Sightseeing

1. ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᑦ

   Aq-sar-niit

   Northern lights

   Usage

   The lights that appear in the northern night sky. The word is plural in form

   Grammar Note

   To say you want to see them use Aqsarniinnik takujumajunga ("I want to see the northern lights")

2. ᐊᖅᓴᕐᓃᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᑯᔪᒪᔪᖓ.

   Aq-sar-niin-nik ta-ku-ju-ma-ju-nga.

   I want to see the northern lights.

   Usage

   To state what you hope to see on your trip

   Grammar Note

   It uses takujumaq- from ilinnik takujumaqqaujuq ("she wanted to see you") with the object ending -nnik. Nanurmik takulauqsimavit? ("have you ever seen a polar bear?") shows the same -mik pattern. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. ᑕᑯᔭᒐᖃᕐᕕᒃ ᓇᒦᑉᐸ?

   Ta-ku-ja-ga-qar-vik na-miip-pa?

   Where is the museum?

   Usage

   Asks for a place to visit

   Grammar Note

   To ask "where is...?" put namiippa after the place noun. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. ᓇᓄᕐᒥᒃ ᑕᑯᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕕᑦ?

   Na-nur-mik ta-ku-la-uq-si-ma-vit?

   Have you ever seen a polar bear?

   Usage

   A conversation opener about travel. Nanuq is the polar bear

   Grammar Note

   -lauqsima- means "have ever done". Panniqtuumuulauqsimavit? ("have you ever been to Pangnirtung?") has the same shape

5. ᐸᓐᓂᖅᑑᒨᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᕕᑦ?

   Pan-niq-tuu-muu-la-uq-si-ma-vit?

   Have you ever been to Pangnirtung?

   Usage

   For travel talk; swap in another community name

   Grammar Note

   Ausuittumuulauqsimavit? ("have you ever been to Grise Fiord?") has the same shape. Answer ii (yes) or aagga (no)

6. ᐊᐅᓪᓚᐅᔾᔭᐅᔪᒪᒐᑦᑕ.

   A-ul-la-uj-ja-u-ju-ma-gat-ta.

   We are looking for someone to take us out on the land.

   Usage

   What to say when looking for a local guide or outfitter. This sentence appears in a dialogue as is

   Grammar Note

   The subject is "we". The guide's answer is ii, aullaujjijunnaqtunga ("yes, I can take you out")

7. ᐅᒥᐊᖅᑐᓛᖅᑐᖓ.

   U-mi-aq-tu-laaq-tu-nga.

   I will go boating.

   Usage

   Says that you will go out in a boat tomorrow or later

   Grammar Note

   This sentence appears in a dialogue as is. Umiaqtuqtuq means "is boating"

8. ᐃᖃᓪᓕᐊᕐᓂᐊᖅᑐᖓ.

   I-qal-li-ar-ni-aq-tu-nga.

   I will go fishing.

   Usage

   Says that you will go fishing later today

   Grammar Note

   This sentence appears in a dialogue as is. Iqaluk means "fish"

9. ᓄᓂᕙᒋᐊᕐᓂᐊᓕᖅᑯᒍᒃ.

   Nu-ni-va-gi-ar-ni-a-liq-ku-guk.

   Let's go berry picking.

   Usage

   Invites someone to a summer outing; said when going as two people

   Grammar Note

   This sentence appears in a dialogue as is. The ending marks "we two"

10. ᐱᖃᓗᔭᖅ

    Pi-qa-lu-jaq

    Iceberg

    Usage

    A large piece of ice floating in the sea

    Grammar Note

    A single noun

11. ᐊᐅᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ

    A-u-ju-it-tuq

    Glacier

    Usage

    A large mass of ice on land

    Grammar Note

    The same form is the name of the community Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord)

12. ᖃᖅᑲᖅ

    Qaq-kaq

    Mountain

    Usage

    A mountain or high ground

    Grammar Note

    Qaqqajaaq means "hill"

13. ᑕᓯᖅ

    Ta-siq

    Lake

    Usage

    A lake, of which the tundra has many

    Grammar Note

    A small pond is tasiarjuk

14. ᑰᒃ

    Kuuk

    River

    Usage

    A river. It is not the same word as kuuqarvik ("kitchen")

    Grammar Note

    A small stream is kuugalaak

15. ᕿᓚᓗᒐᖅ

    Qi-la-lu-gaq

    Beluga

    Usage

    A white whale of northern seas; in some dialects the same word is used for the narwhal

    Grammar Note

    Tuugaalik is the narwhal

16. ᓇᓄᖅ

    Na-nuq

    Polar bear

    Usage

    An animal of northern coasts and sea ice

    Grammar Note

    Nanuminiq is polar bear meat as food

17. ᐊᓕᐊᓇᐃᑦ!

    A-li-a-na-it!

    Wonderful!

    Usage

    When you are delighted by a view or an experience

    Grammar Note

    A one-word exclamation

18. ᐱᕕᐊᕐᓇᖅᑐᖅ.

    Pi-vi-ar-naq-tuq.

    It is beautiful.

    Usage

    For praising a view or something similar

    Grammar Note

    The word carries the sense of something that is pleasing

19. ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖅ!

    Qu-vi-a-naq!

    How wonderful!

    Usage

    When you hear a happy plan or news

    Grammar Note

    Quvianaqtuq means "something that brings happiness". The short form quvianaq is unverified; native review recommended

20. ᓯᓚ ᐱᐅᑉᐸᑦ.

    Si-la pi-up-pat.

    If the weather is good.

    Usage

    A condition added after an outing plan. Sila means "weather"

    Grammar Note

    It follows a plan, as in qauppamut parnattunga sila piuppat ("I plan to go tomorrow if the weather is good")

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