łi- (adjectival) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -gai (neuter imperfective stem of root -GAII, “to be white”).
Compare Dogrib degoo, Ahtna lggeyi.
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.
| Audio: | (file) |
łigai
This is a neuter verb. As such, it has only the imperfective stem.
Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).
| IMPERFECTIVE | singular | duoplural | plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person | łinishgai | łiniigai | dałiniigai |
| 2nd person | łinígai | łinohgai | dałinohgai |
| 3rd person | łigai | daalgai | |
| 4th person | jilgai | dajilgai | |
| Other forms | |||
| Unspecified person | Spatial person | Passive A | Passive B |
| — | halgai | — | — |
| 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 |
łigai
łigai