Martial Arts

1. Ullumi kisiisa peqataasinnaavunga?

   Ul-lu-mi ki-sii-sa pe-qa-taa-sin-naa-vu-nga?

   May I take part just for today?

   Usage

   The basic way to ask about dropping in. Greenland's combat sports clubs — boxing, karate, taekwondo, mostly in Nuuk — are run by volunteers who borrow school sports halls. Explain that you are visiting and they will nearly always let you train once

   Grammar Note

   Greenlandic is polysynthetic, building a whole sentence into one word: "peqataa-" (take part) plus "-sinnaa-" (be able) plus "-vunga" (I do) gives "I can take part", with the ending carrying the first person singular subject

2. Siullermik isiginnaarsinnaavunga?

   Siul-ler-mik i-si-gin-naar-sin-naa-vu-nga?

   May I watch first?

   Usage

   For when you want a feel for the place before committing. Greenlandic clubs are small and family-like and will hardly ever refuse an onlooker. Sessions tend to run from early evening into the night, and in winter you will be walking in the dark, so bring a light or something reflective

   Grammar Note

   "Siulleq" (the first one) takes the instrumental ending "-mik" and so functions as the adverb "first". Case endings doing adverbial work is characteristic of Greenlandic

3. Aaqqatinik attartugassaqarpa?

   Aaq-qa-ti-nik at-tar-tu-gas-sa-qar-pa?

   Are there gloves available to borrow?

   Usage

   Equipment in Greenland is shipped from Denmark, which makes it expensive and slow — weeks of waiting. Borrowing the club's shared gloves is the practical route and the first session is usually free. Bring your own wraps and mouthguard

   Grammar Note

   The affix "-gassaq" derives "something to be X-ed", so "attartugassaq" is "something available to borrow". The affix "-qar-" means "to have, there is" and anchors any existential question

4. Nutaajuvunga, misilittagaqanngilanga.

   Nu-taa-ju-vu-nga, mi-si-lit-ta-ga-qan-ngi-la-nga.

   I am new and have no experience.

   Usage

   Say it at the start and they will keep the session light. Greenlandic clubs revolve around members who began as children and post no skill levels, so unless you speak up you will be put in with experienced people

   Grammar Note

   Negation is built with the affix "-nngit-" inserted between stem and ending. Combined with "-qar-" (to have), "-qanngilanga" means "I do not have"

5. Sakkortuallaanngitsumik iliorniarit.

   Sak-kor-tu-al-laan-ngit-su-mik i-li-or-ni-a-rit.

   Please do not go too hard.

   Usage

   For asking to dial down the intensity in pad work or paired drills. Numbers are small in Greenlandic clubs, so a visitor may be paired with an experienced member straight away — do not hesitate to say this

   Grammar Note

   The affix "-niar-" softens a command, making it politer than the bare imperative ending. Stacking "-allaar-" (too much) with the negative "-nngit-" yields "not excessively"

6. Seeqqora anniarpoq, mianersortariaqarpunga.

   Seeq-qo-ra an-ni-ar-poq, mi-a-ner-sor-ta-ri-a-qar-pu-nga.

   My knee hurts, so I have to be careful.

   Usage

   Say this before training starts. Swap "seeqqoq" (knee) for "tui" (shoulder), "qatigak" (back) or "niaqoq" (head). With no roads between Greenlandic towns, specialist treatment means a flight to Nuuk or Denmark, so caution matters more here than most places

   Grammar Note

   Possession is marked by the noun ending: "seeqqoq" (knee) becomes "seeqqora" (my knee). Obligation comes from the affix "-tariaqar-", which packs "must" into the same word

7. Qaammammut qanoq akeqarpa?

   Qaam-mam-mut qa-noq a-ke-qar-pa?

   How much does it cost per month?

   Usage

   A monthly rate is cheaper if you are staying more than a week. Greenland uses the Danish krone, and because the clubs run on volunteers the fees are often startlingly low. Payment tends to be by card or bank transfer rather than cash

   Grammar Note

   "Qaammat" covers both the calendar month and the moon. Price is expressed as "aki" (price) plus "-qar-" (to have), giving "akeqarpoq"; with "qanoq" it asks how much

8. Ataasiarluni peqataaneq qanoq akeqarpa?

   A-taa-si-ar-lu-ni pe-qa-taa-neq qa-noq a-ke-qar-pa?

   How much does taking part once cost?

   Usage

   For asking a one-off rate. Volunteer clubs often have no single-session price at all and may tell you not to worry about it; putting something in the club's donation tin or bringing a treat for the group is the graceful answer

   Grammar Note

   The affix "-neq" nominalises a verb: "peqataavoq" (to take part) becomes "peqataaneq" (taking part). The verb "ataasiarpoq", built on "ataaseq" (one), means to do something a single time

9. Arnanut immikkut sungiusartoqartarpa?

   Ar-na-nut im-mik-kut su-ngi-u-sar-to-qar-tar-pa?

   Is there separate training for women?

   Usage

   Self-defence and fitness classes aimed at women have grown in Nuuk. Club sizes being what they are, though, mixed sessions are the norm and a women-only slot may not run permanently. Asking in advance avoids an awkward arrival

   Grammar Note

   The affix "-toqar-" states that someone does the action, and adding the habitual "-tar-" gives "there are people who regularly do it". The word for man is "angut", plural "angutit"

10. Sungiusarneq qassinut aallartippa?

    Su-ngi-u-sar-neq qas-si-nut aal-lar-tip-pa?

    What time does training start?

    Usage

    Clubs share the sports hall with other sports by the hour, so the start time often differs by weekday. Schedules live on the club's Facebook page rather than on paper, and messaging them there is the fastest way to make contact

    Grammar Note

    "Qassit" (how many) takes the allative ending "-nut" to mean "at what time". Attaching case endings to a quantity word is how Greenlandic builds expressions of clock time and duration

11. Sungiusarnermut suna nassartariaqarpara?

    Su-ngi-u-sar-ner-mut su-na nas-sar-ta-ri-a-qar-pa-ra?

    What do I need to bring to the training?

    Usage

    For checking what to bring. Sports halls are shoe-free, so bring indoor shoes or train barefoot. Clothes, towel and water are your own; and since the hall is heated while it is well below freezing outside, have a warm layer ready so you are not stepping out in a sweat

    Grammar Note

    The ending "-para" is the transitive form for a first person subject acting on a third person object. Greenlandic verb endings encode the person of subject and object at once

12. Qaqugu allat peqatigalugit sungiusarsinnaavunga?

    Qa-qu-gu al-lat pe-qa-ti-ga-lu-git su-ngi-u-sar-sin-naa-vu-nga?

    When can I train together with the others?

    Usage

    For asking when you can move into paired work or sparring. If you get hurt there is only the town hospital, and seeing a specialist may mean a flight. That is why coaches are cautious about it, and waiting is the wiser course

    Grammar Note

    Greenlandic splits "when" by tense: "qaqugu" for the future and "qanga" for the past. "Peqatigalugit" is a contemporative form describing an action running alongside the main verb

13. Uffartarfeqarpa?

    Uf-far-tar-fe-qar-pa?

    Is there a shower?

    Usage

    Clubs using a school hall usually have changing rooms and showers. Greenlandic tap water comes from glaciers and lakes, is of high quality and can be drunk straight from the tap. Bring your own towel

    Grammar Note

    The affix "-tarfik" productively derives "a place where one does X", and most Greenlandic building names follow the pattern: "timersortarfik" (sports hall), "atuarfik" (school)

14. Unammersuutit sumi ingerlanneqartarpat?

    U-nam-mer-suu-tit su-mi i-nger-lan-ne-qar-tar-pat?

    Where are the competitions held?

    Usage

    With no roads between towns and travel limited to planes and boats, national-level events in Greenland happen only a handful of times a year. Nuuk's indoor arena is the main venue, and in summer the kayak championships bring competition to the coastal towns

    Grammar Note

    The affix "-neqar-" forms the passive: "ingerlappaa" (to run something) becomes "ingerlanneqarpoq" (to be run). Adding the habitual "-tar-" gives "is usually held"

15. Assatit qummut! Kiinnat illersorniaruk!

    As-sa-tit qum-mut! Kiin-nat il-ler-sor-ni-a-ruk!

    Hands up! Protect your face!

    Usage

    Said by the coach — the most frequent cue during pad work and sparring. Greenlandic clubs often call instructions in Danish, and switching between the two languages mid-session is entirely ordinary here

    Grammar Note

    The ending "-ruk" is the transitive imperative, "you do it to it". It differs from the intransitive imperative "-git / -rit", and the choice depends on whether there is an object

16. Nukissatit atorlugit! Ersiginak!

    Nu-kis-sa-tit a-tor-lu-git! Er-si-gi-nak!

    Use your strength! Do not be afraid!

    Usage

    Said by the coach holding the pads when full power is wanted. A half-hearted strike is harder on your wrist than a committed one, so take it as the signal to let go

    Grammar Note

    A negative command uses the ending "-nak / -nagit", so "ersiginak" is "do not fear it". "Atorlugit" is a contemporative form meaning "using them", running parallel to the main action

17. Minutsit tallimat qasuersaarit, imerlutillu.

    Mi-nut-sit tal-li-mat qa-su-er-saa-rit, i-mer-lu-til-lu.

    Rest five minutes and have a drink.

    Usage

    Said by the coach. It may be far below zero outside, but the hall is heated and you will sweat, so water calls come reliably. The tap water is drinkable, so an empty bottle is all you need

    Grammar Note

    Numerals follow the noun and agree with it in number: "minutsit tallimat" (five minutes), where "tallimat" is the agreeing plural form of "talliman" (five)

18. Ullumikkut naammappoq. Ajunngilatit!

    Ul-lu-mik-kut naam-map-poq. A-jun-ngi-la-tit!

    That is enough for today. You did well!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line; "qujanaq" (thank you) is all you need in reply. A Greenlandic club is the town community in miniature, and once you have trained there you will likely be asked when you are coming back. Tipping is not a custom

    Grammar Note

    "Ajunngilaq" is "ajorpoq" (to be bad) with the negative "-nngit-", so "good" is literally "not bad". Greenlandic reaches for this kind of negated positive quite often

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