green
Tsqwá:y is the Halq’eméylem word for ‘green’. Some (though not all) elders also use this word for shades of yellow ….
Pronunciation
- Tsqwá:y sounds like TSS-KWAY, except that instead of a kw you say the Halq’emeylem qw sound.
- qw is made further back in the mouth, with the back of your tongue touching your uvula. You also round your lips for this sound.
Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips
Examples
Here are some examples of how you can use tsqwá:y:
- Q. Selchí:momex tetha? – What color is that?
- A. Tsqwá:y tetha! – That’s green!
- Q. Selchí:momex ta’ stl’pí:wel? – What color is your shirt?
- A. Tsqwá:y tel stl’pí:wel! – My shirt is green!
Related words
In addition to tsqwá:y, various other words related to yellow, green, and orange are all based on the same base-word qwá:y (or qwóy). For example:
- sqwóqwiyel – (be) yellow, tan
- qwiqwóyals – (be) orange
- tsqwayíws – yellow bodied (-iws means on or of the body)
Note: Halq’eméylem colour divisions do not always match how we divide up colours in English, which is why some elders use tsqwá:y for both ‘green‘ and ‘yellow‘. Other elders use tsqwá:y only for ‘green‘, though.
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