Nightlife

1. Maani imerniartarfeqarpa?

   Maa-ni i-mer-ni-ar-tar-fe-qar-pa?

   Is there a bar here?

   Usage

   Asking whether there is a bar in the area

   Grammar Note

   imerniartarfik is imerpoq (drink) + -niar- + -fik = "place for drinking", i.e. a bar. -fik plus -qar- becomes -feqar-.

2. Kasuutta! Imaq pillugu!

   Ka-suut-ta! I-maq pil-lu-gu!

   Cheers! To the sea!

   Usage

   A toast expressing the spirit of Greenland

3. Imerniartarfik qaqugu matussava?

   I-mer-ni-ar-tar-fik qa-qu-gu ma-tus-sa-va?

   What time does the bar close?

   Usage

   Asking what time the bar closes

   Grammar Note

   "When" is qaqugu for the future and qanga for the past. matuvoq is "closes (intransitive)"; matuaa is "closes it".

4. Ataaseq aamma tunniussissavisiuk?

   A-taa-seq aam-ma tun-ni-us-sis-sa-vi-si-uk?

   Can I have one more?

   Usage

   Asking for another drink

   Grammar Note

   "aamma" means "also/again" and is commonly used when asking for a refill

5. Kaffisorniarta!

   Kaf-fi-sor-ni-ar-ta!

   Would you like to join me for a coffee?

   Usage

   In Greenland, hot drinks are central to socializing; inviting someone for coffee

   Grammar Note

   kaffi (coffee) + -sor- ("consume") gives kaffisorpoq. The first person plural hortative -ta gives "let's ~" (the same shape as nallukattarta! "let's play cards")

6. Nipilersortoqarpa?

   Ni-pi-ler-sor-to-qar-pa?

   Is there live music?

   Usage

   Asking whether live music is available

   Grammar Note

   nipilersorpoq is "plays an instrument". -toqar- means "there is someone who ...", and with the interrogative -pa it asks whether anyone is playing, i.e. whether there is live music.

7. Silamut aniniarta!

   Si-la-mut a-ni-niar-ta!

   Shall we go outside?

   Usage

   Inviting someone to go outside, also useful for aurora watching

   Grammar Note

   Replacing the imperative -rit of silamut aniniarit! ("go outside") with the first person plural hortative -ta gives aniniarta! ("let's go outside"). It has the same shape as Kaffisorniarta!

8. Immiaq Kalaallit Nunaanneersoq piumavara.

   Im-mi-aq Ka-laal-lit Nu-naan-neer-soq pi-u-ma-va-ra.

   I would like a Greenlandic beer.

   Usage

   Ordering a local Greenlandic beer

   Grammar Note

   immiaq is "beer". Kalaallit Nunaanneersoq means "from Greenland" and piumavara "I want it". The phrase uses Greenlandic words rather than borrowing Danish.

9. Aallartariaqarpunga. Qujanaq nuannersornerannut.

   Aal-lar-ta-ri-a-qar-pun-ga. Qu-ja-naq nu-an-ner-sor-ne-ran-nut.

   I have to go now. Thank you for the fun time.

   Usage

   Saying farewell after an enjoyable evening out

   Grammar Note

   "-tariaqar-" means "must" and "-punga" is the 1sg ending. aallartariaqarpunga has the same form as Ullumikkut aallartariaqarpunga. ("I have to leave today").

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