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Colorado Native Animal Words

Here are the American Indian names of six native animals of Colorado. We have given their names in four different Indian languages: Arapaho, Comanche, Navajo, and Ute.

Two of these Native Colorado languages are related to the Uto-Aztecan language family, and the other two are not. Can you guess which languages are relatives by looking at the animal names on this page? (Hint: Not every word will sound similar even in closely related languages, so you will need to look at several different animals to figure it out!) You can find the answer on this page: Uto-Aztecan languages.

Colorado Native Animal Names


Arapaho: hiwoxuu (pronounced hi-wah-khoo)
Comanche: paruyu (pronounced pah-ruh-yuh)
Navajo: dzééh (pronounced dzay)
Ute: pariyü (pronounced pa-ree-yuh)

Arapaho: nooku (pronounced naw-kuh)
Comanche: tamu (pronounced tah-moo)
Navajo: gah (pronounced gah)
Ute: tavu (pronounced tah-voo)

Arapaho: heneecee (pronounced heh-nat-chah)
Comanche: kuutsu (pronounced koot-soo)
Navajo: ayání (pronounced ah-yah-nee)
Ute: kuchü (pronounced koo-chuh)

Arapaho: koo'oh (pronounced kaw-ah)
Comanche: kutseena (pronounced kuh-tsay-nah
Navajo: ma'ii (pronounced mah-ee)
Ute: yog'ovü (pronounced yoh-goh-vuh)

Arapaho: heetesee'eiit (pronounced hat-eh-sah-ate)
Comanche: kwihnai (pronounced kwee-nye)
Navajo: 'atsá (pronounced ah-tsah)
Ute: kwana (pronounced kwah-nah)

Arapaho: bee3ei (pronounced bath-ay)
Comanche: o'o (pronounced oh-oh)
Navajo: né'éshjaa' (pronounced neh-esh-jah)
Ute: muupüchi (pronounced moo-puh-chee)

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