Where does “jeełigai” come from?

jeełigai (Navajo) comes from Navajo jeeh, from Navajo ajaaʼ, from Proto-Athabaskan *-ǯəɣəʼ — ear.

jeełigai (Navajo): chewing gum

Definitions

  1. chewing gum

Ancestry of “jeełigai”, step by step

jeełigai traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Navajo jeeh

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Navajojeehresin, pitch, wax, gum, sap; chewing gum; into...
2Navajoajaaʼear
3Proto-Athabaskan*-ǯəɣəʼear

via Navajo łigai

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Navajołigaiit is white
2NavajoKin Łigaaí—
Every word from Proto-Athabaskan *-ǯəɣəʼ →Every word from Navajo ajaaʼ →Every word from Navajo jeeh →