Signs

1. Rabas

   Open

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Used on shop doors and opening-hours notices

   Grammar Note

   An adjective/adverb meaning open. It is used for a door that is open and for a business that is open

2. Gitta

   Closed

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Used when a shop or door is shut

   Grammar Note

   Means closed or shut; a dictionary example is Uksa lea gitta "The door is closed". As an adverb it also means "all the way to"

3. Borgguheapmi gildojuvvon

   No smoking

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Wording for a no-smoking notice in buildings or stations

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Both borgguheapmi "smoking" and gildojuvvon "forbidden" are real words, but this exact sign wording has not been confirmed. Rely on the other-language text on a real sign

4. Beassan gildojuvvon

   No entry

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Wording for areas closed to the public

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Beassan "access" and gildojuvvon "forbidden" are both real words, but this exact sign wording has not been confirmed

5. Ii doaimma

   Out of order

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Wording for a lift or machine that does not work

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. After the negative verb ii the main verb takes a special connegative form. A dictionary-style example is dat ii doaimma "it does not work"

6. Tráhppa

   Stairs

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Marks the direction of the stairs

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from Norwegian trapp adapted to Sami spelling. Nominative singular noun

7. Heaisa

   Lift / Elevator

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Marks where the lift is

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from Norwegian heis. Nominative singular noun

8. Hivsset

   Toilet

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Marks the toilets

   Grammar Note

   Nominative singular noun. Men and women are marked with Dievddut and Nissonat

9. Dievddut

   Men

   Usage

   Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Marks the men's toilet or changing room

   Grammar Note

   Plural of dievdu "man", as in the dictionary example Goappašat dievddut "both men". The exact wording used on signs is not confirmed, so check the other-language text too

10. Nissonat

    Women

    Usage

    Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Marks the women's toilet or changing room

    Grammar Note

    Plural of nisson "woman", as in the dictionary example nuorra nissonat "young women". The exact wording used on signs is not confirmed, so check the other-language text too

11. Apotehka

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Marks a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from Norwegian apotek. Nominative singular noun

12. Girdišillju

    Airport

    Usage

    Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Appears in airport directions and names

    Grammar Note

    A compound noun. A place name precedes it, as in Helsset-Vantaa girdišillju

13. Stašuvdna

    Station

    Usage

    Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Marks a station

    Grammar Note

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

14. Sisabeassan

    Entrance / Admission

    Usage

    Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Used for entry and admission notices

    Grammar Note

    Nominative singular noun. The Norwegian gloss is "entrance" and the Finnish is "admission"; sisabeassanbileahtta is an admission ticket. The physical door is uksa

15. Nuvttá

    Free (of charge)

    Usage

    Signs in Sápmi are often shown beside Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish text, so compare with the other line too. Marks something free of charge

    Grammar Note

    An adverb meaning "free of charge", found in dictionary examples. The á is an open a

Browse all TravelPhrases languages