A collection of useful phrases in Northern Sámi, a Western Sámi language spoken in parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland.
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: frm = formal, inf = informal, >1p = said to one person, >2p = said to two people. >2+p said to more than two people.
| English | davvisámegiella (Northern Sámi) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Bures boahtin |
| Hello (General greeting) | Bures Bures bures (reply) |
| How are you? | Mo dat manná? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Dat manná bures, giitu Giitu, manná bures |
| Long time no see | Dat lea guhkes áigi |
| What's your name? | Mii du namma lea? |
| My name is ... | Mu namma lea ... |
| Where are you from? | Gos don leat eret? |
| I'm from ... | Mun lean ... eret |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Buorre iđit Ipmel atti (reply) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Buorre beaivvi Ipmel atti (reply) |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Buorre eahket Ipmel atti (reply) |
| Good night | Buorre idjá |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Báze dearvan (>1p - "stay with good health") Báhcci dearvan (>2p who are staying) Báhcet dearvan (>2+p who are staying) Mana dearvan (>1p - "leave with good health") Manni dearvan (>2p who are leaving) Mannet dearvan (>2+p who are leaving) Oaidnaleabmai! (>2+p - "see you") |
| Good luck! | Ollu lihkku |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Máistte! Jugis! |
| Have a nice day | Sávan buori beaivvi |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Buorre mátki! |
| I understand | Mun ipmirdan Mun ádden |
| I don't understand | Mun in ádde Mun in ipmir |
| I don't know | In dieđe |
| Please speak more slowly | Hála njozebut, leage siivui |
| Please say that again | Oktii vel, leage siivui |
| Please write it down | Čális dan, leage siivui |
| Do you speak English? | Hálatgo eaŋgalasgiela? |
| Do you speak Northern Sámi? | Hálatgo (davvi)sámegiella? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Juo, veaháš |
| I'm learning Northern Sámi | Oahpan davvisámegiela Mun oahpan davvisámegiela |
| Speak to me in Northern Sámi | Sámás muinna! |
| How do you say ... in Northern Sámi | Mii dat lea sámegilli? |
| Excuse me | Ándagassii |
| How much is this? | Man ollu dat máksá? |
| Sorry | Ándagassii |
| Please | Leage buorre |
| Thank you | Giitu |
| Reply to thank you | Leage buorre |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Gos hivsset lea? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Dat bárdni máksá buot ovddas |
| This lady will pay for everything | Dat nieida máksá buot ovddas |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Háliidatgo dánsut? |
| I miss you | Ohcalan du Váillahan du |
| I love you | Mun ráhkistan du |
| Go away! | Mana eret! |
| Leave me alone! | Ale vuortnut mu! |
| Help! | Veahket! |
| Fire! | Dolla! |
| Stop! | Bisán! |
| Call the police! | Ringe politiijai! |
| Christmas greetings | Buorit juovllat |
| New Year greetings | Buore ođđa jahki! |
| Easter greetings | Buorit beassážat |
| Birthday greetings | Lihkku beivviin! |
| One language is never enough | Okta giella ii leat goassege doarvái |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Mu áibmofatnasis leat dievva ággarasat |
Phrases and corrections provided by Irena Dahl, Brti Eriksen and Maret Sofie
Hear some Northern Sami phrases:
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Northern Sámi | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Other collections of Northern Sámi phrases
http://wikitravel.org/en/Saami_phrasebook
http://arran2.blogspot.co.uk/2007/01/sami-phrases_7367.html
http://www.samer.se/1471
http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Pagini_şterse/Fraze_uzuale_în_diferite_limbi#Lapon.C4.83_.28uralic.C4.83.29
Lule Sámi, Northern Sámi, Southern Sámi
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