Basic Nouns

1. čáhci

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Nominative singular. North Sami has neither articles nor grammatical gender. The č is pronounced /tʃ/, like English ch

2. borramuš

   Food

   Usage

   A general word for food

   Grammar Note

   A noun made from the verb borrat "to eat". A synonym is biebmu

3. ruhta

   Money

   Usage

   The word for money when shopping or paying

   Grammar Note

   The plural nominative is ruđat: consonant gradation turns ht into đ, which sounds like the th in English "this"

4. hivsset

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word for asking where the toilet is

   Grammar Note

   Nominative singular, used as in Gos lea hivsset? "Where is the toilet?". The ss is a long consonant

5. dálkkas

   Medicine

   Usage

   The word for medicine at a pharmacy or hospital

   Grammar Note

   Nominative singular. The á is an open a and the kk is a long consonant

6. čoavdda

   Key

   Usage

   Used when asking for a key, for example at a hotel

   Grammar Note

   Nominative singular. The dd is a long consonant and č is /tʃ/

7. bileahtta

   Ticket

   Usage

   The word for a ticket for transport or entry

   Grammar Note

   Nominative singular. The compound girdibileahtta means a flight ticket. The ea is a diphthong

8. pássa

   Passport

   Usage

   The passport shown at borders and hotels

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from Norwegian pass, fitted to Sami spelling. The á is an open a

9. telefovdna

   Phone

   Usage

   The word for a phone

   Grammar Note

   A noun of loan origin. The compound mobiilatelefovdna denotes a mobile phone

10. stašuvdna

    Station

    Usage

    Used when asking about a train or bus station

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from Norwegian stasjon. The š sounds like English sh

11. buohcceviessu

    Hospital

    Usage

    Used to ask where a hospital is or to say you need one

    Grammar Note

    A compound of buohcci "patient" and viessu "house", written as one word

12. politiija

    Police

    Usage

    Used when calling the police or looking for a police station

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from Norwegian. In Sami riŋgii politiijii "call the police", politiijii is the illative form

13. gávpi

    Shop

    Usage

    The word for a shop where you buy things

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. It also means "trade" or "business". The á is an open a

14. latnja

    Room

    Usage

    The word for a room, for example in a hotel

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The tn is a consonant cluster and stress is on the first syllable. The spelling lanja also occurs

15. geaidnu

    Road

    Usage

    The word for a road when asking the way

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The ea and ai are diphthongs, each pronounced as a single vowel

16. bearaš

    Family

    Usage

    The word for family. "My family" is mu bearaš

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The š sounds like English sh; there are no articles or gender

17. namma

    Name

    Usage

    The word for a name; Mu namma lea … introduces yourself

    Grammar Note

    The accusative and genitive is nama, where gradation weakens mm to m (as in du nama "your name")

18. oaivi

    Head

    Usage

    Used to point out a body part, for example when the head hurts

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The oa is a diphthong. Body-part nouns also have no articles or gender

19. čalbmi

    Eye

    Usage

    Used to describe an eye problem

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The plural, čalmmit, changes the consonants. The č is /tʃ/

20. bátni

    Tooth

    Usage

    Used when a tooth hurts or at the dentist

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The á is an open a. A basic body-part word

21. čotta

    Throat

    Usage

    Used to describe a sore throat

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. "Neck" is a different word, čeabet. The č is /tʃ/

22. čoavji

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Used to describe stomach or belly trouble

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The oa is a diphthong and the č is /tʃ/

23. sealgi

    Back

    Usage

    Used to describe back pain

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The ea is a diphthong

24. juolgi

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Used for leg or foot pain; one word covers both leg and foot

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The one word covers both leg and foot, which is enough when travelling

25. giehta

    Hand

    Usage

    Used to describe a hand injury

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. It can also mean "arm". The ie is a diphthong

26. raddi

    Chest

    Usage

    Used to describe chest pain or other chest trouble

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular. The dd is a long consonant. There are no articles or gender

27. hotealla

    Hotel

    Usage

    Used to ask about or name your accommodation

    Grammar Note

    A loanword fitted to Sami spelling. The spelling hotelle also occurs

28. girdišillju

    Airport

    Usage

    Used to ask how to get to the airport

    Grammar Note

    A compound written as one word. The dictionary also lists girdigieddi and girdinšillju. The š sounds like English sh

29. ambassáda

    Embassy

    Usage

    Used to find an embassy, for example after losing a passport

    Grammar Note

    A loanword. The á is an open a and stress is on the first syllable

30. čáskadanbiila

    Fire engine

    Usage

    Used for the fire engine in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    A compound ending in biila "car", written as one word. A synonym is jáddadanbiila

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