bed head
Chílheqw is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘bed head’. You can also use it for ‘bushy hair’ or ‘uncombed hair’. Literally it means ‘high hair’ …
Pronunciation
Chílheqw sounds like CHEEL-uck, except that:
- Instead of a regular l, you say the Halq’eméylem hissy-l (lh). To make the hissy-lh, you create more friction, and have no vibration in your throat.
- The final sound is the Halq’eméylem qw. This is simiar to k, but you make it further back in your mouth, touching your uvula. Your lips are also rounded, for the qw.
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
Related words
The root for chílheqw is chílh. Chílh does not appear by itself, but it appears in many words related to the meaning ‘high, upper, above’, as in these examples:
- chíchelh – high
- chílhqel – have a high voice (The -qel ending marks ‘in the mouth, throat’)
- chelhqí:l – roof of the mouth, palate (The -qil also marks ‘in the mouth, throat’)
- schelhóythel – upper lip (The -óythel ending marks ‘on the lips, jaw’)
The -eqw ending in chílheqw means ‘on/of the head’ or ‘on/of the hair’. Other words that use the -eqw ending include:
- kw’elōweqw – skin on the top of the head (scalp)
skin on top of head, scalp
- kw’qwélqwt – get hit on the head
- yethéleqw – (have a) pointy head
- lhíts’eqwem – have one’s hair cut
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