łitso

Navajo

Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

łi- (adjectival) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -tso (neuter imperfective stem of root -TSOII, “to be yellow”).

The łi- prefix appears to have originated historically from the ł- classifier. When this prefix appears immediately in pre-stem position, it takes the shape of a l- classifier.

Verb

łitso

1. it is yellow

   Tsídii łitso ― The (one or two) bird is yellow.

   Tsídii daaltso ― The (three or more) birds are yellow.

Usage notes

This is a neuter verb. As such, it has only the imperfective stem.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).

IMPERFECTIVE	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	łinistso	łiniitso	dałiniitso
2nd person	łinítso	łinohtso	dałinohtso
3rd person	łitso		daaltso
4th person	jiltso		dajiltso

Derived terms

Łitso, yellowish 5¢ note

• diniltso (“light yellow”)
• łeetsoii (“sulfur”)
• łitsooí
• łitsoii
• łitsxo (“yellowish orange”)
• tsísʼnáłtsooí (“yellowjacket”)
• yéego łitso

Etymology 2

The use of łitso (yellow) to refer to the nickel coin comes from the gold or yellowish color used in the fractional currency note for this denomination during the Civil War.

Noun

łitso

1. nickel (coin)

See also

Colors in Navajo · nidaashchʼąąʼígíí (layout · text)

łigai	łibá (dark gray: dinilzhin)	łizhin
łichííʼ	łichxíʼí (light orange: diniltsxo); dibéłchíʼí, yishtłizh (dark brown: dinilzhin)	łitso (light yellow: diniltso); dinilgai
	dinooltłʼizh, chʼilgo dootłʼizh
dootłʼizhii	yágo dootłʼizh	dootłʼizh
diłhiłgo dootłʼizh	tsédídéehgo dootłʼizh	dinilchííʼ