Directions

1. Sumiiffik sumiippa?

   Su-miif-fik su-miip-pa?

   Where is [place]?

   Usage

   Basic phrase to ask for a location

   Grammar Note

   Replace Sumiiffik with the actual place or facility name. "X sumiippa?" is the basic pattern for asking where something is.

2. Siumuinnaq ingerlaniarit.

   Si-u-mu-in-naq i-nger-la-ni-a-rit.

   Please continue straight ahead

   Usage

   Indicate the direction to go straight ahead

3. Siumut

   Siu-mut

   Forward/ahead

   Usage

   Direction word for "forward/ahead"

   Grammar Note

   "siu" (front/ahead) + directional case "-mut" = "toward the front" — Kalaallisut is direction-rich

4. Kujammut

   Ku-jam-mut

   To the south / downcoast direction

   Usage

   Greenland-specific direction along the coast — toward the south

5. Nuup sammivia suua?

   Nuup sam-mi-vi-a suu-a?

   In which direction is Nuuk?

   Usage

   Ask for the direction to Nuuk, Greenland's capital

   Grammar Note

   sammivik is "direction, bearing". Nuuk takes the genitive -p (Nuup), and sammivik appears in its 3sg possessed form sammivia.

6. Siumuinnaq ingerlasariaqarpoq

   Si-u-mu-in-naq in-ger-la-sa-ri-a-qar-poq

   It is necessary to keep going straight ahead

   Usage

   Classic example of polysynthetic word meaning "continue along the way"

   Grammar Note

   Siumuinnaq ingerlavoq means walks straight ahead (Danish går ligeud). The necessity affix is -tariaqar- after a consonant and -sariaqar- after a vowel (compare uffartariaqarpunga and pisariaqarpoq).

7. Nuna tamarmik

   Nu-na ta-mar-mik

   The whole land (everywhere)

   Usage

   Describe the vastness of Greenland's landscape

   Grammar Note

   "nuna" means "land" — it appears in "Kalaallit Nunaat" (Greenland's name in Kalaallisut)

8. Ilulissat sumiippat?

   I-lu-lis-sat su-miip-pat?

   Where is Ilulissat?

   Usage

   Ask about Ilulissat, home to the famous Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site

   Grammar Note

   The pattern for asking where something is is X sumiippa? (akunnittarfik sumiippa? "where is the hotel?"). Ilulissat is the plural "icebergs", so the verb agrees in the plural with -ppat (qalipaatit sumiippat?). soorlu means "like" and is not an interrogative

9. Umiarsuarmik pisariaqarpoq

   U-miar-su-ar-mik pi-sa-ri-aq-ar-poq

   It is necessary to go by ship

   Usage

   Many Greenlandic towns are only accessible by boat or air

   Grammar Note

   "umiarsuaq" (big boat/ship) + "-mik" (instrumental) = "by ship"; the locative is -mi (umiarsuarmi "on the ship"), a different form — Greenland has almost no roads

10. talerperleq

    Right

    Usage

    For taxis and directions — one word stays readable while moving

11. saamerleq

    Left

    Usage

    For taxis and directions

12. avannaa

    North

    Usage

    For pointing at a compass direction on a map

13. kujataa

    South

    Usage

    For pointing at a compass direction on a map

14. kangia

    East

    Usage

    For pointing at a compass direction on a map

15. kitaa

    West

    Usage

    For pointing at a compass direction on a map

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