APPENDIX B
Language notes and glossary
Greenlandic is the native language of Greenland. West Greenlandic, or Kalaallisut, is spoken at either end of the Arctic Circle Trail. It is courteous to be able to speak a few words of Greenlandic, but anything more gets quite complicated. Written words run together, so that a whole sentence might become a single word, and the spoken word is very soft and difficult to pronounce. Danish, the colonial language, is widely spoken and is taught alongside Greenlandic in schools, so it can be helpful to know a little of it. Many people working regularly with tourists speak English.
English |
Danish |
Greenlandic |
| Pleasantries |
| Hello |
Goddag |
Kutaa |
| Goodbye |
Farvel |
Baaj |
| Please |
Værsgo |
Takanna |
| Thank you |
Tak |
Qujanaq |
| Yes |
Ja |
Aap |
| No |
Nej |
Naagga |
| Maybe |
Måske |
Immaqa |
| My name is … |
Jeg hedder … |
… mik ateqarpunga |
| What’s your name? |
Hvad hedder du? |
Qanoq ateqarpit?
|
| Directions |
| North |
Nord |
Avannaa |
| South |
Syd |
Kujataa |
| East |
Øst |
Kangia |
| West |
Vest |
Kitaa |
| Right |
Højre |
Talerpik |
| Left |
Venstre |
Saamik |
| Where is the …? |
Hvor er …? |
Sumiippa …? |
| Campsite |
Campingpladsen |
Tutertarfimmut |
| Hut |
Hytte |
Illuluk |
| Youth hostel |
Vandrejhem |
Angalaartut |
| Hotel |
Hotel |
Hotelimut |
| Tourist office |
Turistbureauet |
Turistit allaffiannut |
| Post office |
Postkontoret |
Allakkerivimmut |
| Shop |
Butik |
Pisiniarfik |
| Police station |
Politiet |
Politeeqarfimmut |
| Airport |
Lufthavnen |
Timmisartoqarfimmut |
| Harbour |
Havnen |
Umiarsualiviup |
| Canoe |
Kano |
Qajaq (Anglicised as ‘kayak’) |
| Midge net |
Myggenet |
Ippernaaqqut
|
| Money Matters |
| Credit card |
Kreditkort |
Akiliissut |
| Money |
Penge |
Akissaq
|
| Food and Drink |
| Apple |
Æble |
Iipili |
| Beer |
Øl |
Immiaq |
| Bread |
Brød |
Iffiaq |
| Breakfast |
Morgenmad |
Ullaakkorsiut |
| Chicken |
Kylling |
Kukkukuuaraq |
| Chocolate |
Chokolade |
Sukkulaa |
| Coffee |
Kaffe |
Kaffi |
| Dessert |
Dessert |
Kinguleraq |
| Dried fruit |
Tørret frugt |
Pupiusat |
| Drink |
Drik |
Imigassaq |
| Egg |
Æg |
Mannik |
| Fruit |
Frugt |
Inerititaq |
| Greenlandic food |
Grønlandsk mad |
Kalaalimernit |
| Halibut |
Hellefisk |
Qaleralik |
| Ham |
Skinke |
Nallu |
| Milk |
Mælk |
Millek |
| Mussels |
Muslinger |
Uillut |
| Open sandwich |
Smørrebrød |
Qallersukkat |
| Orange |
Appelsin |
Appelsiina |
| Potato |
Kartoffler |
Issuusaq |
| Rice |
Ris |
Suaasat |
| Sausage |
Pølse |
Immigaq |
| Shrimp |
Rejer |
Raajat |
| Soda |
Sodavand |
Sodavandi |
| Tea |
Te |
Tii |
| Vegetables |
Grønsager |
Naatiiat |
| Water |
Vand |
Imeq |
| Whale meat |
Hvalkød |
Tikaanguliup neqaa |
| Wine |
Vin |
Viinni
|
| Wildlife |
| Bird |
Fugl |
Timmiaq |
| Dog |
Hund |
Qimmeq |
| Eagle |
Ørn |
Nattoralik |
| Fox |
Ræv |
Terrianiaq |
| Hare |
Hare |
Ukaleq |
| Midge |
Myg |
Ippernaq |
| Musk ox |
Moskusokse |
Ummimaq |
| Polar bear |
Isbjørn |
Nanoq (Anglicised as ‘nanook’) |
| Reindeer |
Rensdyr |
Tuttu |
| Seal |
Sæl |
Puisi |
| Whale |
Hval |
Arfeq
|
| Days of the week |
| Sunday |
Søndag |
Sapaat |
| Monday |
Mandag |
Ataasinngorneq |
| Tuesday |
Tirsdag |
Marlunngorneq |
| Wednesday |
Onsdag |
Pingasunngorneq |
| Thursday |
Torsdag |
Sisamanngorneq |
| Friday |
Fredag |
Tallimanngorneq |
| Saturday |
Lørdag |
Arfininngorneq
|
| Numbers |
| One |
En/Et |
Ataaseq |
| Two |
To |
Marluk |
| Three |
Tre |
Pingasut |
| Four |
Fire |
Sisamat |
| Five |
Fem |
Tallimat |
| Six |
Seks |
Arfinillit |
| Seven |
Syv |
Arfineq marluk |
| Eight |
Otte |
Arfineq pingasut |
| Nine |
Ni |
Qulaaluat |
| Ten |
Ti |
Qulit |
| Eleven |
Elleve |
Aqqanillit |
| Twelve |
Tolv |
Aqqaneq marluk |
There are no Greenlandic numbers beyond 12, so Danish numbers must be used.
English |
Danish |
Greenlandic |
| When all else fails |
| Help! |
Ikiunnga! |
Hjælp! |
| I don’t understand |
Jeg forstar ikke |
Passinngilara |
| Do you speak English? |
Taler du engelsk? |
Engelsk oqaluttarpit?
|
| Topographical Glossary |
| Arctic Circle |
Nordlige Polarkreds |
Qaasuitsup Killeqarfia
Avannarleq |
| Big lake |
Stor sø |
Tasersuaq |
| Black |
Sort |
Qernertoq |
| Blue |
Blå |
Tungujortoq |
| Brown |
Brun |
Sukkulaajusaq |
| Fjord |
Fiord |
Kangerluk |
| Glacier |
Gletsjer |
Sermertaq |
| Green |
Grøn |
Qorsuk |
| Greenland |
Grønland |
Kalaallit Nunaannut |
| Grey |
Grå |
Qasersoq |
| Headland |
Forbjerg |
Nuuk |
| Iceberg |
Isbjerge |
Ilulissat |
| Ice cap |
Inlandsisen |
Sermerssuaq |
| Island |
Ø |
Qeqertaq |
| Lake |
Sø |
Taseq |
| Mountain |
Bjerg |
Qaqaq |
| Peninsula |
Halbinsel |
Qeqertaaminerssua |
| Red |
Rød |
Aapaluttoq |
| River |
Elv |
Kuuk |
| Valley |
Dal |
Qooroq |
| West Greenland |
Vestgrønland |
Kitaa |
| White |
Hvid |
Qaqortoq |
| Yellow |
Gul |
Katortoq |