Basic Nouns

1. imeq

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Kalaallisut has neither articles nor gender; possession and case are shown by suffixes

2. nerisassaq

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   From "neri-" (to eat) plus "-ssaq" (thing for) — literally "something to eat"

3. aningaasat

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Always plural; the singular "aningaasaq" is a single coin

4. anartarfik

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   From "anar-" plus "-tarfik" (place for doing) — literally "the place for it"

5. kakkissarfik

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

6. nakorsaat

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Derived from "nakorsaq" (doctor)

7. nassataq

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   From "nassar-" (to bring along) — "something carried"

8. matuersaat

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   From matuer- ("unlock, open what was shut", related to matuvoq "closes") plus -saat ("tool for"), giving "key". Compare matuersaat "key" and matuersaaserfik "keyhole".

9. bilitsi

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   A loan from Danish "billet"

10. passi

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

11. oqarasuaat

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    From "oqar-" (to speak) — literally "the device for speaking far"

12. opladeri

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    The verb for charging is immerpaa and a battery is batteri. There is no established Greenlandic word for a charger, so opladeri is borrowed from Danish

13. unittarfik

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    From "unit-" (to stop) — a stopping place. Greenland has no railways, so this means a bus or boat stop

14. napparsimmavik

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    From "napparsima-" (to be ill) plus "-vik" (place)

15. politiit

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    A loan from Danish "politi", used in the plural for the force

16. pisiniarfik

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    From "pisiniar-" (to buy) plus "-fik" (place)

17. ini

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Used for hotel rooms and rooms in general

18. aqqusineq

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Derived from "aqqut" (a way through)

19. ilaqutariit

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    From "ila" (part, companion); refers to the family as a whole

20. ateq

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    The possessed form is "atera" (my name); "Qanoq ateqarpit?" asks someone's name

21. niaqoq

    Head

    Usage

    Body-part word for pointing at where it hurts

22. isi

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at this to report an eye problem

23. kigut

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at this to report a toothache

24. iggiaq

    Throat

    Usage

    Point at this to report a sore throat

25. naaq

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    For stomach pain

26. tunu

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain

27. sakissat

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or trouble breathing

28. assak

    Hand

    Usage

    For an injured hand

29. taleq

    Arm

    Usage

    For an injured arm

30. isigak

    Foot

    Usage

    The foot proper; the whole leg is "niu", a different word

31. niu

    Leg

    Usage

    The leg as a whole

32. siut

    Ear

    Usage

    For an ear problem

33. qungaseq

    Neck

    Usage

    For neck pain

34. tui

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain; the same form also means "pigeon", so point at your body

35. seeqqoq

    Knee

    Usage

    For knee pain

36. inuak

    Finger

    Usage

    For an injured finger

37. ameq

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash or skin irritation

38. qingaq

    Nose

    Usage

    For a nose problem

39. aak

    Blood

    Usage

    To show that you are bleeding

40. qatserisartut biilii

    Fire engine

    Usage

    qatserisartut (fire brigade) + biilii (their car); the fire station is qatserisarfik

41. konsuuleqarfik

    Consulate

    Usage

    Where to go after a lost passport or a crime

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