eye
Qélém is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘eye’. You can use it to talk about both human and animal eyes, and it’s another good word for TPR. …
Pronunciation
Qélém sounds like “KULL-um”, except that:
- Instead of a “k”, you say the Halq’eméylem “q” sound. This is made further back in the mouth, touching the uvula (click here for an animated illustration of “q”).
- There is also slightly raised pitch or emphasis on the second syllable (which is why both vowels have accents).
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
Note: some speakers also pronounce this word qél:ém which means that they draw out the “l” slightly longer. Both qélém and qél:ém are ‘correct’.
Examples for Usage
Here are some examples of how you can use this word:
- Tesachsem la te’ qélém! — Touch your eye!
- Motest te’ qélém! — Point to your eye!
Plural Form
This word has a special plural form: qelqélem (audio here). Elders make this type of plural by doubling (‘reduplicating’) the first part of the word and inserting an “l”. Some elders also say qeqélem for the plural form (with no “l”).
Related Words
In case you want to say open your eyes, close your eyes, and blink your eyes (also good for TPR), those each correspond to one word (and do not contain qélém), like this:
- xélxelq’t — to open one’s eyes
- th’éplexw — to close one’s eyes
- lhéplexw — to blink one’s eyes
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