st’eláx_el

square, corner

St’eláx_el is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘square’. You can also use it for ‘corner’ …

Pronunciation

• St’eláxel sounds like stuh-LACK-ull, except that instead of a “ck” you say the Halq’eméylem hard-x sound.
• The hard-x sound is made with heavy friction. You raise the back of your tongue to your uvula to make this sound.

Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips

Examples

Literally st’eláxel refers to the shape of the arm with the elbow out. Elders use it to talk about square objects, about things being square, and also corners.  Here are some examples of how you can use this word in these various ways:

• Hikw te st’eláxel – The square is big.
• St’eláxel te kw’óxwe. – The box is square.
• Li te st’eláxel kw’es ó:mets tútl’ò – He is sitting in the corner.

Plural Form

The plural for st’eláxel is like this: st’elt’elaxel – lots of squares.

This plural form is made with doubling (‘reduplication’) of the first three sounds of the word (not counting the ‘s).