Navajo ABC's

Short Vowels

100

What are the short vowels in the Navajo language?

a   e   i   o

200

What is the English word for "i"?

it

300

What is the English word for "e"?

let

400

What is the English word for "a"?

father

500

What is the English word for "o"?

hope

Long Vowels

100

What are the long vowels?

aa  ee  ii  oo

200

What is the English word for "ii"?

Tina

300

What is the English word for "aa"?

Nora

400

What is the English word for "o"?

low

500

What is the English word for "ee"?

bend

Diphthongs

100

How many diphthongs are there?

4

200

What is the English word for "ai"?

Hawaaii

300

What is the English word for "ei"

neighbor

400

What is the English word for "oi"?

Chewy

500

What are the diphthongs?

ei   oi   ai   ao

Diacritical Marks

100

What mark is this á?

hightone

200

What mark is this ą?

nasal

300

Why are the high tone and nasal marking important in the Navajo language?

They change the sound and meaning of the word. 

400

Where does the nasal sound come from?

nose

500

What key on the keyboard is the nasal symbol found?

{ [

Diagraphs/Glottalized Consonants

100

How many diagraphs are there?

10

200

How many glottalized consonants are there?

5

300

A consonant + a vowel is a?

Syllable

400

What are the glottalized consonants?

k'  t'  ch'  ts'  tłʼ

500

Name all the diagraphs?

ch  dl  dz  gh  hw  kw  sh  ts  tł  zh