Navajo edit

Etymology edit

na- (downward) + -y- (3rd person object prefix) + -hi- (seriative) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier)-lé (imperfective stem of root -LÁ, “to handle a slender flexible object”).

Verb edit

nayiilé

  1. to pay a succession of payments: rent, salary, installments.
    Bichʼįʼ nahashłé.I pay him.
    Bikʼé nahashłé.I pay for it.

Conjugation edit

Paradigm: Momentaneous (∅/si).

IMPERFECTIVE singular duoplural plural
1st person nahashłé nahiilyé ndahiilyé
2nd person nahílé nahohłé ndahohłé
3rd person nayiilé ndayiilé
4th person njiilé ndajiilé
Other forms
Unspecified person Spatial person Passive A Passive B
nahalyé
PERFECTIVE singular duoplural plural
1st person nahálá Nahaalyá ndahaalyá
2nd person nahínílá nahisoolá ndahisoolá
3rd person nayiizlá ndayiizlá
4th person njiizlá ndajiizlá

Notes:

  1. D-effect in the 1st person duoplural results in ly- instead of the expected dl-.
  2. The stem in the passive perfective is -laʼ instead of the expected -lá.