Iņupiatun Eskimo Dictionary - SIL International

Appendix 3
Comparison of noun classes
Class Word Meaning
1a -V pana spear
talu; isu door; end
ini room
1b - i saääi; kaäi power, strength; origin
tapsi belt
2 -VV niu; qiviu leg; down
V-[i] tui; sii shoulder; shee fish
3 – V-n [underlying –ti] uumman heart
aämaun key
4a – VV-q/CV-q/CCV-q umiaq; ayaupiaq boat; cane
kigiñaq face
ikivàaq; mikiáàaq padding; ring finger
4b – CC-iq/VV[front stop]-i-q qipmiq dog
ayaupiq; urgiiáiq net stretcher; birch tree
4c – C[fricative]-V-q nasraq; kisaq; ilitqusiq; hood; anchor; spirit;
asiq
sleeve
putuguq; amaàuq toe; wolf
saniàaq; tulugaq side; raven
ugiihiq baldplate duck
5 - k akuàluk; aäaaluk bell; uncle
iyaàak rock
kukik fingernail
aqpik cloud berry
6 – VV-k kikiak nail
kuuk river
7a – C[voiced front]-[i]-C[back-stop] uqaâiq; sauniq; atiq word; bone; name
kamik; umik; siulik boot; beard; pike
7b – CC[voiced front]-[i]-C[back-stop] iàñiq son
igáiq trap
The above chart shows that nouns are classified according to the final consonant (if any) and the
preceding consonant. For example, in class 5b, nouns with a [back] consonant before the vowel and
final k form differently from other nouns ending in k. The same is true for [fricative] consonants in
class 4c. In class 7, the deciding factor is the [front voiced] consonant before /ik/ or /iq/.
It should be noted not every noun in Iñupiatun fits the pattern above neatly.
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