Airport & Customs

9 phrases · Kalaallisut with romanization, English and audio

  1. Passimik takutitsiniarit.

    Pas-si-mik ta-ku-tit-si-ni-a-rit.

    Please show your passport

    Usage

    Standard phrase used by immigration officers

    Grammar Note

    A half-transitive verb takes its object in the instrumental -mik, hence passimik.

  2. Tikeraarnermut suna siunertaraajuk?

    Ti-ke-raar-ner-mut su-na si-u-ner-ta-raa-juk?

    What is the purpose of your visit?

    Usage

    Standard immigration question

  3. Nalunaarutissaqarpit?

    Na-lu-naa-ru-tis-sa-qar-pit?

    Do you have anything to declare?

    Usage

    Asked at customs

    Grammar Note

    Duty itself is akitsuut and the customs house akitsuuserivik.

  4. Nassatakka suli tikinngillat

    Nas-sa-tak-ka su-li ti-kin-ngil-lat

    My luggage hasn't arrived

    Usage

    Tell baggage claim staff

    Grammar Note

    Luggage is treated as plural, hence the ending -llat. Negation is expressed word-internally with -nngit- / -nngil-.

  5. Nassatakka makku tigumiartarissat.

    Nas-sa-tak-ka mak-ku ti-gu-mi-ar-ta-ris-sat.

    This is carry-on luggage

    Usage

    Tell airline staff at check-in or boarding gate

    Grammar Note

    Baggage is treated as plural, so the demonstrative is also plural: makku (uku[a] / makku[a])

  6. Aqqusaarnermiippunga.

    Aq-qu-saar-ner-miip-pun-ga.

    I'm in transit

    Usage

    Used at transit counters or immigration

    Grammar Note

    The locative -mi plus -ippoq "is at/in" gives "is in transit", the same shape as umiarsuarmiippoq "is aboard a ship". Transit is aqqusaarneq

  7. Aniartortarfik sumiippa?

    A-ni-ar-tor-tar-fik su-mi-ip-pa?

    Where is the gate?

    Usage

    Ask when looking for your boarding gate

    Grammar Note

    The set phrase for asking a location is X sumiippa?.

  8. Timmisartumut qaqugu ikissaagut?

    Tim-mi-sar-tu-mut qa-qu-gu i-kis-saa-gut?

    When does boarding begin?

    Usage

    Ask while waiting at the boarding gate

    Grammar Note

    Boarding is ikivoq "gets into a vehicle", and the goal takes the allative (umiarsuarmut ikivoq). "When" is qaqugu

  9. Pisiniarfik akitsuusigaanngitsoq sumiippa?

    Pi-si-ni-ar-fik a-kit-suu-si-gaan-ngit-soq su-mi-ip-pa?

    Where is the duty-free shop?

    Usage

    Ask after clearing security

    Grammar Note

    A duty-free shop is pisiniarfik (niuertarfik), and "duty-free" is akitsuusigaanngitsoq (plural akitsuusigaanngitsut). The modifier follows the noun and agrees in number and case

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