Compliments

1. ᒪᒪᕆᔭᕋ.

   Ma-ma-ri-ja-ra.

   It's delicious.

   Usage

   A word of praise to whoever cooked. The literal meaning is "I like the taste of it"

   Grammar Note

   For several dishes say mamarijakka. To ask someone, use mamariviuk? ("do you like the taste of it?")

2. ᒪᒪᖅᑐᐊᓘᕗᖅ!

   Ma-maq-tu-a-luu-vuq!

   It's so tasty!

   Usage

   An exclamation for food you are enjoying. The ending -aluk adds "very"

   Grammar Note

   Mamaqtuq means "tasty". With the intensifier -aluk the ending becomes -aluuvuq

3. ᓇᑯᕐᒦᒃ ᓂᕆᑎᒃᑲᕕᖓ.

   Na-kur-miik ni-ri-tik-ka-vi-nga.

   Thank you for the meal.

   Usage

   Thanks after being invited to eat. The reply is ilaali ("you're welcome")

   Grammar Note

   Niritikkavinga refers to "having fed me". In North Baffin qujannamiik replaces nakurmiik

4. ᑲᒦᒃᑭᒃ ᐱᐅᔪᐊᓘᒃ.

   Ka-miik-kik pi-u-ju-a-luuk.

   Your kamiik (skin boots) are beautiful.

   Usage

   Praise for a handmade skin item. Kamiik are traditional boots made from sealskin

   Grammar Note

   Kamiik is a pair, so the describing word takes a dual ending in -uk. A single item would take another ending

5. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦ!

   A-li-a-na-it!

   Wonderful!

   Usage

   An exclamation of delight at a happy plan or event

   Grammar Note

   It shares a root with alianaigijara ("I enjoy it")

6. ᐅᐱᒍᓱᑦᑐᖓ.

   U-pi-gu-sut-tu-nga.

   I feel proud.

   Usage

   Says that you feel proud, for example on hearing about a family member's or friend's achievement

   Grammar Note

   Upigusuttuq means "he or she feels proud"; the ending -tunga makes it "I". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖅᑐᖅ!

   Qu-vi-a-naq-tuq!

   That's great!

   Usage

   A reply meaning "sounds good" or "that's great", also to a pleasant invitation

   Grammar Note

   Quvianaqtuq means "something that brings happiness". It shares a root with quviasuttunga ("I am happy")

8. ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᒃ.

   Pi-u-jum-ma-rik.

   Very good.

   Usage

   Also works as an answer when asked how a trip or experience was

   Grammar Note

   Piujummarik is the intensified form of piujuq ("good"). For a lighter remark say just piujuq

9. ᓯᓚᑐᔪᑎᑦ.

   Si-la-tu-ju-tit.

   You are wise.

   Usage

   Praises someone's wisdom and good judgment rather than quick wit

   Grammar Note

   A word ending in -juq becomes "you ..." with -tit (takijuq becomes takijutit). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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