What does the word Navajo mean?

Answer 1

'enemies with the cultivated lands in arroyos'

The word Navajo is derived from Spanish hearing of a Tewa Indian word "navahu'u" or "na-ba-hu-u " meaning wide or river bottom fields. The Spanish were trying to tell apart the different Apache related groups.

"Apache " is thought to come from Zuni for "enemy". The Tewa were saying that the people over towards where Farmington NM is now were the Apache group who grew corn in river bottom land. The others ate Mescal- Mescalero Apache, or made little baskets- Jicarilla Apache. They were "Navajo de Apache".

The idea that it means knife or thief has been thoroughly debunked.

Answer 2

The Spanish first used the term Apachu de Nabajo"in the 1620's. The word "nabajo" is thought to have come from Tewa, meaning wide fields near an arroyo.

The word Apache may have come in the 1590's from the Zuni word for Navajo in the plural. Or it may have come from the Yavapai word for enemy. Together it means something like " the Apache people that have big corn fields along rivers"

Juan de Oñate is the first known to have used it.

The name Navajo use for themselves is "Dine'". The e at the end has a high tone and sounds to English speakers like there is a stress on it. The Navajo language is called Dine' Bizaad. The Navajo land is Dine' Bikeyah.

The Apache 's self name is Inde.