Basic Verbs

1. ᓂᕆᔪᖓ

   Ni-ri-ju-nga

   I am eating.

   Usage

   The basic verb for anything about meals

   Grammar Note

   The ending changes with the person: nirijuq (he/she), nirijutit (you), nirijugut (we, three or more)

2. ᐃᒥᖅᑐᖓ

   I-miq-tu-nga

   I am drinking water.

   Usage

   For ordering or declining drinks

   Grammar Note

   Imiqtuq means "he/she is drinking water". For coffee the verb is kaapituqtuq. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. ᓂᐅᕕᖅᑐᖓ

   Ni-u-viq-tu-nga

   I am buying something.

   Usage

   The shopping verb. Add the item as a separate word

   Grammar Note

   Niuviqtuq means "he/she buys something" and shares a root with niuvirvik "store". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. ᑕᑯᔪᖓ

   Ta-ku-ju-nga

   I see.

   Usage

   For sightseeing, and for saying what you can see

   Grammar Note

   Takujara means "I see it" and takujagit means "I see you"

5. ᐅᑕᖅᑭᔪᖓ

   U-taq-ki-ju-nga

   I am waiting.

   Usage

   For queues and for explaining a meeting arrangement

   Grammar Note

   Utaqqijuq means "he/she is waiting". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. ᖃᐃᒋᑦ!

   Qa-i-git!

   Come!

   Usage

   An imperative calling one person over

   Grammar Note

   Use qaigittik for two people and qaigitti for three or more

7. ᐊᑏ!

   A-tii!

   Let's go!

   Usage

   Urges companions on. It also means "go ahead" or "come on"

   Grammar Note

   A casual exclamation that often stands alone as a reply

8. ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑐᖓ

   A-ul-laq-tu-nga

   I am leaving.

   Usage

   Says that you are setting out or leaving a place

   Grammar Note

   Aullaqtuq means "he/she departs". The form changes with time (aullalaaqtuq "tomorrow or later", aullalauqtuq "yesterday or earlier"). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. ᐊᐅᓪᓚᕈᒪᔪᖓ

   A-ul-la-ru-ma-ju-nga

   I want to leave.

   Usage

   States that you want to set out

   Grammar Note

   -rumajunga means "I want to". It is the same pattern as imirumajunga ("I'd like water"). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. ᓂᕆᕈᒪᔪᖓ

    Ni-ri-ru-ma-ju-nga

    I want to eat.

    Usage

    States that you would like to eat

    Grammar Note

    To name a food, use the pattern of tuttuminiqturumagama ("because I want to eat caribou meat"). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. ᐱᔪᒪᔭᕋ

    Pi-ju-ma-ja-ra

    I want it.

    Usage

    Point at an item and say you would like it

    Grammar Note

    Qatsinik pijumavit? means "how many do you want?". -jara means "I … it". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. ᐃᒥᕈᒪᔪᖓ

    I-mi-ru-ma-ju-nga

    I'd like water.

    Usage

    A pattern for asking for a drink. The noun can be swapped

    Grammar Note

    The same pattern gives kaapiturumajunga (coffee) and tiiturumajunga (tea). The offer is imirumavit? ("would you like water?")

13. ᐃᒥᕈᒪᙱᑦᑐᖓ

    I-mi-ru-ma-nngit-tu-nga

    I don't want water.

    Usage

    To decline something that is offered

    Grammar Note

    -nngit- is the negative. The same pattern gives kaapiturumanngittunga ("I don't want coffee")

14. ᑎᑎᕋᐅᑎᖃᖅᑐᖓ

    Ti-ti-ra-u-ti-qaq-tu-nga

    I have a pen.

    Usage

    States that you have something. The noun can be swapped for another

    Grammar Note

    -qaq- means "have". The same pattern gives itsivautaqaqtunga ("I have a chair")

15. ᑎᑎᕋᐅᑎᖃᖏᑦᑐᖓ

    Ti-ti-ra-u-ti-qa-ngit-tu-nga

    I don't have a pen.

    Usage

    States that you do not have something

    Grammar Note

    The positive form is titirautiqaqtunga. Swap in another noun to say what you lack

16. ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔪᖓ

    Qa-u-ji-ma-ju-nga

    I know.

    Usage

    States that you know something

    Grammar Note

    Qaujimajuq means "he/she knows". The opposite reply "I don't know" is aatsuu. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

17. ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑐᖓ

    Iq-ka-na-i-jaq-tu-nga

    I am working.

    Usage

    Says that you work. Put the workplace before it

    Grammar Note

    For example Ilinniarvimmi iqqanaijaqtunga ("I work at the school")

18. ᐃᖏᒋᑦ

    I-ngi-git

    Sit down.

    Usage

    Tells someone to sit down

    Grammar Note

    Use ingigitsik for two people and ingigitsi for three or more. The courteous form is ingittiarit ("sit nicely")

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