qex̲

much, many, a lot

Qex̲ is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘much’.

You can also use qex̲ to say ‘many’, or ‘a lot’.

Pronunciation

• Qex̲ sounds like KUCK, except that the first sound is the Halq’eméylem q, and the last sound is the  Halq’eméylem hard-x sound.
• To make the q, you touch the back of your tongue against your uvula.
• To make the hard-x, you create friction with the back of your tongue against (again) your uvula.

Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips

Examples

Here are some examples of how you can use qex̲:

• Qex̲ tel tále. – I have a lot of money. (literally ‘Much is my money’).
• Qex̲ ye qwe’óp. – There’s lots of apples. (literally ‘Many are the apples’.).
• Qex̲ te sxélches. – He catches a lot. (Literally ‘Much is his catch’).
• Qex̲ ye sth’ó:qwi. – There’s lots of fish. (Literally ‘Many are the fish.’).
• Qex̲ tset. – There’s lots of us. (Literally ‘We are many.’).