Compliments

1. Nerisassaq una mamarpoq!

   Ne-ri-sas-saq u-na ma-mar-poq!

   This food is very delicious!

   Usage

   Complimenting the food

2. Kalaallit Nunaat asseqanngilaq.

   Ka-laal-lit Nu-naat as-se-qan-ngi-laq.

   Greenland is an incomparably beautiful land.

   Usage

   Telling locals how beautiful Greenland is

   Grammar Note

   Danish enestående is "er helt ~ = asseqanngilaq" (assi "a likeness" plus -qanngit- "has none"), with the further example asseqanngitsumik iluasaarfigaa.

3. Kalaallisut pikkoripputit!

   Ka-laal-li-sut pik-ko-rip-pu-tit!

   Your Kalaallisut is very impressive.

   Usage

   Praising someone's Kalaallisut language ability

   Grammar Note

   Danish dygtig is pikkorissoq, "er dygtig til dansk = qallunaatut pikkorippoq" and "hvor er du dygtig! = pikkorik!", so a language name in the equative plus pikkorippoq is the ready-made pattern.

4. Qujanaq kaffillernermut.

   Qu-ja-naq kaf-fil-ler-ner-mut.

   Thank you for the coffee hospitality.

   Usage

   Thanking for "kaffemik", Greenland's important cultural coffee-gathering tradition

   Grammar Note

   kaffemik is kaffillerneq and kaffisuuterujoorneq, and kaffillerneq is "coffee klatsch". Marking what one thanks for with the allative follows "tak for husly! = qujanaq ilissinniinninnut!".

5. Tamarmik nuannerput!

   Ta-mar-mik nu-an-ner-put!

   Everything was wonderful.

   Usage

   A closing compliment praising an entire experience

   Grammar Note

   Danish dejlig is "det er ~ = nuannerpoq", and nuannerpoq is "is fine; is delightful; is fun".

6. Pikkorik!

   Pik-ko-rik!

   Well done!

   Usage

   Praising someone for a job well done

   Grammar Note

   "hvor er du dygtig! = pikkorik!" is a ready-made exclamation.

7. Qungujunnerit pinnerpoq!

   Qun-gu-jun-ne-rit pin-ner-poq!

   What a beautiful smile!

   Usage

   Complimenting someone on their beautiful smile

   Grammar Note

   qungujunneq (smile) + 2sg possessive -it = qungujunnerit. pinnerpoq is used of the beauty of people and flowers.

8. Inussiarnersuuvutit.

   I-nus-si-ar-ner-suu-vu-tit.

   You are very kind.

   Usage

   Complimenting someone on their kindness and consideration

   Grammar Note

   Danish venlig (kind) is ikinngutinnersoq and inussiarnersoq, and gæstfrihed (hospitality) builds inussiarnersaarneq on the same root.

9. Silatuvutit.

   Si-la-tu-vu-tit.

   You are very intelligent.

   Usage

   Praising someone's intelligence or ability

   Grammar Note

   silatuvoq "is smart, is intelligent" + the 2sg indicative ending -vutit ("you are"). The subject is built into the verb ending, so one word is a whole sentence.

10. Kalaallit Nunaat nuannersuuvoq!

    Ka-laal-lit Nu-naat nu-an-ner-suu-voq!

    Greenland is truly a wonderful place!

    Usage

    Expressing admiration and appreciation for Greenland

    Grammar Note

    nuannerpoq / nuannersoq correspond to dejlig, "is fine; is delightful". The augmentative -rsuaq- is added; alianaatsoq is available if scenic beauty is meant.

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