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Preschool Words and Phrases

This page contains several vocabulary lists with various words in Xws7ámeshqen that preschool teachers, young learners, and parents may use on an everyday basis.

Samish Grammar 101
This companion resource focuses on standalone words, prefixes, and suffixes that are found throughout Samish terms and phrases. Understanding these foundational concepts will aid comprehension of other Samish language resources and materials. 

Phrases and Conversation 

Greetings 

  • U7 langnónge-sen-se7

    See you later

  • Yé7kweche

    Goodbye

  • U7 estl'ótl'em-sen ól7

    I'm okay

  • Á7a, u7 éy7-sen ól7.

    Yes, I'm good.

  • U7 éy7-e-sxw ól7?

    Are you doing well?

  • Newí7leng

    Come in, welcome

  • Nów7

    Hello

  • Éy7 skwechíl

    Good morning

  • Éy7 skwéyel

    Good day

  • U7 éy7-e-sxw ól7?

    How are you?

  • U7 éy7-sen.

    I am good.

  • U7 sx̲á7s-sen.

    I am bad.

Times and Transitions

Note: "Kwel" literally translates as “now" or "now this ____ is happening” but it is most easily understood within the English translations below as “it is time for _______.” 

  • Kwel ts’á7kwtxw

    Time to clean up

  • Kwel e kw'ín?

    What time is it?

  • Néts'e wách

    One o'clock

  • Kwel émet

    Time to get up (wake up) / Time to sit down

  • Kwel emná7

    Play time, recess

  • Ená7 q'ép

    Come gather

  • Kwel t'í7lem

    Time to sing

  • Kwel qayex̱qéy’neng’ ól7

    Story time

  • Kwel 7ílhen

    Time to eat

  • Kwel yá7

    Time to go

  • Kwel pí:t

    Time for bed

  • Shólekwlhtxw

    Circle up, circle together

Other Useful Phrases

  • Éy7 skwechíl, qwqwéleng

    Good morning, sunshine

  • Ená7, kwel émet

    Come on, get up now

  • Kwel yá7-lhte

    We are going now

  • 7ólhsxw e tse sxwólh

    Get in the car

  • Álhe-lhte

    Here we are

  • sx̱ét

    push

  • xwkw’ét

    pull

  • Eníxw ól7 i7 éy7 ól7

    Settle down

  • Ts’ákw’t tse en-s7óses

    Wash your face

  • Ts’ákw’t tse en-s7áles

    Wash your hands

  • Ts’ákw’t tse en-chénes

    Brush your teeth

  • Estónget?

    What is happening?

  • Stáng tiyá?

    What is that?

  • Nílh tiyá ____ / Nílh _____ tiyá

    This is a ____

  • U7 estl’ótl’em-e-sxw ól7?

    Are you alright?

  • Ch-st'áqe7íkw7s-e-sxw?

    Do you have a bruise?

  • Ch-lhíts’nexw-e-sxw?

    Do you have a cut?

  • Sácheng-e-s?

    Is it painful?

  • istá7 yá7

    let’s go/paddle forward​

  • émet

    sit

Vocabulary by Topic 

Lunar Months

Coast Salish cultures use lunisolar calendars with 13 Moons that each begin on the new moon. The names of each month correspond to important cultural activities and seasonal foods. These months are hyper-local to the natural cycles of a tribe’s home territory, so each tribe’s 13 Moons are slightly different.  

Moons corresponding with the months of August and December alternate every other year. In even numbered years, the Time of Salalberry starts during the new moon in August and in odd numbered years this month is the Time of the Humpback/Pink Salmon. 

  • Ngíngene7

    Moon of children and Beginnings (mid December-mid January)

  • Wéx̲es

    Moon of the Frog (February)

  • Pex̲síseng

    Moon of Blossoming (March)

  • Sx̲wán7elh

    Moon of the Bullheads (April)

  • Penáxweng

    Moon of Gathering Seaweed and Camas (May)

  • Chenelíle7

    Moon of the Salmonberry (June)

  • Chenséqi7

    Moon of the Sockeye (July)

  • Chent’áqe7

    Moon of the Salal (August even years)

  • Chenhénen

    Moon of the Humpback Salmon (August odd years)

  • Chenq’échqs

    Moon of the Coho (September)

  • Chenkw’ól7exw

    Moon of Chums (October)

  • Xwis7elánexw

    Moon of the howling winds and shaking leaves (November)

  • S7elálexw

    Moon of the elders (December even years)

  • Schel7kw'á7seng

    Moon of putting away paddles (December odd years)

Weather

  • ______ e tí7e qéy7s

    It’s ______ today

  • Kw’á7les

    It’s hot

  • Tó7mel

    It’s warm

  • Ts’íxweng

    It’s cold

  • Slhémexw

    It’s rainy

  • Spxwéle7

    It’s windy

  • Escháq’

    It's snowing

  • Espíp’ó7tl’eng

    It's smoky

Body Parts

  • xwenechénges

    smile

  • kw’él’e

    belly

  • sx̲éne7

    leg and foot

  • sí7atn

    hair on head

  • qéleng’

    eye (of any creature)

  • sqw’óngi7

    head (of any creature)

  • selhtálngexw

    the whole body

  • sóngen

    eyebrow

  • ngéqsen

    nose

  • s7óses

    face

  • qw’élen’

    ear

  • sósen

    mouth

  • tíxwselh

    tongue

  • chénes

    tooth

  • t’álew’

    arm

  • sáles

    hand

  • ts’éng’elh

    chest

Shapes

  • ngesáx̱en

    square

  • tl’áqt ngesáx̱en

    rectangle

  • shólekw’

    circle

  • tl’aqtól7s

    oval

  • lhixwáx̱en

    triangle

  • cheséyeseqs

    diamond

Colors

  • Stangóles tiyá?

    What color is this?

  • Nílh x̱elóles ______ tiyá

    It is ______ colored

  • neqwéy7el

    orange

  • nsqwél7

    pink

  • lalópel

    purple

  • 7ay’óles

    bright colors

  • péq’

    white

  • neqáx̲

    black

  • qáx̲el

    blackish

  • neqwéy7

    green (as grass), yellow, pale (of a person); dark navy blue (not sky blue)(?)

  • neséqw

    red (esp. bright red)

  • kwíy’imel’

    reddish, poss. brown

  • nexwíkw’

    grey

  • pq’óles nexwíkw’

    whitish grey

  • Neq’íx

    black

  • Netl’élh

    green

  • Chiye7óles

    blue

  • Neséqw

    red

  • xwétoshen

    Rainbow

Numbers (0-10)

  • Éwene

    None, zero

  • ópen

    ten

  • tékwxw

    nine

  • tá7ss

    eight

  • ts'ó7kws

    seven

  • t'x̲éng

    six

  • lhq'áchs

    five

  • ngós

    four

  • lhíxw

    three

  • chése7

    two

  • néts'e7

    One

Days of the Week

  • X̱ax̱lhnát

    Sunday

  • Q’emelhnát

    Monday

  • Senglhnát

    Tuesday

  • Lhíxweng

    Wednesday

  • Sngóseng

    Thursday

  • Lheq’chíseng

    Friday

  • Ch’ítámets

    Saturday

Family and Identity 

Identity

  • Xws7ámesh se és

    I am Samish (feminine)

  • Xws7ámesh tse és

    I am Samish (ungendered)

  • U7 _______-áw7enexw-sen

    I am ______ years old

  • ___(t)se ne-sná7.

    My name is _______________ . (tse is masculine, se is feminine)

Introducing Family

  • Nílh ne-_____ siyá

    This is my _____ (feminine)

  • Nílh ne-_____ tiyá

    This is my _____ (ungendered)

Parents

  • se ne-tán

    my mother

  • tse ne-mán

    my father

  • mán

    father

  • tán

    mother

  • tá7

    mommy, Ma, (can also be used for small children)

  • má7

    daddy, Dad

Children

  • se en-ngéne7

    your daughter

  • tse en-ngéne7

    your son/child

  • stl’ítl’etl’qelh

    child

  • lótl’

    oldest child in family

  • hehá:7ich

    youngest child in family

Siblings

  • shéyalh

    older sibling

  • se ne-shéyalh

    my older sister

  • tse ne-shéyalh

    my older brother/sibling

  • sheshá:yelh

    older siblings

  • sey’échn' / sey'íchn'

    younger sibling

  • se ne-sey’échn' / se ne-sey'íchn'

    my younger sister

  • tse ne-sey’échn' / tse ne-sey'íchn'

    my younger brother/sibling

  • selá:7chn

    younger siblings

Extended Family

  • se en-stíkwen

    your niece

  • tse en-stíkwen

    your nephew/nibling

  • sáchs

    parent's sibling

  • stíkwen

    nephew, niece

  • sílo7

    grandparent

  • 7ínges

    grandchild

People

  • 7elhtálngexw

    person

  • slháni7

    woman, female

  • swéy’qo7

    man, male

  • s7álexw

    old person, elder (also used for parent)

  • stl’ítl’etl’qelh

    child

  • qáq

    baby

  • swiwlesó:lh

    young boy

  • slhanichó:lh

    young girl

Language

Event Listings

Samish Elders Chat & Learn - Earthquake/Tsunami Preparedness


Informative session on emergency preparedness.

Dates: 19 – 19 Feb, 2026

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Dentalium Earrings Class (Summit Park campus)

Anacortes, Washington

Make a pair of dentalium earrings and learn about the cultural importance of dentalium shells.

Dates: 21 – 21 Feb, 2026

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Dinner & Drumming (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Gather for dinner (meal provided) followed by Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 26 – 26 Feb, 2026

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Samish in the Historical Record (Fidalgo Bay Resort + online)

Anacortes, WA

Join us for a public history talk tracing the history of the Samish Indian Nation, presented by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 03 – 03 Mar, 2026

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Dinner & Drumming (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Gather for a potluck dinner followed by Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 12 – 12 Mar, 2026

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Weaving Retreat (Samish Island)


Get away to Samish Island for a weekend of 2-day wool and cedar weaving projects, along with language classes and games.

Dates: 20 – 22 Mar, 2026

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Dinner & Drumming (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Gather for dinner (meal provided) followed by Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 26 – 26 Mar, 2026

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Samish Elders Virtual & In-Person Spring Gathering


Join us for an afternoon of good conversation, culture talk and bingo.

Dates: 27 – 27 Mar, 2026

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2026 Samish Youthfest

Anacortes, WA

Our annual Samish Youthfest is returning in 2026.

Dates: 04 – 04 Apr, 2026

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Dinner & Drumming (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Gather for a potluck dinner followed by Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 09 – 09 Apr, 2026

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Dinner & Drumming (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Gather for dinner (meal provided) followed by Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 23 – 23 Apr, 2026

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Mental Health Fair

Anacortes, WA

Take a day to prioritize you. This event will be all about mental wellness - featuring resources, practical tools, and supportive strategies to help you strengthen your mind and nurture your well-being.

Dates: 02 – 02 May, 2026

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Thrive & Connect & Samish Play Day

Anacortes, WA

Join us for our Annual Health Fair & Samish Play Day - a celebration of wellness and community! Discover helpful tools and resources to support your health and enjoy a fun-filled day outdoors where kids can laugh, play, and explore.

Dates: 08 – 08 Aug, 2026

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Samish Halloween Party

Anacortes, WA

Join us for our Annual Halloween Party - a spook-tacular day of fun, treats, and community!

Dates: 24 – 24 Oct, 2026

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