amarok
The English word wolf is translated into Inuktitut as amarok.
The term refers to the animal known as a wolf.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Did you know?
- In some Inuit-speaking cultures, calling a wolf by its name is believed to summon the animal to your location.
- In Inuit mythology, the amarok is a giant wolf that hunts anyone foolish enough to hunt alone at night.
- Inuktitut often uses descriptive suffixes to specify the type of amarok, such as whether the wolf is young or old, within a single complex word.
Example conversation
Two friends are walking in the snowy tundra.
- ᐊᓇᓇ AnanaAmarok tusaajuvut!Amarok tusaajuvut!I hear a wolf!
- ᐊᑯᓇ AkunaTusaajuvut qanuq?Tusaajuvut qanuq?How do you hear it?
- ᐊᓇᓇ AnanaAmarok kigumajut.Amarok kigumajut.The wolf is howling.
- ᐊᑯᓇ AkunaImiq tusaajuvut.Imiq tusaajuvut.I hear it now.
