Learn Sami (North) Online with the Vocabo Chrome Extension
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Master Sami (North) vocabulary while browsing the web. Free Chrome extension for language learners. Sami (North) is spoken by ~20,000 people. Northern Sami is the most widely spoken of roughly ten Sami languages and the key to Sámi joik music, literature and Indigenous cultural life across Arctic Scandinavia.
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About Sami (North)
Northern Sami has a dual number for exactly two people, and its consonant gradation reshapes word stems as they inflect — 'giella' (language) becomes 'gielas' and 'gielain' depending on case.
Also known as: North Sami, Northern Saami, Davvisámegiella
Speakers
~20,000
Language Family
Uralic (Sami)
Writing System
Latin alphabet with á, č, đ, ŋ, š, ŧ and ž
Difficulty
Hard
Spoken in
Why Learn Sami (North)?
Northern Sami is the most widely spoken of roughly ten Sami languages and the key to Sámi joik music, literature and Indigenous cultural life across Arctic Scandinavia.
Common Sami (North) Words
Start your Sami (North) journey with these essential words and phrases.
Bures
Hello
BOO-res
Giitu
Thank you
GEE-too
Juo
Yes
YOO-oh
Ii
No / Not
ee
Čáhci
Water
CHAH-tsee
Biebmu
Food
BYEB-moo
Ustit
Friend
OOS-tit
Ráhkisvuohta
Love
RAH-kis-vwoh-ta
Dállu
House
DAHL-loo
Beaivi
Sun / Day
BEH-ai-vee
Boazu
Reindeer
BWAH-tsoo
Sámegiella
The Sami language
SAH-me-gyel-la
History of Sami (North)
Northern Sami belongs to the Uralic family, distantly related to Finnish and Estonian, and Sámi peoples have lived across Sápmi — spanning northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia — for thousands of years. Assimilation policies, particularly Norwegianisation, banned or discouraged Sami in schools well into the 20th century and drove sharp language loss. Since the 1980s the language has gained official status in designated administrative areas in Norway, Sweden and Finland, supported by Sámi parliaments, Sami-medium schooling, a standardized orthography adopted in 1979, and broadcasting through NRK Sápmi and its counterparts.
Is Sami (North) Hard to Learn?
Northern Sami has around seven cases and a dual number alongside singular and plural, so pronouns and verbs have forms specifically for 'we two'. Consonant gradation alters the middle of words throughout inflection, and the language distinguishes three degrees of consonant length, which is difficult to hear at first. Being Uralic, it shares almost no vocabulary with English.
Learning Sami (North) Online: FAQ
Can I learn Sami (North) online for free?
Yes — Vocabo is a free Chrome extension that teaches you Sami (North) vocabulary while you browse the web. It replaces words and short phrases on pages you already read with their Sami (North) equivalents, so you pick up vocabulary passively — no sign-up, no ads, and no daily lesson grind.
Is Sami (North) on Duolingo?
No — Duolingo doesn't currently offer a Sami (North) course for English speakers. You can still learn Sami (North) online for free: Vocabo supports Sami (North) and builds your vocabulary naturally while you browse.
Similar Languages to Sami (North)
If you're interested in Sami (North), you might also want to explore these related languages:
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