A collection of useful phrases in Greenlandic, an Eskimo-Aleut language spoken in Greenland and Denmark.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: sg = said to one person, pl = said to two or more people
| English | Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Tikilluarit Tikilluaritsi |
| Hello (General greeting) | Aluu (inf) Inuugujoq Kutaa (frm) |
| Hello (on phone) | Haluu |
| How are you? | Qanoq ippit? Qanorippit? Ajunngilatit? Ajunngi? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ajunngilanga. Illimmi qanoq ippit? |
| Long time no see | Qangali takugakkit |
| What's your name? | Qanoq ateqarpit? |
| My name is ... | ...imik ateqarpunga |
| Where are you from? | Suminngaaneerpit? |
| I'm from ... | ...minngaaneerpunga |
| Pleased to meet you | Nuanneq naapillutit |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Iterluarit Kumoorn |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Inuugujaq |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Inuugujaq |
| Good night | Sinilluarit (sg) Sinilluaritsi (pl) - "sleep well" |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Takuss' (see you) Ajunnginniarna (farewell) Inuulluarina (said to someone you won't see again) Ajunngikkina |
| Good luck! | Iluatitsilluarina Iluatitsilluarisi |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Kasuutta! |
| Have a nice day | Aluu! Ulloq naalluarniariuk! |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Nerilluarisi |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Angalalluarina |
| I don't understand | Paasinngilara Paasinngilakkit Paasisinnaannginnakkummi |
| Please speak more slowly | Arriitsumik oqalulaalit |
| Please write it down | Qanoq akeqarpa? |
| Please say that again | Uteqqissinnaaviuk? |
| Do you speak English? | Tuluttut oqalusinnaavit? |
| Do you speak Greenlandic? | Kalaallit oqalusinnaavit? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Aap, immannguaq |
| I don't speak Greenlandic | Kalaallisut oqalussinnaanngilanga |
| How do you say ... in Greenlandic | Qanoq Kalaallisut oqartarpisi? |
| Excuse me | Utoqqatsissutigaa Patsit Utoqqatserpunga |
| How much is this? | Qanoq akeqarpa/t? |
| Sorry | Utoqqatsissutigaa Patsit Utoqqatserpunga |
| Please | Ikinngutinnersumik |
| Thank you | Qujan Qujanaq Qujanarsuaq |
| Reply to thank you | Illillu (sg) Ilisillu (pl) |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Naak W.C-ii? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Uuma Angutip tamaasa akilissavai |
| This lady will pay for everything | Uuma 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! |
| Christmas greetings | Juullimi Pilluarit (sg) Juullimi Pilluaritsi (pl) |
| New Year greetings | Ukiortaami Pilluarit (sg) Ukiortaami Pilluaritsi (pl) |
| Easter greetings | Påskisiorluarisi |
| Birthday greetings | Inuuinni Pilluarit |
| Congratulations! | Pilluarit (sg) Pilluaritsi (pl) |
| One language is never enough | Oqaatsit ataasiinnaat naammanngillat |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Umiatsiaasara pullattagaq nimerissanik ulikkaarpoq |
Hear some Greenlandic phrases:
Corrections and translations by Angutimmarik Joelsen
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Greenlandic | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Greenlandic language resources on Amazon
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
http://sermersooq.dk/%C3%B8velse%201%2C2%2C3.html
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