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Code-talking in Diné (Navajo) Trivia Quiz

During WWII, Navajo Native Americans made up a code based on words in their language that resembled the military terms they were describing, such as "iron fish" for "submarine". Here we'll match the code word back to its original term.

A multiple-choice quiz by PDAZ. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
PDAZ

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
346,807

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
4501

Awards
Editor's Choice

Last 3 plays: calmdecember (6/10), JAM6430 (10/10), patrickk (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Not surprisingly, the Navajo Code Talkers used their native words for birds to describe planes. The word "gini" was used to describe dive bombers that would attack by diving at their targets. What type of bird is a "gini"? Hint

Duck

Cardinal

Hawk

Fruit bat

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. To describe agile fighter planes, the Navajo Code Talkers used the term "dah yiitihi". What type of swift bird is a "dah yiitihi"? Hint

Albatross

Goose

Pelican

Hummingbird

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. The Navajo code talkers had terms (some of which were derogatory, some merely humorous) for the different countries involved in WWII, based on the appearances of the soldiers or natives of those countries. The term for "Australia" was "ch'ah yes desi" which referred to the appearance of Australian soldiers. What does "ch'ah yes desi" mean? Hint

Pale uniform

Rolled hat

All men named Bruce

Big mustaches

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. To come up with the code for "fortification", Navajo Code Talkers used a term to describe a type of fortification they had seen on their own lands, "ah na sozi". What does "ah na sozi" mean? Hint

Steel bunker

Cliff dwelling

Missile silo

Ant hill

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Navajo Code Talkers used aquatic creatures to describe ships. Aircraft carriers were called bird carriers because they carried planes ("birds"). Battleships were called "loo'tsoh" because of their size. What type of creature is a "loo'tsoh"? Hint

Sea lion

Whale

Tuna

School of sardines

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. To describe a cable, such as those used for towing, Navajo Code Talkers used the term "beesh loh" which described what the men saw when they looked at a cable. What does "beesh loh" mean? Hint

Lines in the dirt

Licorice stick

Wire rope

Petrified rattlesnake

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The Navajo Code Talkers' word for bombs, "ayeezhii", was based on the delivery of the bombs as they were dropped from planes. Since planes were named for birds, what does "ayeezhii" mean? Hint

Guano

Squawking

Feathers

Eggs

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. To describe a grenade, Navajo Code Talkers focused on the shape of the weapon and came up with the vegetable "nimasii". What does the word "nimasii" mean? Hint

String bean

Potato

Lettuce

Peas

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. The Navajo word "ch'eeh dighahii" was used as the code for a tank because of the protective coating shared by both. Given the desert environment where the Navajo lived, what is a "ch'eeh dighahii"? Hint

Lobster

Tortoise

Snail

M&M candies

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Pontoons are air-filled structures used to create bridges and piers. The Navajo Code Talkers called pontoons "toshjeeh dah naa'eel" based on a resemblance in appearance to the pontoons. What does "toshjeeh dah naa'eel" mean? Hint

Pregnant llama

Inflated porcupine

Floating barrel

Tubby puppy

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 16 2024 : calmdecember: 6/10
Apr 15 2024 : JAM6430: 10/10
Mar 29 2024 : patrickk: 10/10
Mar 27 2024 : ArlingtonVA: 9/10
Mar 22 2024 : dee1304: 10/10
Mar 22 2024 : GoodwinPD: 10/10
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 180: 9/10
Feb 22 2024 : gable: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Hawk

The term "gini" indicates a hawk, with "ginitsoh" meaning sparrow hawk and "ginilbahi" meaning goshawk. The official Navajo Code Talkers website lists "gini" as meaning "chicken hawk".

Note: Navajo uses extensive diacritical marks that do not show up correctly on this website, so they aren't included in this quiz.

2. To describe agile fighter planes, the Navajo Code Talkers used the term "dah yiitihi". What type of swift bird is a "dah yiitihi"?

Answer: Hummingbird

To the Code Talkers' eyes, the movements of the fighter planes probably resembled those of a hummingbird that could zip this way and that. Hummingbirds are also known for being ferocious defenders of their territories, so the use of "hummingbird" as a code for a fighter plane was a good fit.

Answer: Rolled hat

"Ch'ah" is the word for hat, and "yes desi" means rolled. Apparently, the Australian Slouch hats made a distinct impression on the Navajo Code Talkers. Some other Navajo Code Talker terms for nations: England was "toh ta" meaning "between waters", and India was "ah li gai" meaning "white clothes".

4. To come up with the code for "fortification", Navajo Code Talkers used a term to describe a type of fortification they had seen on their own lands, "ah na sozi". What does "ah na sozi" mean?

Answer: Cliff dwelling

This term comes from "anaasazi" meaning "cliff dwellers/ancient people/enemy ancestors". The Anasazi people built cliff dwellings in the area of the current Navajo Nation in the years before the Navajo moved to the area.

Answer: Whale

Loo'tsoh also describes a large fish. Other ship names in Navajo code were "ca lo" meaning shark for a destroyer and "chaa" meaning beaver for a mine sweeper.

6. To describe a cable, such as those used for towing, Navajo Code Talkers used the term "beesh loh" which described what the men saw when they looked at a cable. What does "beesh loh" mean?

Answer: Wire rope

"Beesh" means wire, and "loh" means noose/rope. The word "tlool" more distinctly describes rope; it also means cord, string or twine. The use of "loh" might have been to emphasize the end of the cable.

7. The Navajo Code Talkers' word for bombs, "ayeezhii", was based on the delivery of the bombs as they were dropped from planes. Since planes were named for birds, what does "ayeezhii" mean?

Answer: Eggs

Since the planes delivered the bombs, and the planes were birds, the bombs that came from the planes were eggs. The word "ayeezhii" also refers to testicle.

8. To describe a grenade, Navajo Code Talkers focused on the shape of the weapon and came up with the vegetable "nimasii". What does the word "nimasii" mean?

Answer: Potato

The singular was used; the plural term would be "nimasiitsoh". Other vegetables which found their way into the code were onion "tl'ohchin" used for the letter "O" and squash "naayizi" for squadron.

Answer: Tortoise

"Ch'eeh dighahii" also means turtle and the word "tsisteel" is also used for both animals. Other "herps" that made the code list include snake "tl'iish" for the letter "S" and frog "ch'al" for "amphibious".

Answer: Floating barrel

"Toshjeeh" means barrel, and "dah naa'eel" means "it floats". The incorrect choices are more amusing, but the Navajo Code Talkers went for the obvious choice and described what they saw: a floating barrel.

Source: Author PDAZ

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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