chʼékááh

Navajo

Etymology

chʼí- (“out horizontally”) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -kááh (imperfective stem of root -KAI, “to go, to walk — 3+ actors”).

Prefix chʼí- becomes chʼé- when in pre-stem position.

Verb

chʼékááh

1. they (3+ actors) go out horizontally (as through a door), exit, leave.

Usage notes

The stem is used for going / walking in groups of three or more people. For individual movement, see chʼéghááh. For movement in pairs, see chʼéʼaash.

Singular forms of this verb refer to one subject involved in a movement as a group:

• Nihił chʼíníshkai — I went out with you (pl.).

Conjugation

Paradigm: Momentaneous (ni/ni), with partial da-shift.

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	chʼíníshkááh	chʼíniikááh	chʼídaniikááh
2nd person	chʼíníkááh	chʼínóhkááh	chʼídanohkááh
3rd person	chʼékááh		chʼídaakááh
4th person	chʼíjíkááh		chʼídajíkááh

PERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	chʼíníshkai	chʼíniikai	chʼídaniikai
2nd person	chʼííníkai	chʼínoohkai	chʼídanoohkai
3rd person	chʼékai		chʼídaaskai
4th person	chʼíjíkai		chʼídajiskai

FUTURE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	chʼídeeshkah	chʼídiikah	chʼídadiikah
2nd person	chʼídííkah	chʼídoohkah	chʼídadoohkah
3rd person	chʼídookah		chʼídadookah
4th person	chʼízhdookah		chʼídazhdookah