Kw’óqwletstel is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘axe’. Elders use this for larger axes, including the large double-headed ones.
Pronunciation
Kw’óqwletstel sounds like KWAHKW-lutts-till, except that the first kw sound is made ‘popped’ (ejctive) by combining it with a catch in the throat (glottal stop), and the second ‘k‘ is actually a q sound, made further back in the mouth (touching the uvula)
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
Word Parts
Elders built the word kw’óqwletstel from these parts:
- kw’óqw – to hit, to club
- -elets – on the bottom, on the rump
- -tel – tool for, device for
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