#beginner spokane

Spokane Language

Npoqínišcn

Some information about the Spokane language:

It’s critically endangered, meaning there are very few native speakers left, who are also elderly, and young people are not picking up the language, but the Spokane Tribe website offers language classes, so hopefully things are improving! Spokane doesn’t have its own original writing system, so a modified Latin script is used. You can read more about the Spokane and Salish languages and people on Wikipedia, here, here and here.

Example Words & Phrases ↓

Provided by Spokane Tribe at this link

ʔa x̣est skʷekʷst

Hello, good morning

ʔa x̣est sx̣lx̣alt

Hello, good day

ʔa x̣est sč̓luxʷ

Hello, good evening

ʔa x̣est skʷkʷʔec

Hello, good night

n̓em heł wíčtmn

I will see you again.

kʷʔec̓ščén̓?

How are you?

hi čn x̣is

I’m fine.

čn ayx̣ʷt

I’m tired.

čn weyt

I’m sick.

stem̓ ha skʷest ?

What is your name?

hi skʷest ____.

My name is…..

____ łuʔ hi skʷest.

My name is…..