Kwak'wala
Wakashan (Northern)
Kwak'wala is the principal Northern Wakashan language, spoken by the Kwakwaka'wakw of British Columbia's central coast around Alert Bay, Fort Rupert, and Quatsino Sound. Its phoneme inventory includes ejectives (k', t', p'), uvulars, lateral affricates, and a distinct laryngeal series that combine into onset clusters of remarkable density. The language is famous for its association with the elaborate potlatch ceremonies that anthropologist Franz Boas documented intensively in the late 19th century.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kwak'wala
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Wakashan (Northern)
| Meaning | Kwak'wala | Squamish | Madurese | Thompson | Jaqaru | Aguacateco | Yagaria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ʼwap /ʔwap/ | stáḵw /staqʷ/ | aèng /aɛŋ/ | qʷúʔ /qʷuʔ/ | uma /uma/ | aʼ /aʔ/ | nina /nina/ |
| Fire | la̱ḵ̕wa̱s /ləqʼʷəs/ | sḵwiḵw /sqʷiqʷ/ | apoy /apɔj/ | ʕʷyə́p /ʕʷjəp/ | nina /nina/ | qʼaq /qʼaq/ | hali /hali/ |
| Sun | ƛʼisa̱la /tɬʼisəla/ | snéḵwem /sneqʷəm/ | are /are/ | sk̓ʷák̓ʷest /skʼʷakʼʷest/ | inti /inti/ | qʼijl /qʼihl/ | yege /jeɡe/ |
| Moon | ʼma̱kwa̱la /ʔməkʷəla/ | lh7álha /ɬʔaɬa/ | bulan /bulan/ | máʕxetn /maʕxetn/ | paxshi /paχʃi/ | xahaw /ʃahaw/ | gei /ɡei/ |
| Star | t̓ut̓u /tʼutʼu/ | kwekwtsi7 /kʷəkʷtsiʔ/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ | nkʷəkʷúsn̓ /nkʷəkʷusnˀ/ | waraxa /waɾaχa/ | chumeʼl /tʃumeʔl/ | ganevi /ɡanevi/ |
| Night | g̱anutł /ɢanutɬ/ | nat /nat/ | malem /maləm/ | sitist /sitist/ | aruma /aruma/ | aqʼbʼal /aqʼɓal/ | hanena /hanena/ |
| Rain | ʼyugwa /ʔjuɡʷa/ | — | ojhân /ɔdʒʱɤn/ | stékɬ /stekɬ/ | jallu /haʎu/ | abʼal /aɓal/ | gona /ɡona/ |
| Snow | neʼ /neʔ/ | máḵa7 /maqaʔ/ | salju /saldʒu/ | swúxwt /swuxʷt/ | khunu /kʰunu/ | — | — |
| Wind | yola /jola/ | — | angèn /aŋɛn/ | snéw̓t /snewˀt/ | wawya /wawja/ | kyeqʼeqʼ /kjeqʼeqʼ/ | yasi /jasi/ |
| Earth | a̱wiʼnak̕wa̱s /ʔəwiʔnakʷʼəs/ | temíxw /təmixʷ/ | tana /tana/ | tmíxw /tmixʷ/ | — | txʼotxʼ /tʃʼotʃʼ/ | igopa /iɡopa/ |
| Stone | tʼisa̱m /tʼisəm/ | smant /smant/ | bato /ˈbatɔ/ | sxén̓x /sxenˀx/ | qala /qala/ | kʼubʼ /kʼuɓ/ | yavana /javana/ |
| Mountain | na̱ge /nəɡe/ | smánit /smanit/ | ghunong /ɡʱunɔŋ/ | sqʷə́m /sqʷəm/ | qaaqa /qaːqa/ | witz /wits/ | ae /ae/ |
| Mother | a̱ba̱mp /əbəmp/ | chésha7 /tʃeʃaʔ/ | embuʼ /əmbuʔ/ | skíxzeʔ /skixzeʔ/ | mama /mama/ | naa /naː/ | nene /nene/ |
| Father | ump /ʔump/ | smas /smas/ | eppaʼ /əppaʔ/ | sqáczeʔ /sqatszeʔ/ | awki /awki/ | mam /mam/ | papa /papa/ |
| Daughter | ga̱nana̱mg̱as /ɡənanəmɡas/ | — | anaʼ bineʼ /anaʔ binɛʔ/ | — | — | meʼal /meʔal/ | abade /abade/ |
| I | nugwaʼam /nuɡʷaʔam/ | en /ʔən/ | sengkoʼ /səŋkoʔ/ | encwe /ʔəntʃwe/ | na /na/ | in /in/ | dagaea /daɡaea/ |
| You | suʼ /suʔ/ | chexw /tʃəxʷ/ | baʼna /baʔna/ | enwi /ʔənwi/ | juma /huma/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | gagaea /ɡaɡaea/ |
| We | nugwaʼnts / nugwaʼnuʼxw /nuɡʷaʔnts / nuɡʷaʔnuʔxʷ/ | numalh /numaɬ/ | ban baʼna kabbi / sengkoʼ kabbi /ban baʔna kabbi / səŋkoʔ kabbi/ | nemimlh /nəmimɬ/ | jiwsa /hiwsa/ | oʼ /oʔ/ | lagaea /laɡaea/ |
| Name | dłig̱a̱m /dɮiɢəm/ | sna /sna/ | nyama /ɲama/ | skʷést /skʷest/ | shutyi /ʃuci/ | bʼiʼ /ɓiʔ/ | agi /aɡi/ |
| Head | xumʼs /xumʔs/ | — | cèthak /tʃɛʈʰaʔ/ | — | nampʼa /nampʼa/ | wiʼaj /wiʔah/ | anuna /anuna/ |
| Eye | g̱a̱ʼyag̱a̱s /ɢəʔjaɢəs/ | ḵlum̓ /qlumʔ/ | mata /mata/ | nk̓ʷətƛ̓ustn /nkʼʷətɬʼustn/ | nayra /najɾa/ | witzʼ /witsʼ/ | oulega /ouleɡa/ |
| Ear | pʼa̱spʼa̱ʼyu /pʼəspʼəʔju/ | — | kopèng /kɔpɛŋ/ | ƛ̓én̓i /tɬʼenˀi/ | jinchu /hintʃu/ | xhchin /ʃtʃin/ | ageta /aɡeta/ |
| Nose | xa̱ndzas /xəndzas/ | — | elong /ɛloŋ/ | sp̓saq̓s /spʼsaqʼs/ | nasa /nasa/ | juʼ /χuʔ/ | agota /aɡota/ |
| Mouth | sa̱ms /səms/ | — | coloʼ /tʃɔlɔʔ/ | spléwcin /splewtsin/ | — | tziʼaj /tsiʔah/ | haeyapa /haejapa/ |
| Tooth | gigi /ɡiɡi/ | yenis /jənis/ | gigi /ɡiɡi/ | xyexw /χjeχʷ/ | shimi /ʃimi/ | eʼ /eʔ/ | haemota /haemota/ |
| Tongue | k̓a̱la̱m /kʼələm/ | alhthal /aɬθaɬ/ | jhila /dʒʱila/ | teleʼ /təɬeʔ/ | naxra /naχra/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | nevoda /nevoda/ |
| Hand | aʼyaʼsu /aʔjaʔsu/ | chálash /tʃalaʃ/ | tanang /tanaŋ/ | kéyx /kejx/ | ampara /ampaɾa/ | qʼab /qʼab/ | anita /anita/ |
| Foot | gugwa̱ʼyu /ɡuɡʷəʔju/ | — | soko /sɔkɔ/ | sqwaxt /sqʷaxt/ | kayu /kaju/ | aqan /aqan/ | iya /ija/ |
| Heart | noḵeʼ /nɔqeʔ/ | stúlich /stulitʃ/ | ate /atɛ/ | sxʷákʷukʷ /sxʷakʷukʷ/ | kurasunha /kuɾasunha/ | kʼuum /kʼuːm/ | alutumopa /alutumopa/ |
| Bone | x̱aḵ /χaq/ | shaw7 /ʃawʔ/ | tolang /tolaŋ/ | qʼwəqʼwul /qʼʷəqʼʷuʎ/ | tsʼaaka /tsʼaːka/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | apova /apova/ |
| Blood | a̱lkwa /əlkʷa/ | sthathin /sθaθin/ | dhara /ɖʱara/ | peteleʼ /pətəleʔ/ | wila /wila/ | chichʼ /tʃitʃʼ/ | golana /ɡolana/ |
| Love | ʼya̱x̱is /ʔjəχis/ | néxwsa /nexʷsa/ | tresna /trɛsna/ | xámeʔs /χameʔs/ | munasiña /munasiɲa/ | xajan /ʃahan/ | amige /amiɡe/ |
| Tree | ḵ̕wax̱ /qʼʷaχ/ | stsékʼas /stsekʼas/ | kaju /kaju/ | sɣép /sɣep/ | arbuli /aɾbuli/ | tzeʼ /tseʔ/ | yava /java/ |
| Dog | ʼwat̕si /ʔwatsʼi/ | sḵwemáy̓ /sqʷəmajʔ/ | pateʼ /patɛʔ/ | sqáxa /sqaχa/ | hallqʼu /haʎqʼu/ | txʼiʼ /tʃʼiʔ/ | gala /ɡala/ |
| Cat | busi /busi/ | pus /pus/ | koceng /kɔtʃɛŋ/ | púsh /puʃ/ | phishi /pʰiʃi/ | mis /mis/ | pusi /pusi/ |
| Fish | mē /meː/ | stsʼúḵwi7 /stsʼuqʷiʔ/ | jukoʼ /dʒukoʔ/ | sqyetn /sqjetn̩/ | challwa /tʃaʎwa/ | kay /kaj/ | fayana /fajana/ |
| Bird | pʼipʼaƛʼumas /pʼipʼatɬʼumas/ | — | manoʼ /manoʔ/ | spz̓úz̓uʔ /spzˀuzˀuʔ/ | chʼipi /tʃʼipi/ | chʼuʼl /tʃʼuʔl/ | nama /nama/ |
| Butterfly | ha̱mumu /həmumu/ | — | ghâpper /ɡʱɤppər/ | nkíkax̣n̓i /nkikaχnˀi/ | — | slup /slup/ | gokopala /ɡokopala/ |
| Egg | tsʼigwa̱nu /tsʼiɡʷənu/ | — | tellor /tɛlːor/ | heʔúšeʔ /heʔuʃeʔ/ | nuru /nuɾu/ | kʼolobʼ /kʼoloɓ/ | amuna /amuna/ |
| Horse | guʼdan /ɡuʔdan/ | — | jhârân /dʒʱɤrɤn/ | k̓əɬc̓esqáx̣aʔ /kʼəɬtsʼesqaχaʔ/ | — | chej /tʃeh/ | silumata /silumata/ |
| House | g̱ukw /ɡukʷ/ | lámʼ /lamʔ/ | bengko /bəŋkɔ/ | citxw /tsitxʷ/ | uta /uta/ | nya /ɲa/ | yona /jona/ |
| Milk | ma̱lk /məlk/ | — | susu /susu/ | míl̓k /milˀk/ | — | lech /letʃ/ | duna /duna/ |
| Salt | da̱msxi /dəmsxi/ | tlʼálhem /tɬʼaɬəm/ | buja /budʒa/ | c̓ált /tsʼalt/ | katyi /kaci/ | aatzʼum /aːtsʼum/ | hage /haɡe/ |
| Rice | les /les/ | — | bherrâs /bʱərrɤs/ | — | — | arros /aros/ | laesi /laesi/ |
| Iron | dza̱xʼa̱n /dzəxʔən/ | — | bessè /bəsːɛ/ | ʔík̓mn /ʔikʼmn/ | — | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | aeni /aeni/ |
| Wheel | ka̱lxsidzeʼ /kəlxsidzeʔ/ | — | rodha /ˈrɔɖʱa/ | — | — | toloʼ /toloʔ/ | vili /vili/ |
| Book | bukw /bukʷ/ | — | buku /buku/ | spáqʷ /spaqʷ/ | — | liwr /liwr/ | buku /buku/ |
| Eat | ha̱ʼma̱p /həʔməp/ | i7iyím /iʔijim/ | ngakan /ŋakan/ | ʔíqs /ʔiqs/ | paluña /paluɲa/ | wii /wiː/ | na /na/ |
| Drink | naḵa /naqa/ | qʼemél7chen /qʼemʔeɬtʃen/ | ngenom /ŋənɔm/ | ʔúqʷeʔ /ʔuqʷeʔ/ | umaña /umaɲa/ | uuk /uːk/ | nava /nava/ |
| Sleep | mix̱a̱la /miχəla/ | — | tedhung /təɖʱuŋ/ | ʕʷóy̓t /ʕʷojˀt/ | ikiña /iˈkiɲa/ | watl /waːtl/ | hao /hao/ |
| One | ʼna̱m /ʔnəm/ | nchʼa7 /ntʃʼaʔ/ | settong /səttɔŋ/ | péyeʔ /pejeʔ/ | maya /maja/ | jun /hun/ | bogo /boɡo/ |
| Two | maʼł /maʔɬ/ | án7us /ˈʔanʔus/ | dhuwaʼ /ɖuwaʔ/ | séye /seje/ | paxa /paχa/ | kaʼwutz /kaʔwuts/ | lole /lole/ |
| Three | yudux /judux/ | chánat /tʃanat/ | telloʼ /təlːoʔ/ | keʔɬés /keʔɬes/ | kimsa /kimsa/ | oxox /oʃoʃ/ | loleʼe bogeʼe /loleʔe boɡeʔe/ |
| Four | mu /mu/ | x̱a7útsen /χaʔutsən/ | empaʼ /əmpaʔ/ | mús /mus/ | pushi /puʃi/ | kyaj /kjah/ | loleʼe loleʼe /loleʔe loleʔe/ |
| Five | sa̱kʼa /səkʼa/ | tsíyichis /tsijitʃis/ | lemaʼ /ləmaʔ/ | cíykst /tsijkst/ | pichqa /pitʃqa/ | oʼ /oʔ/ | faefu /faefu/ |
| Hundred | lakʼa̱nd /lakʼənd/ | — | saratos /saratos/ | x̣əcpq̓íqn̓kst /χətspqʼiqnˀkst/ | pachak /patʃak/ | jun cient /hun sjent/ | hateleti /hateleti/ |
| Hello | yo /jo/ | chen kwenmántumi /tʃen kʷenmantumi/ | salam /salam/ | weytk /wejtk/ | kamishti /kamiʃti/ | kʼamta /kʼamta/ | amige /amiɡe/ |
| Thank you | g̱ilakasʼla /ɢilakasʔla/ | huy chexw a /huj tʃexʷ a/ | tarèma kasè /tarɛma kasɛ/ | kʷukʷscémxʷ /kʷukʷstsemxʷ/ | yuspaa /juspaː/ | tixwajʼ /tiʃwahʼ/ | tega /teɡa/ |
| Good | ek /ek/ | éy /ej/ | bagus /baɡus/ | y̓é /jˀe/ | shuma /ʃuma/ | balaj /balah/ | kavi /kavi/ |
| New | alumas /alumas/ | — | anyar /aɲar/ | cíyci /tsijtsi/ | machaqa /matʃaqa/ | akʼaj /aːkʼah/ | souva /souva/ |
| Red | ƛ̕aq̓wa /tɬʼaqʼʷa/ | kʷəlqʷ /kʷəlqʷ/ | mera /mɛra/ | cíqʷ /tsiqʷ/ | chukapa /tʃukapa/ | kyaq /kjaq/ | golaʼ /ɡolaʔ/ |
| White | ʼma̱la /mˀəla/ | pʼeḵʼ /pʼəqʼ/ | pote /potɛ/ | píq /piq/ | janqʼu /hanqʼu/ | saq /saq/ | efeʼ /efeʔ/ |
| Black | tsʼuła /tsʼuɬa/ | ḵʼex̱ ḵʼíx̱ /qʼəχ qʼiχ/ | celleng /tʃəllɛŋ/ | hestə́ptəpt /hestəptəpt/ | tsʼirara /tsʼiɾaɾa/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | nupa /nupa/ |
| Green | ła̱nx̱a /ɬənχa/ | tlʼestlʼís /tɬʼəstɬʼis/ | bhiru /bʱiru/ | — | — | txaʼx /tʃaʔʃ/ | — |
| Blue | dzasa /dzasa/ | skwáyel /skʷajəl/ | bhiru /bʱiru/ | ʔesqʷəzqʷəzt /ʔesqʷəzqʷəzt/ | — | xew /ʃew/ | gumo /ɡumo/ |
| Tea | di /di/ | ti7 /tiʔ/ | tèh /tɛh/ | — | — | — | — |
| Coffee | gobi /ɡobi/ | kapí /kapi/ | kopi /kɔpi/ | kápi /kapi/ | — | kapej /kapeh/ | — |
| Sugar | sugwa /suɡʷa/ | — | ghulâ /ɡʱulɐ/ | — | — | — | sukana /sukana/ |
| Orange | aya̱ndzis /ajəndzis/ | — | — | — | — | laranch /larantʃ/ | — |
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