łichííʼ

łi- (adjectival) + -Ø- (ni-modal 3rd person subject prefix) + -Ø- (classifier) + -chííʼ (neuter imperfective stem of root -CHIIʼ, “to be red”).

Compare Dogrib dekʼo, Ahtna ltʼeli.

The łi- prefix appears to have originated historically from the -ł- classifier. When this prefix appears immediately in pre-stem position, it takes the shape of a -l- classifier.

łichííʼ

1. he/she/it is red

   Tsídii łichííʼ ― The (one or two) bird is red.

   Tsídii daalchííʼ ― The (three or more) birds are red.

This is a neuter verb that only uses the imperfective stem.

Paradigm: Neuter imperfective (ni).

łichííʼ

1. the colour red
2. a penny

• Biʼééʼ Łichííʼí bikéyah (“Russia”)
• béésh łichíiʼii (“copper, bronze”)
• bílátah łichííʼígíí (“tulip”)
• Bitsiighaʼ Łichííʼí bikéyah (“Ireland”)
• dibéłchíʼí (“brown”)
• didzéchííʼ (“cherry”)
• łichííʼí, łichíiʼii, łichííʼígíí
• łichííʼ ałnáʼásdzoh (“Red Cross”)
• łichxíʼí (“reddish orange”)
• téél halchíʼí (“American robin”)
• tsinlátah shash łichíʼígíí (“red panda”)