Notes on Inuktitut Pronunciation
There are some sounds in Inuktitut that may be unfamiliar to English speakers. The pronunciations below convey those sounds in the following ways:
• A double vowel (e.g., aa, ee) creates a long vowel sound.
• Capitalized letters indicate emphasis.
• ŋ is a sound similar to “ng” in the word “sing.”
• q is a “uvular” sound, which is a sound that comes from the very back of the throat (the uvula). This is different from the k sound, which is the same as the typical English k sound (known as a “velar” sound).
• R is a rolled “r” sound.
• ll is a rolled “l” sound.
The diagram below shows the place of articulation (the origin of the sound in the mouth) for each Inuktitut sound.
| Inuktitut Term | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| aakuluk | AA-ku-look | dear |
| Aasivak | AA-si-vak | mythological being that is an ancient spider in human form |
| ai | ai | greeting |
| ajai | a-YAI | whoa |
| ajaraaq | a-ya-RAAQ | string game |
| alianait | a-LI-A-na-it | expression of joy |
| amaruujaq | a-ma-RUU-yaq | wolf game |
| amauti | a-MOW-ti | woman’s parka with a pouch for carrying a child |
| Anaana | a-NAA-na | Mother |
| Anaanatsiaq | a-NAA-nat-si-aq | Grandmother |
| angaju | a-ŊA-yu | older brother |
| angakkuq | a-ŋak-KOOQ | shaman |
| Anigit! | a-NE-git | Get out! |
| Anirniq | a-NIR-niq | name |
| Arnariinaq | aR-na-REE-naq | name |
| Ataata | a-TAA-ta | Father |
| Ataatatsiaq | a-TAA-tat-si-aq | Grandfather |
| atausiq | a-TOW-siq | one |
| atii | a-TEE | come on |
| Avani! | A-va-ni | Go away! |
| Avvajja | av-VAJ-jah | place name |
| iggaak | ig-GAAK | snow goggles |
| iglu | IG-loo | snow house |
| igluit | IG-loo-it | snow houses |
| ii | ee | yes |
| ijiraujaq | e-yi-ROW-yaq | zombie |
| Ijiraujaq qukiqtara | e-yi-ROW-yaq qu-kiq-ta-ra | I shot a zombie |
| ijiraujat | e-yi-ROW-yat | zombies |
| iksarvik | ik-SAR-vik | breakwater |
| Inu | I-nu | name |
| Inugarulligaarjuit | e-nu-ga-Rul-li-GAAR-ju-it | mythological race of little people |
| Inukpasugjuit | e-NOOK-pa-SOOG-ju-it | mythological race of great giants, can be massive, nearly the size of mountains |
| inuksuit | e-NOOK-su-it | plural of inuksuk |
| inuksuk | e-NOOK-sook | rock cairn used to aid hunters and indicate direction |
| Inuktitut | e-NOOK-ti-toot | Inuit language, when using or referring to a specific dialect |
| Inuktut | e-NOOK-toot | Inuit language, when referring to all dialects of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun |
| iqaluit | e-QA-lu-it | many Arctic char |
| iqaluk | E-qa-look | Arctic char |
| Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq | IQ-si-naq-TOOQ-ta-lik PIQ-tooq | haunted blizzard |
| Ittuq | IT-tooq | name |
| kakivaak | ka-ki-VAAK | |
| kamiik | ka-MEEK | two skin boots |
| kamiit | ka-MEET | many skin boots |
| kamik | ka-MIK | one skin boot |
| Kinngait | KING-ŋa-it | place name |
| Kiviuq | KI-vi-ooq | great adventurer from Inuit mythology |
| kunik | KOO-nik | kiss given by placing the nose on a person’s face and breathing in |
| Mahaha | MA-ha-ha | mythological creature that tickles people to death |
| maktaaq | mak-TAAQ | |
| maktak | MUK-tuk | bowhead skin and blubber |
| Markoosie | MAH-koo-see | name |
| marruuk | maR-RUUK | two |
| naja | NA-ya | older sister |
| nanuq | na-NUQ | polar bear |
| nanurluk | na-NUR-look | giant polar bear |
| natsiq | NAT-siq | seal |
| niam | NI-am | yummy |
| Niaqunnguup Kuunga | n-ia-qung-ŋuup koo-ŋa | Apex River |
| niksik | NIK-sik | a hook used to snag a shot seal |
| nukaq | NOO-kaq | younger brother |
| Nuliajuk | nu-LI-a-yook | the name of a spirit that lives at the bottom of the sea and controls the sea mammals |
| nunangat | nu-na-ŋat | homeland |
| pana | PA-na | snow knife |
| Panik | PA-nik | Daughter |
| pingasut | pi-ŋa-SOOT | three |
| pissi | PIS-si | dried fish |
| puukuluk | POO-ku-look | birth mother |
| qaggiq | QAG-giq | a large iglu made for celebration purposes, also the name of the celebrations held in this iglu |
| qajait | ka-YA-it | kayaks |
| qajaq | QA-yaq | kayak |
| qallunaaq | qal-lu-NAAQ | a white person |
| qallunaat | qal-lu-NAAT | white people |
| qallupilluit | QAL-lu-PIL-lu-it | plural of qallupilluq |
| qallupilluq | QAL-lu-PIL-look | mythological sea creature that seals children through ice cracks |
| qamutiik | qa-mu-TEEK | sled |
| qamutiit | qa-mu-TEET | many sleds |
| Qanuikkavit? | qa-nu-IK-ka-vit | What’s wrong? |
| Qanuinngilatit? | qu-nu-ing-ŋi-LA-tit | Are you okay? |
| qarmaq | QAR-maq | sod house |
| qulliq | QUL-liq | seal oil lamp |
| qunguliit | qu-ŋu-LIIT | mountain sorrel |
| savikkuvik | sa-vik-ku-VIK | grub box |
| sila | SI-la | sky |
| Siqiniq | si-QI-niq | name |
| sitamat | SI-ta-mat | four |
| taaqtumi | TAAQ-tu-mi | in the dark |
| taima | TAI-ma | the end |
| tallimat | TAL-li-mat | five |
| tauvigjuaq | tow-VIG-ju-aq | the great darkness |
| Tavvaniippit? | tav-va-NEEP-pit | Are you there? |
| Timuu | ti-MOO | name |
| tiriganniaq | ti-Ri-GAN-ni-aq | Arctic fox |
| Tuavi! | tu-A-VI | Hurry up! |
| tuktu | TOOk-tu | caribou |
| tulugaq | TU-lu-gaq | raven |
| Tuniit | tu-NEET | plural of Tuniq |
| Tuniq | TU-niq | extinct race of people that populated the Arctic before Inuit |
| tupiq | TU-piq | tent |
| tuurngait | TUUR-ŋa-it | spirit guides |
| tuurngaq | TUUR-ŋaq | a spirit guide |
| ukpik | OOK-pik | snowy owl |
| Ulii | u-LEE | name |
| ulu | OO-lu | crescent knife traditionally used by women |
| utiqtuq | u-TIQ-tooq | returning or going back |
This list of Inuktitut terms will be continually updated and expanded.
Audio recordings of each of the terms above to come.