íx̲wet

to sweep (it)

Ix̲wet is the Halq’eméylem  for ‘to sweep (it)’.…

Pronunciation

• Ix̲wet sounds like EE-kwutt, but instead of a k you say the Halq’eméylem hard-x.
• To make the hard-x, create friction with the back of your tongue against your uvula.

Audio: Elizabeth Herrling, Elizabeth Phillips

Examples

Here are some examples of how you can use íx̲wet:

• Tsel íx̲wet te lhx̲éyleptel. – I swept the floor.
• Tsel íx̲wet. – I swept it.
• Li iyólem kw’as íx̲wet te lhx̲éyleptel? – Can you sweep the floor?
• Li iyólem kw’as íx̲wet? – Can you sweep it?
• Ix̲wet tsel cha te lhx̲éyleptel. – I will sweep the floor
• Ix̲wet tsel cha. – I will sweep it.

Note:  in these examples there is no word for ‘it‘.  With this type of verb, if you don’t specify what you’re acting on, speakers will understand ‘it‘.

‘-ing’ form

To talk about sweeping as an ongoing action ,i.e.  sweeping, you use a slightly different form of the verb, like this: í:x̲wet – ‘sweeping (it)’.  This form of the verb  has a slightly longer vowel i, with a falling tone (audio here).

Here are some examples of how you can use the –ing form :

• I:x̲wet tsel te lhx̲éyleptel. – I am sweeping the floor.
• I:x̲wet tsel. – I am sweeping it.