Alutiiq Word of the Week

Vertebrae – IiwaqGui iiwanka angq'rtaartut. – My vertebrae always hurt.

Hang (to) – InilukuCukinka iniyanka.—I am hanging my socks.

Raspberry, Nagoonberry – PuyurniqApril-rem puyurnit pingaktaarai. – April always likes raspberries.

Sockeye Salmon – NiklliqNikllinek kupcuunalirciqukut. – We are going to make smoked salmon out of red salmon.

Walrus – WiinarpakWiinarpat guu'gpagtuut. – Walrus have big teeth.

Rainbow – ARatukaq (N), Puwisaq (S)ARatukamek tang'rakameng suut nata agayuliteng. – When you see a rainbow, you're to make a sign of the cross.

Berry Picking – Nunaquluni, AlagnarsurluniKiagmi nunaqutaartukut alagnanek. – In the summer we go berry picking for salmonberries.

Halibut – SagiqUna sagiq ang'uq. – This halibut is big.

Ship — Skuunaq (schooner), Raa'uciq (sailboat)Skuunaq tang'rk'gka. – I saw the ship.

Crying Place — QiawikQikertaq qiawik. – The island is a crying place

Karluk — Kal'ut, Kal'uqKal'uni sullianga. – I was born in Karluk.

Photograph, Picture — PatReitaq (N), PatRiitaq (S)PatRiitarnga. – Take a photograph of me.

Elderberry — TuuciikTuuciiqutat alagnangq'rtaartut. – The elderberry bushes always have berries.

Mark — CeterlukiKapsuutait cetertaallkait. – They used to mark their spears.

Water — TaangaqTamiinek taangaq aturtaarpet. – We use water in everything.

Share Them — IlakuillukiCuqlliipet niutaakaitkut, "ilakuilluki caqinek pingq'rkut." –  Our Elders used to tell us, "always share what you have."

Blocked — SapurluniSapuraanga. – I am weathered in. (literally, “It blocked me.”)

Dart Game — Augca'aqAugca'arciqut. – They are going to play the dart game.

Rib — RaatateqIsuwim raatatii mangirnartuk. – Seal ribs are good to gnaw on.

Alder — UqgwikUqgwit kua'akameng cillkataartut. – When alders burn they make a crackling sound.

Puffins — TunngatTunngat manigtut p'hnami. – The puffins are laying eggs on the cliff.

Vole, Mouse — Kriisaq (N), Ugna'aq (S)Kaugya'at ugna'anek nertaartut. – Foxes eat voles.

Limpet — Sawak'iitaq, SpuungqulaqSuupaligua sawak'iitanek. – I am making soup from limpets.

Mosquito — MengquiluqMengquilum kegkiinga.—The mosquito bit me.

Dog — Aikuq (N), Sapakaq (N), Piugta (S)April mal'ugnek piugtengq'rtuq. – April has two dogs.

Baby Song — InquqAturtuq inqumek carliani. – She's singing a baby song to her baby.

Current — CarwaqCarwaq tukniuq. – The current is strong.

Shed — SaRayaqTuntuq saRayami inimauq. – The reindeer is hanging in the shed.

Woman — ArnaqArnat peknartutaartut. – Women work hard.

Ice — CikuqNanwat cikumaut. – The lakes are frozen over.

Measure — UspellukuNuqaq usp'rkuta'aqa. – I am going to measure the atlatl.

Larsen Bay — UyaqsaqTamamta uyaqsarmiuwat. – We are all Larsen Bay people.

Northern Lights — QiugyatQiugyat asingcugtut unugpak. – The northern lights are beautiful/nice tonight.

Winter — UksuqTamuuliciqukut uksurpailan. – We will make dry fish before the winter.

Eagle Harbor — IrakAmlesqat Nuniarmiut Iragmek taimaut. – There are a lot of Old Harbor people that come from Eagle Harbor.

Harpoon — AyaquqAyaquq egtaakait cuumi arwanun. – They used to throw a harpoon at a whale before.

Hat — Saapeq; SlaapaqCuumi taaten angutet slaapamek aturtaallriit.—Before, old men used to wear hats.

Telephone — Niuwasuuteq, Niuwat'staaqUna niuwat'staaq. – This is a telephone.

Whale — Ar'uq, Arwaq (in Akhiok)Ar'ut amlertut. – There are many whales.

Fermented oil, berry pulp & vegetables — TugluqTuglulitaallriakut puuc'kaami, piturluta ukuq nangluku. – We always used to make tugluq in barrels, and eat it all winter.

Anchorage — KicarwikKicarwigmen agkutartua ernerpak. – I am going to Anchorage today.

Ghost — TanraqTanrat alingnartaartut. – Ghosts are always scary.

Awl — Siilaq, Siilagkaq (N)Siilaq ipegtuq. – The awl is sharp.

Dolphin, Porpoise — MangaqMangat kiagmi amlertaartut, paRaguutami maligkaturtaakiikut. – There are always a lot of dolphins in the summertime, they always follow us in the boat.

Half Dried Fish — Kac'amaasaqKac'amaasanek awa'i pilitaan'itut. – They don't make half dried fish anymore.

Sand — QaugyaqAsut qaugyanek canamataallriit. – They used to make pots out of sand.

Hunter — PisurtaTaugna suk pisurta. – This person is a hunter.

Harbor — Kangiyangcuk, KicarwikPaRaguutaqa kicak'gka kangiyangcugmi. – I anchored my boat in the harbor.

Meteor — PamyulekAkgua'aq pamyulegmek tangellrianga. – The other night I saw a meteor

Ear — CuuteqCuuteng'rtuq angsqanek. – He has large ears.

Dance — AgnguaqAgnguart'skuk! – Let's dance!