Probably from Proto-Athabaskan *ɢɑɣ ~ *ɢɑy (“to be white”). Cognate root found in Ahtna lggay, Gwich'in daagąįį.
The extended meanings of “to be hot” and “to hurt” seem to be specific to Navajo among Athabascan languages.
-GAII
| Theme | Category | Bases | Transitive bases (O + ł) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| łi + ∅ | adjectival |
S is white (neuter impf.) |
|||||
| d |
S is white (neuter perf.) |
||||||
| ∅ |
S becomes white |
S makes O white |
|||||
| ∅ | motion |
white S moves |
| Theme | Category | Bases | Transitive bases (O + ł) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ni + ∅ | adjectival |
S is hot, hurts |
|||||
| ni + ∅ |
S becomes hot, hurts |
S makes O hot, hurts O |
| Aspect | IMP | PERF | FUT | ITER | OPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRANS | -gááh | -gaii | -gah | -gah | -gááh |
| CONT | -gaah | - | - | - | - |
| NEUT | -gai | -gai | - | - | - |
See also Appendix: Roots and stems derivation.
Colors:
cold, cool: