Beach & Activities

1. Kangerluk una alianaatsuuvoq.

   Kan-ger-luk u-na a-li-a-naat-suu-voq.

   This fjord is wonderful (beautiful).

   Usage

   Expressing the breathtaking beauty of a Greenlandic fjord or coastal scenery

   Grammar Note

   "kangerluk" means "fjord/inlet" and appears in many Greenlandic place names

2. Imaq nillaarippoq.

   I-maq nil-laa-rip-poq.

   The sea is very cold.

   Usage

   Describing the cold Arctic sea; swimming in Greenlandic waters is extremely dangerous

   Grammar Note

   nillerpoq is "is cold" and nillaarippoq the stronger "is ice cold". Greenlandic sea temperatures stay at only a few degrees, even in summer

3. Umiarsuarmi angalaqatigiissaagut?

   U-mi-ar-su-ar-mi a-nga-la-qa-ti-giis-saa-gut?

   Shall we go together by boat?

   Usage

   Inviting someone to join a boat tour of the fjords and icebergs

   Grammar Note

   Inserting -qatigiik- "together" into a verb gives forms such as naapeqatigiipput "they meet" and isumaqatigiipput "they agree". The first-person plural invitation uses -ssaagut (naapissaagut? "shall we meet?")

4. Mianersorit! Iluliaq sissap eqqaani.

   Mi-a-ner-so-rit! I-lu-li-aq sis-sap eq-qaa-ni.

   Be careful! There is an iceberg near the shore.

   Usage

   Warning about icebergs near the shore, a real hazard in Greenland

   Grammar Note

   iluliaq is "iceberg" (a small one is iluliusaq) and mianersorpoq is "is careful". sermeq is "glacier" and sermersuaq "ice sheet", not an iceberg (Sermersooq is the name of a municipality)

5. Ullumi unnukkut arsarneqassava?

   Ul-lu-mi un-nuk-kut ar-sar-ne-qas-sa-va?

   Will we be able to see the Northern Lights tonight?

   Usage

   Asking whether the Northern Lights will be visible from the coast tonight

   Grammar Note

   The Northern Lights (aurora borealis) are among Greenland's top attractions, visible from autumn through winter

6. Qajartorusuppunga.

   Qa-jar-to-ru-sup-pu-nga.

   I would like to go kayaking.

   Usage

   Expressing desire to kayak, Greenland's iconic traditional watercraft

   Grammar Note

   "kajak" originated in Kalaallisut/Inuit languages and spread worldwide; it was born in Greenland

7. Imaq nillerujussuuvoq. Nalunneq ulorianarpoq.

   I-maq nil-le-ru-jus-suu-voq. Na-lun-neq u-lo-ri-a-nar-poq.

   The seawater is very cold. It is dangerous to swim.

   Usage

   Warning about the danger of swimming in the freezing Arctic waters

   Grammar Note

   naluppoq means "swims" (of a person). Do not confuse it with the similar-looking naluvoq "knows nothing". ulorianarpoq means "is dangerous"

8. Sissap eqqaani puisit takuneqarsinnaappat?

   Sis-sap eq-qaa-ni pu-i-sit ta-ku-ne-qar-sin-naap-pat?

   Can seals be seen near the shore?

   Usage

   Asking whether wild seals can be spotted near the shore

   Grammar Note

   sissaq is "beach, shore"; puisi (seal) has the plural puisit. takuneqarpoq is the passive of takuaa "sees it".

9. Sissami pisuttuarusuppunga.

   Sis-sa-mi pi-sut-tu-a-ru-sup-pu-nga.

   I would like to walk along the shore.

   Usage

   Expressing the desire to take a walk along the coast

   Grammar Note

   A walk is pisuloorpoq / pisuttuarpoq. The desiderative suffix is -rusup- (for example Qajartorusuppunga)

10. Ullumi imarippoq.

    Ul-lu-mi i-ma-rip-poq.

    The sea is calm today.

    Usage

    Describing calm sea conditions, important when planning boat tours or fishing

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