Aammakisauti: A game of tag. 

​

Agliurisimajuq: When there is a Nigiq wind and the aulajuq ice moves back to the solid ice, tuvaq. This is the time when you can hunt without much worry of drifting out to sea on the moving ice.  

​

Ajagaq: Cup and ball, a game traditionally played after the return of the Sun. Playing this game was said to encourage the Sun to rise higher in the sky.

 

Ajaraaq: Cat's cradle, a string game traditionally played during the dark time of the year, and prohibited after the Sun's annual return in January. 

 

Akinnaq: The South West wind. 
 
Akurruttijuq: "In between," refers to winds that come from any points between of the four main winds, Nigiq, Uangnaq, Kanangnaq and Akinnaq. 
  
Akuttujuuk: Two stars Betelgeuse and Bellatrix in the constellation Orion. When they are seen in December in the west it is a sign that daylight is returning. Akuttujuuk means "those two placed apart". 

 

Amaruujaq: "The wolf game". A game of tag, traditionally only played in the winter. 
 
Angajukłiq: Used to refer to thicker uiguaq ice at the floe edge. It is derived from a word used for anything older. Angajukłiq is someone or something older, in this case, older, thicker ice. 
  
Anijaarniq: Traditionally, Inuit began each day with the custom of going outside to appreciate the beauty of Sila before doing any other tasks. This custom was said to contribute to a full and long life, as well as increasing success in hunting and helping pregnant women have easier birthing. Anijaarniq was also the time to observe the stars, weather, and especially the wind direction. The day's activities would then be planned, depending on the kind of weather observed. 
 
Apivuq: When the ground is covered in snow.  

 

Apun: A general word for snow.  

 

Apulliq: Ice between uiguaq and tuvaq.  

 

Aputit: A general word for snow lying on the ground.  

 

Aqilluqqaaq: The new soft snow that has been just formed in a storm. 
 
Aqilluqqaaviniq: Once the aqilluqqaaq hardens it is called aqilluqqaaviniq. 
 
Aukkarnaarjuk: The area of the sea that does not freeze in the passage between the Siuraq peninsula and Kapuiviit island. Around the Igloolik area there are a number of places where the sea ice does not freeze in winter. Such areas are known as polynyas in English.

​

Iglinikuluk: "A small igliniq". A trail with only a few tracks, not as well-established as igliniq.  

 

Igliniq: A well-established trail used by dog teams or snowmobiles.
  
Iglulingmiut: The people of Igloolik.
 

Kanangnaq: The North East wind.  

 

Kingullialuk: The star Vega in the constellation Lyra.  

 

Kingulliq: The star Rigel in the constellation Orion.
 

Maniittuq region: A narwhal hunting area 40km northwest of Igloolik, known in English as Richard's Bay. "Maniittuq" refers to the rough rocky terrain of the area.  

 

Mauja: Deep, soft snow.

​

Naaqquruqtuq: New moon. Tides are strongest during the new moon and full moon.  

 

Nanurjuk: The star Aldebaran in the constellation, Taurus.  

 

Nigiq: South East wind
 

Patuun: Hoarfrost. Feathery snow formed during cold, moist weather.  

 

Pinnangnaq: An alternative name for the Akinnaq (South West) wind.

 

Pituaq: The constellation Cassiopeia. Pituaq means "stand of a soapstone lamp".

 

Puikkatuq: A mirage commonly seen in the spring, causing distant land or ice floes to appear nearer, further away, or higher. These images are often seen inverted or upside down. Sometimes experienced hunters can see the reflections of distant, basking walrus in mirages. 

 

Pukajaaq: Soft snow that can be kicked as if it were powder.  

​

Pukakjiq: The preferred snow for making an igloo. It is not as hard as tisilluqaaq and it is flexible, breaking easily. In addition, this material will allow the igloo to heat up faster than any other type of snow. Since pukakjiq is not air-tight, it will not starve for oxygen, ijja.   

​

Qaliriiktinniq: Newly formed ice that has overlapped or rafted by being blown by the wind.  

 

Qallunaat: White people, Euro-Canadians.  

 

Qanniqpuq: Falling snow.  

 

Qaniut: Freshly fallen snow.  

 

Qarmait: (plural). Referring to many qarmaq sod houses. 

 

Qarmaq: Sod house. Traditionally lived in during the fall and winter.  

 

Qikiqtaaluk: Baffin Island. 

 

Qikiqtani region: The Baffin region.  

 

Qimmit: "The Hyades" (constellation Taurus).  

 

Qimugjuit: Plural. Referring to many qimukjuq snowdrifts.  

 

Qimugjuq: "Ridged". A snowdrift that forms on the lee or downwind side of an obstacle such as a rock or block of sea ice.    

 

Qinuaq: The first ice that forms during freeze-up. It occurs along the shore, between the high and low tide marks and is usually caused by the accumulation of snow in this area.  

 

Qukturaaq: "The broken thigh". An expression used at Pingiqqalik (an abandoned community on the Melville Peninsula near Igloolik) to describe conditions when the wind came from the North East bringing the moving ice against the land fast ice, tuvaq. These conditions were favourable for walrus hunting.  

 

Qulliq: A semi-circular lamp, usually made of soapstone. Rendered seal oil is usually used as fuel, and the flame is tended on wick that runs along the lip of the lamp.  

 

Qullit: Plural form of qulliq.  

 

Qungniq: A tidal crack forming along the shore caused by the movement of the tides acting on the land-fast ice (tuvaq) that has frozen to the shore.  

 

Quturjuuk: The two pairs of stars Capella and Menkalinan, and Castor and Pollux, in the constellations Gemini and Auriga.  

 

Quvviqquaq: Occurring early in the process of the sea freeze-up. After the formation of qinuaq, smooth patches of ice form on the open water. This type of ice is often blown away by the wind. 

 

Sakiattiak: The constellation Pleiades.  

 

Siku: Ice. A generic term.  

 

Sikuaq: New ice that forms on the bays as the wind dies down. This ice is thin and is one of the early stages of freeze-up.  

 

Sikuliaq: New ice on which it is now possible to walk. This ice is thin, but is now able to carry the weight of a person. When testing this ice with a harpoon, a hunter would find that his harpoon would go though the ice in some places, but not in others, allowing him to walk in only some parts.  

 

Sikutuqaq: Multi-year ice. Ice that stays throughout the year, appearing as ice floes in the summer and freezing into the ice in the fall, causing the ice to be "rough."  

 

Sila: The weather, the outdoors.  

 

Singuuriq: The star Sirius in the constellation Canis Major.  

 

Sivulliik: The stars Arcturus and Muphrid in the constellation Bootes.

 

Taqqiila: New moon. Tides are strongest during the new moon and full moon (piturniqtuq - "spring" tides).  

 

Taqqiujaq: A complex game of tag often played during the full moon.  

 

Tisijualuk: Snow that has formed in under blizzard conditions and has hardened immediately. Tisijualuk is so hard that cannot easily be cut into blocks, and is therefore not suitable for building an igloo.  

 

Tisilluqaaq: Hard snow. When tisilluqaaq becomes softer or is in the process of getting softer it is then called pukakjiujaq, which is the preferred snow for building an igloo.  

 

Tukturjuit: The stars of the constellation Ursa Major.  

 

Tunguniq: "Water sky". The dark reflection in the sky of the open water at the floe-edge. It can be seen from far away and is used in wayfinding.  

 

Tuvaq: Land fast ice. It is formed in the fall and is safe for travel. Tuvaq remains attached to the land until break-up in the spring.  

 

Tuvaijaut: Used to refer to the sea ice as it starts melt and break into many separate chunks of floating ice in the spring.

​

Uangnaq: The North West wind. In Igloolik, Uangnaq is the prevailing wind.  

 

Ugjunnguaq: "Like a bearded seal". Lens-shaped clouds that can either be light or dark in colour that predict strong winds.  

Uiguaq: New ice formed along the floe-edge.  

 

Uiguaviniq: When the uiguaq ice formed at the floe-edge becomes older and new uiguaq has formed beyond it. 

 

Uigutaniq: Very thin ice at the floe-edge.  

 

Ullaktut: The stars of Orion's Belt in the constellation Orion.

 

Ulluriarjuaq: The planet Venus.  

 

Uluangnait: (plural). Referring to many uluangnaq snowdrifts.  

 

Uluangnaq: "Like a cheek". Large, soft, rounded drifts formed during heavy snowfalls in the early fall. They look like cheeks. Uluangnait are shaped by winds, especially the Uangnaq wind, into drifts called uqalurait.

 

Uqalurait: (plural). Referring to many uqaluraq snowdrifts.

 

Uqaluraq: "Like a tongue". Uqalurait are the most noticeable drifts and last throughout the winter. These drifts are formed by the Uangnaq wind into the shape of tongues, the tip of which is usually elevated off the ground and pointing roughly northwest. They are like a compass because they always point to the direction of Uangnaq, and are therefore very useful in wayfinding.

 

Uqsuutaaq: A game of tag involving "tagging" players on the belly button. 

​

​