Halkomelem

H4A1L1K5O1M3E1L1E1M3
/hɒlkəˈmeɪləm/

proper noun

A Central Salishan language spoken around the Lower Fraser River and on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, by the Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, Qayqayt, Tsawwassen, Tsleil-Waututh First Nations downriver, by the Aitchelitz, Skway, Skowkale, Soowahlie, Squiala, Tzeachten, and Yakweakwioose First Nations upriver, and by the Cowichan, Halalt, Lamalchi, Lyackson, Penelakut, Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, Stzꞌuminus, and Tsꞌuubaa-asatx on Vancouver Island.

Scrabble 21

Meanings

proper noun

alternative Holkomelem

  1. A Central Salishan language spoken around the Lower Fraser River and on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, by the Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, Qayqayt, Tsawwassen, Tsleil-Waututh First Nations downriver, by the Aitchelitz, Skway, Skowkale, Soowahlie, Squiala, Tzeachten, and Yakweakwioose First Nations upriver, and by the Cowichan, Halalt, Lamalchi, Lyackson, Penelakut, Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, Stzꞌuminus, and Tsꞌuubaa-asatx on Vancouver Island.

    In the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleilwaututh First Nations, the most commonly understood Indigenous mother tongue isn't Halkomelem. It's Cree, according to Statistics Canada.

    2020 February 8, Wawmeesh Hamilton, “Urban Cree reclaim their heritage by learning the most common Indigenous language in Metro Vancouver”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)
    1 more example

    At 77, she’s the last known fluent speaker of the Stó:lō Nation’s Upriver Halkomelem language (also called Halq’eméylem) – a Salish dialect that’s related to two other Halkomelem dialects, but distinct to the Stó:lō people.

    2016 June 15, Cara McKenna, “Language Keeper: The last fluent speaker of Stó:lō’s Indigenous dialect in race against time”, in APTN News

Synonyms & antonyms

Translations

French halkomelem
  • halkomelemCentral Salishan language
Russian халкоме́лем
  • халкоме́лем (xalkomélem)Central Salishan language
Cite this entry
APA

Halkomelem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Halkomelem

MLA

“Halkomelem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Halkomelem. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Halkomelem,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Halkomelem.

Source: Halkomelem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.