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How to Make a Paper Airplane (Navajo Instructions)

1,616 views · Published 26 July 2012 · 2:45 · Indexed 14 November 2026

Channel: daybreakwarrior · 2012 · Howto & Style

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One of the best way to learn Navajo, is to hear instructions. This short video describes in Navajo the steps involved in making a simple paper airplane, a particular type called "The Arrow." The instructions are an abbreviated form, translated into the Navajo language from this website:

http://www.10paperairplanes.com

If you would like to learn how to make more paper airplanes, check out the above website. 

The song used in the video is the traditional "Navajo Plane Song," sung by the late great Ed Lee Natay.

For the interested student, here is the dialog:

Díí Át'éego Naaltsoos Bee Chidí Naat'a'í Ájiił'iih
How to Make Paper Airplanes

Diné Bizaad bóhwiideesh'ááł jinízingo éiyá ła'da díí át'éego hałníigo doo nanitł'ah da nisin.
When you're learning Navajo, hearing instructions is an easy way to learn.

Díí naalkidígíí biyi'dóó éiyá chidí naat'a'í naaltsoos bee ályaago ííshjání áshłéeh doo.
In this video, I'll show you how to make a paper airplane.

Áłtsé naaltsoos ła' nídiiłtsóós.
First, grab a sheet of paper.

Naaltsoosígíí hideeneezjígo ałníí' góne' ałhá̜á̜h niilééh.
Fold the paper in lengthwise in half.

Áádóó a̜a̜' anánídléehgo ałhá̜á̜h niniláhá̜a̜ bilátahgi ałníi'ji̜' heets'óozgo ałch'i̜' ałhá̜á̜h náádíníídlééł.
Then open it back up and where you folded it, and make a pointed tip by folding the tip again.

K'ad éiyá hideeneezgo heets'óoz doo.
Now lengthwise it will be pointed.

K'ad éiyá heets'óozgo hideenéézé̜e̜ bidinínáajigo ałhá̜á̜h náádíníídlééł.
Now fold the tapered ends over again.

Áko éiyáhá̜a̜  áłtsé ałhá̜á̜h niniláhá̜a̜ tł'ó̜ó̜'dé̜e̜'go dooleeł.
Now the initial folds will be on the outside.

Áádóó bit'a' t'ááłá'í dah halzhin bíighah ałts'á̜a̜hji̜' yaago ałhá̜á̜h díníídlééł.
Then fold both wings down by about one inch.

Áádóó a̜a̜'  ádíílííł.
Then open it up.

K'ad éí ałtso nichidí naat'a'í íinlaa.
Now you finished making the plane.

Doo hazhó'ó naat'a'góó bit'a' bilátahdi ałts'íísígo deigo dííti̜h.
If it doesn't fly well, slightly bend the wing tips up.

Áádóó t'ahdii ndi doo hazhó'ó naat'a'góó ałts'íísígo dei sínítihé̜e̜ yaago náádííti̜h.
If it still isn't flying well, bend down what you bended up.

Áádóó t'ahdii ndi doo hazhó'ó naat'a'góó t'áá áádé̜é̜' ła' anáádíídlííł.
If it still isn't flying well, make another one from scratch.

Chidí naat'a'í naaltsoos bee ájíléehgo dikwíí shí̜í̜ áł'a̜a̜ át'é.
There are many different ways to make paper airplanes.

Éí díí website niníł'í̜i̜go nił bééhodoozi̜i̜ł:
Take a look at this website to see more:

http://www.10paperairplanes.com/

Ahéhee' dóó bíninidlí̜i̜go ła' adíílííł.
Thanks and have fun making one.

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