Na-Dene

noun

nä-ˈdā-(ˌ)nā How to pronounce Na-Dene (audio)
-ˈde-,
-nē
: a hypothetically related group of North American Indigenous languages that includes the Athabascan family, Tlingit, and Haida

Word History

Etymology

na- (from Haida na to dwell & Tlingit na people) + Dene Déné

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Na-Dene was in 1932

Dictionary Entries Near Na-Dene

Cite this Entry

“Na-Dene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Na-Dene. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!