Beauty & Grooming

1. Kissarneqarusuppunga.

   I'd like a haircut

   Usage

   Requesting a haircut at a salon

   Grammar Note

   Haircutting is kissarpaa, whose object is the person rather than the hair; the passive -neqar- makes it mean having ones hair cut.

2. Annikitsumik qiorniarpakka — annertuumik qiornagit.

   Just a trim, please — don't cut too much

   Usage

   Requesting only a slight trim

   Grammar Note

   qiorpaa is "clips it, cuts into it" (Danish klippe); -niar- softens the command. A prohibition uses -na- on the stem, with -nagit for a 3pl object.

3. Nutsakka aappaluttumik misuttarusuppakka.

   I'd like to dye my hair red

   Usage

   Requesting a hair color treatment

   Grammar Note

   "to dye hair" is nutsat (hair) + misuttarpai. The colour goes in the instrumental -mik (aappaluttoq "red" → aappaluttumik). Swap in qernertoq (black), tungujortoq (blue) etc. for other colours.

4. Assit takusinnaavakka?

   Can I look at a hairstyle book?

   Usage

   Asking to look at a hairstyle book

   Grammar Note

   There is no word for a "hairstyle book", so the request is to see the photographs: assit, the plural of assi. takuaa "sees it" + the ability affix -sinnaa- + the 1sg→3pl ending -vakka. -sinnaa- also serves to ask permission.

5. Nutsakka qulinneqarnissaat panerserneqarnissaallu kissaatigaakka.

   I'd like a shampoo and blow-dry

   Usage

   Requesting shampoo and blow-dry

   Grammar Note

   qulippoq is the specific verb for washing hair; panerserpaa is "dries it"; kissaatigaa is "wishes for it".

6. Tamanna qanoq akeqassava?

   How much will this cost?

   Usage

   Asking about the cost

   Grammar Note

   The fixed way to ask a price is qanoq akeqarpa?, from akeqarpoq "costs something" (example: 25 kr.-nik akeqarpoq). Because the cost is still to come, the future -ssa- is inserted, giving akeqassava.

7. Qanoq sivisutigissava?

   How long will it take?

   Usage

   Asking how long a treatment will take

   Grammar Note

   Duration is asked with qanoq sivisutigissava?: sivisuvoq "takes a long time" + -tigi- "to that degree" + the future -ssa-. Same shape as Errorsineq qanoq sivisutigissava?

8. Kiinaq suliarineqarnissaa kissaatigaara.

   I'd like a facial / skin treatment

   Usage

   Booking a facial or skin treatment

   Grammar Note

   Danish ansigt (face) is kiinaq, and behandle is "behandler det / arbejder med det = suliaraa". The frame is "X-neqarnissaq kissaatigaa".

9. Nutsakka manissunngortinneqarsinnaavat imaluunniit imusartinneqarsinnaavat?

   Can you straighten / perm my hair?

   Usage

   Requesting straightening or perming

   Grammar Note

   manissoq is "smooth, even" (Danish glat). The chain is -nngor- "become" + -tit- "cause" + passive -neqar- + ability -sinnaa- + 3pl interrogative -vat. A perm is imusartinneq, whose verb is imusartippaa.

10. Inerneranik tulluusimaaruteqarpunga — qujanaq.

    I'm very happy with the result — thank you

    Usage

    Expressing satisfaction with the result

    Grammar Note

    inerneranik tulluusimaaruteqarpoq corresponds to "er tilfreds med resultatet". tulluusimaarpoq is "is proud and pleased"; the speaker is the subject, hence the 1sg ending -punga.

11. Qallukka qiorsinnaavigit?

    Can you trim my eyebrows?

    Usage

    Requesting eyebrow shaping

    Grammar Note

    "Eyebrow" is not a loanword: qallu is the native word. qiorpaa "cuts into it, clips it" corresponds to Danish klippe. The possessed plural -kka is the same as in Nutsakka, and the request ending -ssinnaavigit matches nassuiaassinnaavigit.

12. Inniminniineq pisariaqarpa?

    Do I need to make an appointment?

    Usage

    Checking if an appointment is necessary

    Grammar Note

    inniminniineq is "making a reservation". For a doctor’s appointment there is also the expression nakorsaliarfissaq.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages