tseh bee nh dzis guh ee

Following up with yesterday’s phrase, we have the place name Tsé Biiʼ Nidzisgaii which is Monument Valley.

Remember, in the case that you want to say “at Monument Valley…” you add the -di particle like so: Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaiidi.

Literally, the word translates to rock(s)—within—white-streaks-around, or thereabout. Colloquially, it’s “the streaks that go around in the rocks.” You’ll notice these streaks as the various rock layers in the Valley.

There are similar places described by the “streaks” in the rocks in Navajo, most notably the Grand Canyon.

Here’s another word that uses Bii’.

Here’s more on the word Tsé.

Here’s more on the -di suffix.

Special thanks to Monument Valley Parks and Recreation for help with today’s word.