Cooking & Markets

1. Nunatsinni tuniniaaffik sumiippa?

   Where is the local market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for a local fresh produce market

   Grammar Note

   tuniniaaffik is tunivaa (sells) + -niar- + -fik = "place of selling", a market; niuerfik is a synonym.

2. Nerisassaq una qanoq ateqarpa?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used at markets or cooking classes to ask the name of an ingredient

   Grammar Note

   The set phrase for asking a name is qanoq ateqarpa?. ateqarpoq means "is called", with -pit for the 2nd person and -pa for the 3rd

3. Neqi / aalisagaq ullumi nutaava?

   Is this meat / fish fresh today?

   Usage

   Used at markets to check the freshness of meat or fish

   Grammar Note

   Fish is aalisagaq and whales in general are arfeq. aarluk is a different word meaning "killer whale". nutaaq means "something new"

4. Nerisassat økologiimut tunngasut peqarpat?

   Do you have organic produce?

   Usage

   Used when looking for organic produce at markets or shops

5. Nerisassiaq manna qanoq suliarineqarpa?

   How do you prepare this traditional dish?

   Usage

   Used when learning how to make a traditional dish

   Grammar Note

   nerisassiaq is "a prepared dish"; qanoq is "how". The passive -neqar- lets you ask how something is made without naming who makes it.

6. Ooqattaalaarlara!

   May I have a little taste?

   Usage

   Used at markets or food stalls to request a sample before purchasing

   Grammar Note

   ooqattaarpaa means "tries it, tastes it" and -laar- means "a little"; it is the set phrase for asking for a taste

7. Nerisassiornermut ilitsersuummi akuutissat suut atorneqarpat?

   What spices are used in this recipe?

   Usage

   Used when asking about the spices in a recipe

   Grammar Note

   A spice is akuutissaq (nerisassanut akuutissaq "for cooking"). Word order is noun + interrogative + verb, with suut? for "which?" (atuakkat sorliit atuareerpigit? "which books have you read?"). The passive -neqar- appears as in atorneqarsimapput "were used"

8. Nerisassaliorfiginninnermik ilinniarfigissavara.

   I'd like to take a cooking class.

   Usage

   Used when inquiring about or signing up for a cooking class

   Grammar Note

   "ilinniarfigissavara" encodes "I want to learn it" — demonstrating Kalaallisut's morphological richness

9. Nerisassiornermut ilitsersuut sumi nassaarsinnaavara?

   Where can I find a recipe?

   Usage

   Used when searching for authentic local recipes

   Grammar Note

   A recipe is nerisassiornermut ilitsersuut ("a guide for cooking"). nassaarpaa means "finds it"

10. Mamarpoq! Akuutissaq isertuussaq suna?

    This is delicious — what is the secret ingredient?

    Usage

    Used to compliment a dish while asking for the secret ingredient

    Grammar Note

    "Noun + isertuussaq" makes "secret ~" (pilersaarut isertuussaq "a secret plan"). "Noun + suna?" asks "which ~?" (ulloq suna? "which day?"). The words for "which" are kina / suna / sorleq

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