neiłʼaʼ

Navajo

Etymology

na- (atelic, circuital) + -y- (3rd person object prefix) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -ł- (classifier, thematic) + -ʼaʼ (continuative imperfective stem of root -ʼAʼ, “to send, to order”).

Verb

neiłʼaʼ

1. he/she is ordering him/her around, is sending him/her on errands, uses him/her as a servant

Conjugation

Paradigm: Continuative (∅/si).

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	naashʼaʼ	neiilʼaʼ	ndeiilʼaʼ
2nd person	naniłʼaʼ	naałʼaʼ	ndaałʼaʼ
3rd person	neiłʼaʼ		ndeiłʼaʼ
4th person	njiłʼaʼ		ndajiłʼaʼ

PERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	niséłʼaʼ	nisiilʼaʼ	ndasiilʼaʼ
2nd person	nisíníłʼaʼ	nisoołʼaʼ	ndasoołʼaʼ
3rd person	neisʼaʼ		ndeisʼaʼ
4th person	njisʼaʼ		ndajisʼaʼ

Related terms

• naalʼaʼ (“to be a servant”)
• yilʼá
• yilʼaah
• yiłʼá