ooljééʼ daaztsą́

Navajo

Etymology

ooljééʼ (“moon”) + daaztsą́ (“he died”)

Verb

ooljééʼ daaztsą́

1. lunar eclipse

   Ooljééʼ daatsaah — It’s the lunar eclipse (present tense)

   Ooljééʼ dadootsaał — It will be a lunar eclipse (future tense)

Usage notes

Some people object to the term ooljééʼ daaztsą́, because it means the moon is sick, or has died. These people prefer the synonym below, tłʼéhonaaʼéí łahgo áʼdílnééh, which means the moon is changing its appearance.

Synonyms

• tłʼéhonaaʼéí łahgo áʼdílnééh