syétl’q’t

paint job

Syétl’q’t means ‘paint job‘. It is the nominal (noun) form of the verb yétl’q’t – to paint (it).

Pronunciation

Syétl’q’t sounds like SYITT-ull-kut, except that:

• The first t is popped (combined with a catch in the throat to give a popping release)
• Instead of a k you say the Halq’emeylem q (made at the uvula), and this q is also popped (q’).
• There are no vowels between the consonants, except for the first vowel é.

Audio: Elizabeth Herrling

Related words

Syétl’q’t as noted above is based on yétl’q’t – to paint it, and both words are related to a number of other words, including:

• yátl’q’els – painting (this is a verb, and refers to the general activity)
• syátl’q’els – paint (this is the noun form for the liquid)
• yétl’q’esem – to paint one’s face (the –es ending marks ‘face’)
• yétl’q’íws – to paint one’s body (the –iws ending marks ‘body’)