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Vocabulary Words in Native American Languages: Straits Salish

We have included twenty basic words, enough to give you a feeling for each language. All the nouns are singular and all the verbs are 3rd person singular ("he or she sings") because many Native American languages don't have a separate infinitive ("to sing") the way English and French do.

If you need to know a Salish word that is not currently on our page, you can take part in our American Indian words fundraiser or visit our main Straits Salish language site for more free resources.

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Straits Salish Word Set

English (Français)	Lummi dialect	Saanich dialect	Samish dialect
One (Un)	Nut'su'	Nət'sə'	Nəth'ə
Two (Deux)	Čusu	Čəsə	Čəse'
Three (Trois)	Łix^w	Łix^w	Łix^w
Four (Quatre)	Ŋ'as	Ŋas	Ŋas
Five (Cinq)	Łq'ačs	Łq'ečəs	Łq'eyčəs
Man (Homme)	Sweyqu'	Swəyqə'	Swəy'qə'
Woman (Femme)	Šłene'	Słeni'	Słeni'
Sun (Soleil)	Sq^wuq^wul	Sq^wəq^wəl	Sq^wəq^wəl'
Moon (Lune)	Łqal'č	Łqel'č	Łqeel'č'
Water (Eau)	Q^wa	Q^wa	Q^wa'

Click here to see Straits Salish vocabulary words compared to words in related Salishan languages: Salishan Indian Words

Additional Resources

   Washington Native American tribes
   Indian myths and legends
   Native names
   Coast Salishan languages

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