411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
-ísh
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
ish Ish -ish
Navajo
Pronunciation
nv /-ɪ́ʃ/
Suffix
nv suffix
Interrogative enclitic, used in yes-or-no questions, frequently used with nv daʼ
nv Niísh Hashkétsʼósí yinílyé? Is your name Slender Warrior?
nv Diné bizaadísh dinitsʼaʼ? Do you speak Navajo?
nv Dichinísh nílį́? Are you hungry?
nv Doósh nił łikan da? Don't you like it?
Usage notes
This interrogative enclitic can, depending on the word preceding it, assimilate with its vowel:
doo + -ísh = doósh
And it can also change into the vowel preceding to it
awééʼ + -ísh = awéʼésh
Or even can shorten the vowel preceding to it, if it is long and high in tone:
tłʼéédą́ą́ʼ + -ísh = tłʼéédą́ʼásh
Alternative forms
nv -sh
References
22
nv interrogative particles
nv suffixes ísh