Na-Dene

proper noun

A major language family consisting of Tlingit, Eyak and the Athabascan languages, spoken in large parts of North America.

OriginTlingit naa →
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Na-Dené

  1. A major language family consisting of Tlingit, Eyak and the Athabascan languages, spoken in large parts of North America.

Origin

  1. Tlingitnaa
  2. EnglishNa-Dene

Coined by Edward Sapir in 1915, from Tlingit naa and Athabaskan dene, both meaning people or tribe.

More words from Tlingit

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Na-Dene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Na-Dene

MLA

“Na-Dene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Na-Dene. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Na-Dene,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Na-Dene.

Source: Na-Dene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.