Alutiiq Word of the Week
By Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository
Alutiiq Word of the WeekAug 27, 2023
Dead
Tuqumaluni – Dead
Iqallut tuqumaut. – The fish are dead.
Dangerous
Uluranaq – Dangerous
TRaapat allrani uluranartaartut. – Ladders are sometimes dangerous.
African American Person
Alap'aaq, ARap'aaq – African American Person
Alap'aaq Nuniamen taillria. – An African American person came to Old Harbor.
Net
Kugyaq, Kugyasiq – Net
Kugyasiq aturtaa'aqa. – I use the net.
Elder
Cuqlliq – Elder
Cuqllit amlen'irtut maani awa'i. – There are not many Elders around anymore.
Crested Auklet
Kungyuk – Crested Auklet
Kungyut amlertaallriit kangiyami. – There used to always be crested auklets in the bay.
Fur Seal
Aatak – Fur Seal
Aatat quiliutartut. – Fur seals are fat.
Weasel
Amitatuk – Weasel
Amitatut naryartaakenka. – I used to trap weasels.
Swim
Kuimarluni – To Swim
Piugta imarmi kuimartuq. – The dog is swimming in the ocean.
Candy
Kantiiq – Candy
Kantiit neqnirtartut. – Candies are sweet.
Quiver
Ruuwauteq – Quiver
Ruuwautet ruuwat tuumiaq'rsuutiit. – Quivers are holders for arrows.
Earring
Kulunguaq – Earring
Kulunguaqa katagiiyaqa. – I dropped my earring.
Pipe
TRuup'kaaq, Pa'ipaaq – Pipe
Ata tRuup'kaaq – Let's see the pipe.
Pumice
Mangil'gun, Qapuk – Pumice
Allrani iwa'igua qapuk qutmi, kesiin miktaartuq. – Sometimes I find pumice on the beach, but it is always small.
Cod
Amutaq – Cod
Amutasuquartuq. – They are going to get some cod.
Married Couple
Tamallkuk – Married Couple
Guangkunuk tamallkuk. – We are a married couple.
Christmas
ARausistuaq (N), Rausistuaq (N), ARusistuaq (S) – Christmas
Guangkuta ARusistuartaartukut January-mi. – We always celebrate Christmas in January.
Snow
Qaniq (falling), Aniuq (on ground) – Snow
Qaninguq. – It is snowing.
Talisman
Nakernaq – Talisman
Carlia'rluki nakernaten. Nak'rciquten. – Take care of your talismans. You will be lucky.
Dirt
Iqaq – Dirt
Tan'urat waamut iqami. – The boys are playing in the dirt.
Bracelet
Tayanerutaq – Bracelet
Tayanerutamek nuliqa pikisk'gka. – I gave my wife a bracelet.
Fog
Tumanaq (N), Umneq (S) – Fog
Tumanaq martuq. (N), Umneq martuq. (S) – The fog is thick.
Louse
Neresta – Louse
Aikut nerestangq'rtut. – The dogs have lice.
Backpack, Hunting Bag
Atmak, Ekgwik, Ekguiyutaq – Backpack, Hunting Bat
Atmangq'rtuq. – He has a backpack.
Cigarette
Puyuruaq – Cigarette
Puyuruan'ilu englumni! – Don't smoke in my house!
Birch
Qasrulek, Uqgwik – Birch
Ikani uqgwit tak'ut. – The birch trees over there are tall.
Mask
Maas'kaaq, Giinaruaq, Giinaquq – Mask
Maas'kaaq aturu. – Use the mask.
Whistler Duck, Black Scoter
Kukumyaa'aq – Whistler Duck, Black Scoter
Kukumyaa'at meqniitut. – Whistler ducks are hard to pluck.
Dream
Qawangurtuaq, Qawanguq – Dream
Qawangurtuartaartut. – They always dream.
Thunder
Kalliq – Thunder
Kalliyaqan alingnartartuq. – When it is thundering, it is scary.
High Bush Cranberry, Sourberry, Kalina Berry
Amaryaq (N), Amaryaq (S) – High Bush Cranberry, Sourberry, Kalina Berry
Amaryat quuhnartaartut. – High bush cranberries are sour.
Glove
Ariteq – Glove
Aritenka tamartaa'anka. – I lose my gloves all the time.
Cross
KRistaaq – Cross
Suu'ut plait KRistaartuumataartut. – Some people wear a cross.
Face
Giinaq – Face
Giinan tang'raqa! – I see your face!
Seal
Isuwiq – Seal
Isuwiq piturnirtuq. – The seal tastes good.
Baleen
Kagit'ruaq – Baleen
Inartat kagit'ruamek pilitaallriit. – They used to make baskets out of baleen.
Dragonfly
Cilrayuk – Dragonfly
Cilrayuk alingtaakait. – They used to be afraid of the dragonfly.
Dwarf, Magical Little Person
Sungcuk – Dwarf, Magical Little Person
Maani tang'rtaan'itukut sungcunek. – We never see any magical dwarves around here.
Worm, Insect
Kinguk – Worm, Insect
Tawa kingugturningaitua! – No, I won't eat worms!
Devil
Devil – Iraq
Iraq asiillpiarluni asiituq. – The Devil is very bad.
Thank You
Thank You — Quyanaa
Quyanaa tailuci. – Thank you all for coming.
Barrel
Puuc'kaaq – Barrel
Puuc’kaat saRayami et’ut. – The barrels are in the shed.
I got it, bingo!
Pingua! – I got it, bingo!
Bingo-mi pingneq pingaktaaqa. – I like to win at bingo.
Barbed
Cukingq'rtuq – Barbed
Iqsak cukingq'rtuq. – The fishhook has a barb.
Devil's Club
Cukilanarpak – Devil's Club
Cukilanarpat tak'ut. – Devil's club are tall.
Shark
Shark–Arlluguaq
Arlluguaq culurngauq. – The shark is beached.
Jumper
Jumper–Aq’alaq
Aq’alartut iluani. – There are jumpers inside (the seine).
Spam
Spam– Spam-eq
Alutiit Spam-eq pingaktaarat. – Alutiiq people (always) like Spam.
Grass
Grasses–Weg’et
Weg’et kiagmi anglitaartut. – The grass grows tall in the summertime.
Swan
Swan–Qugyuk
Qugyut qat’rtartut. – The swans are white.