st’elákw’

circle, round

St’elákw’ is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘circle‘. You can also use it for ‘round‘ …

Pronunciation

• St’elákw’ sounds like stuh-LACK, except that the final ‘k‘ is rounded and popped.
• To make the ‘k‘ rounded, you stick out your lips as you say the ‘k‘.
• To make the sound popped, you combine it with a catch-in-the-throat sound.

Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips

Examples

Here are some examples of how you can use this word:

• Hikw te st’elákw’ – The circle is big.
• …li te st’elákw’ siyólh – on a circular frame (lit. ‘on round wood’)
• st’elákw’ sqweqwá – round hole
• st’elákw’ sp’ip’elh seplíl – pizza (lit. ‘round flat bread’)

Plural Form

The plural for st’elákw’ is like this: st’elt’elakw’ (audio here).