Basic Nouns

34 phrases · Inuktitut with romanization, English and audio

  1. ᐃᒥᖅ

    I-miq

    Water

    Usage

    The basic word for drinking water; it works well with pointing

    Grammar Note

    Imaq is a different word for an expanse of water such as the sea. Imirumajunga ("I'd like water") is built from imiq

  2. ᓂᕿ

    Ni-qi

    Food

    Usage

    The general word when you are looking for something to eat

    Grammar Note

    It often refers especially to meat. Niqiliurniaqtunga means "I will make food"

  3. ᐊᓇᕐᕕᒃ

    A-nar-vik

    Toilet

    Usage

    The word alone is enough to ask for directions

    Grammar Note

    The everyday word for the washroom. -vik is the suffix meaning "place for"

  4. ᑮ

    Kii

    Key

    Usage

    For collecting or returning a key at reception

    Grammar Note

    A short word whose long vowel ii is written with the single character ᑮ

  5. ᐅᖄᓚᐅᑦ

    U-qaa-la-ut

    Telephone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    A mobile phone is uqaalautiralaaq. Uqaalajuq means "he/she calls someone"

  6. ᐋᓐᓂᐊᕕᒃ

    Aan-ni-a-vik

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Aannia- ("be sick or in pain") plus -vik ("place"). Aanniajuq means "he/she is sick or in pain"

  7. ᐸᓖᓯᒃᑯᑦ

    Pa-lii-sik-kut

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents

    Grammar Note

    Paliisi is a police officer and paliisikkut is the police department

  8. ᓂᐅᕕᕐᕕᒃ

    Ni-u-vir-vik

    Store / shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Niuvir- ("trade, buy") plus -vik ("place"). "The store is closed" is niuvirvik matusimajuq

  9. ᐊᖅᑯᑦ

    Aq-kut

    Road / street

    Usage

    Used when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Aqqutaani means "on the way"

  10. ᐃᓚᒌᑦ

    I-la-giit

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    It shares a root with ila "relative". Ilakka means "my family"

  11. ᓂᐊᖁᖅ

    Ni-a-quq

    Head

    Usage

    Point at the spot while you say it

    Grammar Note

    Niaqunngujunga means "I have a headache"

  12. ᐃᔨ

    I-ji

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at it to report an eye problem

    Grammar Note

    Ijiik refers to both eyes

  13. ᑭᒍᑎ

    Ki-gu-ti

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at it to report a toothache

    Grammar Note

    A dentist's office is kigunniarvik

  14. ᐃᒡᒋᐊᖅ

    Ig-gi-aq

    Throat

    Usage

    Point at it to report a sore throat

    Grammar Note

    It refers to the inside of the throat. The neck as a whole is a different word, qungasiq

  15. ᓈᖅ

    Naaq

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    For stomach pain

    Grammar Note

    Naanngujunga means "I have a stomach ache"

  16. ᑐᓄ

    Tu-nu

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain

    Grammar Note

    Tunuani means "behind"

  17. ᓴᕝᕕᒃ

    Sav-vik

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or trouble breathing

    Grammar Note

    It names the front of the upper body

  18. ᐊᒡᒐᑦ

    Ag-gat

    Hand

    Usage

    For an injured hand

    Grammar Note

    Aggaak is a pair of gloves

  19. ᑕᓕᖅ

    Ta-liq

    Arm

    Usage

    For an injured arm

    Grammar Note

    Taliqpik, "right", is a different word

  20. ᐃᓯᒐᑦ

    I-si-gat

    Foot

    Usage

    For an injured foot

    Grammar Note

    Isigaujaak means "shoes"

  21. ᓂᐅ

    Ni-u

    Leg

    Usage

    The leg as a whole

    Grammar Note

    The foot itself is a different word, isigat

  22. ᓯᐅᑦ

    Si-ut

    Ear

    Usage

    For an ear problem

    Grammar Note

    Siutiik refers to both ears

  23. ᖁᖓᓯᖅ

    Qu-nga-siq

    Neck

    Usage

    For neck pain

    Grammar Note

    Qungasiruq means "scarf"

  24. ᑐᐃ

    Tu-i

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain

    Grammar Note

    Tuik refers to both shoulders

  25. ᓰᖅᑯᖅ

    Siiq-kuq

    Knee

    Usage

    For knee pain

    Grammar Note

    Note the long vowel ii and the doubled q (qq)

  26. ᕿᖓᖅ

    Qi-ngaq

    Nose

    Usage

    For a nose problem

    Grammar Note

    The character ᖓ in qingaq is a single ng syllable

  27. ᐊᐅᒃ

    A-uk

    Blood

    Usage

    To show that you are bleeding

    Grammar Note

    Aunaaqtunga means "I am bleeding". Do not confuse it with aput "snow"

  28. ᑐᔪᕐᒥᕕᒃ

    Tu-jur-mi-vik

    Hotel

    Usage

    For asking about a place to stay

    Grammar Note

    Tujurmijuq means "he/she is staying somewhere" and -vik means "place for"

  29. ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒃᑯᕕᒃ

    Qa-nga-ta-suuk-ku-vik

    Airport

    Usage

    The place where you depart and arrive by plane

    Grammar Note

    Qangatasuuq "airplane" plus -vik "place"

  30. ᑮᓇᐅᔭᒃᑯᕕᒃ

    Kii-na-u-jak-ku-vik

    Bank

    Usage

    Used when looking for somewhere to handle money

    Grammar Note

    Built from kiinaujaq "money" plus -vik "place". "To the bank" is kiinaujakkuvimmut

  31. ᐃᓪᓗ

    Il-lu

    House

    Usage

    The general word for a house or building

    Grammar Note

    In South Baffin illu is a house, and the snow house is a different word, igluvigaq

  32. ᒪᑐ

    Ma-tu

    Door

    Usage

    Names a door. "It is open" is matuingajuq

    Grammar Note

    Matusimajuq means "it is closed"

  33. ᐃᒐᓛᖅ

    I-ga-laaq

    Window

    Usage

    Names a window

    Grammar Note

    Igalaaq matuiruk. means "Open the window." (command)

  34. ᐊᔾᔨᓕᐅᕈᑦ

    Aj-ji-li-u-rut

    Camera

    Usage

    Names the tool for taking photographs

    Grammar Note

    Ajjinnguaq means "photograph"

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