álázhoozh
finger
ah lah zhoh zh
Literally: The-slender-parts-of-the-hand-that-are-parallel.
Word components: ála’ + zhoozh.
In Navajo, ála’ is the hand, and zhoozh refers to a group of slender things that are arranged side-by-side in a parallel fashion. Together, this means finger in Navajo!
Since the latter part of the word is a more general reference to the layout and type of object, it (and its forms) can be found in other usage apart from the hand.
Original post date: .