ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ
nallioniqsiotsiarit
The English phrase "happy birthday" is translated into Inuktitut as ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ (nallioniqsiotsiarit).
This phrase is used to express good wishes to someone on the occasion of their birthday.
Meaning: good wishes for a birthday (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
nallioniqsiotsiarit
Did you know?
- Because many Arctic communities historically relied on seasonal-based movement rather than fixed calendar dates, the concept of a 'birthday' is a relatively modern cultural introduction to many Inuit groups.
- Inuktitut is a polysynthetic language, meaning the single phrase ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ is actually a complex sentence built from several smaller building blocks attached together.
- The spelling of ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ uses various syllabics that represent sounds more fluidly than the Latin alphabet used in English.
Examples in context
- ᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ!nalliuniqsiutsiaarit!Happy birthday!
Example conversation
Jakopa is giving a gift to Anana.
- ᔭᑯᐸ Jakupaᓇᓪᓕᐅᓂᖅᓯᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ, ᐊᓇᓇ!Nalliuniqsiutsiaarit, Anana!Happy birthday, Anana!
- ᐊᓇᓇ Ananaᖁᐊᓇᒑᔮ, ᔭᑯᐸ!Quanagaa, Jakopa!Thank you, Jakopa!
- ᔭᑯᐸ Jakupaᑕᑯᒃᑯᐃᑦ ᐱᑑᑎᑦ!Takukkuit pituutit!Look at your gift!
- ᐊᓇᓇ Ananaᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᒃ!Piujummarik!I love it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy birthday” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
