nízin

Navajo edit

Etymology edit

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.

Pronunciation edit

Audio (NV) (file)

Verb edit

nízin

he/she thinks, is of the opinion
Ashkii léi háágóó deeyá nínízin? ― Where do you think that boy is going?

George shíká adoolwoł nisin. ― I think George will help me.

George bíká adeeshwoł nízin. ― George wants to help him. (lit. George thinks “I will help him”.)

George jíká adeeshwoł nízin. ― George wants to help me. (lit. George thinks “I will help him (4th person)”.)
(in a number of set expressions) he/she feels:
ahééh nízin ― he/she is thankful

bił nízin ― he/she is sleepy

dibááʼ nízin ― he/she is thirsty

dichin nízin ― he/she is hungry

tsį́į́ł nízin ― he/she is in a hurry, is impatient

Usage notes edit

This is a neuter verb that uses only the imperfective mode. The conjugation is identical to yinízin (“he/she wants it”) except for the third person, due to the latter being transitive.

Conjugation edit

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

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

Related terms edit

hasįįh (“conditions make one feel”)
yinízin (“he/she wants it”)