ᓇᓄᖅ
nanoq
The Inuktitut word for polar bear is ᓇᓄᖅ (nanoq).
ᓇᓄᖅ is used to refer to the species Ursus maritimus.
Meaning: Ursus maritimus (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is nanoq.
Did you know?
- There is a cultural practice of referring to the ᓇᓄᖅ with specific respectful terms to avoid attracting its attention through the act of naming.
- The word ᓇᓄᖅ is written using Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics, a writing system where symbols represent consonant-vowel combinations rather than individual letters.
- In Inuktitut, the word ᓇᓄᖅ is part of a language system where a single word can be modified by adding suffixes to create entire sentences, such as 'I see a polar bear'.
Example sentences for Inuktitut are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a distance over the ice.
- ᓇᓇᑯᒃ Nanakukᐱᑕ, ᓇᓄᖅ ᐳᐃᔪᖅ!Pita, nanuq puijuq!Pita, there is a polar bear!
- ᐱᑕ Pitaᑐᑭᒃᓴᖅᑐᖅ ᓇᓄᖅ?Tukiksaqtuq nanuq?Is the polar bear close?
- ᓇᓇᑯᒃ Nanakukᐋᖅ, ᓇᓄᖅ ᐳᐃᑯᐊᖅᑐᖅ.Aa, nanuq puikuaqtuq.Yes, the polar bear is big.
- ᐱᑕ Pitaᐅᐊᓪᓕᖅᑐᒍᑦ ᒫᓐᓇ.Ualliqtugut maanna.We are leaving now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “polar bear” translations and entries ᓇᓄᖅ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
