Health & Hospital

38 phrases · Kalaallisut with romanization, English and audio

  1. Napparsimavunga.

    Nap-par-si-ma-vun-ga.

    I am sick

    Usage

    Express illness

    Grammar Note

    napparsimavoq is "is ill" and napparpoq "falls ill". To ask someone, say napparsimavit?

  2. Niaqora anniarpoq.

    Ni-a-qo-ra an-ni-ar-poq.

    I have a headache

    Usage

    Report a headache

  3. Nakorsaqarpa?

    Na-kor-sa-qar-pa?

    Is there a doctor?

    Usage

    Ask if there is a doctor available

    Grammar Note

    nakorsaq is "doctor"; -qar- ("there is, has") plus the 3sg interrogative -pa gives "is there a doctor?" (nakorsaq + qar + pa).

  4. Napparsimmavik sumiippa?

    Nap-par-sim-ma-vik su-miip-pa?

    Where is the hospital?

    Usage

    Ask for the hospital's location

    Grammar Note

    Napparsimmavik means hospital (napparsimavoq, is ill, + place affix -vik). Compare Napparsimmavimmut aqqutaa sumiippa? and the location question akunnittarfik sumiippa?. Soorlu means like or as, not a question word.

  5. Qerusinnaavutit

    Qe-ru-sin-naa-vu-tit

    There is a risk of frostbite

    Usage

    Warn about frostbite risk — critical in Greenland's arctic climate

    Grammar Note

    The root for frostbite is qeru- (qeruppoq "gets frostbitten", qerussornilik "frostbitten"). kissar- means "hot", so it cannot be used for frostbite. Frostbite is a major health risk in Greenland and proper cold-weather clothing is needed

  6. Inuup kissarnera appariartorpoq.

    I-nu-up kis-sar-ne-ra ap-pa-ri-ar-tor-poq.

    Temperature is dropping (hypothermia risk)

    Usage

    Report signs of hypothermia — critical in arctic environments

    Grammar Note

    Body temperature is inuup kissarnera. kissarneq is the noun form of kissarpoq "is hot", and -a is the 3rd-person singular possessive. Outdoor temperature uses separate words: kiassuseq (heat) and nillissuseq (cold)

  7. Nakorsaataarniarfik sumiippa?

    Na-kor-saa-taar-ni-ar-fik su-miip-pa?

    Where is the pharmacy?

    Usage

    Find a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    nakorsaat (medicine) + -taar- (obtain) + -niar- (seek to) + -fik (place) = "place to get medicine". "X sumiippa?" is the standard "Where is X?" pattern.

  8. Qiulerpunga, aalasinnaanngilanga

    Qi-u-ler-pun-ga, aa-la-sin-naan-ngi-la-nga

    I am chilled through and cannot move

    Usage

    Emergency phrase for reporting freezing-related immobility

    Grammar Note

    The cold root is qiu- / qiia-: qiiavoq "freezes, is cold", qiulerpoq "is chilled to the bone", qiuvoq "froze to death". kissar- means "is hot" and cannot describe hypothermia. Negation is expressed word-internally with -nngit- / -nngila-.

  9. Nakorsaatitorpunga

    Na-kor-saa-ti-tor-pun-ga

    I am taking medicine

    Usage

    Inform medical staff about ongoing medication

  10. Annaanneqarnissaq pisariaqarpoq.

    An-naan-ne-qar-nis-saq pi-sa-ri-a-qar-poq.

    It is necessary to call for rescue

    Usage

    Call for rescue — critical in Greenland's extreme wilderness conditions

  11. naartuvoq

    She is pregnant

    Usage

    Always tell medical staff — it decides what medicine or X-rays are safe

  12. issanngusarneq

    Asthma

    Usage

    To declare it as a chronic condition

  13. sukkorneq

    Diabetes

    Usage

    To declare it as a chronic condition

  14. quersorneq

    Cough

    Usage

    To say you have a cough

  15. uissanngusoq

    Dizzy

    Usage

    To report dizziness or light-headedness

  16. aanaarneq

    Bleeding

    Usage

    To report bleeding from a wound

  17. aaqarneq

    Menstruation / period

    Usage

    The everyday, non-euphemistic word; it is also the medical term

  18. ungilanneq

    Itching

    Usage

    Use it while pointing at the itchy spot

  19. aniornerit

    Rash

    Usage

    To report red spots on the skin

  20. manngertitsivoq

    Constipation

    Usage

    For the pharmacy or a consultation

  21. iki

    Wound

    Usage

    Point at the injury

  22. sillimmasiineq

    Insurance

    Usage

    To indicate insurance when checking in

  23. blodtype

    Blood type

    Usage

    The Danish loan is used as is; "my blood type is B" is B-mik blodtypeqarpunga

  24. nakorsap allagarsiussaa

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    The paper a nakorsaq (doctor) issues; show it when an insurer or border asks

  25. napparsimmavimmut pineq

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Being taken into the napparsimmavik (hospital); unitsitaaneq is a synonym

  26. uulikullanneq

    Chills

    Usage

    The shivering kind of cold; "I have chills" is qiiarluppunga. It also covers shuddering from causes other than cold, including English thrill, Danish gys / spænding.

  27. nuak

    Common cold

    Usage

    A head cold; "I have a cold" is nuappunga. The same spelling also means saliva

  28. Nakorsamut sianerniarit!

    Please call a doctor

  29. Maani anniarpoq.

    It hurts here

  30. Qasuvunga.

    My body feels sluggish

  31. Meriaqarpunga.

    I have vomited

  32. Qasuersernissaq pisariaqarpa?

    Do I need to rest?

  33. timminneq

    Diarrhea

  34. anaq

    Poop

    Usage

    The basic word for stool. It can also mean "shit", so never say it to a person. In a medical setting the verb anarpoq (passes stool) can also be used

  35. qooq

    Pee

    Usage

    The basic word for urine (genitive quup). It also corresponds to the child's word for "pee". In a medical setting the verb quivoq (urinates) can also be used

  36. Timmippunga.

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

  37. Querusuppunga.

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Used to tell a companion or a child that you need to pee; neither stiff nor rude

  38. Anarusuppunga.

    I need to poop

    Usage

    Used to tell a companion or a child that you need to poop; neither stiff nor rude

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