Learning the Navajo language, also known as Diné, can be a rewarding experience. This guide provides a foundational understanding of Diné pronunciation, focusing on the vowels (za’áán) and consonants (zaatł’ah) as a starting point for language acquisition.
Understanding Navajo Sounds: Vowels and Consonants
Diné pronunciation differs significantly from English. A key to learning Navajo is mastering its unique sound system. The foundation of spoken Diné lies in understanding its vowels and consonants.
Diné Vowels (Za’áán)
Diné has four distinct vowel sounds: a, e, i, and o. Unlike English vowels, these sounds remain consistent and do not change based on their position in a word. This consistency simplifies pronunciation for learners familiar with the often-variable vowel sounds in English. To hear the correct pronunciation of each vowel, utilize the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) chart linked below.
The International Phonetic Alphabet
Use the interactive IPA chart to hear the sounds of Diné vowels.
Diné Consonants (Zaatł’ah)
Diné uses a wider range of consonants than English: b, ch, ch’, d, dl, dz, g, gh, h, x, hw, j, k, k’, kw, ’, l, ł, m, n, s, sh, t, t’, tł, tł’, ts, ts’, w, y, z, zh. The University of New Mexico provides a helpful resource for hearing each consonant sound:
This chart from the University of New Mexico offers a visual representation of Diné consonants.
Practicing Basic Diné Words
Once familiar with individual sounds, practice combining them into simple words. Let’s start with some verbs and nouns using familiar sounds.
Verb Examples:
The following examples use ‘n’ and ‘sh’ sounds:
| Syllables | Diné | English |
|---|---|---|
| naash | nish | naashnish |
| ni | shish | nish |
| naal | nish | naalnish |
Noun Examples:
These examples incorporate ‘b’, ‘t’, and ‘w’ sounds:
| Syllables | Diné | English |
|---|---|---|
| ‘a | bí | ní |
| ‘a | t’ééd | ‘at’ééd |
| ‘a | wéé’ | ‘awéé’ |
Building Syllables and Reading Practice
In Diné, syllables are formed by combining a consonant and a vowel (CV) or a consonant, vowel, and consonant (CVC). This understanding is crucial for reading. Practice reading the following sentence aloud, focusing on each syllable:
‘Ah|xé|hee’. ‘Ał|k’i|dą́ą́’| ní|léí |t’|ah|doo Di|né lą’í|go da|ha|leeh na|ha|lin yę́ę|dą́ą́’, t’óó ho’|dizh|chı̨́ na|ha|lin yę́ę|dą́ą́’| shı̨́ı̨́ ‘á|hóót ‘įįd. (Thank you. Long ago, the people who lived there were very dangerous, they were said to be giant monsters.)
Practice reading Diné text to improve pronunciation and comprehension.
From Sounds to Writing and Beyond
Mastering Diné sounds provides a solid base for reading and writing. From here, you can expand your vocabulary and begin exploring Diné grammar. This foundational knowledge will set you on the path to fluency.
