ch’ít ~ ts’ít

Ch’ít means ‘to thank’. Some Elders pronounce this word  ts’ít.

Pronunciation

Ch’ít sounds like CHEET, except that there is a catch in the throat (‘glottal stop’) after the ch.

Ts’ít is similar, except the first sound sounds like TS

Audio: Elizabeth Herrling

-ing form

Ch’ít has a special ‘-ing‘ form, to describe an ongoing action, like this: ch’ech’ít, or ts’its’ít (audio here).

Elders make this type of –ing form by partly doubling (‘reduplicating’) the first part of the word.

Handy Phrases

• Ts’ithóme tsel – I thank you (use this for talking to one person)
• Ts’itóle tsel – I thank you (use this for talking to a group of people)
• Ts’ithóme tset – We thank you (use this for talking to one person)
• Ts’itóle tset – We thank you (use this for talking to a group of people)
• Ts’item swáyel – Thanksgiving day