Skiing & Winter Sports

1. Sisorarnermut atortut sumi attartorsinnaavakka?

   Where can I rent ski equipment?

   Usage

   Finding where to rent ski equipment

   Grammar Note

   sisoraatit are "skis", sisorarpoq "skis" and sisorarneq "skiing". In North-West Greenland skis are also called ataarutit.

2. Ullormut sisorarnermut bilitsi pisisinnaavara?

   Can I get a ski pass for the day?

   Usage

   Getting a day ski pass

   Grammar Note

   bilitsi is "ticket"; "buys a ticket" can also be expressed with bilitsisivoq.

3. Sisorarnermik ilinniarnissara inniminniiniarpunga.

   I'd like to book a ski lesson

   Usage

   Booking a ski lesson

   Grammar Note

   ilinniarpoq is "learns". -nissaq denotes "the coming act of ...", here with the 1sg possessive -nissara.

4. Majuartaat sumiippa?

   Where is the chairlift?

   Usage

   Asking for the chairlift location

   Grammar Note

   majuartaat is built on majuarpoq (climbs) and is the word for a hoist or lift, including a ski lift.

5. Ullumi aput sermertoq imaluunniit aqitsoq?

   Is the slope icy / powdery today?

   Usage

   Checking snow conditions

   Grammar Note

   aput is "snow", the compound aput aqitsoq is "soft snow", and sermerpoq is "has a layer of ice on it" (sermeq is a glacier). There is no dedicated word for "powder snow", so aput aqitsoq is used.

6. Orluvunga — ajunngilatit?

   I fell — are you okay? / Are you hurt?

   Usage

   Checking on someone after a fall

   Grammar Note

   "snubler = orluvoq"; orluvoq is "falls down". -tit marks the 2nd person (-nga is the 1st), asking about the other person; as in ajunngillat?, the indicative form is used as a question with rising intonation.

7. Sisorartarfik qanoq artornartigaa?

   What is the difficulty rating of this slope?

   Usage

   Checking slope difficulty

   Grammar Note

   A ski slope is sisorartarfik (Danish skibakke). The similar-looking sisorarfik means Shrove Monday and must not be used here. The degree question is qanoq …-tigaa?, and artornarpoq is "is difficult".

8. Qanittumi kaffisorniartarfeqarpa?

   Is there a café nearby?

   Usage

   Looking for a café or warming area

   Grammar Note

   "cafe" is kaffisorniartarfik. The similar-looking kaffisorfik means "coffee pot", not a café, and must not be used here. -fik plus -qar- "have, there is" becomes -feqar-.

9. Sisorartarfiup nunap assinga peqarpa?

   Do you have a slope / trail map?

   Usage

   Asking for a ski trail map

   Grammar Note

   "landkort = nunap assinga"; the word is also used in Nunap assinganik peqarpisi?. sisorartarfik is "ski hill; ski area". pissarsiaraa means "has gained possession of it" and nalilersorpaa "assesses"; neither concerns maps.

10. Ajunaartoqarpoq! Ikiortissamik!

    There's been an accident! Help!

    Usage

    Calling for help right after an accident

    Grammar Note

    ajunaarneq is "accident" and ajunaartoqarpoq "an accident has happened". ikiortissamik! is the cry "help!"

11. Aqagu sila qanoq issava?

    What's the weather forecast for tomorrow?

    Usage

    Checking the weather forecast for the next day

    Grammar Note

    sila qanoq issava? means "how will the weather be?". sila covers both "weather" and "the world outside". "Tomorrow" is aqagu.

12. Meeqqanut sisorarnermik ilinniarfeqarpa?

    Is there a ski school for children?

    Usage

    Looking for a children's ski school

    Grammar Note

    sisorarneq is "skiing" and ilinniarfik is "school, place of learning". The subject studied takes the instrumental -mik and the intended learners the allative -nut. -fik plus -qar- becomes -feqar-.

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