Post Office

1. Allakkerivik qaninnerpaaq sumiippa?

   Al-lak-ke-ri-vik qa-nin-ner-paaq su-miip-pa?

   Where is the nearest post office?

   Usage

   Asking for the nearest post office location in Greenland

   Grammar Note

   allakkerivik (posthus / postkontor) = post office, from allakkat (letters). "Nearest" is qaninnerpaaq, in the same word order as Errorsisarfik qaninnerpaaq sumiippa?.

2. Allakkat uku Japanimut nassiussavakka.

   Al-lak-kat u-ku Ja-pa-ni-mut nas-si-us-sa-vak-ka.

   I want to send this letter to Japan

   Usage

   The basic phrase for sending international mail at the post office

   Grammar Note

   A letter is allakkat, which takes the plural even for a single letter. nassiuppaa "sends it" + the future -ssa- + the 1st-singular-to-3rd-plural -vakka

3. Qanoq frimærkilissava?

   Qa-noq fri-mær-ki-lis-sa-va?

   How much does shipping cost?

   Usage

   Asking about the cost of postage or shipping

   Grammar Note

   qanoq frimærkilissava? (hvad er portoen?) = what is the postage? It is frimærki "stamp" + -ler- "put on" + the future -ssa-. The postage itself is frimærkiliussaq.

4. Allakkat timmisartukkoortitatut nassiussinnaavakka?

   Al-lak-kat tim-mi-sar-tuk-koor-ti-ta-tut nas-si-us-sin-naa-vak-ka?

   Can I send this by airmail?

   Usage

   Checking if airmail service is available

   Grammar Note

   Airmail is allakkat timmisartukkoortitat (timmisartukkoortitat alone also means "airmail"). The pattern "allakkat + equative -tut + nassiussinnaavakka?" is the same as for express mail

5. Poortugaq qaqugu tikissava?

   Poor-tu-gaq qa-qu-gu ti-kis-sa-va?

   How long will it take for this package to arrive?

   Usage

   Asking how many days it will take for a package to be delivered

   Grammar Note

   poortugaq is "parcel" (from poorpaa "wraps it"). tikippoq is "arrives", here with the future -ssa-. Future "when" is qaqugu; the past counterpart is qanga.

6. Maani frimærkinik pisisinnaavunga?

   Maa-ni fri-mær-ki-nik pi-si-sin-naa-vun-ga?

   Can I buy stamps here?

   Usage

   Asking if stamps are available for purchase

   Grammar Note

   frimærki = stamp. Example: frimærkinik katersuivoq (collects stamps). pisivoq "buys something" puts the goods in the instrumental -nik. Greenlandic stamps are known for their local designs — seals, polar bears and the northern lights.

7. Una poortorsinnaaviuk?

   U-na poor-tor-sin-naa-vi-uk?

   Can you wrap this package for me?

   Usage

   Requesting packing or wrapping service for a parcel

   Grammar Note

   poortorumaviuk? (vil du klare indpakningen?) = will you do the wrapping? Here the ability affix -sinnaa- is used instead, with the interrogative -viuk for a 2sg subject and a 3sg object.

8. Allakkat tuaviuussassatut nassiussinnaavakka?

   Al-lak-kat tu-a-vi-uus-sas-sa-tut nas-si-us-sin-naa-vak-ka?

   Can I send it by express mail?

   Usage

   Asking if express or priority mail service is available

   Grammar Note

   Express mail is allakkat tuaviuussassat (airmail is allakkat timmisartukkoortitat and surface mail by ship is allakkat umiarsuakkoortitat). "As ~" is the equative -tut. nassiuppaa means "sends it"

9. Allakkerivik qaqugu matussava?

   Al-lak-ke-ri-vik qa-qu-gu ma-tus-sa-va?

   Until what time is the post office open?

   Usage

   Asking about the operating hours of the post office

   Grammar Note

   allakkerivik means "post office". The pattern for asking the closing time is the same as Imerniartarfik qaqugu matussava?, and for opening it is Qaqugu ammartarpa?. Business hours themselves are ammasarfik

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