How to Say Merry Christmas in Navajo

Americas

Nov 3

Written by Kelsey Cecil

Merry Christmas in Navajo

Nizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł

Say it like this: nee-ZHOH-nee-go KESH-meesh dah-doh-LEEL

Big letters show the part to say louder.

Quick answer

In Navajo, Merry Christmas is Nizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł, said like nee-ZHOH-nee-go KESH-meesh dah-doh-LEEL.
People say it in Navajo Nation (Arizona), Navajo Nation (New Mexico), Navajo Nation (Utah).

What Nizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł means

'Nizhónígo' (in a beautiful way) + 'Késhmish' (Christmas, borrowed from English) + 'da’doołeeł' (a wish form, roughly 'let it be'). Together it is roughly a wish for a beautiful Christmas for everyone. This gloss is approximate.

Navajo is written in the Latin alphabet with special marks: an accent shows a high tone, a hook shows a nasal vowel, an apostrophe shows a glottal stop, and ł is a breathy l.

Other ways to say it in Navajo

Yá’át’ééh Késhmish

Say it like this: YAH-aht-ayh KESH-meesh

A short greeting listed in language guides. Yá’át’ééh is the everyday Navajo hello, joined here to the word for Christmas.

Where people speak Navajo

Navajo Nation (Arizona)Navajo Nation (New Mexico)Navajo Nation (Utah)

Navajo (Diné bizaad) belongs to the Athabaskan (Na-Dene) language family.

Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Navajo today, then follow his trip.

Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →

Christmas traditions where people speak Navajo

Mutton stew and family time: Families gather for Christmas, eat mutton stew, and hug the elders and hold the children. The gathering is a time to appreciate the people one loves.^[2]
Card games: Many families play Navajo Ten, a card game, when they gather during the Christmas season. Games, stories and food fill the long winter evenings.^[2]
Gift-giving as kindness: The Navajo Nation President's 2025 Christmas message describes gift-giving as more than presents: it includes warm smiles, hugs, encouraging words and compassion, and it encourages families to come together and keep the holiday's traditions meaningful.^[1][2]

🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Navajo

Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.

Say Merry Christmas in more languages

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Questions parents ask

How do you say Merry Christmas in Navajo?

You can say "Nizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł". The Navajo Nation President closed his 2025 Christmas message with this line, after writing the English wish. A shorter greeting that language guides list is "Yá’át’ééh Késhmish", which joins the everyday hello to the word for Christmas.^[1]

How do you pronounce "Nizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł"?

Say it like this: nee-ZHOH-nee-go KESH-meesh dah-doh-LEEL. The ł is a breathy l, made by blowing air around the sides of the tongue. The accent marks show a higher tone, so the vowels with marks are said higher. A recording by a native speaker helps a lot, because Navajo is a tonal language.

What does "Nizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł" mean?

It means roughly may you all have a beautiful Christmas, though the gloss is approximate. Nizhónígo means in a beautiful way, and Késhmish is Navajo for Christmas, adapted from English. The final word is a wish form meaning something like 'let it be', so the whole line wishes beauty and goodness for the holiday.^[1]

How do you write Merry Christmas in Navajo?

Navajo uses the Latin alphabet with special marks, so the accents matter: Nizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł. The apostrophe is a glottal stop, a tiny pause in the throat, and ł is a breathy l. You may also see Késhmish spelled Kéeshmish, as in a Navajo Times column. Copy the marks exactly on printed cards.^[1][2][3]

How do you say Happy New Year in Navajo?

A Navajo greeting for January 1 could not be verified for this page, so none is given. For New Year, many Navajo speakers simply say Happy New Year in English. If you want a Navajo wish for the new year, ask a Navajo speaker or the Navajo Nation language program for the right wording.^[4]

Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Navajo?

Yá’át’ééh Késhmish is a short, friendly greeting that combines the everyday hello with the word for Christmas. Nizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł is the fuller wish, as used by the Navajo Nation President. With elders, a respectful tone and a gentle greeting are valued, whichever form you use.^[1][2]

When do people say Merry Christmas in Navajo?

People say it during the Christmas season, at family gatherings, and in messages from leaders to the community. The Navajo Nation President sent his Christmas message on December 25, 2025, and a Navajo Times column describes family gatherings through the holiday. A kind tone and a smile matter more than perfect pronunciation.^[1]

Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Navajo speakers?

December 25 is Christmas Day, and families gather for meals and fellowship during the season. The Navajo Nation's official message went out on Christmas Day, and a column in the Navajo Times describes family gatherings over the holiday. Either day works for using the greeting in a class activity, as long as it is said kindly.^[1][2]

What is a Christmas tradition for Navajo speaking families?

Families gather, hug their elders and hold the children, and eat mutton stew. Card games such as Navajo Ten are popular. The Navajo Nation President's message also describes gift-giving as warm smiles, hugs, encouraging words and compassion, not only presents, which is a good conversation topic for children.^[2]

How can I teach Navajo Christmas words to kids?

Teach Késhmish first, since it sounds like Christmas. Then add Yá’át’ééh, the hello word, which many kids already know. Say the short greeting Yá’át’ééh Késhmish together a few times, then use it on a card or with a Navajo speaking friend. If you can, ask a native speaker to record it so children copy the real sound.

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