Word a Week

Image from Snohomish County Washington.

Welcome to Word a Week! Each Monday, we will be diving into the meanings, roots, and uses of a word we use everyday, but may not know much about. Words, like anything, have a rich and interesting history that is always moving, changing, and being redefined. Let's learn about the history of what we use everyday – language!

Snohomish (snōˈhōmish)

This week’s word is “Snohomish,” the word for our county, for a river, and for a town all in Washington State. This word’s etymology comes from the Lushootseed language –– the language of many indigenous tribes in Western Washington. Within the Lushootseed language, a primary pronunciation is found from which the popular spelling originates: “sduhubš” [sdoh-HOHBSH]. More specifically, the word “sduhubš” is not only a Lushootseed word, but a word of a northern Lushootseed dialect prominent in northern Snohomish County and Skagit County. The meaning of this word has been widely debated, yet the primary translation comes from author, sculptor, and Snohomish Tribe Chief, Chief William Shelton, who translates the word as “lowland people.”

You might notice the distinct spelling in the Lushootseed –– “sduhubš.” This spelling comes from the International Phonetic Alphabet, used within the Lushootseed language. The use of the IPA was first popularized by Vi Hilbert, who spent her life dedicated to the preservation, support, and research of the language. If you want to learn more about the language and the work being done to preserve it, check out the Vi Hilbert Archive at the University of Washington!