Useful Phrases

1. ᐊᓱᑯᓗᒃ.

   A-su-ku-luk.

   I see.

   Usage

   A very short acknowledgement of what someone said, heard constantly in conversation

   Grammar Note

   Asukuluk is a one-word response meaning "I see" or "oh yeah?"

2. ᐊᑏ.

   A-tii.

   Come on! / Let's go.

   Usage

   Used among friends to say "let's go" or to tell someone to go ahead

   Grammar Note

   A casual word. It is often heard in the reply ii, atii ("yes, let's do it")

3. ᐋᑦᓲ.

   Aat-suu.

   I don't know.

   Usage

   A short reply when you cannot answer a question

   Grammar Note

   It works as a single word. "Maybe" is immaqa

4. ᐃᒻᒪᖃ.

   Im-ma-qa.

   Maybe.

   Usage

   A reply when you cannot decide. It is also added to plans, as in immaqa pingatsirmi ("maybe on Wednesday")

   Grammar Note

   It is usually placed first in the sentence. "Probably not" is aaggaqai

5. ᑕᕝᕙ.

   Tav-va.

   Here it is.

   Usage

   Said when you find or point out something

   Grammar Note

   It shares a root with the place word tavvani ("right here")

6. ᑕᐃᒫ?

   Ta-i-maa?

   Is that all?

   Usage

   Asks whether there is anything more. The answer is taimakalauq ("that is all for now")

   Grammar Note

   A one-word question. Taima expresses "that is the end of it"

7. ᓯᐊᕈᐊᐃ.

   Si-a-ru-a-i.

   Just a moment.

   Usage

   A way of asking someone to wait a little

   Grammar Note

   Siaru means "in a little while". There is no separate word for "please"

8. ᖃᓄᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᕕᑦ?

   Qa-nuq i-su-ma-vit?

   What do you think?

   Usage

   Asks for an opinion, useful when deciding something together

   Grammar Note

   Qanuq ("how") comes first. "I think" is isumajunga

9. ᖃᓄᕉᖅ?

   Qa-nu-ruuq?

   What did you say?

   Usage

   Used when you did not catch what was said

   Grammar Note

   Qanuilivit? is another way to say "what did you say?"

10. ᐅᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᕈᒃ.

    U-qak-kan-ni-ruk.

    Please repeat that.

    Usage

    A command asking someone to repeat, for example when they speak fast

    Grammar Note

    It is a command but not rude. Add nakurmiik to thank them

11. ᐅᐱᓐᓇᕋᓂ.

    U-pin-na-ra-ni.

    No wonder. / Of course.

    Usage

    A reply meaning that something is not surprising

    Grammar Note

    It comes first and shows that you find what was said unsurprising. "Unbelievable" is upirnangittuq

Browse all TravelPhrases languages