Halkomelem

American  

[hal-kuh-mey-uh-luhm] / ˌhæl kəˈmeɪ ə ləm /

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.

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adjective

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

Etymology

Origin of Halkomelem

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

Example Sentences

The so-called Sasquatch—or “hairy man” in Halkomelem, a language of the First Nations tribes—allegedly stalks the Pacific Northwest, the wilds of the Sierra National Forest and the imaginations of Americans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025