Appendix:Greenlandic suffixes

This is a categorised list of suffixes in Greenlandic. For examples of usage see the individual entries.

Some sources refer to these morphemes as affixes, but they are exclusively suffixes used in a highly synthetic, agglutinative way.

Being and becoming

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Suffix Definition
-giiaar be mutually, several
-giig be mutually
-kkuminar be good for
-kkuutaar be grouped in -s
-miit be in/on
-nngor become
-ssaqqig be good for
-u, -a, -ju to be

Lacking

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Suffix Definition
-ilatsi be short of
-erser have lost
-erutï, -ssaarutï have no more
-isag have very few
-it be without
-ssaaleqi lack
-ssaasua lack

Feeling

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Suffix Definition
-gug thirst, long for
-ersi feel cold in one's *
-katag be fed up with
-leri have pain in one's *
-nnger like, be crazy about
-nngu feel bad in one's *

Having

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Suffix Definition
-gasag, -gasaar have scattered, be speckled with something
-gï have as, temporary use/possession
-gig, gissaar have a good
-gissi have got a better
-erluer be smeared with
-kit, -killior have few/little/small
-kisaar have rather little
-lisaar be wearing
-lisar have with one
-lissuu have much/many
-lug have a bad/painful
-maar be wearing
-qar have, there is
-qqortu have much/big
-tujaar have rather a big
-tusi, -ttor have got a more/bigger

Acquiring

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Suffix Definition
-a catch several
-isor fetch
-lerngusaatii fight for
-nialug hunt - small game/a little
-(n)niar hunt
-nig get/have come
-niutï hunt several
-nnag get - as gift/plenty
-raar catch so many
-si get, buy, find
-sior look for
-t, -g catch

Movement

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Suffix Definition
-kkoor, -(a)goor move in/through
-liar go to
-meer, -minngar come from
-mukar go to
-mukaa go to several
-moor, -noor (pl.) move towards
-sior travel on

Acting and seeming like

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Suffix Definition
-lisar resemble
-nga resemble
-(r)palaar seem/sound like
-(r)pallag act like
-(r)palug resemble/seem like
-(r)pasig look like
-ssi act/be just like
-sunnit smell like
-toor act like/speak - language
-usaar act like/seem

Doing with and providing

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Suffix Definition
-iar remove - several, break/damage
-er be removed/sell
-erniar sell
-er remove/deprive of
-erutï remove/deprive of
-liari, -ssiari make into
-ler, -er provide with
-leri occupy oneself with
-lersaar tell about
-lersor provide with - several/bit by bit
-lior, ior make
-liutï use for
-ller offer/serve
-(t)mig touch with one's
-meer do with
-nngor(tit) make into
-riar do so many times
-ror hit on the
-ssit give to
-ter cover with
-tor use/eat
-tuuma like to use/eat a lot

Judging and saying

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Suffix Definition
-gi consider
-gissaa complain that
-gunar look like
-naar find too/more than expected
-nerar say that
-nni look like
-(r)palaar appear/sound like
-(r)pallag sound like/he said
-(r)palug look/sound like
-(r)pasig look like
-r say/shout
-ssanga(tit) think - will
-(ga)sugi think that
-(ga)sori think that
-tit think

Wishing and wanting

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Suffix Definition
-juma want to
-jumagaluar would like
-jumaller get an urge to
-jumatu always want to
-katag be tired of
-qquneru prefer to
-(llaq)qu hope to
-rusug, -gusug would like to
-(t)ser, -(t)sii wait for

Causation and request

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Suffix Definition
-qatiseri want/ask someone to * with one
-qqu ask/want someone to
-qqunngit ask not to/forbid
-qqusaar try to get people to * one
-qqusaa be allowed to
-sar, -saar try to get to
-tit cause/let
-titer cause/let - several by stages
-tsaali prevent from

Striving and intending

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Suffix Definition
-giar, -(gi)jartur go and/to
lersaar intend
-naveersaar try not to
-nialug try a little
-niar try
-niarsarï, -niarsuaar try - despite difficulty
-niinnar try at all costs/just try
-neqqisaatï complete at
-qqaanniutï complete at
-riaraluar try unsuccessfully
-ssamaar intend
-ssamaartuu look forward to

Potentiality

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Suffix Definition
-ja apt to/can easily
-jaat not likely
-janngit cannot/never
-juit cannot/never
-juminaat not be easy/good to
-juminar be easy/good to
-llaqqig be good at
-naat not to be *-ed
-nar such as to be/ *-able
-naveer can no longer
-nngitsuugassaanngit cannot not
-rataannaa, -ratarsinnaa(nngor) can easily
-riaa(nnaa) can easily
-sariaqaarut(i) need no longer
-sariaqanngit must not/need not
-sariaqar must
-sassaa is to be *-ed
-sinnaa can
-seriar be easy/liable to
-seriit not be easy/liable to
-sussaa be supposed to

Relation shifters

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Suffix Definition
-i, -si intransitivizer
-neqar dynamic passive
-qatigi do together with
-qatigiig do reciprocally
-saa, -gaa stative passive
-soor happen to one that
-ussor do with/for - bit by bit
-ssutï, -utï do with/for/with respect to
-ssutigï, -utigï transitivizer - reason/time/means
-ffigi transitivizer - place/time/person

Degree

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Suffix Definition
-alug rather/here and there
-aqqik very
-kanner more or less/rather
-kujug -kujoor somewhat
-kulug somewhat
-kutsoor, -kusoor greatly
-laar a little
-(l)luinnar completely
-miner a little
-misaar a little
-ngaanngit not especially
-ngaar greatly
-ngajag almost/more or less
-nerpaa most
-neru more
-nerujussuar much more
-nerumaar a little more
-nnguar a little
-pajaar more or less/partly
-pajug just a little
-(r)piar exactly/really
-qqar barely
-qqanngit a lot
-qqig completely
-qqinnaar completely
-rujug -rujoor a little
-(pilo)rujussuar enormously
-ruttor at height of/very much
-tigi so
-tsiar rather/a bit
-umi a little
-usar more or less
-vallaanngit not so much
-vallaar too/very much
-vig, -vissor really/completely

Manner

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Suffix Definition
-allag suddenly a bit
-arsug half-heartedly
-(r)su/juataar powerfully/hard
-galuar nevertheless/formerly/though in vain
-gasuar, -nasuar quickly
-(s)innar just/only
-jaallu early - habitually
-jaar early
-lertor quickly/a short time
-llarig well
-(l)luar well/a lot
-lussinnar in vain
-nerlug, -nerlior badly
-palaar half-heartedly/with difficulty
-pallag quickly/hurriedly
-pilug, -piloor strongly/violently
-qqissaar carefully/exactly
-riasaar, -riataar suddenly
-rulug (-rulup), -ruloor, -ruller hard/violently
-rusaar, -luusaar, -ruusaar at easy/slowly
-(r)suar strongly
-tsag with emotion
-ummi, -ummer suddenly - feeling

Phase of completion

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Suffix Definition
-gallanngit not yet - for long time/though expected
-galuttuinnar gradually more and more
-(gi)jartuaar gradually more and more
-(gi)jartur more and more
-jumaarnertu, -jumaataar take a long time
-junnaar, -gunnaar no longer
-li, -si become
-ler begin/about to
-nga, -ma in state of
-ngajag, -ngajassaa about to/almost
-nialer set about
-nngikkallar not yet
-nngiler not yet - but should
-nngersaar about to
-qqa in state of
-qqajar, -qqajaa about to/almost do
-riar set about/dynamic state/all at a go
-reer perfective/already
-(r)sari be in middle of
-sima perfective state
-simaar continuing/intense state
-ssaar stop/no longer
-sungar almost/be danger that
-ter one by one/gradually

Frequency and duration

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Suffix Definition
-akaa, -rratï several do
-(s)ar(i) repetition/habit
-gajug often/habitually
-gallar still/for the time being
-innar, -(t)tuinnar always/continually
-juaannar always/continually
-juaar continuously/on and on
-juar continuously/still
-jortor, -jorar one after another
-kula(ar), -kullatsit often
-llatsiar for a short while
-llattaar from time to time
-loor for some/the whole time
-mmersor for some time
-nngisaannar never
-qattaar again and again
-qqaar first
-qqig again/further
-saannar often/all the time
-sar, -tar repetition/habit
-(r)sor repeated action
-(lla)tuar for once/at least
-umisaar back and forth
-or, -ar prolonged/repeated action
-usaar keep on *-ing

Tense

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Suffix Definition
-jumaar vague future
-niar intended/inevitable future
-qqamminngit some time ago
-qqammer recently
-riikatag a long time ago already
-sima, -nikuu perfect tense
-ssa future tense, should

Modality

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Suffix Definition
-gunanngit certainly not
-gunar it seems/no doubt
-junnarsi probably/no doubt
-naviaq certainly (used mainly in negative: see below)
-navianngit, -naviarsimanngit, -naviarunanngit certainly not; certain conviction
-nnguatsiar probably/as far as one can see
-qqajaqi would * if
-(ssa)qqoor, --qqooqi undoubtedly/must have
-(ssa)sima apparently
-(sima)ssa must have/be
-ssagaluar should/would * if

Negation

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Suffix Definition
-galuanngit not a bit/did not however
-nngilluinnar not at all
-nngit not
-nngitsoor happen not to
-nnguanngit not a bit
-(r)pianngit not really
-qqajanngit not at all
-vinngit not really/at all

Subjective coloration

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Suffix Definition
-ataar in a big way - exclamatory
-gallar, -laar imperative softener
-galuar sure/formerly - but
-galuttuaqi, -galuttuar now we'll see/look out
-gi, -gu and so (at length)/moreover
-(s)innar just
-kasig, -kassag disdain/complicity/naughty/poor
-kisar negative imperative - stop *-ing
-kulug dear/poor
-(ria)llar vivid/surprising action
-llariaa negative imperative - strengthener
-llarumaar just wait and see
-llassa just wait and see - more definite
-(l)luinnar really
-(m)mi and then - vivid
-niar imperative softener
-ner wonder whether/maybe
-nnguar affection/comfort
-ngusar thank heavens/dear - ironic
-qï intensity/very
-qina there's danger that/take care not to
-ratar suddenly/surprisingly
-riannguar vivid - often for discovery
-riar vivid action
-riassa let's/why don't you
-ssaqqaar will - just wait and see
-vallaar so very much

Conjunctional

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Suffix Definition
-gaa(-ngat) whenever
-galuar(-mat/-luni) although
-(ssa)galuar(-pat) even if
-(s)innar(-toq/-luni) after
-juma/-qqu(-lluni) in order to
-llar(-mat) just as - vivid
-ngaar(-mat) because so much
-ngajaler(-soq) just before
-niaqa(-luni) just as/even though
-niar(-lunitoq) while
-niariar(-toq) just after
-niassa(-mmat) so that
-niassaqa(-luni) though one should have
-ner(-soq) if perhaps/I wonder
-nngikkallar(-mat) before
-(lla)nnguar(-ani) without even/in the least
-qqaar(-luni/-mat) only/just after
-qqajanngiti(-soq) long before
-riallar(-mat/-toq) when - surprise
-riar(-mat/-pat) as soon as
-riar(-luni) after
-ruttor(-toq) just as
-(t)siisiga(-lugu) until
-ssa(-nani) without
-ssaqqaar(-teq) while still
-tit(-lugu) while
-tit(-nagu) until/before
-utiga(-lugu) at same time as

Nominalizers

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Suffix Definition
-gajooq one who often
-kkajaaq, -kujooq one that is rather [verb]
-llammak one good at [verb]ing
-naq how * it is!
-niaq one who tries to
-niku, -nikoq remains of/one who has [verb]ed
-neq state/result/action of [verb]ing
-neq the most/more
-nerpaaq, -nersaq the most
-nertooq one who [verb]s strongly
-niutï thing for [verb]ing
-nnguarsi how * it is!
-(r)paluk sound of *ing
-qatï fellow in, one with whom you [verb], a co-[verb]er
-qqaaq something newly [verb]-ed/one who has just [verb]ed
-qqammeq one who has just [verb]ed
-riaq place/thing where one [verb]s
-rlaaq one who newly [verb]ed, one who has just [verb]ed
-saatï means for [verb]ing
-taq, -saq, -gaq passive participle
-ti, -si agent mood/ [verb]er (active participle)
-tsiiaq, -siiaq something left to be [verb]ed
-ssuseq quality of; *-ness/*-ance/*-ledge
-toq, -soq intransitive participle
-useq manner of [verb]ing
-utï means/instrument/cause for [verb]ing
-fik, -vik place/time for [verb]ing

Nominal extenders

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Suffix Definition
-giit, -giiaat a pair of [verb]ers/mutual [verb]ers
-gik one with a good [noun]
-erniaq seller of [noun]
-kkaaq one with a big [noun]
-kkut and family and companions of [noun]
-kkuutaat at intervals of [noun]s
-ku, -koq remains of/previous/discarded [noun]
-koorfik place for discarding [noun]
-liaq traveller to [noun]
-lik something provided with [noun]/owner of [noun]
-lersaarut, -lersaarneq story/account of a [noun]
-lisaq, -nisaq something from last [noun]
-livik container for [noun]
-mineq a piece of [noun]
-minaatsiaq a fair-sized piece of [noun]
-miu, -mioq inhabitant/dweller of [noun]
-qatï a fellow [noun]
-siutï means for going in/seeking/travelling in/celebrating [noun]
-ssiaq something intended for/to be used for [noun]
-sunni smell of [noun]
-tooq one with a big/much [noun]
-tooq something in the language [noun]
-usaq, -usaaq something that looks like a [noun]
-usiaq a figure, model of [noun], something made that looks like [noun]

Nominal modifiers

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Suffix Definition
-aluit, -paaluit several/a group of [noun]
-aq young, offspring
-araq a small [noun]
-arsuk shoddy/low quality; small
-gigaluaq, -galuaq possessor's previous/former [noun]
-innaq just/only an [noun]
-kanneq almost/more or less a [noun]
-kasik, -kassak bad/poor [noun]
-kujuit dear ones - ironic
-kkattaaq a rather big [noun]
-kullak rather big/clumsy [noun]
-kuluk bad/small/dear [noun]
-kulooq a big [noun]
-liaq a made/fabricated [noun]
-(r)luinnaq complete(ly) [noun]
-ngaaq considerable/large [noun]
-ngaatsiaq quite a big [noun]
-ngajak almost a [noun]
-ngusaq dear little [noun]
-nnaq, -nnaaq main/favourite [noun]
-nnguakkuluk poor old/little
-nnguaq (declines in ergative to sing. -nnguup and pl. -nnguit) cute/sweet/small/dear little [noun]
-pajuk bad/poor [noun]
-palaaq bad/miserable [noun]
-palaarsuaq bad/damned [noun]
-(r)passuit, -(r)paat many/crowd of/flock of [noun]
-(r)piaq real/just/exactly [noun]
-piluk bad [noun]
-rajuk, -rajussuaq damned [noun]
-ralaannguaq tiny
-ralak bad/poor [noun], or (affectionately) dear [noun]
-rujuk bad/big [noun]
-rujussuaq enormous [noun]
-siaq bought/found [noun]
-ssamaaq intended [noun]
-ssaq future [noun], something to be used as [noun]
-ssatsiarsuaq, -ssarsuaq which should have been [noun]
-(r)suannguaq naughty [noun]
-(r)suaq (ergative sing. -(q)suup, pl. -(q)suit) big/bad [noun]
-taaq a new [noun]
-taq pertaining to [noun], part of possessor made of [noun]
-tsialak a good/nice [noun]
-tsiannguaq good little/usable [noun]
-(a)tsiaq (-tsiaap, -tsiaat, -tsiaami) a fair-sized [noun]
-tuaq the only/sole [noun]
-toqaq (-toqqap, -toqqat) an old [noun]
-ugaluaq previously/decreased
-uneq the highest/chief [noun]
-utï owned/belonging to one
-vik a real [noun]
-ffaarik a particularly good [noun]

Enclitics

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Suffix Definition
-aa vocative case
-aasiit again as usual
-gooq, -nngooq he says/they say
-li but
-lu and
-lusooq as if
-luunniit or/neither * nor/(not) even
-maa(nna) eh? how is it?
-mi but/yet/indeed - contrast
-mita | -mitaava I wonder
-(t)taaq also
-toq expresses a wish
-una it is */it is that

References

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  • Fortescue, M. (1980) Affix Ordering in West Greenlandic Derivational Processes, from International Journal of American Linguistics, Vol.46, no.4, pages 259-278, The University of Chicago Press.
  • Fortescue, M. (1983) A comparative manual of affixes for the inuit dialects of Greenland, Canada and Alaska, Meddelelser om Grønland, Man & Society, 4.
  • Fortescue, M. (1984) West Greenlandic, Croom Helm, Dover, New Hampshire
  • Fortescue, M. (1990) Arctic Languages: An Awakening, Chapter 2, pages 309-332
  • Lybech, S. (2020) A List of Greenlandic Affixes, oqa.dk
  • Lybech, S. (2019) An Introduction to West Greenlandic, oqa.dk, 1st edition.
  • Nielsen, F.A.J. (2014) Vestgrønlandsk grammatik, Nuuk.