nilį́

ni- (modal) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier) + -lį́ (neuter imperfective stem of root -LĮ́Į́ʼ, “to be, to become”).

nilį́

1. he/she is (some thing, or some quality)

   Diné nílį́ ― you are Navajo.

This verb is generally used for animate subjects. When describing something inanimate, use the verb átʼé in most cases. For existence and location, use the verb hólǫ́.

This is a neuter verb. As such, it is only used in the imperfective.

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).

Other modes are suppleted by forms of yileeh:

• átʼé
• hólǫ́
• yileeh