School & Education

1. Atuarfik sumiippa?

   A-tu-ar-fik su-mi-ip-pa?

   Where is the school?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a school

   Grammar Note

   "Atuarfik" means "place of reading/learning" — -fik denotes a place. The pattern "X sumiippa?" = "Where is X?" (Example: akunnittarfik sumiippa = "where is the hotel")

2. Ilisimatusarfik sumiippa?

   I-li-si-ma-tu-sar-fik su-mi-ip-pa?

   Where is the university?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a university or higher education institution

3. Ilinniartinneqarsinnaavunga?

   I-lin-ni-ar-tin-ne-qar-sin-naa-vu-nga?

   Can I take classes?

   Usage

   Checking if it's possible to attend classes or a course

   Grammar Note

   ilinniartitsineq / atuartitsineq (undervisning) = teaching. Ilinniartinneqarpoq (tager undervisning) means receives instruction; the teaching side is ilinniartitsivoq. Education in Greenland takes place in both Danish and Kalaallisut, and Greenlandic-medium teaching is actively promoted.

4. Atuarfik pillugu paasissutissarsiorpunga.

   A-tu-ar-fik pil-lu-gu paa-sis-su-tis-sar-si-or-pun-ga.

   I am looking for information about the school.

   Usage

   Asking for information about a school's programs or structure

   Grammar Note

   atuarfik is atuarpoq (read, study) + -fik (place) = "school". ilinniarfik is the broader word for an educational institution.

5. Kalaallit oqaasii ilinniarsinnaavunga?

   Ka-laal-lit o-qaa-sii i-lin-ni-ar-sin-naa-vu-nga?

   Can I learn Greenlandic?

   Usage

   Asking about opportunities to learn the Greenlandic language

   Grammar Note

   "The Greenlandic language" is kalaallit oqaasii (literally "the Greenlanders' words"; oqaasii is the 3rd-person plural possessive of oqaaseq "word"). "Can I learn ~?" is ilinniarsinnaavunga? (-sinnaa- + first person singular -vunga)

6. Ilinniarissasoqarsinnaava?

   I-lin-ni-a-ris-sa-soq-ar-sin-naa-va?

   Is there a place to study?

   Usage

   Looking for a place to study, like a library or study room

   Grammar Note

   Public libraries are a main study space in Greenland. A library is atuagaateqarfik, and katersugaasivik means "museum"

7. Ilinniagassat pillugit oqaluttuarsinnaavit?

   I-lin-ni-a-gas-sat pil-lu-git o-qa-lut-tu-ar-sin-naa-vit?

   Can you inform me about the study program?

   Usage

   Requesting information about an educational program or course

   Grammar Note

   ilinniagaq (something learned) + -ssaq gives ilinniagassaq "course of study". oqaluttuarpoq is "to tell, recount".

8. Atuarfiup skiimaa qanoq ippa?

   A-tu-ar-fiup skii-maa qa-noq ip-pa?

   What is the school timetable?

   Usage

   Asking about school schedule or class times

   Grammar Note

   A timetable is skiima (skema). It is expressed with the genitive plus possessive (the same shape as Helikopterit mittarfiat). In Greenlandic schools, the midnight sun in summer and the polar night in winter affect study schedules

9. Ilinniassanngikkaluarlunga ajunngila?

   I-lin-ni-as-sann-gik-ka-lu-ar-lun-ga a-junn-gi-la?

   Is it okay if I don't study?

   Usage

   Casually checking if study is compulsory

   Grammar Note

   -ssa- (future) + -nngi- (negative) + -galuar- (although) + 1sg contemporative -lunga. ajunngilaq means "is fine / in order"; its interrogative is ajunngila?

10. Ilinniarnermi ikiorneqarsinnaavunga?

    I-lin-ni-ar-ner-mi i-ki-or-ne-qar-sin-naa-vun-ga?

    Can I request study support?

    Usage

    Requesting academic support or assistance

    Grammar Note

    ikiorpaa (helps him) becomes the passive ikiorneqarpoq, here with the potential -sinnaa- and 1sg -vunga. ilinniarneq is the verbal noun "studying".

Browse all TravelPhrases languages