sméth’qel

brain

Sméth’qel is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘brain’. Literally it means ‘blue in the head’.  Some Elders use a related but different word:  sméth’elheqw.

Pronunciation

Sméth’qel sounds like SMIT-th-kull, except that:

• There is a catch in the throat (glottal stop) after the th sound.
• The q in -qel is similar to k, but you make it further back in your mouth, touching your uvula.

Audio: Elizabeth Phillips

Plural form

To talk about multiple brains, you use a special form of sméth’qel, like this: smeth’méth’qel – brains (audio here).

smeth’méth’qel

Related words

Here are some other words related to sméth’qel:

• tsméth’ – blue
  

  blue

• ts’meth’ó:les – blue eyes (the -ó:les ending marks of the eyes)
  

  ts’meth’ó:les

The -qel ending in sméth’qel means ‘in/at the head’. The -qel ending occurs in many place names.