person
Mestíyexw is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘person’ …
Pronunciation
- Mestíyexw sounds like miss-TEE-ook, except instead of a k the last sound is the Halq’eméylem soft-x (with lip rounding).
- To make the soft-x sound, you create gentle friction with your tongue touching the roof of your mouth. For xw, your lips are also rounded (i.e. sticking out).
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
Plural Form
Elders differ in which plural form they use for mestíyexw:
- Some say memestíyexw – people, with doubling (‘reduplication’) of the first part of the word.
- Others say malstíyexw – people, with an inserted l.
Audio for both those plural forms is here. You can also just say ye mestíyexw for the people
No comments yet.