yáʼátʼééh

Navajo

Etymology

yá- (thematic) + -ʼá- (comparative) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -tʼééh (neuter imperfective stem of root -TʼÉÉH, “to be good”).

Often anglicized as "yatahey" or "yah-ta-hey".

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /jáʔátʼɛ́ːh/, /jáʔátʼéːh/
Audio: (file)
Audio: (file)

Interjection

yáʼátʼééh

greetings, hello
bye, see you later

Verb

yáʼátʼééh

he/she/it is fine, suitable, good
yáʼátʼééh náshdleeł ― I’m feeling better.

doo yáʼátʼéeh da ― he is bad, evil, not good.
he/she/it is pretty
he/she is well, good
yáʼáníshtʼééh ― I am well.

yáʼánítʼééhísh ― are you well?
must
like
shił yáʼátʼééh ― I like it (reflects a personal preference).

doo shił yáʼátʼéeh da ― I don’t like it (reflects a personal preference).

Díí naaltsoos shił yáʼátʼééh ― I like this book.

Éí movie nił yáʼátʼééh yaʼ ― You like that movie, right?

Aooʼ, áh yáʼátʼééh ― Yes, it's good.

Usage notes

This is a neuter verb that uses only the imperfective mode.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	yáʼáníshtʼééh	yáʼániitʼééh	yáʼádaniitʼééh
2nd person	yáʼánítʼééh	yáʼánóhtʼééh	yáʼádanohtʼééh
3rd person	yáʼátʼééh		yáʼádaatʼééh
4th person	yáʼájítʼééh		yáʼádajitʼééh
Other forms
Unspecified person	Spatial person	Passive A	Passive B
—	yáʼáhootʼééh	—	—

Antonyms

(antonym(s) of “hello”): hágoóneeʼ (goodbye)

Derived terms

yáʼátʼééh abíní (“good morning”)
yáʼátʼééh iʼííʼą́ (“good evening”)

Related terms

yáʼátʼéehgo