thoughts feelings
Sqwálewel means ‘thoughts’ or ‘feelings’.
A literal translation would be ‘words/talk inside the mind’.
Pronunciation
Sqwálewel sounds like SKWALL-la-will, except that instead of a k you say the Halq’emeylem q sound (in this case, with rounded lips).
To make the Halq’eméylem q, you touch the back of your tongue to your uvula.
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
Example sentences
Here are some examples of how you can use sqwálewel:
- Xwe’í:t ta’ sqwálewel? – What are you thinking about?
- Xwoyíwel tel sqwálewel. – I am happy/feeling good.
- Xélh tel sqwálewel. – I am sad/feeling bad, I’m sorry.
- Li a’ sqwálewel kw’es lhéméxs wáyeles? – ‘Do you think it’s going to rain tomorrow?’
- St’átsa tel sqwálewel. – I agree (literally ‘my thoughts and feelings are the same’)
Related words
Sqwálewel comes from the base word qwà:l – to talk. Other words that come from this base include:
- sqwà:l – word
- qwélqwel – to tell news, information
- sqwélqwel – news, a message, information, a true story
The ending -ewel (or -iwel) means ‘on the inside’. This ending occurs in other words like:
- sth’emíwel – seed, core, center (literally ‘inside of nut’)
- sth’emíwel – ‘angry but won’t fight’ (literally ‘strong on inside’)
- simíwél – surprised (literally ‘to fly on the inside’)
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