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 (NV)

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• Audio (NV)

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Interjection

yáʼátʼééh

1. greetings, hello
2. bye, see you later

Verb

yáʼátʼééh

1. he/she/it is fine, suitable, good

   yáʼátʼééh náshdleeł ― I’m feeling better.

   doo yáʼátʼéeh da ― he is bad, evil, not good.

2. he/she/it is pretty
3. he/she is well, good

   yáʼáníshtʼééh ― I am well.

   yáʼánítʼééhísh ― are you well?

4. must
5. 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