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.