Kwíystexw means ‘to take up’, as in carrying or moving something upwards. The base word is kw’íy – ‘to climb’. Literally kw’íystexw is ’cause to climb/cause to go up’.
Pronunciation
Kw’íystexw sounds like KWEE-stook, except that instead of a k at the end you say the Halq’eméylem soft-x, with the tongue gently touching to the roof of the mouth.
The kw sound at the start is also made ‘popped’ (made ‘ejective’), by combining it with a catch in the throat (glottal stop).
In fast speech the second vowel is largely lost.
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling
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