aaka (AH-kuh): mother
aana (AH-nuh): old lady, grandmother
akkaga (uh-KAH-guh): uncle
anaq (AH-nuk): feces
angatquq (AHNG-ut-cook): shaman
arigaa (AH-de-gah): it’s good
arii (ah-DEE): ouch, it hurts
attata (uh-TAH-ta): grandfather
atiqluk (AH-tee-cluck): a woman’s hooded overshirt, often of flowered fabric, with a large front pocket
bunnik (BUN-nuk): affectionate term for daughter. The actual Inupiaq word is paniq.
Eskimo (as a verb): to improvise a solution on the spot, from available materials, often in a way requiring considerable ingenuity. The closest English analog is probably “MacGyver.”
Inupiaq (IN-you-pyock): one Eskimo; the Eskimo language
Inupiat (IN-you-pat): more than one Inupiaq; the Eskimo people
kunnichuk (KUH-nee-chuck): Arctic entry, or vestibule
kuukuung (koo-KOONG): affectionate term for a small child, comparable to “punkin” in English
malik (MULL-uck): follow or accompany
naluaqmiiyaaq (nuh-LOCK-me-ock): an Inupiaq who puts on airs and acts almost white
naluaqmiu, naluaqmiut (nuh-LOCK-me): white person, white race
pamiuktuk (PUH-me-UCK-tuck): otter
quiyuk (KWEE-uck): sex
sheefish: a delicious freshwater whitefish that can reach sixty pounds in weight
taaqsipak (TOX-ee-puck): the color black; an African American
ulu (OO-loo): traditional Eskimo woman’s knife, shaped like a slice of pizza with the cutting edge at the rim
uqpik (OOK-pick): willow
Village English: a stripped-down form of English used by the Inupiat of Northwest Alaska, particularly older people and residents of small villages
Yoi (yoy): so lucky