Happy Friends/
'Iiyus Siiye'yu
Songs in Hul'q'umi'num' & English
To watch how our songs are being shared in classrooms, please view our videos on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Click on the links below in this box.
To watch videos of the Hul'q'umi'num' sounds, scroll down. For a more in-depth description with the videos, plus a word example and additional audio, go to the tool bar then, click on "Additional Recordings (Sounds & Songs)," then, scroll down.
Please note: This page is under construction, more sounds coming soon!
a
Is pronounced, ah, like in the English words, ball, call, mall & father.
a'
In Hul’q’umi’num’ the letter a is pronounced ah, similar to the a sound in the English words, ball, call and father, but in this example, because it has an ‘unuhw after it, the a sound is glottalized (a’), so, the sound is cut off by a sudden aspiration/release of breath.
aa
Similar to the pronunciation for letter a (like the ah sound in the English word for father) but held longer (stretch out the sound).
‘aa
When you see an ‘unuhw before a vowel at the beginning of a word, the ‘unuhw just tells us that the sound comes from a stopped position in the throat - it does not change the sound of the vowel.
When two vowels are seen together the vowel sound is stretched out/elongated.
ch
The Hul'q'umi'num' ch sounds like the ch in the English word,
church or cheap.
ch'
The Hul'q'umi'num' ch'
sounds like the ch in the English word for church, but with a slight popping sound.
- It is rarely used in Hul’q’umi’num’ - it seems to be only used for terms about frying.
There are three pronunciations for the letter e in the Hul'q'umi'num' language. It is pronounced like the vowel sounds in the English words: bet, bat and bait, depending on the word being pronounced.
e
When an ‘unuhw is added after the letter e’, it reminds us to stop our sound with an aspiration (release of breath) and brings it to an abrupt stop.
- Note: There are three pronunciations for the letter e. It can be pronounced like the vowels in the English words: bet, bat or bait depending on the word being pronounced
e'
'e
The letter e is most often pronounced like the vowels in the English words: bet, bat and bait.
When a vowel is the first sound in a word it is preceded by an ‘unuhw to indicate that the sound comes from a stopped position.
This does not change the letter sound, it just signals that a vowel sound is coming.
ee
ee is similar to the sound for letter e, but just held longer.
Note: There are three pronunciations for the letter e. It can be pronounced like the vowels in the English words: bet, bat or bait depending on the word being pronounced.
'ee
The ‘unuhw appears here when the ee sound is at the beginning of a word (for example, in the word, 'eenthu. When a vowel is the first sound in a word it is preceded by an ‘unuhw to indicate that the sound comes from a stopped position. This does not change the letter’s sound, it just signals that a vowel sound is coming.
h
The Hul'q'umi'num' h
Is a light huff of breath and sounds similar to the h in the English word for heat or happy.
When listening to an Elder, listen carefully, it can be mistaken for the x sound.
The Hul’q'umi'num' hw is a light huff of breath, while rounding your lips.
It is like describing how the sound of wind is blowing and is made by blowing air through your lips. It is an unvoiced labial (rounded) sound. Some describe it as having your mouth rounded and ready to make a whistling sound.
For a deeper understanding of “unvoiced labial” please see our charts under, "Additional Recordings: Sounds & Songs."
hw
i
is pronounced like the
ee in the English word meet.
ii
is pronounced like the ee in the English word meet, but it is held longer.
k
The Hul'q'umi'num' k is like the hard c in the English word, cat or, K as in king. It mostly appears in borrowed words that describe things from settler’s language. For example, kupou (coat) is borrowed from the French language.
kw
The Hul'q'umi'num' kw
is an unvoiced labial sound made by rounding your lips when you pronounce the hard c sound or the k sound (as in cat and king).
We hear this sound in English in the words queen, quiet or quick.
kw'
kw’ is an unvoiced harder sound than plain kw and “pops” when air from the wind pipe that is blocked at the place of articulation is forcefully released.
The Hul’q’umi'num' L is generated by curling the tongue up and putting the tip of the tongue to the ridge behind the upper teeth, and
sending the “hum” through the tongue (like when saying the English word long).
Note: Glottal L’ is made the same way, but remember to cut off the sound with a sudden aspiration (release of breath).
L
LH
The Hul’q'umi'num' LH is a tricky unvoiced sound.
Some describe it as an angry cat sound.
Make this sound by placing the tip of your tongue as though to make a plain L sound, but don’t voice it. This is the place in your mouth where the LH sound is pronounced, but it is an unvoiced sound. Now, allow the air to release against the sides of the cheeks and out the sides of the mouth.
It may help to smile while you do it.
It may help to fill your lungs with air and bring in your belly while you blow air out.
It may help to have a drink of water first, so that the mouth is not dry.
Sometimes it is mistaken for the English TH or SH sound, but it is not the same.
m
The Hul'q'umi'num' m
is generated by putting the lips together, and basically, humming. The m is pronounced like the m in the English word, meet.
m'
The Hul'q'umi'num' m' is made the same way as plain m, but remember to cut off the sound with a sudden aspiration (release of breath).
n
The Hul’q'umi'num' n
is generated by putting the tongue to the ridge behind the upper teeth (like the n sound in English), and sending the “hum” through the tongue. The n sound is much like the one in the English word, neat.
n'
The Hul'q'umi'num' sound for n' is made the same way as plain n, but remember to cut off the sound with a sudden aspiration (release of breath).
o
The sound for letter o is pronounced like the English word, "oh" with lips rounded; as in the English words,
go or low.
o'
Glottalized o' ends abruptly with a glottal stop; the sound is cut off by a sudden aspiration (release of breath).
oo
The Hul'q'umi'num' sound for oo is elongated - it is held longer than the o sound.
It is more like the English words: too, boo, zoo, moon
ou
There are some since-contact words that required the use of a different sounding vowel to match the English sound.
The s'ul'eluhw (elders) came up with the ou for some hul'q'umi'num'ized English words, for example, mousmus, for cow.
It is pronounced like the oo in the English word, hoot. The Hul’q’umi’num’ ou sound is not held as long as the Hul’q’umi’num’ oo sound.
p
- The Hul'q'umi'num' p never says the letter name, pee.
- English words that have a similar sound are: pond, point, pop.
- The sound is made by making a small release of air through closed lips.
p'
The Hul'q'umi'num' sounds for p and p' never say the letter name, pee.
p' is made by a small, sharp release of air through closed lips. It is similar to the plain p sound, but with a popping sound. English words with this sound are: nope & yup.
Glottalized p’ ends abruptly with a glottal stop - the sound is cut off by a sudden aspiration/breath.
q
The Hul'q'umi'num' q is a deep sound, similar to the English k sound, but different because of where the sound comes from in the mouth (place of articulation). It is made at the top of the throat and at the back of the mouth - the tongue is further back in the throat. The back of the tongue touches the soft palate near the uvula. Some say, it sounds like someone hitting a hollow log with a wooden stick . In English, the q and all hard k sounds are high and light, more in the bowl of the mouth, like queen, cookie, king, but the Hul'q'umi'num' q is a deeper sound.
q'
The Hul'q'umi'num' q' is a deep sound. - It is made at the top of the throat, and the back of the mouth. Like the Hul’q’umi’num’ q sound without the glottal mark, it sounds like someone hitting a hollow log with a wooden stick. Glottalized q’ ends abruptly with a glottal stop - the sound is cut off by a sudden aspiration/breath.
qw
The Hul'q'umi'num' qw is a deep sound.
Like the Hul'q'umi'num' q, it is also made at the top of the throat, and the back of the mouth and sounds like someone hitting a hollow log with a wooden stick.
Qw comes from the same place in the throat that the English “G” comes from.
Remember the w is telling you to round the lips to round out the q sound. It is similar to the q sound, but with the lips rounded like when the English word queen is said.
qw'
The Hul'q'umi'num' qw' is a deep sound. It is also made at the top of the throat, and the back of the mouth. Like the Hul'q'umi'num' q, it sounds like someone hitting a hollow log with a wooden stick. Remember, when an ‘unuhw is added after the letter, it reminds us to stop our sound with an aspiration (breath) and brings it to an abrupt stop.The w is telling you to round the lips to round out the q sound.
s
The Hul'q'umi'num' s sounds like the s in English words:
so, sun, set, and sit (never like the z sound in the English word,“hose”).
sh
The Hul'q'umi'num' sh sounds like the sh in the English word, shush or shore.
t
The Hul'q'umi'num' t sounds like the English sound for letter t.
The sound is made by flicking the tongue off of the ridge behind the upper teeth.
English words with this sound: to, tell, & time
t'
The Hul'q'umi'num' t' sounds like the English sound for letter t ; however, the
t sound with a glottal stop (t’) is made by flicking the tongue off the ridge behind the upper teeth; AND by making sure all sound is stopped with a sudden aspiration/breath.
English words with a similar sound: to, tell, & time.
th
The Hul’q’umi’num’ sound for the letters
t and h when they are together, sounds like the English sound for th in words like, three, thimble, thin, and thirsty.
tl'
The Hul'q'umi'num' tl' sound is like English words with the letters tl in them: little, battle, and bottle. The tongue will be at the ridge behind your upper teeth when you make this sound - like when pronouncing the English t and then releasing the sides like when about to make an L sound. Glottalized tl’, ends abruptly with a glottal stop; the sound is cut off by a sudden aspiration/breath (it makes a clicking sound).
ts
The Hul'q'umi'num' ts sound is like starting with a t sound and sliding into an s sound.
English words with this sound are; tsar, lets and bats.
ts'
This is the same as the ts sound (start with a t sound and slide into an s sound), except we need to remember that because there is an ‘unuhw, ts becomes glottalized so, ts’, ends abruptly with a glottal stop; the sound is cut off by a sudden aspiration/breath. An English word that might have this sound tsetse (a type/species of fly).
tth
The Hul'q'umi'num' tth sound is like a th sound (as in the English word, three) with a t in front of it.
We make this sound by placing our tongue behind our teeth and rolling our tongue off of the back of our teeth.
Roll from the t sound into the th sound, like when one says, “cut thin.”
Sometimes, a hyphen is used to help show the separation in the sounds
(t-th, example: t-thu si’lu/the grandfather).
tth'
The Hul'q'umi'num' tth' sound is like the tth sound but is snapped off the back of your teeth. Make this sound by placing your tongue behind your teeth and snapping your tongue off of the back of your teeth. It's like spitting the broccoli out from between your two front teeth (describes, Herb Rice).
u
This schwa sound is not a, long u (you) sound, it is more like an uh sound. English words with this sound are: but, cut, up, shut, umbrella, butter. It is never elongated. It is never glottalized.
w
The Hul’q'umi'num' w is generated by rounding the lips and sending the 'hum' to the lips. It sounds like the w in the English words; will, well, & wall. Never pronounce it, “double-u”
w' is made the same way, but remember to cut off the sound with a sudden aspiration.
x
The Hul'q'umi'num' sound symbolized by the letter x is a guttural/fricative, raspy sound, pronounced with the back of the tongue near the soft palate (close to the uvula/very back of the throat). It is made deep in the throat. It sounds like someone gathering their saliva in the throat. If you look in a mirror you should be able to see the muscles in your throat working.
xw
The Hul'q'umi'num' xw is also a guttural sound like the x (it is made deep in the throat).
It sounds like someone gathering their salvia, but the only difference between the x sound and the xw sound is that the lips are rounded. The position of the tongue and throat remain the same as in the sound for x.
If you look in a mirror you should be able to see the muscles in your throat working
y
In the Hul’q'umi'num' language y is generated by flattening the tongue to the undersides of both sides of the upper teeth It sounds like the y in yes, yell, and yellow. It is never said as the long e sound that the English sound for y makes at the end of a word like candy.
Note: y' is made the same way, but remember to cut off the sound with a sudden aspiration/breath.
More sounds (diphthongs)
on following slides…
ay
The letters a and y together, begin like the ah sound in the English word, father, immediately followed by the Hul’q’umi’num’ y sound that begins like the y in the English word, yellow. Note: there is a definite but subtle difference in pronunciation between the Hul’q’umi’num’ ay and uy sounds (refer to the uy slide).
aay
The letters a, a and y when together in Hul’q’umi’num’ make the same sound that ay makes (refer to the ay slide) only it is held longer/is elongated.
ey
When the letters e and y are together in Hul’q’umi’num’ they sound like the English long a sound as in the English word, hay.
uy
The letters u and y when together in Hul’q’umi’num’ make a sound like the English long vowel i as in the word, ice.
yaa
The letters y, a and a when together, represent the sounds of the Hul’q’umi’num’ y and aa put together. The y is pronounced like the y in the English word yellow. The aa is pronounced like the a in the English word for father, but it is held longer or stretched out.