Sápmi
Sápmi (the traditional homeland of the Sami)
Usage
The traditional homeland of the Sami people, spanning Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. This is its name in Sami
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Sámis = "in/at/from", illative Sápmái = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Sápmi) next to it
Guovdageaidnu
Kautokeino
Usage
A municipality in Finnmark, northern Norway, with about 2,800 inhabitants. A centre of Sami culture, home to the Sámi allaskuvla (Sami University of Applied Sciences) and the Beaivváš Sami National Theatre
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Guovdageainnus = "in/at/from", illative Guovdageidnui = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Kautokeino) next to it
Kárášjohka
Karasjok
Usage
A municipality in northern Norway where about 80 per cent of the residents are Sami. Often called the "Sami capital", it has the building of the Norwegian Sámediggi (Sami Parliament) and the head office of NRK Sápmi
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Kárášjogas = "in/at/from", illative Kárášjohkii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Karasjok) next to it
Anár
Inari
Usage
A municipality in northern Finland and the country's largest by area. It is described as the only municipality in Finland with four languages in everyday use (Finnish, North Sami, Inari Sami and Skolt Sami). Lake Inari (Anárjávri) lies here
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Anáris = "in/at/from", illative Anárii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Inari / Enare) next to it
Ohcejohka
Utsjoki
Usage
A municipality at the northern tip of Finland with only about 1,200 residents, roughly 0.25 people per square kilometre. It borders Norway
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Ohcejogas = "in/at/from", illative Ohcejohkii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Utsjoki) next to it
Njuorggán
Nuorgam
Usage
The northernmost village of Finland and of the whole European Union, on the Finnish bank of the Deatnu (Tana/Teno) river, with roughly a hundred residents
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Njuorggámis = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Nuorgam) next to it
Avvil
Ivalo
Usage
The largest village of the Inari (Anár) municipality and its administrative centre. It has an airport
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Avvilis = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Ivalo) next to it
Čeavetjávri
Sevettijärvi
Usage
A village in the Inari municipality close to the Norwegian border. It is the main centre of the Skolt Sami in Finland: most of its roughly 300 residents speak Skolt Sami
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Local signs often show the official name (Sevettijärvi) next to it
Gárasavvon
Karesuando
Usage
A border village on both banks of the Muonio river, split between Finland (Enontekiö) and Sweden (Kiruna municipality), with about 470 inhabitants in total
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Gárasavvonis = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Karesuando (Sweden) / Kaaresuvanto (Finland)) next to it
Giron
Kiruna
Usage
A town in northern Sweden. The Sami-language television service SVT Sápmi is based here
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Gironis = "in/at/from", illative Gironii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Kiruna) next to it
Gilbbesjávri
Kilpisjärvi
Usage
A village in the municipality of Enontekiö (Eanodat) in northern Finland
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Gilbbesjávrris = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Kilpisjärvi) next to it
Roavvenjárga
Rovaniemi
Usage
The northernmost city in Finland and the administrative centre of the northern province. It has Finland's northernmost university and hospital
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Roavvenjárggas = "in/at/from", illative Roavvenjárgii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Rovaniemi) next to it
Soađegilli
Sodankylä
Usage
A municipality in northern Finland that borders Inari, Kittilä, Rovaniemi and others
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Local signs often show the official name (Sodankylä) next to it
Duortnus
Tornio
Usage
A town (a city municipality) in northern Finland
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Local signs often show the official name (Tornio) next to it
Oulu
Usage
A port city on the Gulf of Bothnia, founded in 1605 by King Charles IX of Sweden. It is the oldest town in northern Finland and has more than 200,000 inhabitants
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Oulus = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Oulu) next to it
Helsset
Helsinki
Usage
The capital and largest city of Finland. Its Sami name is Helsset
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Helssegis = "in/at/from", illative Helssegii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Helsinki) next to it
Helsset-Vantaa girdišillju
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
Usage
Finland's largest airport, near Helsinki, and one of the most important international airports in northern Europe
Grammar Note
Helsset is Helsinki and girdišillju is "airport". The name is the place name followed by the word for airport
Gihttela girdišillju
Kittilä Airport
Usage
An airport at Kittilä in northern Finland, used mostly by tourists heading for Levi and other ski resorts. It has regular flights to Helsinki-Vantaa
Grammar Note
Gihttel is the Sami name of Kittilä; the genitive Gihttela modifies girdišillju "airport"
Romsa
Tromsø
Usage
The main city of northern Norway, with more than 70,000 inhabitants and the University of Tromsø. Romsa names both the city and the county
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Romssas = "in/at/from", illative Romsii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Tromsø) next to it
Áltá
Alta
Usage
A town in Finnmark, northern Norway, known for the Alta rock carvings, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Álttás = "in/at/from", illative Áltái = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Alta (Álaheadju is another Sami form)) next to it
Álttá báktesárgumat
Alta rock carvings
Usage
Rock carvings found around Alta in Finnmark, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site
Grammar Note
báktesárgumat refers to rock carvings (the wiki also uses báktegovat). Álttá is the genitive of Áltá, "of Alta"
Hámmárfeasta
Hammerfest
Usage
A port town in Finnmark, northern Norway, which received its town charter in 1789
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Hámmárfeasttas = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Hammerfest) next to it
Girkonjárga
Kirkenes
Usage
A town in the far east of Finnmark and the administrative centre of Sør-Varanger municipality. It received its town charter in 1998
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Girkonjárggas = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Kirkenes) next to it
Čáhcesuolu
Vadsø
Usage
The administrative centre of Finnmark. Many Finnish (Kven) immigrants arrived in the 1800s, and their influence is still visible in the town's culture
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Čáhcesullos = "in/at/from", illative Čáhcesullui = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Vadsø) next to it
Leavdnja
Lakselv
Usage
The administrative centre of Porsanger municipality, with about 2,200 inhabitants. The E6 road runs through it
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Leavnnjas = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Lakselv) next to it
Porsáŋgu
Porsanger
Usage
A municipality in Finnmark and the third largest in Norway by area. Its centre is Lakselv
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Porsáŋggus = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Porsanger) next to it
Unjárga
Nesseby
Usage
A municipality in Finnmark whose traditional livelihoods are reindeer herding and fishing
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Unjárggas = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Nesseby) next to it
Buolbmát
Polmak
Usage
A village in Finnmark about one kilometre from the Finnish border and from Nuorgam (Njuorggán). Both Sami and Norwegian are spoken here
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Local signs often show the official name (Polmak) next to it
Máze
Masi
Usage
A village in the municipality of Kautokeino (Guovdageaidnu)
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Mázes = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Masi) next to it
Gáivuotna
Kåfjord
Usage
A municipality in northern Troms within the Sami-language administrative area. Fishing, farming and duodji (handicraft) are important, and it hosts the Riddu Riđđu festival
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Gáivuonas = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Kåfjord) next to it
Bearalváhki
Berlevåg
Usage
A municipality in Finnmark with a little over 1,000 inhabitants, bordering Tana, Båtsfjord and Vadsø
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Bearalvágis = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Berlevåg) next to it
Budejju
Bodø
Usage
A city in northern Norway and the administrative centre of Nordland county
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Budejjus = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Bodø) next to it
Troandin
Trondheim
Usage
The third largest city in Norway by population. Sami from different countries held a meeting here on 6 February 1917, which is why 6 February is the Sami National Day
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Troandimis = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Trondheim (Troanddin is a variant spelling)) next to it
Ubmi
Umeå
Usage
The seat of Västerbotten county in northern Sweden, with about 75,000 inhabitants
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Ubmis = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Umeå) next to it
Luleju
Luleå
Usage
The seat and largest city of Norrbotten county in northern Sweden
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Lulejus = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Luleå) next to it
Johkamohkki
Jokkmokk
Usage
A town and municipality in northern Sweden, one of the four municipalities that made up the Swedish Sami-language administrative area before it was widened in 2010
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Local signs often show the official name (Jokkmokk) next to it
Váhčir
Gällivare
Usage
A municipality in Norrbotten county, northern Sweden, also called Jiellevárri in Sami. One of the four municipalities in the Sami-language administrative area before 2010
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Local signs often show the official name (Gällivare) next to it
Stockholbma
Stockholm
Usage
The capital of Sweden and the largest city in the Nordic countries
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Stockholmmas = "in/at/from", illative Stockholbmii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Stockholm) next to it
Finnmárku
Finnmark
Usage
The northernmost region of Norway, about 48,600 square kilometres, the largest in Norway by area
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Local signs often show the official name (Finnmark) next to it
Deatnu
Tana (Teno) river
Usage
A river on the border between Norway and Finland. Its Norwegian name is Tana and its Finnish name is Teno
Grammar Note
The Sami river name. The stem changes in the locative (Deanus) because of consonant gradation
Norga
Norway
Usage
The country name; Norga in Sami. Its capital is Oslo
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Norggas = "in/at/from", illative Norgii = "to". Local signs often show the official name (Norge) next to it
Suopma
Finland
Usage
The country name; Suopma in Sami. Its capital is Helsinki (Helsset)
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Suomas = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Suomi) next to it
Ruoŧŧa
Sweden
Usage
The country name; Ruoŧŧa in Sami (the locative is Ruoŧas). Its capital is Stockholm (Stockholbma)
Grammar Note
A Sami place name. Locative Ruoŧas = "in/at/from". Local signs often show the official name (Sverige) next to it
Guovdageainnu girku
Kautokeino Church
Usage
The church of Kautokeino. The first church was built in 1701 and burned down in 1944; the present one was completed in 1967 and seats about 300
Grammar Note
Guovdageainnu is the genitive of Guovdageaidnu and girku means "church": "the church of Kautokeino"
Kárášjoga boares girku
Karasjok Old Church
Usage
A wooden church in Karasjok built in 1807, with about 140 seats. It is the "old church"
Grammar Note
Kárášjoga is the genitive of Kárášjohka, boares means "old" and girku "church"
Diehtosiida
Usage
The science building in Kautokeino that houses the Sámi allaskuvla (Sami University of Applied Sciences). It officially opened on 4 November 2009
Grammar Note
A proper name built from Sami words for knowledge and a house/community. Use the spelling as it is
More Northern Sami phrases
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