kw’óxwe

Kw’óxwe is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘box’. Elders use it for modern boxes as well as traditional boxes.

Pronunciation

Kw’óxwe sounds like KWASH-kwuh, except that:

•  The first kw sound is made ‘popped’ (ejctive) by combining it with a catch in the throat (glottal stop),
• The xw sound is similar to sh, but xw made further back in the mouth, touching the roof of the mouth (see thit is thee  soft-x but in this case with rounded lips)

Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips

Plural form

Kw’óxwe has a special plural form, like this: kw’ólexwe – boxes.

Elders make this type of plural by inserting an –l– into the word.