Useful Greenlandic phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Greenlandic. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.

Key to abbreviations: sg = said to one person, pl = said to two or more people

English Kalaallisut (Greenlandic)
Welcome Tikilluarit / Tikilluaritsi
Hello Aluu (inf) Inuugujoq / Kutaa (frm)
Haluu - on phone
How are you?
I'm fine, and how are you? 		Qanoq ippit? Qanorippit? Ajunngilatit? Ajunngi?
Ajunngilanga. Illimmi qanoq ippit?
Long time no see Qangali takugakkit
What's your name?
My name is ... 		Qanoq ateqarpit?
...imik ateqarpunga
Where are you from?
I'm from ... 		Suminngaaneerpit?
...minngaaneerpunga
Pleased to meet you Nuanneq naapillutit
Good morning Iterluarit / Kumoorn
Good afternoon/evening Inuugujaq
Good night Sinilluarit (sg) Sinilluaritsi (pl) - lit. 'sleep well'
Goodbye Takuss (short parting)
Ajunnginniarna / Inuulluarina (long parting)
Ajunngikkina
Good luck Iluatitsilluarina/risi
Cheers/Good health! Kasuutta!
Have a nice day Aluu! Ulloq naalluarniariuk!
Bon appetit Nerilluarisi
Bon voyage Angalalluarina
I don't understand Paasinngilara / Paasinngilakkit
Paasisinnaannginnakkummi
Please speak more slowly Arriitsumik oqalulaalit
Please write it down Qanoq akeqarpa?
Could you repeat that? Uteqqissinnaaviuk?
Do you speak Greenlandic?
Yes, a little 		Kalaallit oqalusinnaavit?
Aap, immannguaq
Do you speak English? Tuluttut oqalusinnaavit?
I don't speak Greenlandic Kalaallisut oqalussinnaanngilanga
How do you say ... in Greenlandic? Qanoq Kalaallisut oqartarpisi?
Excuse me/Sorry Utoqqatsissutigaa / Patsit / Utoqqatserpunga
How much is this? Qanoq akeqarpa/t?
Please Ikinngutinnersumik
Thank you
Response 		Qujan / Qujanaq / Qujanarsuaq
Illillu (sg) Ilisillu (pl)
Where's the toilet? Naak W.C-ii?
This gentleman/lady
will pay for everything		 Uuma Angutip/Arnap tamaasa akilissavai
Would you like to
dance with me?		 Qiteqatigerusuppingaa?
I love you Asavakkit
Get well soon Iluarsilluarina
Leave me alone! Tassa eller asu!
Help! Ikiunnga! Ikiortissannik!
Call the police! Politiimik kalerriigitsi!
Politiinut sianerit/tsi!
Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year		 Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluarit (sg)
Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluaritsi (pl)
Happy Easter Påskisiorluarisi
Happy Birthday Inuuinni Pilluarit
One language
is never enough		 Oqaatsit ataasiinnaat naammanngillat
My hovercraft
is full of eels		 Umiatsiaasara pullattagaq nimerussanik ulikkaarpoq

Corrections and translations by Angutimmarik Joelsen, and recordings by Jan Jurčík

Please note that most of the recordings on this page were made by a non-native speaker of Greenlandic. If you are a native speaker and could make better recordings, or know a native speaker who could do so, please contact me.

Information about written and spoken Greenlandic

Links

Other collections of phrases in Greenlandic
http://www.boomspeed.com/lckmctighe/greenlandic.html
http://brazil1500.tripod.com/wodlingos/id33.html
http://www.greenland.com/en/about-greenland/kultur-sjael/sprog/audio-parloer.aspx

Phrases in Eskimo-Aleut languages

Aleut, Greenlandic, Inuktitut, Iñupiaq

Phrases in other languages

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Copyright 1998- Simon Ager