Kapú is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘coat‘. You can also spell this word like this: kopú.
Pronunciation
Kapú sounds like this: ka-POOH
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
Plural form
Kapú has a special plural form, like this: kalepú – coats (audio here).
Elders make this type of plural by inserting an –l– into the word.
Word origins
Kapú comes from an old-fashioned French word capote, which referred to a hooded cloak.
French source: capote
The word entered Halq’eméylem via the trade language ‘Chinook Jargon’, which was used for trading throughout the Northwest Coast area. Chinook Jargon included many words adapted from French (and other languages).
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