cedar tree
Xpá:yelhp is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘cedar tree’, specifically the Western Red Cedar. This word refers to the full tree or bush (there are special words for cedar wood, cedar bough, etc). …
Pronunciation
- Xpá:yelhp sounds like kuh-PAY-ullp, except that instead of a k you say the Halq’eméylem hard-x (uvular x) sound, and the l in the last syllable is ‘hissy’.
- Halq’eméylem hard-x is a continuous sound made with heavy friction at the back of your mouth, touching your uvula.
- The Halq’eméylem hissy-l is like a regular l, but you make it with more friction, and with no vibration in your throat.
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
Related words
Here are some words related to xpá:yelhp:
- Xpá:y – cedar wood
- Xpá:ytses – cedar bough (-tses means ‘hand‘ or ‘bough‘)
- Xepyúwelh – cedar serving tray/trough (-úwelh or -ówelh means ‘vessel‘ and is also used for ‘canoe‘)
The -elph ending in xpá:yelhp indicates that you are talking about the whole plant/tree. This -elph ending is very common in words for plants and trees.
Plural
Xpá:yelhp has a special plural form: xelpá:yelhp – cedars (audio here).
This plural is formed by inserting an ‘l‘ into the word. There are several different ways of forming the plural in Halq’eméylem, but this l-insertion for plural is very common.
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