lhílhets’els

Lhí:lhets’els means ‘to do woodcutting’. You use this to talk about the kind of activity that one does for a while, such as for a job.

Pronunciation

Sounds like LEE-luh-tsulss, except that instead of regular l‘s you say the Halq’eméylem hissy-l (lh). You make this with more friction, and no vibration in the throat.

There is also a catch in the throat (‘glottal stop’) after the ts.

Audio: Elizabeth Phillips

Structure and related words

• Lhí:lhets’els is the –ing (‘continuative’) form of the more basic word lhts’á:ls – to wood-cut (audio here).
• The root word is lhíts’ – to get cut. This is also the root for the general term lhí:ts’et – to cut (it).
• The suffix –els or –á:ls marks a structured activity (an activity that goes on for some time, such as for a job).