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You are here: Home / History / What is the Code Talker Alphabet and Which Navajo words represents each letter?

What is the Code Talker Alphabet and Which Navajo words represents each letter?

March 10, 2020 by Karen Hill

The Navajo Code Talkers used Navajo words to stand in for English words or phrases.

For instance, de-he-tih-hi (Navajo for “humming bird”) meant “fighter plane” and besh-lo (“iron fish”) meant submarine.

The Code Talkers memorized a special alphabet to spell out uncommon English words, like place-names. In this alphabet, a different Navajo word was used to represent each letter.

a wol-la-chee ant
b shush bear
c moasi cat
d be deer
e dzeh elk
f ma-e fox
g klizzie goat
h lin horse
i tkin ice
j tkele-cho-gi jackass
k klizzie-yazzie kid
l dibeh-yazzie lamb
m na-as-tso-si mouse
n nesh-chee nut
o ne-ahs-jah owl
p bi-so-dih pig
q ca-yeilth quiver
r gah rabbit
s dibeh sheep
t than-zie turkey
u no-da-ih Ute
v a-keh-di-glini victor
w gloe-ih weasel
x al-an-as-dzoh cross
y tsah-as-zih yucca
z besh-do-gliz zinc

Related Facts

  • Who were the Navajo Code Talkers and Why were the Navajo Code Talkers important during World War II?
  • What is Navajo life like today and Where is the Navajo Indian reservation located?
  • What is a Navajo rug and How did Navajo rugs originate?
  • Why Is Z the Last Letter in Our Alphabet?
  • Who Developed the Modern Alphabet?
  • The History of the Dictionary

Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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