́ʼ	dasoolį́į́ʼ
3rd person	silį́į́ʼ		dazlį́į́ʼ
4th person	jizlį́į́ʼ		dajizlį́į́ʼ

FUTURE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	deeshłeeł	diidleeł	dadiidleeł
2nd person	dííleeł	doohłeeł	dadoohłeeł
3rd person	dooleeł		dadooleeł
4th person	jidooleeł		dazhdooleeł

See also

• átʼé
• hólǫ́
• yileeh