Yurok dictionary

Dictionary entry

kwehl • adv • though, although, so [emphatic sentential particle] • Variant kwel

Lexicon record # 1255 | Source reference(s): R213 JE136

Special meaning or use

• kwehl paas why not? JE148

Sentence examples (69)

1. Wenos wok kwehl hlkyorkwe'moh... wee' 'o ko melonee.
   Come over here and we'll watch (them dancing in) the brush dance.

   — Jimmie James, Sentences (LC-01-1) (LC-01-1, 2007)

2. Nekah kwehl neemok'w kue 'ne- nepuy.
   We don't have any salmon.

   — Jimmie James, Elicited Sentences About Repeated Action (EJW-01-1-3, 2006)

3. Nek kwel meykwele'weyek' mehl kue kee'm sonehl.
   I am crying for those folks having bad luck.

   — Georgiana Trull, Yurok Language Conversation Book, chapter 12: "How do you feel?" (GT3-12, 2003)

4. Nek kwel perwerh kee nue hegook'.
   I am going to town.

   — Georgiana Trull, Yurok Language Conversation Book, chapter 16: "Where are you coming from?" (GT3-16, 2003)

5. 'Eee, nek kwel 'ok'w mehl 'e'ga'.
   Yes, I have a pencil.

   — Georgiana Trull, Yurok Language Conversation Book, chapter 18: "I'm going to school." (GT3-18, 2003)

6. 'Eee, nek kwel 'ok'w 'ne-mehl 'e'ga'.
   Yes, I have a pencil.

   — Georgiana Trull, Yurok Language Conversation Book, chapter 18: "I'm going to school." (GT3-18, 2003)

7. Paa', nek kwel keech hoo'y 'ne-mehl'e'ga'.
   No, I lost my pencil.

   — Georgiana Trull, Yurok Language Conversation Book, chapter 18: "I'm going to school." (GT3-18, 2003)

8. Nek kwehl tokseemek'.
   I admire (someone).

   — Jimmie James, Sentences (JB-009_1) (JB-009_1, 2003)

9. Yok kwehl nuemee skuuewet'.
   He likes the taste a lot.

   — Jimmie James, Sentences (JB-009_1) (JB-009_1, 2003)

10. Mos nek skuuewetek' kwehl.
    I don't care for it too much.

    — Jessie Van Pelt, Sentences (JB-01-02) (JB-01-02, 2001)

11. Nek kwehl cheeweyetek' nepuy.
    I want to eat salmon.

    — Jessie Van Pelt, Sentences (JB-01-03) (JB-01-03, 2001)

12. Kee kwehl hes nes?
    Will you be right back?

    — Aileen Figueroa, Sentences (JB-02-13a) (JB-02-13a, 2001)

13. Yey, cho' kwehl kaamuene'm!
    You grew so fast!

    — Florence Shaughnessy, Sentences (LA138-057) (LA138-057, 1980)

14. [Nunepuy hes wee' k'ee regook?] 'Ee, keech pope'l noohl 'o nuenepuy wee'. Tkwo'o chegey kwel 'eemee nuenepuy.
    [Is the trout a nunepuy?] Yes, when they get big they become nunepuy. When they are still small they are not nunepuy.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

15. [Nunepuy hes wee' k'ee hlkerrwers?] Paa', weet kwel neemee negepue' k'ee hlkerrwers.
    [Is the lizard a nunepuy?] No, they don't eat the waterdog.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

16. [Tee'neesho wee' kue locho'm?] Locho'm kwel wenchokws wee'.
    [What is the toad?] Toad is a woman.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

17. [Pishkaahl 'o koh hes wee' k'ee rohtuen?] Rohtuen kwel peeshkaahl k'o koh, we'y kem k'o koh k'ee nekah 'we-rooy. So pechue rohtuen.
    [Is the bullhead fish a pishkaahl 'o koh?] You can catch bullheads in the ocean, you can catch them in our stream. Bullheads are upriver.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

18. [Pishkaahl 'o koh hes wee' k'ee kahkah?] kahkah kwel peeshkaahl 'o koh.
    [Is the sturgeon a pishkaahl 'o koh?] Sturgeon you can catch in the ocean.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

19. [Pishkaahl 'o koh hes wee' k'ee chpegaa?] Chpegaa kwel peeshkaahl nee ka'ar.
    [Is the cormorant a pishkaahl 'o koh?] Shag is the pet of the sea.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

20. [Hoore'mos hes wee' k'ee neekwech?] 'Ee, 'o hlmeyowonee wee'. Chuelue mos ho lege'y 'oohl. Weet ho 'oole'm weet soo. Tue' neemee wee hoolege'y 'oohl keech 'o merkue' mocho keechee' laay 'oohl. Se'nee kwel neemee wo nep'. Mo newo'm 'oohl 'ee kee'ee', 'ohlkuemee tergerwermee' mehl kee'ee'. 'Ok'w soo terger'w neekwech.
    [Is the grizzly bear a hoore'mos?] Yes, he's mean. A person couldn't go through Bald Hills. They used to live there. A person couldn't go through, he'd get eaten up, if a person goes through there. Sometimes he wouldn't eat you, when he sees a person he'll run away, they talk to him and scare him away. There is a way to speak to a grizzly.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

21. [Hoore'mos hes wee' k'ee puesee?] K'ee puesee kwel segesomeneehl. Keech 'o hlmeye'm 'o sesomeneehl.
    [Is the cat a hoore'mos?] Cat will scratch you. It gets mad and scratches you.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

22. [Hoore'mos hes wee' k'ee tokues?] 'Ee, tokues kwel peeshkaahl 'o goore'mos.
    [Is the pelican a hoore'mos?] Yes, pelican is a sea animal.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

23. [Hoore'mos hes wee' k'ee nuenepuy?] K'ee nuenepuy kwel neemee hoore'mos wee'.
    [Is the fish a hoore'mos?] Fish is not hoore'mos.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

24. [Hoore'mos hes wee' k'ee kahkah?] kahkah kwel kem neemee hoore'mos, kee nepue' mocho keech koh.
    [Is the sturgeon a hoore'mos?] Sturgeon is not an animal, you eat it when you catch it.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

25. [Leyes hes wee' k'ee chergercheryerh?] 'Ee, hlmeyowo'm kwel wo'hl tue'. ... looks like rattlesnake.
    [Is the kingsnake a leyes?] yes, they are mean. ... looks like rattlesnake.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

26. [Tee'neesho wee' k'ee hlkerrwers?] Hlkerrwers kwel tegenuemonoksee'm 'oohl.
    [What is the lizard?] Waterdog can cast a spell on a person.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

27. [Leyes hes wee' k'ee locho'm?] Paa', wot kwel locho'm chpeen. Neemee kwel k'ee leyes wee'.
    [Is the toad a leyes?] No, that's just a frog. It could never be a snake.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

28. [Tee'neesho wee' k'ee 'o'rowee'?] 'O'rowee' kwel weega'sokwsee'm 'oow.
    [What is the lizard?] 'O'rowi' will help a person.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

29. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee chegecheehl?] Chegecheehl kwel kem 'ok'w 'we-cheeesh, weeshteesh mehl 'we-chegecheehl.
    [Is the sapsucker a ch'u'ch'ish?] Chegechihl also has a topknot, that's why they call them chegechihl.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

30. [Tee'neesho wee' kue skoyom?] Skoyom kwel nahschewen chpee hoolet.
    [What is the bat?] Bats fly around only at night.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

31. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee pegoy?] Pegoy kwel kem 'ok'w 'ue-poy. Weeshteesh mehl 'ue-pegoy.
    [Is the yellowhammer bird a ch'u'ch'ish?] Yellowhammer has a chin tattoo, that's why he's called yellowhammer.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

32. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee legemem?] Paa', legemem kwel tegenuemonoksee'm 'oow.
    [Is the pheasant a ch'u'ch'ish?] No, grouse puts a spell on one.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

33. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee terkerkue'?] Terkerkue' kwel chorek'eek wee', terkerkue'.
    [Is the quail a ch'u'ch'ish?] Quail belong in hell.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

34. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee he'mee'?] He'mee' kwel wegaaneyoch'. Ko'l 'o hohkueme'm k'er-nerh... wee'eet 'o syo'ooch'.
    [Is the pigeon a ch'u'ch'ish?] Pigeon gives warnings. When you're picking berries, he'll make noise.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

35. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee tekwonesh... owl? ... tekwonee's?] Wegaaneyoch' kwel wo'oot tekwonee's.
    [Is the owl a ch'u'ch'ish?] Owl gives warnings.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

36. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee pookw?] Pookw kwel nahschewen heeego'l.
    [Is the screech owl a ch'u'ch'ish?] Screechowl travels at night.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

37. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee chegemem?] Chegemem kwel cheeeshep' noore'w wee' t'uue.
    [Is the hummingbird a ch'u'ch'ish?] Hummingird is found around flowers.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

38. [Ch'ue'ch'eesh hes wee' k'ee tege'muer?] Tege'muer kwel... roree' wee' 'we-ch'ue'ch'eesh.
    [Is the snowbird a ch'u'ch'ish?] Snowbird is a bird of the snow.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

39. [Tee'neesho wee' k'ee harpuech?] Harpuech kwel megerkue'm 'oohl, 'o tegeykelue'm, harpuech. Ko'l tege'y see kee 'we-son.
    [What is the ant?] Ants eat people up, they bite, ants. They're something like a flea.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

40. [Tee'neesho wee' k'ee tohta'r?] Tohta'r kwel nee tene'm, to' nuue neenee tene'm.
    [What is the grasshopper?] There's lots of grasshoppers, there are a lot around.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

41. [Tee'neesho wee' kue pue'nos?] Pue'nos kwel weeshtue' mehl hegee' pue'nos... 'ue-pue'nek'.
    [What are pu'nos?] Tumblebugs are called stinkbugs because they break wind.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

42. [Tee'neesho wee' kue nosonos?] Wot kwel megenechok'w mesenohl meehlpel... nosonos.
    [What are ticks?] He will go into your flesh, your arm or your leg.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

43. [Tee'neesho wee' kue 'werrp?] Kue 'werrp kwel to' nee noore'w, hoolet mocho ta'a'noyhl.
    [What are butterflies?] Butterflies are pretty, they fly around when it's sunny.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

44. [Tee'neesho wee' k'ee saa'egoch?] Saa'egoch kwel nekah.
    [What is the seaweed bug?] Saa'egoch, that's us.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

45. [Tee'neesho wee' kue hlke'goop?] Kue hlke'goop kwel... 'ewom weesh kue hlke'goop.
    [What is the slug?] The slug is 'ewom.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

46. [Kaap'ehl hes wee' k'ee hue'uuep'?] Paa', hue'uuep' kwehl neemee kaa'pehl wee'.
    [Is hazel a kaap'ehl?] No, hazel is not brush.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

47. [Kaap'ehl hes wee' k'ee wer'errgerch'?] 'Ee, wer'errgerch' kwel yo'hlkoych' wee' hoh.
    [Is the alder a kaap'ehl?] They make firewood out of that.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

48. [Kaap'ehl hes wee' k'ee chkeep'o'r?] 'Ee, chkeep'o'r kwel mehl chkegeyue'.
    [Is the chkip'o'r a kaap'ehl?] Yes, it can put you to sleep.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

49. [Kaap'ehl hes wee' k'ee mahkuehl?] 'Ee, mahkuehl kwel neemee kaap'ehl wee', nerhpery wee'.
    [Is the salal berry a kaap'ehl?] Yes, it's not brush, it's berries.

    — Alice Spott, Ethnobiology (AS1, 1962 or 1963)

50. Kolchee kwel 'o lee' sku'y soo hegoo'm, kwen kee soo nee hegoolo'm, cho' skuyahpele'm.
    Whenever they say you go well, wherever you will travel, be good.

    — Robert Spott, Sentences (24-26) (24-26, 1933)

51. Kolonee hek'ws 'w-esek', Kwel mermeryerwerk', Nek kem kee hlkyorkwek'.
    He was kind of laughing and thinking, I'm good looking, I'm going to look on.

    — Glenn Moore, Retelling of Florence Shaughnessy's "The Toad and The Mouse" (GM3, 2004)

52. Nekah kwehl 'wer'errgerch wee'eeet nepee'moh 'eenee kegoh puuek, tue' wee'eeet chpee kee 'o k'e-nahchelek'.
    So we eat alder bark, and we catch more deer, and this is all you can be given here.

    — Lowana Brantner, "Wohpekumew and the Salmon" (LA16-3, 1951)

53. Koweecho kwehl mehlowneme'm k'-e'goo'; kee nuemee nee koo'ope'm.
    Don't touch your paddle; you are just to stand there.

    — Florence Shaughnessy, "The Young Man from Serper" (LA16-7, 1951)

54. Tue' koosee muenchey k'ee chaahl, to' kwehl na'a'mo'w 'o wee'eeet noohl reeek'ew nee ko'oh kue 'we-neee'nowoyk' kue wee 'ee ko 'ue-myah kue 'yoch.
    And the sand was all white, and a crowd of people were standing on the shore to watch the boat bounding in there.

    — Florence Shaughnessy, "The Young Man from Serper" (LA16-7, 1951)

55. Nek soo wee ko'l cheenermerwerh kwehl nek.
    I think I will get acquainted a little with her.

    — Florence Shaughnessy, "The Young Man from Serper" (LA16-7, 1951)

56. Chee now soot'os! Kwehl kem keet kemole'm nee wee'.
    Be off! You are just going to steal again.

    — Florence Shaughnessy, "The Young Man from Serper" (LA16-7, 1951)

57. Koweecho kwehl ke'yoneme'm!
    Do not drop it!

    — Florence Shaughnessy, "The First Salmon Rite at Wehlkwew" (LA16-8, 1951)

58. Koweecho kwehl che'lohtemew.
    It is not to be dried.

    — Florence Shaughnessy, "The First Salmon Rite at Wehlkwew" (LA16-8, 1951)

59. Pee'eeh kem kee nuemee shonkee' keekee wee 'ue-pemue' koweecho kwehl che'lohtemew.
    Mussles are to be treated in the same way; they are to be cooked at once and not dried.

    — Florence Shaughnessy, "The First Salmon Rite at Wehlkwew" (LA16-8, 1951)

60. Nekah kwehl ko' herk'erye'moh.
    Well, we hid.

    — Various speakers, Sentences in R. H. Robins's Yurok Language (YL, 1951)

61. To' kwehl keet ma'anor.
    There he is starting to show off.

    — Various speakers, Sentences in R. H. Robins's Yurok Language (YL, 1951)

62. To' kwehl neskwe'y.
    He was just awful.

    — Various speakers, Sentences in R. H. Robins's Yurok Language (YL, 1951)

63. Kwesee' 'o le'm, Nek kwehl loskahpeet keetee leko'n.
    He said, My buckskin pipe-cover is about to fall.

    — Mary Marshall, Coyote Tries to Kill the Sun (MM4, 1927)

64. Mokee kwehl paas ko'mee tene'm weesh komchue'm kee 'n-egoyk', Weeshtue' so'n.
    Nevertheless there will not be many people who know and will tell about me how I did.

    — Mary Marshall, Medicine formula to get wealthy (MM5, 1927)

65. To' kwel kome neskweyowo'm, keetee ko'l sonowo'm. Komchueme'm hes keetee ko'l mehl sonowo'm?
    You are very sick, you are about to die. Don't you know that you are about to die?

    — Domingo of Weitchpec, "Buzzard's Medicine" (I4, 1907)

66. Peeshtue' weeshtue' kwel nee muech hohkuem' pechkue 'o segep 'wo-'ohkween kue 'we-nepuyonah.
    So Upriver Coyote himself made it that they have salmon.

    — Pecwan Jim, "Upriver Coyote" (T8, 1907)

67. hee nee nuek'wo neskwechook', 'o'loo'lekweeshol, kwel keech eesh neenee yegook'.
    I come back, village dweller, go around.

    — Susie of Wechpus, Menstruation medicine (recorded) (SW2, 1902)

68. Kwel to wee kee sonowo'm, 'o'loolekweeshol .
    You will be the same way, village dweller.

    — Susie of Wechpus, Menstruation medicine (recorded) (SW2, 1902)