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. We-nos wok kwehl hlkyor-kwe'-moh... wee' 'o ko me-lo-nee.
   Come over here and we'll watch (them dancing in) the brush dance.

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

2. Ne-kah kwehl nee-mok'w kue 'ne- ne-puy.
   We don't have any salmon.

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

3. Nek kwel mey-kwe-le'-wey-yek' mehl kue kee'm so-nehl.
   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 per-werh kee nue he-gook'.
   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 tok-see-mek'.
   I admire (someone).

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

9. Yok kwehl nue-mee skuue-wet'.
   He likes the taste a lot.

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

10. Mos nek skuue-we-tek' kwehl.
    I don't care for it too much.

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

11. Nek kwehl chee-wey-ye-tek' ne-puy.
    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 kaa-mue-ne'm!
    You grew so fast!

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

14. [Nunepuy hes wee' k'ee re-gook?] 'Ee, keech po-pe'l noohl 'o nue-ne-puy wee'. Tkwo-'o che-gey kwel 'ee-mee nue-ne-puy.
    [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 hlkerr-wers?] Paa', weet kwel nee-mee ne-ge-pue' k'ee hlkerr-wers.
    [Is the lizard a nunepuy?] No, they don't eat the waterdog.

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

16. [Tee'neesho wee' kue lo-cho'm?] Lo-cho'm kwel wen-chokws wee'.
    [What is the toad?] Toad is a woman.

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

17. [Pishkaahl 'o koh hes wee' k'ee roh-tuen?] Roh-tuen kwel peesh-kaahl k'o koh, we'y kem k'o koh k'ee ne-kah 'we-rooy. So pe-chue roh-tuen.
    [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 kah-kah?] kah-kah kwel peesh-kaahl '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 chpe-gaa?] Chpe-gaa kwel peesh-kaahl 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 nee-kwech?] 'Ee, 'o hlmey-yo-wo-nee wee'. Chue-lue mos ho le-ge'y 'oohl. Weet ho 'oo-le'm weet soo. Tue' nee-mee wee hoo-le-ge'y 'oohl keech 'o mer-kue' mo-cho kee-chee' laay 'oohl. Se'-nee kwel nee-mee wo nep'. Mo ne-wo'm 'oohl 'ee kee-'ee', 'ohl-kue-mee ter-ger-wer-mee' mehl kee-'ee'. 'Ok'w soo ter-ger'w nee-kwech.
    [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 pue-see?] K'ee pue-see kwel se-ge-so-me-neehl. Keech 'o hlmey-ye'm 'o se-so-me-neehl.
    [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 to-kues?] 'Ee, to-kues kwel peesh-kaahl 'o goo-re'-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 nue-ne-puy?] K'ee nue-ne-puy kwel nee-mee hoo-re'-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 kah-kah?] kah-kah kwel kem nee-mee hoo-re'-mos, kee ne-pue' mo-cho 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 cher-ger-cher-yerh?] 'Ee, hlmey-yo-wo'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 hlkerr-wers?] Hlkerr-wers kwel te-ge-nue-mo-nok-see'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 lo-cho'm?] Paa', wot kwel lo-cho'm chpeen. Nee-mee kwel k'ee ley-yes 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'-ro-wee'?] 'O'ro-wee' kwel wee-ga'-sokw-see'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 che-ge-cheehl?] Che-ge-cheehl kwel kem 'ok'w 'we-cheeesh, weesh-teesh mehl 'we-che-ge-cheehl.
    [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 sko-yom?] Sko-yom kwel nahs-che-wen chpee hoo-let.
    [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 pe-goy?] Pe-goy kwel kem 'ok'w 'ue-poy. Weesh-teesh mehl 'ue-pe-goy.
    [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 le-ge-mem?] Paa', le-ge-mem kwel te-ge-nue-mo-nok-see'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 ter-ker-kue'?] Ter-ker-kue' kwel cho-rek-'eek wee', ter-ker-kue'.
    [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 we-gaa-ney-yoch'. Ko'l 'o hoh-kue-me'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 te-kwo-nesh... owl? ... te-kwo-nee's?] We-gaa-ney-yoch' kwel wo-'oot te-kwo-nee'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 nahs-che-wen heee-go'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 che-ge-mem?] Che-ge-mem kwel cheee-shep' noo-re'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 te-ge'-muer?] Te-ge'-muer kwel... ro-ree' wee' 'wech-'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 har-puech?] Har-puech kwel me-ger-kue'm 'oohl, 'o te-gey-ke-lue'm, har-puech. Ko'l te-ge'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 toh-ta'r?] Toh-ta'r kwel nee te-ne'm, to' nuue nee-nee te-ne'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 weesh-tue' mehl he-gee' 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 no-so-nos?] Wot kwel me-ge-ne-chok'w me-se-nohl meehl-pel... no-so-nos.
    [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 noo-re'w, hoo-let mo-cho 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-'e-goch?] Saa-'e-goch kwel ne-kah.
    [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... 'e-wom 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 nee-mee 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-'err-gerch'?] 'Ee, wer-'err-gerch' kwel yo'hl-koych' 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 chke-gey-yue'.
    [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 mah-kuehl?] 'Ee, mah-kuehl kwel nee-mee kaap-'ehl wee', nerh-pery wee'.
    [Is the salal berry a kaap'ehl?] Yes, it's not brush, it's berries.

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

50. Kol-chee kwel 'o lee' sku'y soo he-goo'm, kwen kee soo nee he-goo-lo'm, cho' skuyah-pe-le'm.
    Whenever they say you go well, wherever you will travel, be good.

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

51. Ko-lo-nee hek'ws 'we-sek', Kwel mer-mer-yer-werk', Nek kem kee hlkyor-kwek'.
    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. Ne-kah kwehl 'wer-'err-gerch wee-'eeet ne-pee'-moh 'ee-nee ke-goh puuek, tue' wee-'eeet chpee kee 'o k'e-nah-che-lek'.
    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. Ko-wee-cho kwehl me-hlow-ne-me'm k'e'-goo'; kee nue-mee nee koo-'o-pe'm.
    Don't touch your paddle; you are just to stand there.

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

54. Tue' koo-see muen-chey k'ee chaahl, to' kwehl na-'a'-mo'w 'o wee-'eeet noohl reeek-'ew nee ko-'oh kue 'we-neee'-no-woyk' kue wee 'ee ko 'uem-yah 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 chee-ner-mer-werh 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 ke-mo-le'm nee wee'.
    Be off! You are just going to steal again.

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

57. Ko-wee-cho kwehl ke'-yo-ne-me'm!
    Do not drop it!

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

58. Ko-wee-cho kwehl che'-loh-te-mew.
    It is not to be dried.

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

59. Pee-'eeh kem kee nue-mee shon-kee' kee-kee wee 'ue-pe-mue' ko-wee-cho kwehl che'-loh-te-mew.
    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. Ne-kah kwehl ko' herk-'er-ye'-moh.
    Well, we hid.

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

61. To' kwehl keet ma-'a-nor.
    There he is starting to show off.

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

62. To' kwehl nes-kwe'y.
    He was just awful.

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

63. Kwe-see' 'o le'm, Nek kwehl los-kah-peet kee-tee le-ko'n.
    He said, My buckskin pipe-cover is about to fall.

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

64. Mo-kee kwehl paas ko'-mee te-ne'm weesh kom-chue'm kee 'ne-goyk', Weesh-tue' 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 ko-me nes-kwey-yo-wo'm, kee-tee ko'l so-no-wo'm. Kom-chue-me'm hes kee-tee ko'l mehl so-no-wo'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. Peesh-tue' weesh-tue' kwel nee muech hoh-kuem' pech-kue 'o se-gep 'wo-'oh-kween kue 'we-ne-puyo-nah.
    So Upriver Coyote himself made it that they have salmon.

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

67. hee nee nuek'-wo nes-kwe-chook', 'o'-loo'-le-kwee-shol, kwel keech eesh nee-nee ye-gook'.
    I come back, village dweller, go around.

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

68. Kwel to wee kee so-no-wo'm, 'o'-loo-le-kwee-shol .
    You will be the same way, village dweller.

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