# Navajo

/ˈnævəˌhoʊ/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/navajo
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a member of a Native American people from the Southwestern United States. It also refers to the language they speak.

For teachers: a member of a Native American people of the Southwestern United States, or the Athabaskan language spoken by them. When referring to the people, it is often used as a collective plural.

## Examples

- She is learning to speak Navajo.
- The Navajo Nation is the largest land area held by a Native American tribe in the United States.
- During World War II, the military recruited Navajo speakers to serve as code talkers because their complex language was undecipherable to enemy forces.

## Usage notes

- When referring to the people, the plural can be 'Navajo' or 'Navajos'. Always capitalized as it is a proper name.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.