Inuit Made Easy
There are several Inuit languages, all of which are close enough that speakers of one can usually understand those of another. As well, there are many dozens of dialects which differ in pronunciation and/or structure. The language of the Eastern Arctic (used in this Web site) is Inuktitut.

In order to learn useful Inuit phrases that might come in handy when travelling in the North, you should start by practising common Inuktitut sounds, like those listed below.

i (ee, long e) u (oo, u --long u) aa (ah)
pi (pe) pu (poo) pa (pa)
ti (tee) tu (too) ta (ta)
ki (key) ku (koo) ka (ka)
gi (ghee) gu (goo) ga (ga)
mi (me) mu (moo) ma (ma)
ni (nee) nu (noo) na (na)
si (see) su (soo) sa (sa)
li (lee) lu (loo) la (la)
ji (jee) ju (joo) ja (ja)
vi (vee) vu (voo) va (va)
ri (re) ru (rue) ra (ra)
Gutteral: qi qu qa
Nasal: ngi ngu ngaa



English Inuktitut Pronunciation
How are you? Qanuipit? Ka-nwee-peet?
I am fine. Qunuinguttunga Ka-nweeng-ni-toon-ga
What is your name? Kinauvit? Kee-nau-veet?
I want to take your picture. Ajjiliurumajagit A-jee-lee-oo-roo-maa-ya-geet
Thank you. Qujannamiik Coo -yan-na-mee-ick
That's all. Taima Tie-ma
You are welcome. Liaali Ee-lah-lih
I am hungry. Kaaktunga Kak-toon-ga
I am cold. Qiuliqtunga K-o-lick-toon-ga
It is cold (weather) Ikkiirnagtug Ick-eang-nak-took
Will the weather be good today? Silasianguniapa? See-la-ss-aang-un-ee-aa-pa?
Help! Ikajunga! Ick-a-yung-ga
Did you make this? Una sanajait? Oo-na san-ai-yate?
How much is it? Qatsituqqa? Cat-see-to-kaw
How many? Qatsiit? Cat-seet?
Yes Ii Ee
No Aakka or aagaa Ah-ka or Ah-ga
Maybe (I really don't know) Atsuuli or aamai At-soo-lee or Ah-my
Expensive Akitujug Ah-kee-too-yuk
I have to use the washroom. Quisuktunga Kwee-soot-toon-ga
I am sick. Aaniajunga Ah-nee-a-yung-ga
What is it? Una suna? Oo-na soo-na?
Where is the hotel? Nau taima sinitavik? Naowk tie-ma see-nee-ta-vik
Where is the store? Nau taima niuvivik? Naowk tie-ma new-vee-vik
Where is the church? Nau taima tuksiavik? Naowk tie-ma took-see-aa-vik
Where am I? Namiippunga Nah-me-poon-ga
I want to go by dogteam. Qimuksikkuurumavunga. Kim-mook-sick-koo-roo-mah-voon-ga
I want to phone. Ugaalagumajunga Oo-ka-la-goo-ma-jung-ga.
I want to go fishing. Iqalliarumajunga. Ee-ka-lee-aa-roo-ma-jung-ga
Goodbye (to an individual) Tavvauvutit Tah-vow-voo-teet
Goodbye to you all. Tavvauvusi Tah-vow-voo-see



Snow: aniu, apijaq, aput, isiriartaq, katakartanaq, kavisilaq, kinirtaq, mannguq, masak, matsaaq, natiruvaaq, pukak, qannialaaq, qannik, qiasuqaq, qiqumaaq.
Snows: piirsituq, pirsituq.
Snowball: atsakaaq.
Snowstorm: arqunaq.
Ice: aggutitaaq, ivuniit, killiniq, nilak, puttaaq, quasaq, sarliarusiq, siku, sikuqraaq, tuvaq.
Quaq:: frozen raw fish (or caribou)
Mamaqtuq: delicious
Mamaqtualuk:very or super delicious
qilautjaq:drum dance
Kajuqtaaq: brown
Qamutiik: dogsled
Qimmusiq: dogsledding
Ipirauti: whips
Nanuk: sometimes misspelled as "nanook" polar bear
Angusaluk: adult polar
piaraq: wolf cub
Inukshuk: in the image of man
agiggirjuat:turkey, as in soar with eagles or walk with turkeys
Tunnga-sugitsi:you are welcome here
Qulluaaqtuq: cloth
Tuktu: Caribou
Savirajak: Steel literally 'knife material.'
Pukitalik: RCMP literally 'the striped ones.'
sukatunik titiraut: Fax, literally 'fast letters.'
Qumutaujaq: Snow mobile, literally 'like sled.'
Tuktusiuriagaticitqingnapinngitkyptinnga: "You'll never go caribou hunting with me again!"
Umiaks: Multi-person kyaks
Umialiks: The owner of umiaks.
Giviak: A dish of auks stuffed in sealskin and matured.
Mutuk: Whale blubber
Games of Skill Ajagak: pierced bone plate with an ivory pin attached by a sinew string. The player has to catch the plate on the pin.
Nuglutang: several players hold pointed darts (ivory or bone) and try to catch a piece of pierced ivory suspended on a sinew string. This game helps to develop hunting skills

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