Learn Kalaallisut Online with the Vocabo Chrome Extension
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Master Kalaallisut vocabulary while browsing the web. Free Chrome extension for language learners. Kalaallisut is spoken by ~57,000 people. Kalaallisut is one of very few Indigenous languages that is the sole official language of its territory, and it is essential for Greenlandic literature, politics and Arctic research.
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About Kalaallisut
The English word 'igloo' comes from the Inuit word for house — 'illu' in Kalaallisut — which refers to any dwelling, not specifically a snow house.
Also known as: Greenlandic, West Greenlandic, Kalaallisut
Speakers
~57,000
Language Family
Eskimo-Aleut (Inuit)
Writing System
Latin alphabet
Difficulty
Very Hard
Spoken in
Why Learn Kalaallisut?
Kalaallisut is one of very few Indigenous languages that is the sole official language of its territory, and it is essential for Greenlandic literature, politics and Arctic research.
Common Kalaallisut Words
Start your Kalaallisut journey with these essential words and phrases.
Aluu
Hi
a-LOO
Inuulluarit
Hello / Farewell ('live well')
ee-noo-LOOA-rit
Qujanaq
Thank you
koo-YA-nak
Aap
Yes
ahp
Naamik
No
NAH-mik
Imeq
Water
EE-mek
Neqi
Meat / Food
NEK-ee
Ikinngut
Friend
ee-KING-oot
Asanninneq
Love
a-SAN-nin-nek
Illu
House
EEL-loo
Seqineq
Sun
se-KEE-nek
Inuk
Person
EE-nook
Kalaallisut
Greenlandic (the language)
ka-LAAL-lee-soot
History of Kalaallisut
Kalaallisut arrived in Greenland with the Thule Inuit migration across the Arctic around 1200 CE, displacing earlier cultures. Danish missionaries created the first written standard in the 18th century, with Paul Egede's work establishing an orthography that lasted until a major 1973 reform produced the modern spelling system. Unusually among Indigenous Arctic languages, Kalaallisut never lost its everyday role: it is the language of Greenlandic schools, media and government, and the 2009 Self-Government Act made it Greenland's sole official language.
Is Kalaallisut Hard to Learn?
Kalaallisut is polysynthetic: a single word can carry what English expresses in a whole sentence, built by stacking dozens of suffixes onto a root, which makes words extremely long and dictionary lookup difficult. It also uses ergative alignment and marks subject and object together on the verb, so almost nothing about its structure maps onto English.
Learning Kalaallisut Online: FAQ
Can I learn Kalaallisut online for free?
Yes — Vocabo is a free Chrome extension that teaches you Kalaallisut vocabulary while you browse the web. It replaces words and short phrases on pages you already read with their Kalaallisut equivalents, so you pick up vocabulary passively — no sign-up, no ads, and no daily lesson grind.
Is Kalaallisut on Duolingo?
No — Duolingo doesn't currently offer a Kalaallisut course for English speakers. You can still learn Kalaallisut online for free: Vocabo supports Kalaallisut and builds your vocabulary naturally while you browse.
Similar Languages to Kalaallisut
If you're interested in Kalaallisut, you might also want to explore these related languages:
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