sásq’ets

sasquatch

Sásq’ets is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘Sasquatch’. The English word is adapted from the Halq’eméylem language…

Pronunciation

• Sásq’ets sounds like “SASS-kuts“, except that instead of a ‘k‘ you say the Halq’emeéylem ‘q‘ sound, and the ‘q‘ is also popped.
• The Halq’eméylem ‘q‘ is made further back than ‘k’. For ‘q‘, the back of the tongue touches the uvula.
• To make the ‘q‘ popped, you combine it with a catch-in-the-throat (glottal stop) sound.

Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips

Plural form

There is no consistent plural form for this word. Some elders say sesasq’ets, with doubling (reduplication) of the start of the word; other elders say salesq’ets, with partial doubling and also an ‘l‘ inserted. (Audio for both forms is here.)

You can also just say ye sásq’ets – the sasquatches.

Related words

• Sasq’ets – Sasquatch Rock in Harrison River
• Sasq’etstel – Pretty’s Bay on Harrison River (-tel means ‘tool’, or ‘device’)