Nouns: Plural — Greenlandic Grammar

The plural of a noun ends in -t and is used for two or more, as in English. Most other case endings have a plural form too (the equative -tut is the same for one and for several), and a verb whose subject is plural takes a plural ending.

Adding -t

After a vowel, -t is simply added: "bus", "buses".

Minutsit tallimat qaangiuppata qulinngussaaq.
In five minutes, it will be ten.
Tomaatit naatitaappat?
Are tomatoes vegetables?

When the Word Changes

A final q drops, "woman", , and an o before it becomes u, "flower", . After k or t the ending is -it: the k drops, "person", , the t stays, "man", . Some nouns change more, "child", , so learn the plural with the word.

Qatanngutikka angutit arfinillit, arnat arfineq marluk.
I have six brothers and seven sisters.
Meeqqat bussimut ikipput.
The children are getting on the bus.

The Plural in the Other Cases

An ending that begins with m begins with n in the plural: -mik, -nik; -mut, -nut; -mi, -ni; -mit, -nit. -kkut becomes -tigut.

Zoo uumasunik amerlasuunik imaqarpoq.
This zoo has many animals.
Qinigassani marlunni qinersissaanga.
I have to decide between two choices.

The Verb Follows

When the subject is plural, so is the verb ending: -put "they" instead of -poq "he, she, it".

Inuit bussimit niupput.
The people are getting off the bus.
Illup silataani timmissat qarlorpalupput.
The birds are singing in the garden.

Describing Words

A word that describes a plural noun comes after it and is plural as well.

Assit kusanaatsut puuaqqami ilisiviup iluaniipput.
The ugly photos are in a box in the closet.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Greenlandic course

77 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 18. A few of them, with the words “Nouns: Plural” is about in bold:

Marlunnik biileqarpunga, sikkilit marluk, motorsikkilillu pingasut.
I have two cars, two bicycles, and three motorbikes.
Lesson 33
Manniit aqqaneq marluk pisiaraakka, sukkulaatiminerlu ilinnoortoq.
I bought a dozen eggs and a candy bar for you too.
Lesson 47
Biilii sukkaallutillu akikitsuaraapput.
She has a slow, cheap car.
Lesson 110

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