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Greenlandic grammar · A1

Telling the Time

Alexander StebnerCreator of Lingora · Updated 14 October 20262 min readComments

The hour is simply the number: "three o'clock". To say "it is three o'clock", the number takes -nngor- "become": , literally "it has become three".

01

What Time Is It?

  • Massakkut qassinngorami?

    What time is it now? (qassit "how many" + -nngor-)

  • Arfineq marlunngorpoq ullaakkut.

    It is seven o'clock in the morning.

  • Ni femoghalvtresinngorpoq.

    It is nine fifty-five. (Danish numbers for exact minutes)

02

Quarter Past, Half Past

The minute hand is , "the long one", followed by the number it points to: is "the minute hand at three", a quarter past. "past" follows the hour.

  • Aqqaneq qaangerlugu tanneq pingasunngorpoq.

    It is quarter past eleven. (lit. past eleven, the minute hand has become three)

03

Towards the Next Hour

Instead of "past", the coming hour can be named first, with -nut "towards".

  • Arfineq marlunnut tanneq arfineq unnukkut.

    It is now half past six in the evening. (lit. towards seven, the minute hand at six)

04

At What Time

"At" a time is the ending -nut on the number, and asks "at what time?".

  • Qassinut soraartaravit?

    At what time do you get off work?

  • Unnukkut arfinernut.

    At six pm. (arfineq "six" + -nut)

05

In Five Minutes

A time to come uses the same parts with -ssa- "will".

  • Minutsit tallimat qaangiuppata qulinngussaaq.

    In five minutes, it will be ten. (qulit "ten" + -nngussaaq "will become")

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