Halkomelem

[ hal-kuh-mey-uh-luhm ]

noun

1. a Coast Salish language spoken by more than 40 peoples along the Fraser River and its tributaries, on the coast of mainland British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, and in northern Washington State.

adjective

1. of or relating to Halkomelem, a Coast Salish language of British Columbia and Washington State, or to its speakers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Halkomelem¹

First recorded in 1900–05; from Halkomelem Halq̓eméylem (Upriver dialect), Hul̓q̓umín̓um̓ (Island dialect), and hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (Downriver dialect), a self-designation