The Navajo Code Talkers' Dictionary

The Navajo Code Talkers' Dictionary

Revised as of 15 June 1945

(Declassified under Department Of Defense Directive 5200.9)

Navajo code talkers devised a dictionary to convey the names of people, places, and things. They assigned one Navajo word to each English letter. For example, A became wol-la-chee, the Navajo word for ant. Letters that appeared more than once were assigned a different Navajo word each subsequent time. Most letters had three different Navajo words assigned to them. The word apple became “wol-la-chee, bi-so-dih, ne-zhoni, dibeh-yazzie, ah-jah” or “ant-pig-pretty-lamb-ear.”

Alphabet
 
Literal Navajo Word Translation
A         wol-la-chee                ant
A                be-la-sana                 apple
A                tse-nill               axe
B                na-hash-chid              badger
B                shush                    bear
B                toish-jeh                  barrel
C                moasi                      cat
C                tla-gin                    coal
C                ba-goshi                     cow
D                be                         deer
D                chindi                     devil
D                lha-cha-eh                 dog
E                ah-jah                     ear
E                dzeh                       elk
E                ah-nah                     eye
F                chuo                       fir
F                tsa-e-donin-ee             fly
F                ma-e                       fox
G                ah-tad                     girl
G                klizzie                    goat
G                jeha                       gum
H                tse-gah                    hair
H                cha                        hat
H                lin                        horse
I                tkin                       ice
I                yeh-hes                    itch
I                a-chi                      intestine
J                tkele-cho-g                jackass
J                ah-ya-tsinne               jaw
J                yil-doi                    jerk
K                jad-ho-loni                kettle
K                ba-ah-ne-di-tinin          key
K                klizzie-yazzie             kid
L                dibeh-yazzie               lamb
L                ah-jad                     leg
L                nash-doie-tso              lion
M                tsin-tliti                 match
M                be-tas-tni                 mirror
M                na-as-tso-si               mouse
N                                       tsah needle
N                a-chin                     nose
O                a-kha                      oil
O                tlo-chin                   onion
O                ne-ahs-jah                 owl
P                cla-gi-aih                 pant
P                bi-so-dih                  pig
P                ne-zhoni                   pretty
Q                ca-yeilth                  quiver
R                gah                        rabbit
R                dah-nes-tsa                ram
R                ah-losz                    rice
S                dibeh                      sheep
Skleshsnake
T                d-ah                       tea
T                a-woh                      tooth
T                than-zie                   turkey
U                shi-da                     uncle
U                No-Da-Ih                   Ute
V                A-Keh-Di-Glini             Victor
W                Gloe-Ih                    Weasel
X                Al-Na-As-Dzoh              Cross
Y                Tsah-As-Zih                Yucca
Z                Besh-Do-Tliz               Zinc


Names of Airplanes

planeswo-tah-de-ne-ihair force
dive bomberginichicken hawk
torpedo planetas-chizzieswallow
obs. planne-as-jahowl
fighter planeda-he-tih-hihumming bird
bomber planejay-shobuzzard
patrol planega-gihcrow
transportatsaheagle


Names of Ships

shipstoh-dineh-ihsea force
battleshiplo-tsowhale
aircrafttsidi-moffa-ye-hibird carrier
submarinebesh-loiron fish
mine sweeperchabeaver
destroyerca-loshark
transportdineh-nay-ye-himan carrier
cruiserlo-tso-yazziesmall whale
mosquito boattse-emosquito


vocabulary wordnavajoliteral transaction
abandonye-tsanrun away from
aboutwola-chi-a-moffa-gahnant fight
abreastwola-chee-be-yiedant breast
accomplishul-soall done
accordingbe-ka-hoaccording to
acknowledgehanot-dziedacknowledge
actionah-ha-tinhplace of action
activityah-ha-tinh-yaction ending in y
adequatebeh-ghaenough
additionih-he-de-ndeladdition
addressyi-chin-ha-tseaddress
adjacentbe-gahinear
adjusthas-tai-nel-kadadjust
advancenas-seyahead
advisena-netinadvise
aerialbe-zonzstinger
affirmativelanhaffirmative
afterbi-kha-di (a)after
againstbe-na-gnishagainst
aideda-ele-tsoodaid
airnilchiair
airdomenilchi-beghanairdome
alertha-ih-des-eealert
allta-a-tah (a)all
alliesnih-hi-choallies
alongwolachee-snezlong ant
alsoeh-doalso
alternatena-kee-go-ne-nan-dey-hesecond position
ambushkhac-daambush
ammunitionbeh-eli-doh-be-cah-ali-tas-aiammunition
amphibiouschalfrog
anddoand
angledee-cahnslanting
annexih-nay-taniaddition
announcebeh-ha-o-dzeannounce
antiwol-la-chee-tsinant ice
anticipateni-jol-lihanticipate
anytah-ha-dahany
appearye-ka-ha-yaappear
approachbi-chi-ol-dahapproach
approximateto-kus-danapproximate
aregah-tso bigrabbit
areahaz-a-giharea
armorbesh-ye-ha-da-di-tehiron protector
armylei-cha-ih-yil-knee-iharmy
arriveil-dayarrive
artillerybe-al-doh-tso-lanimany big guns
asahceas
assaultaltseh-e-jah-hefirst striker
assemblede-ji-kashbunch together
assignbah-deh-tahnassign
atah-diat
attackal-tah-je-jayattack
attemptbo-o-ne-tah (a)try
attentiongihaattention
authenticatorhani-ba-ah-ho-zinknow about
authorizebe-bo-ho-sneeauthorize
availableta-shoz-teh-ihavailable

baggageklailh (b)baggage
banzaine-tahfool them
bargebesh-na-eltbarge
barragebesh-ba-wa-chindbarrage
barrierbih-chan-ni-ahin the way
basebih-tsee-dihbase
batterybih-be-al-doh-tka-ihthree guns
battleda-ah-hi-dzi-tsiobattle
baytoh-ah-hi-ghinhbay
bazookaah-zholbazooka
betses-nahbee
beachtah-bahn (b)beach
beentses-nah-nes-cheebee nut
beforebih-tse-dihbefore 
beginha-hol-zizcommence from
belongtses-nah-snezlong bee
betweenbi-tah-kizbetween
beyondbilh-la didown below
bivouacehl-nas-tehbrush shelter
bomba-ye-shieggs
booby trapdineh-ba-whoa-blehiman trap
borneye-chie-tsahborn elk
boundaryka-yah-bi-na-has-dzoh(b)boundary
bull dozerdola-alth-whoshbull sleep
bunkertsas-kasandy hollow
butneh-dihbut
bybe-ghaby

cablebesh-lkohwire rope
calibernahl-kihdmove around
campto-altseh-hogantemporary place
camouflagedi-nes-ihhid
canyah-di-zinican
cannoneerbe-al-doh-tso-dey-dil-don-igibig gun operator
capacitybe-nel-ahcapacity
captureyis-nahcapture
carryyo-lailhcarry
casebit-sahcase
casualtybih-din-ne-deyput out of action
causebi-nih-nanicause
cavetsa-ondrock cave
ceilingda-tel-jayseal
cemetaryjish-chaamong devils
centerulh-ne-ihcenter
changethla-go-a-nat-zahchange
channelha-talhi-yazziesmall singer 
chargeah-tah-gi-jahcharge
chemicalta-neealkali
circle nas-pascircle
circuitah-heh-ha-dailhcircuit
classalth-ah-a-tehclass
clearyo-ah-hol-zhodclear
clifftse-ye-cheecliff
closeul-chi-uh-nal-yahclose
coast guardta-bas-dsissishore runner
codeyil-taspeck
colonnaki-alh--deh-da-al-zhintwo spots
columnalth-kay-ne-zihcolumn
combatda-ah-hi-jih-ganhfighting
combinational-tkas-eimixed
comehuc-quocome
commatsa-na-dahltail drop
commercialnai-el-ne-hicommercial
commithuc-quo-la-jishcome glove
communicationha-neh-al-enjimaking talk
concealbe-ki-asz-joleconceal
concentrationta-la-hi-jihone place
concussionwhe-hus-dilconcussion
conditionah-ho-taihow it is
conferencebe-ke-ya-titalk over
confidentialna-nil-inkept secret
confirmta-a-nehmake sure
conquera-keh-des-dlinwon
considerne-tsa-casthink it over
consistbilh (c)consist
consolidateah-hih-hi-nilput together
constructahl-nehto make
contactah-hi-di-dailcome together
continueta-yi-tehcontinue
controlnai-ghizcontrol
convoytkal-kah-o-nelmoving on water
coordinatebeh-eh-ho-zin-na-as-dzohknown lines 
counter attackwoltah-al-ki-gi-jehcounter act
courseco-ji-gohcourse
craftah-tohnest
creektoh-nil-tsanhvery little water
crossal-n-as-dzohcross
cubshush-yahzcub

dashus-dzohdash
dawnha-yeli-kahndawn
defenseah-kin-cil-tohdefense
degreenahl-kihddegree
delaybe-sitihndeer lay
deliverbe-bih-zihdedeer liver
demolitionah-deel-tahiblow up
denseho-dilh-cla (d)wet
departda-de-yahdepart
departmenthogandepartment
designateye-khi-del-neipoint out
desperateah-da-ah-ho-dzahdown to last
detachal-cha-nildetached
detailbe-beh-shadeer tail
detonatorah-deel-tahi (or)blown up
difficultna-ne-klahdifficult
dig inle-eh-gadedig in
directah-ji-godirect
disembarkeh-ha-jayget out
dispatchla-chai-en-seis-be-jaydog is patch
displacehih-do-nalmove
displaybe-seis-na-nehdeer is play
dispositiona-ho-teydisposition
distributenah-nehdistribute
districtbe-thin-ya-ni-chedeer ice strict
dotse-lesmall pup
documentbeh-eh-ho-zinzdocument
driveah-nol-kahldrive
duddi-giss-yahziesmall dummy
dummydi-giss-tsobig dummy

eachta-lahi-ne-zini-go (d)each
echelonwho-dzahline
edgebe-ba-hiedge
effectivebe-delh-needeffective
effortyea-gowith all your might
elementah-na-naitroop representing others
elevateali-khi-ho-ne-ohaelevate
eliminateha-beh-to-dzileliminate
embarkeh-ho-jayget on
emergencyho-nez-claemergency
emplacementla-az-nilemplacement
encircleye-nas-teh (e)encircle
encounterbi-khanhgo against
engagea-ha-ne-ho-taagreed
enginechidi-bi-tsi-tsine (e)engine
engineerday-dil-jah-heengineer
enlargenih-tsa-goh-al-nehmake big
enlistbih-zih-a-da-yi-lahenlist
entireta-a-tah (e)entire
entrenche-gad-ah-ne-lihmake ditch
envelopa-zah-gi-yaenvelop
equipmentya-ha-de-tahiequipment 
erectyeh-zihnstand up
escapea-zeh-ha-ge-yahescape
establishhas-tay-dzahestablish
estimatebih-ke-tse-hod-des-kezestimate
evacuateha-naevacuate 
exceptneh-dih (e)except
exceptna-wol-neexpect 
exchangealh-nahl-yahexchange
executea-do-nilexecute 
explosiveah-del-tahi (e)explosive
expediteshil-loh (e)speed up
extendne-tdalemake wide
extremeal-tsan-ah-bahmeach end

failcha-al-eindfail
failureyees-ghinfailure
farmmai-be-he-ahganfox arm
feeddzeh-chi-yonfeed
fieldclo-dih (f)field
fiercetoh-bah-ha-zsidafraid
fileba-eh-chezfile
finaltah-ah-kwo-dihthat is all
flame throwercoh-ah-ghil-tlidflame thrower
flankdah-di-kadflank
flarewo-chilight streak
flightma-e-as-zlolifox light
forceta-na-ne-ladiwithout care
formbe-chaform
formationbe-cha-ye-lailhformation
fortificationah-na-sozicliff dwelling
fortifyah-na-sozi-yazziesmall fortification
forwardtehilet's go
fragmentationbesh-yazziesmall metal
frequencyha-talhi-tsobig singer
friendlyneh-hecho-da-nefriendly
frombi-tsan-dehnfrom
furnishyeas-nil (f)furnish
furtherwo-nas-difurther

garrisonyah-a-da-hal-yon-ihtake care of
gasolinechidi-bi-tohgasoline
grenadeni-ma-sipotatoes
guardni-dih-da-higuard
guidenah-e-thlaiguide 

halllhi-ta-a-tahorse all
half trackalh-nih-jah-a-quherace track
haltta-akwai-ihalt
handlebet-seenhandle
havejohave
headquarterna-ha-tah-ta-ba-hoganheadquarter
heldwo-tah-ta-eh-dahn-ohheld (past tense)
highwo-tahhigh
high explosivebe-al-doh-be-ca-bih-dzil-igipowerful shell
highwaywo-tah-ho-ne-tehhigh way
holdwo-tkanhhold
hospitala-zey-al-ihplace of medicine
hostilea-nah-ne-dzinnot friendly
howitzerbe-el-don-ts-quodishort big gun

illuminatewo-chi (i)light up
immediatelyshil-loh (i)immediately
impacta-he-dis-gohimpact
importantba-has-tehimportant
improveho-dol-zhondimprove
includeel-tsodinclude
increaseho-nalhincrease
indicateba-hal-nehtell about
infantryta-neh-nal-dahiinfantry
infiltrateye-gha-ne-jehwent through
initialbeh-ed-de-dlidbrand
installehd-tnahinstall
installationnas-nilin place
instructna-ne-tginteach
intelligenceho-ya (i)smart
intensedzeelstrength
interceptyel-na-me-jahintercept
interfereah-nilh-khlaiinterfere
interpretah-tah-ha-neinterpret
investigatena-ali-katrack
involvea-tahinvolvoe
isseisseven
islandseis-keyahseven island
isolatebih-tsa-nel-kadseperate

junglewoh-di-chiljungle

killnaz-tsaidkill
kilocyclenas-tsaid-a-kha-ah-yeh- ha-dilhkill oil go around

laborna-nish (l)labor
landkay-yahland
launchtka-ghil-zhodlaunch
leaderah-na-ghaileader
leastde-be-yazie-ha-a-ahlamb feast
leavedah-de-yahhe left
leftnish-cla-jih-gohleft
lessbi-oh (l)less
leveldil-konhlevel
liaisonda-a-he-gi-enehknow other's action
limitba-has-ahlimit
litterni-das-ton (l)scatter
locatea-kwe-ehspot
lossut-dinloss

machine guna-knah-as-donihrapid fire gun
magneticna-e-lahipick up
managehastni-beh-na-haiman age
maneuverna-na-o-nalthmoving around
mapkah-ya-nesh-chaimap
maximumbel-dil-khonfill to top
mechanicchiti-a-nayl-inihauto repairman
mechanizedchidi-da-ah-he-gonifighting cars
medicala-zaymedicine
megacyclemil-ah-heh-ah-dilhmillion go around
merchant shipna-el-nehi-tsin-na-ailhmerchant ship
messagehane-al-nehmessage
militarysilago-keh-gohmilitary
millimeterna-as-tso-si-a-ye-do-tishdouble mouse
mineha-gademine
minimumbe-oh (m)minimum
minuteah-khay-el-kit-yazzielittle hour
missional-neshodimission
mistakeo-zhimiss
moppingha-tao-dimopping
morethla-na-nahmore
mortarbe-al-doh-cid-da-hisitting gun
motionna-hot-nahmotion
motorchide-be-tse-tsencar head

nativeka-ha-teninative
navytal-kah-silagosea soldier
necessaryye-na-zehnwant
negativedo-ya-sho-dano good
netna-nes-dizinet
neutraldo-neh-linineutral
normaldoh-a-ta-h-dahnormal
notni-dah-than-zieno turkey
noticene-da-tazi-thinno turkey ice
nowkutnow
numberbeh-bih-ke-as-chinighwhat's written

objectivebi-ne-yeigoal
observehal-zidobserve
obstacleda-ho-desh-zhaobstacle
occupyyeel-tsodtaken
oftoh-ni-tkal-loocean fish
offensivebin-kie-jinh-jih-dez-jayoffensive
onceta-lai-dionce
onlyta-ei-tay-a-yahonly
operateye-nahl-nishwork at
opportunityash-ga-alinopportunity
oppositionne-he-tsah-jih-shinopposition
oreh-do-dah-goheither
orangetchil-lhe-soiorange
orderbe-eh-ho-ziniorder
ordnancelei-az-jahunder ground
originatedas-teh-dobegin
otherla-e-cihother
outclo-dihout side
overlaybe-ka-has-tsozoverlay

parenthesisatsanhrib
particulara-yo-ad-do-nehparticular
partyda-sha-jahparty
payna-eli-yapay
penalizetah-ni-des-tanhset back
percentyalmoney
periodda-ahl-zhinperiod
periodic da-al-zhin-thin-moasi period ice cat
permit gos-shi-e permit
personnel da-ne-lei member
photograph beh-chi-ma-had-nil photograph
pill box bi-so-dih-dot-sahi-bi-tsah sick pig box
pinned down bil-dah-has-tanh-ya pinned down
plane tsidi bird
plasma dil-di-ghili plasma
point be-so-de-dez-ahe pig point
pontoon tkosh-jah-da-na-elt floating barrel
position bilh-has-ahn position
possible ta-ha-ah-tay possible
post sah-dei post
prepare hash-tay-ho-dit-ne prepare
present kut present
previous bih-tse-dih previous
primary altseh-nan-day-hi-gih 1st postion
priority hane-pesodi priority
probable da-tsi probable
problem na-nish-tsoh big job
proceed nay-nih-jih go
progress nah-sai progress
protect ah-chanh self defense
provide yis-nil provide
purple dinl-chi purple
pyrotechnic coh-na-chanh fancy fire

questionah-jahear
quickshil-lohquick

radaresat-tsanh (r)listen
raiddezjayraid
railheada-de-geh-hishipping point
railroadkonh-na-al-bansi-bi-thinrailroad
rallyinga-lah-na-o-glalihgathering
rangean-zahdistance
rategah-eh-yahnrabbit ate
rationna-a-jahration
ravinechush-ka (r)ravine
reachil-day (r)reach
readykut (r)ready
rearbe-ka-denh (r)rear
receiptshoz-tehreceipt
recommendche-ho-tai-tahnrecommend
reconnaissanceha-a-cidiinspector
reconnoiterta-ha-ne-al-yamake sure
recordgah-ah-nah-klolir-e-rope
redli-chired
reeftsa-zhinblack rock
reembarkeh-na-cohgo in
refirena-na-cohrefire
regulatena-yel-nregulate
reinforcenal-dzilreinforce
reliefaganh-tol-jayrelief
relievenah-jih-co-nal-yaremove
reorganizeha-dit-zahreorganize
replacementni-na-do-nilreplacement
reportwho-nehgot word
representativetka-naz-nilitriple men
requestjo-kayed-gohask for
reservehesh-j-ereserve
restrictba-ho-chinirestrict
retireah-hos-teendretire
retreatji-din-nes-chanhretreat
returnna-dzahcame back
revealwho-neh (l)reveal
revertna-si-yizturn about
revetmentba-nas-cla (r)corner
ridgegah-ghil-keidrabbit ridge
riflemanbe-al-do-hosteenriflemen
rivertoh-yil-kalmuch water
robot bomba-ye-shi-na-tah-ihegg fly
rocketlesz-yil-beshisand boil
rollyeh-masroll
roundnaz-pas (r)round
routegah-bih-tkeenrabbit trail
runnernih-dzid-teihrunner

sabotagea-tkel-yahhindered
saboteura-tkel-el-initrouble maker
sailorcha-le-gaiwhite caps
salvagena-has-glahpick them up
satbih-la-sana-cid-da-hiapple sitting
scarlet, redlhe-chi (s & r)red
schedulebeh-eh-ho-zinischedule
scoutha-a-sid-al-sizi-gihshort racoon
screenbesh-na-nes-diziscreen
seamantkal-kah-dineh-ihseaman
secretbah-has-tkihsecret
sectoryoehi (s)sector
secureye-dzhe-al-tsisismall security
seizeyeel-stodseize
selectbe-tah-has-glatook out
semi colonda-ahl-zhin-bi-tsa-na-dahldot drop
setdzeh-cid-da-hielk sitting
shackledi-bah-nesh-gohzshackle
shellbe-al-doh-be-cashell
shoretah-bahn (s)shore
shortbosh-keeshshort
sidebosh-keeshside
sightye-el-tsanhseen
signalna-eh-eh-gishby signs
simplexalah-ih-ne-tihinner wire
sittkin-cid-da-hiice sitting
situatea-ho-tay(s) situate
smokelitsmoke
sniperoh-behipick 'em off
spacebe-tkahbetween
speciale-yih-sihmain thing
speedyo-zonsswift motion
sporadicah-na-ho-neilnow and then
spottereel-tsay-ispotter
sprayklesh-so-dilzinsnake pray
squadronnah-ghizisquash
stormne-olstorm
straffna-wo-ghi-goidhoe
stragglerchy-ne-de-dahestraggler
strategyna-ha-tah (s)strategy
streamtoh-ni-lihrunning water
strengthdzhelstrength
stretchdesz-tsoodstretch
strikenay-dal-ghalstrike
stripha-tih-jahstrip
stubbornnil-tastubborn
subjectna-nish-yazziesmall job
submergetkal-cla-yi-yahwent under water
submita-nih-lehsend
subordinateal-khi-nal-dzlhelping each other
succeedyah-tay-go-e-elahmake good
successut-zahit is done
successfulut-zah-ha-dez-binit is done well
successiveut-zah-sidsuccess scar
suchyis-clehsox
sufferto-ho-nesuffer
summaryshin-go-bahsummer mary
supplementarytka-go-ne-nan-dey-he3rd position
supplynal-yeh-hisupply
supply shipnalga-hi-tsin-nah-ailhsupply ship
supportba-ah-hot-glidepend
surrenderne-na-chasurrender
surroundnaz-pas (s)surround
surviveyis-da-yasurvive
systemdi-ba-tsa-as-zhi-bi-tsinsystem

tacticale-chihntactical
takegah-tahntake
tankchay-da-gahitortoise
tank destroyerchay-da-gahi-nail-tsaiditortoise killer
targetwol-donitarget
tasktazi-na-eh-dil-kidturkey ask
teamdeh-na-as-tso-sitea mouse
terraceali-khi-ho-ne-oha (t)terrace
terraintashi-na-hal-thinturkey rain
territoryka-yah (t)territory
thattazi-chaturkey hat
thecha-geeblue-jay
theirbihtheir
thereafterta-zi-kwa-i-be-ka-diturkey here after
thesecha-gi-o-ehthe see
theycha-gee (y)the y
thisdithe
togetherta-bilhtogether
torpedolo-be-cafish shell
totalta-al-sototal
tracerbeh-na-al-kah-hitracer
traffic diagramhane-ba-na-as-dzohdiagram story line
traincoh-nai-ali-bahn-sitrain
transportationa-hah-da-a-chatransportation
trenche-gadetrench
tripletka-ihtriple
troopnal-deh-hitroop
truckchido-tsobig auto
typealth-ah-a-tehtype

underbi-yahunder
unidentifieddo-bay-hosen-eunidentified
unitda-az-jah (u)unit
unshackleno-da-eh-nesh-gohzunshackle
untiluh-quo-hountil

vicinityna-hos-ah-gihthere about
villagechah-ho-oh-lhan-ihmany shelter
visibilitynay-es-teevisibility
vitalta-eh-ye-syvital

warningbilh-he-neh (w)warning
wasne-tehwas
watertkohwater
waveyilh-kolhwave
weaponbeh-dah-a-hi-jih-ganifighting weapon
wellto-ha-ha-dlaywell
whengloe-eh-na-ah-wo-haiweasel hen
wheregloe-ih-qui-ahweasel here
whichgloe-ih-a-hsi-tlonweasel tied together
willgloe-ih-dot-sahisick weasel
wirebesh-tsosiesmall wire
withbilh (w)with
withinbilh-bigihwith in
withoutta-gaidwithout
woodchizfire wood
woundcah-da-khiwound

yarda-del-tahlyard

zonebih-na-has-dzohzone