Greenlandic phrasebook

Greenlandic (Kalaallisut) is the main and since 2009 the sole official language of Greenland. It is an Eskimo–Aleut language, closely related to the Inuit languages in Canada such as Inuktitut.

There are quite big differences between dialects. The name Kalaallisut can refer either to the language or to the main variety, Western Greenlandic. Tunumiit oraasiat or East Greenlandic and Inuktun or Polar Eskimo are the other main varieties, the latter especially close to Inuktitut.

Greenlandic is a polysynthetic language that allows the creation of long words by stringing together roots and suffixes. Inflection is quite complex. Greenlandic usually constructs new words made from Greenlandic roots, by the very rich derivative mechanisms, but Greenlandic also has many loans from Danish and English.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

A
E
I
O
U

Vowels for loanwords and names

Æ
Ø
Å
Y

Consonants

F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
P
Q
R
S
T
V

Consonants for loanwords and names

B
C
D
W
X
Y
Z

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: Haluu. ( )
Hello. (informal): Kutaa. ( )
How are you?: Qanoq ippit?( ?)
Are you well/good?: Ajunngilatit? ( )
Fine, thank you.: Ajunngilanga, qujanaq. ( )
It's good/fine.: Ajunngilaq. ( )
What is your name?: Qanoq ateqarpit? ( ?)
My name is ______ .: ______-mik ateqarpunga . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: . ( )
Please.: . ( )
Thank you.: Qujanaq. ( )
You're welcome. (you too): Illillu. ( )
Yes.: Aap/Aappi/Suu. ( )
No.: Naa/Naamik. ( )
Maybe.: Immaqa. ( )
Right?: Ilaa? ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention): . ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): . ( )
I'm sorry.: Utoqqatserpunga. ( )
Goodbye: Baaj/Baj/Baabaj ( )
See you!: Takuss!( )
I can't speak name of language [well].: . ( [ ])
Do you speak English?: Tuluttut oqaluttarpi? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: ? ( ?)
Help!: Ikiu! ( !)
Look out!: Mianersorit! ( !)
Good morning.: Kumoorn. ( )
Good afternoon: . ( )
Good evening.: . ( )
Good night.: Kunaat. ( )
Good night (sleep well, to one person): Sinilluarit. ( )
I don't understand.: Paasinngilanga. ( )
Where is the toilet?: Anartarfik sumiippa? ( ?)

Problems

Numbers

Cardinal Numbers

In Greenland only 1–12 in Greenlandic are used. This is caused by a system of numerals used in the past where the toes and fingers were used to count to 20 which would be inuk naallugu or a complete human. 79 would be four complete humans minus one.

0: nuulu, noor'lu (NOO-loo, NOR-loo)
1: ataaseq (at-AR-sek)
2: marluk (MAR-look)
3: pingasut (PEEN-ga-soot)
4: sisamat (SEE-sa-mat)
5: tallimat (TAL-li-mat)
6: arfineq (when counting and with time), arfinillit (when counting objects) (AR-feen-ek, ar-FEEN-eel-lit)
7: arfineq marluk (AR-feen-ek MAR-look)
8: arfineq pingasut (AR-feen-ek PEEN-ga-soot)
9: (Northern Greenlandic) qulingiluat (counting/time), qualaaluat (objects) (kwel-LING-il-yoo-at, kwal-AA-loo-at)

(Southern Greenlandic) qulaaluat (kwul-AA-loo-at)

10: qulit (kwulit)
11: aqqaneq (counting/time), aqqanillit (objects) (AK-kan-ek, ak-KAN-eel-lit)

(Northern Greenlandic) isikkaneq (counting/time), isikkanillit (objects) (ISI-kan-ek, isi-kan-EEL-lit)

12: aqqaneq marluk (AK-kan-ek MAR-look)

(North Greenlandic) isikkaneq marluk (ISI-kan-ek MAR-look)

The numerals after 12 are Danish now but 13–20 in old Greenlandic are underneath as well as 100 and 1000:

13: aqqaneq pingasut (AK-kan-ek PEEN-ga-soot)
14: aqqaneq sisamat (AK-kan-ek SEE-sa-mat)
15: aqqaneq tallimat (AK-kan-ek TAL-lee-mat)
16: arvirsanillit (arv-ER-san-eel-lit)
17: arvirsani marluk (arv-ER-san-ee MAR-look)
18: arvirsani pingasut (arv-ER-san-ee PEEN-ga-soot)
19: arvirsani sisamat (arv-ER-san-ee SEE-sa-mat)
20: arvirsani tallimat (arv-ER-san-ee TAL-lee-mat) or inuk naallugu (een-ook narl-loogoo)
100: untriti (un-TREE-tee)
1000: tuusinti (too-SEEN-tee)

Ordinal Numbers

first: siulleq (SEE-oo-leek)
second: aappaa (ARP-par)
third: pingajuat (peen-GA-joo-at)
fourth: sisamaat (SEE-sa-mart)
fifth: tallimaat (tal-LEE-mart)
sixth: arvirnat (arv-ERN-at)
seventh: arviniq aappaat (ARV-in-ik ARP-part)
eighth: arviniq pingajuat (ARV-in-ik peen-GA-joo-at)
ninth: qulingiluaat (Northern), qulaaluaat (Southern) (kwoo-LEENG-eel-yoo-art, KWOO-lar-loo-art)
tenth: qulingat (kwoo-LEENG-at)
eleventh: aqqarnat (ak-KAR-nat)
twelfth: aqqaneq aappaat (AK-kan-ek ARP-part)

Numbers over 12th are Danish loan-numerals such as tretteniat is 13th and tyviat is 20th.

Time

yesterday: ippassaq ( )
the day before yesterday: ippassaani ( )
today: ullumi ( )
tomorrow: aqagu ( )
the day after tomorrow: aqaguagu ( )
morning: ullaaq ( )
day: ulloq ( )
evening: unnuaq ( )
year: ukioq ( )
spring: upernaq ( )
summer: aasaq ( )
fall/autumn: ukiaq ( )
winter: ukioq (same as year, )

Clock time

Duration

North Avannaq / South Kujataa / East Kangia / West Kitaa /

Days

Monday: ataasinngorneq ( )
Tuesday: marlunngorneq ( )
Wednesday: pingasunngorneq ( )
Thursday: sisamanngorneq ( )
Friday: tallimanngorneq ( )
Saturday: arfininngorneq ( )
Sunday: sapaat ( )

Months

January: Januaari ( )
February: Februaari ( )
March: Marsi ( )
April: Apriili ( )
May: Maaji ( )
June: Juuni ( )
July: Juuli ( )
August: Aggusti ( )
September: Septembari ( )
October: Oktobari ( )
November: Novembari ( )
December: Decembari ( )

Writing time and date

Colors

West Kitaa /

white: qaqortoq ( )
black: qernertoq ( )
red: aappalaartoq ( )
green: qorsoq ( )
blue: tungujortoq ( )
yellow: sungaartoq ( )

Transportation

car: biili ( )
bicycle: sikkili ( )
boat (small, personal): umiatsiaq ( )
boat (traditional, for women): umiaq/umiak ( )
boat (big): umiarsuaq ( )
kayak: qajaq ( )
dog sled: qimusseq ( )

Bus and train

bus: bussi ( )

Directions

forward: siumut ( )

Taxi

taxa: tarssa ( )

Lodging

house: illu/illoq ( )
room: ini ( )
apartment: inissiaq ( )

Money

money: aningaasat ( )
Danish Kroner: koroonit ( )
Danish Øre: oorit ( )

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority

police: politii ( )
doctor: nakorsaq ( )

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