łi- (adjectival) + -∅- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -zhin (neuter imperfective stem of root -ZHĮ́Į́ʼ, “to be black”).
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.
Compare Dogrib dezǫ, Ahtna delzen (“dark colored”).
łizhin
This is a neuter verb. As such, it has only the imperfective stem.
Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).
| IMPERFECTIVE | singular | duoplural | plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person | łinishzhin | łiniijin | dałiniijin |
| 2nd person | łinízhin | łinohzhin | dałinohzhin |
| 3rd person | łizhin | daalzhin | |
| 4th person | jilzhin | dajilzhin | |
| 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 |