Indian language * Indian culture * Indian art

Utah Native Animal Words

Here are the American Indian names of six native animals of Utah. We have given their names in three different Indian languages: Navajo, Shoshone, and Ute.

Two of these Native Utah 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: The Uto-Aztecan languages.

Utah Native Animal Names


Navajo: bįįh (pronounced been)
Shoshone: deheya' (pronounced duh-huh-yah)
Ute: tüiyü (pronounced tuh-ee-yuh)

Navajo: gah (pronounced gah)
Shoshone: daa'bu (pronounced dah-boo)
Ute: tavu (pronounced tah-voo)

Navajo: ayání (pronounced ah-yah-nee)
Shoshone: quchu (pronounced koo-choo)
Ute: kuchü (pronounced koo-chuh)

Navajo: ma'ii (pronounced mah-ee)
Shoshone: izhape' (pronounced ee-zhah-puh)
Ute: yog'ovü (pronounced yoh-goh-vuh)

Navajo: 'atsá (pronounced ah-tsah)
Shoshone: kwinaa (pronounced kwee-nah)
Ute: kwana (pronounced kwah-nah)

Navajo: né'éshjaa' (pronounced neh-esh-jah)
Shoshone: mumbichi (pronounced moom-bee-chee)
Ute: muupüchi (pronounced moo-puh-chee)

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