Tohono O’odham

American  

[thuh-noh uh-thuhm, tuh-hah-nuh oh-uh-thuhm] / ˈθə noʊ ˈʌ θəm, təˈhɑ nə oʊˈʌ θəm /

noun

1. a member of an Indigenous people closely related to the Pima and now living mainly in southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico.

2. the Uto-Aztecan language of the Tohono O’odham, closely related to Pima.

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Etymology

Origin of Tohono O’odham

An Americanism dating back to 1985–90; from Pima-Papago tóhonoʔóʔdham “desert people”

Example Sentences

Most recently, he is sponsoring a bill to expand the “Shadow Wolves” program that enlists members of the Tohono O’odham Nation to help patrol the border.

From Slate • Sep. 8, 2025

This was Due’s first piccadilly, a delicacy whose origins are debated, but can be traced to either the Navajo, the Tohono O’odham Reservation, or the Hopi village Moenkopi.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2024

Over the past three years, Merchant has partnered with a high school, a community farm, and the Tohono O’odham tribal nation to nurse, plant and maintain the trees.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2024

The San Miguel crossing located farther east on the Tohono O’odham Nation is also seeing hundreds of migrant arrivals daily, but tribal officials said the National Guard would not be stationed on the reservation.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 15, 2023

The Tohono O’odham Nation said the feds used explosives to clear the way for constructing a road next to the wall.

From Washington Times • Sep. 7, 2023