yinízin

Navajo

Etymology

y- (3rd person object prefix) + -ni- (modal) + ∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -zin (neuter imperfective stem of root -ZĮĮD, “to think, to know”).

This verb exhibits irregular tones on the inner prefix /ni/ syllable in the second-person singular and third-person singular and duoplural forms.

Verb

yinízin

1. he/she wants it, likes it, desires it

   tó łaʼ nisin.

   I want some water.

   doo nisin da.

   I don’t want it.

   doo nisxin da.

   I really don’t want it.

Usage notes

This is a neuter verb that uses only the imperfective mode. The conjugation is identical to nízin (“he/she thinks”) in all cases except the third person.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (∅), with some irregularities.

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	nisin	niidzin	daniidzin
2nd person	nínízin	nohsin	danohsin
3rd person	yinízin		deinízin
4th person	jinízin		daznízin

Related terms

• nízin (“to think”)