Some Language Basics

Useful words

Question words
’untsube where
stsekwul’how
stemwhat; something
stul’em’whatever things
tum’temwhen (“time of what”)
hw’iintsay what
lhwetwho
tuwetwhose
nutsim’why
kw’inhow much or many
skw’inswhat day
’uquestion particle
Location words
sts’utse’on (be on something)
sun’iw’in (be in something)
ts’lh (prefix)with
si’qunderneath
stl’pal’we’lhunderneath
stslhal’we’lhabove, on top of
stutesnear by
s’a’kw’ushanging on
st’i’am’stuck on, attached to
Meeting & greeting
hee’yes
’uwuno
tth’ihwumplease
hay ch q’a’thank you
hay tseep q’a’thank you (to more than one person)
namut kwuyou’re welcome
kwunutsustshake someone’s hand, hold someone’s hand
ts’iitaluthank you
ts’uy’ulhthank, express appreciation
ts’iitthank; greet
q’uq’a’tul’meeting each other
ts’lhq’uq’a’tul’people attending a meeting

Action Words

Simple action words
nem’go
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
m’icome
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
m’i ’ewucome here
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
hwts’e’nutsumsit down
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
’umutget out of bed (also for some people ‘to sit’)
lhxilushstand up
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
ts’ehwul’shut up, keep quiet
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
s-ts’ets’uhwbe quiet
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
hwiyuneem’listen
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
t’ilumsing
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
qw’uyulushdance
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
hwyunumussmile
’imushwalk
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
xwchenumrun
’umshasum’take a walk, go for a drive
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
lhuqw’tssumclap your hands
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
lumhwshenumstamp your feet
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
’unuhwstop
huye’leave
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
q’ulum’camp, stay overnight
lhumts’el’spick (berries, fruit, vegetables)
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
t’i’wi’ulhpray
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
xlhaseat
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
Verbs & progressives
’itutsleep
’i’tutsleeping
’ulhtuneat
’i’lhtun’eating
yaayswork
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
yaay’usworking
nem’ tl’ tawungo to town
hunum’ tl’ tawungoing to town
qwaltalk
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
qwaqwul’talking
huw’a’lum’play
Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode.
hiiw’a’lum’ ’u tu kumputu kemsplaying computer games

Describing words

Size & shape
’uhwin’little, small
’e’uhwinlittle, small, tiny
thibig
thequnbig container
thithushunbig feet
’uhwiin’small
tl’eqtlong
muqwitth’e’thick strand (for ex, wool yarn)
Colours
p’uq’white (also off-white, beige)
tsq’ixblack (also dark brown, dark-grey)
tskwimred
tsqwaygreen, blue-green
ts-hwikw’grey
tth’atth’uhwum’purple
qwaqwuyul’bluish (turning blue)
hwikw’ulgreyish (turning gray, fade to gray)
hwihwukw’ul’greying (turning, fading to gray)
kwimulreddish (become red, turn red)
kwikwumul’reddish (becoming red, turning red)
p’q’aluslight-coloured
p’q’alus tsqwaylight green-blue
p’q’alus tskwimlight red
q’xalusdark-coloured
q’xalus tsqwaydark green-blue
q’xalus tskwimdark red
kwimalusreddish, pink
tskwimulusbrown
kwikwuma’lusreddish brown
shkwitth’tsalusblue (blue jay [Steller’s jay]-coloured)
luluts’alusyellow (Oregon-grape [Mahonia nervosa]-coloured)
kwulalu’alusorange coloured (alder-coloured)
saxwulalusgreen (grass-coloured)
qel’qaluspink (wild rose-coloured)
tumulhalusbrown (ochre-coloured)
koulalusgold (gold-coloured)
Adverbs
nanvery, too much
tl’lim’really, very
tuw’sort of, rather
’ul’just
uw’… ’uljust, quite
hay … ’ulvery, only

Counting

Counting with classifiers (1-5)
nuts’a’one
’uw’ nuts’a’ ’ul’just one
nuts’a’ shewuqone carrot
nuts’usone round object
nuts’us ’apulsone apple
nuts’uqunone container
nuts’uqun tl’elhumone box of salt
’uw’ nuts’uqun ’ul’only one container
nuts’a’, yuse’lu, lhihw, xu’athun1, 2, 3, 4
nuts’us, yusa’lus, lhihwus, xuthinus1-4 round objects
nuts’uqun, yuse’luqun, lhihwuqun, xuthinuqun1-4 containers
yuse’lutwo
yuse’lu kw’unu stl’i’I want two.
yuse’lu shewuqtwo carrots
yusa’lustwo round objects
yusa’lus sqewthtwo potatoes
yuse’luquntwo containers
yuse’luqun ’ispawtutwo containers of baking powder
lhihwthree
lhihwusthree round objects
lhihwus ’apulsthree apples
lhihwuqunthree containers
lhihwuqun sqaal’muhwthree containers of milk
xu’athunfour
xuthinusfour round objects
xuthinus sqewthfour potatoes
xuthinuqunfour containers
xuthinuqun slhap’four containers of soup
lhq’etsusfive
lhq’etssuwulhfive canoes
lhq’etssuqun’five containers
yulhuq’utsusfive moving along (for ex, canoes)
lhq’utsse’lufive people
lhq’utsselhfive times
lhq’etssulhpfive trees
lhq’etssuwoonhwfive years