Ollu lea diibmu?
What time is it?
Usage
Asks the time. A typical answer is Diibmu lea vihtta "It is five o'clock"
Grammar Note
Literally "how much is the clock/hour?". Diibmu means both "hour" and "clock", and the subject follows the verb lea
Mii beaivi odne lea?
What day is it today?
Usage
Asks the day of the week. The answer names the weekday, for example Odne lea disdat "Today is Tuesday"
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Literally "what day is today?"
Diibmu lea vihtta váile golbma
It is five to three
Usage
The pattern for "minutes to the hour": the minutes come first and the hour last
Grammar Note
Váile means "lacking": "five lacking three" is five to three
Lea maŋŋit
It's late
Usage
Said when the hour is late, for example at night
Grammar Note
A subjectless pattern for stating the time or weather. Maŋŋit means "late (in time)"
Lea beare árrat
It's too early
Usage
Said when it is earlier than a meeting time or opening time
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Beare goes before an adjective or adverb and means "too"
Lea beare maŋŋit
It's too late
Usage
Said when a time or deadline has been missed
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Beare + maŋŋit gives "too late"; it is Lea maŋŋit "it is late" with beare added
Goas dat álgá?
When does it start?
Usage
Asks when an event, class or tour begins
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The question word goas comes first. Álgit is the verb "to begin"
Goas dat rahppo?
When does it open?
Usage
Asks when a shop, exhibition or venue opens. It does not ask when it closes
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Rahppot is the intransitive "to open"
Goas dat nohká?
When does it end?
Usage
Asks when an event, class or tour ends
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Nohkat is the verb "to end, to run out". It is a different word from nohkkat and the spellings are close, so take care
Man guhká dat bistá?
How long does it take?
Usage
Asks how long something takes or lasts. It fits the duration of an event better than "how long to get there"
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Bistit is the verb "to last, to take". Guhká is the adverb "for a long time"
mánnodagas bearjadahkii
From Monday to Friday
Usage
A phrase for describing opening or class days, as in Rámbuvra lea rabas mánnodagas bearjadahkii "The shop is open Monday to Friday"
Grammar Note
The locative -s means "from" and the illative -ii means "to, until". Weekday names are written in lower case
Ihttin lea miessemánu čihččet beaivi
Tomorrow is the seventh of May
Usage
An example of how dates are said: month (genitive) + ordinal + beaivi "day"
Grammar Note
The month goes in the genitive before the day (miessemánnu → miessemánu). In digits the day is written with a full stop, as in 5. beaivvi
Čájáhus rahppojuvvo njukčamánu viđat beaivvi
The exhibition opens on the fifth of March
Usage
Gives a start date; the sentence type found in announcements of exhibitions and events
Grammar Note
Rahppojuvvo is the passive of rahpat "to open". The date is genitive month + ordinal + beaivvi
Mu riegádanbeaivi lea geassemánu 18. beaivvi
My birthday is on 18 June
Usage
States your birthday as a date. Swap in your own month and day
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. "My birthday is …" is Mu riegádanbeaivi lea …. The month is in the genitive
Sárá bođii guokte beaivvi dassá
Sárá came two days ago
Usage
An example of "… days ago"; the name can be replaced by any other
Grammar Note
The noun after guokte "two" is in the genitive/accusative form (beaivvi). Dassá means "ago". With no gender distinction, Son bođii … means "he/she came …"
odne
Today
Usage
Adverb. Yesterday is ikte, tomorrow is ihttin. The spelling otne also occurs
Grammar Note
Used in sentences like Odne lea disdat "Today is Tuesday"
ikte
Yesterday
Usage
Adverb used in past-tense sentences, as in Ánte vulggii dáppe ikte "Ánte left here yesterday"
Grammar Note
The verb is in the past tense. Son is "he" or "she"; there is no gender distinction
ihttin
Tomorrow
Usage
Adverb used for plans, as in Ihttin mii vuoddját ruoktot "Tomorrow we drive home"
Grammar Note
The present tense covers the near future. Dates use the pattern Ihttin lea … beaivi
dál
Now
Usage
Adverb for the present moment. "Today" is odne
Grammar Note
Listed as an emphatic "now". It is a different word from odne "today"
dát vahkku
This week
Usage
A noun phrase. Used adverbially in a sentence, the noun takes the accusative vahku
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Dát "this" + vahkku "week", a composed phrase
boahtte vahkku
Next week
Usage
In a sentence it appears in the accusative as boahtte vahku, as in Mii áigut čoahkkinastit ráđđehusain boahtte vahku "We will meet the government next week"
Grammar Note
Boahtte means "next, coming" and does not inflect. For years: boahtte jagi "next year"
mannan vahkku
Last week
Usage
Mannan means "previous, last". The same word appears in mannan jagi "last year" and mannan vahkkoloahpa "last weekend"
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Mannan is an invariable modifier placed before the noun
vahkkoloahppa
Weekend
Usage
Noun, as in Mii leimmet doppe mannan vahkkoloahpa "We were there last weekend" (accusative vahkkoloahpa)
Grammar Note
A compound connected with vahkku "week"
mánnodat
Monday
Usage
"On Monday" is mánnodaga, as in Kursa álgá mánnodaga "The course starts on Monday"
Grammar Note
Weekday names are written in lower case. Mánnodagas is the locative "from Monday"
disdat
Tuesday
Usage
"On Tuesday" is disdaga, as in Čájáhus rahppo disdaga "The exhibition opens on Tuesday"
Grammar Note
Weekday names are written in lower case
gaskavahkku
Wednesday
Usage
Used as in Odne lea gaskavahkku "Today is Wednesday". In dated sentences it can stand in the nominative as a time adverbial
Grammar Note
Weekday names are written in lower case. The word contains vahkku "week"
duorastat
Thursday
Usage
"On Thursday" is duorastaga, as in Duorastaga maŋŋá gaskabeaivve rahppo čájáhus "On Thursday, after midday, the exhibition opens"
Grammar Note
Weekday names are written in lower case
bearjadat
Friday
Usage
Used as in Odne lea bearjadat "Today is Friday". "Until Friday" is bearjadahkii (illative)
Grammar Note
Weekday names are written in lower case
lávvardat
Saturday
Usage
"On Saturday" is lávvardaga or lávvordaga
Grammar Note
Weekday names are written in lower case. The spelling lávvordat is about as common
sotnabeaivi
Sunday
Usage
The Sunday of the week. Unlike most weekday names it ends in -beaivi
Grammar Note
Weekday names are written in lower case. The final part beaivi means "day"
ođđajagimánnu
January
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive ođđajagimánu is used, as in ođđajagimánu 23. beaivvi (23 January)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon".
guovvamánnu
February
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive guovvamánu is used, as in guovvamánu 15. beaivvi (15 February)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon".
njukčamánnu
March
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive njukčamánu is used, as in njukčamánu viđat beaivvi (the fifth of March)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon".
cuoŋománnu
April
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive cuoŋománu is used, as in cuoŋománu 29. beaivvi (29 April)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon". In the traditional Sami year this name can denote a season-month at a slightly different time. Here it means the calendar month
miessemánnu
May
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive miessemánu is used, as in miessemánu 5. beaivvi (5 May)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon". In the traditional Sami year this name can denote a season-month at a slightly different time. Here it means the calendar month
geassemánnu
June
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive geassemánu is used, as in geassemánu 18. beaivvi (18 June)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon". In the traditional Sami year this name can denote a season-month at a slightly different time. Here it means the calendar month
suoidnemánnu
July
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive suoidnemánu is used, as in suoidnemánu 20. beaivvi (20 July)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon". In the traditional Sami year this name can denote a season-month at a slightly different time. Here it means the calendar month
borgemánnu
August
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive borgemánu is used, as in borgemánu 27. beaivvi (27 August)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon". In the traditional Sami year this name can denote a season-month at a slightly different time. Here it means the calendar month
čakčamánnu
September
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive čakčamánu is used, as in čakčamánu 9. beaivvi (9 September)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon". In the traditional Sami year this name can denote a season-month at a slightly different time. Here it means the calendar month
golggotmánnu
October
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive golggotmánu is used, as in golggotmánu 18. beaivvi (18 October)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon". In the traditional Sami year this name can denote a season-month at a slightly different time. Here it means the calendar month
skábmamánnu
November
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive skábmamánu is used, as in skábmamánu 2. beaivvi (2 November)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon".
juovlamánnu
December
Usage
Month names are written in lower case. In dates the genitive juovlamánu is used, as in juovlamánu 14. beaivvi (14 December)
Grammar Note
The name contains mánnu, a word that means both "month" and "moon". In the traditional Sami year this name can denote a season-month at a slightly different time. Here it means the calendar month
okta beaivi
One day
Usage
Expresses a duration. From two onwards the noun changes form (guokte beaivvi "two days")
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The numeral okta + the noun in the nominative singular. Beaivi means both "day" and "sun"
okta vahkku
One week
Usage
Expresses a duration: the numeral okta "one" followed by the noun in the singular
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The numeral okta + the noun in the nominative singular
okta mánnu
One month
Usage
Expresses a duration. Mánnu means both "month" and "moon", so context decides
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The numeral okta + the noun in the nominative singular. The accusative and genitive are mánu
okta jahki
One year
Usage
Expresses a duration. In sentences the form jagi is common, as in juohke jagi "every year"
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The numeral okta + the noun in the nominative singular. The accusative and genitive are jagi (consonant gradation)
okta diibmu
One hour
Usage
Expresses a length of time. Diibmu means both "hour" and "clock"
Grammar Note
Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The numeral okta + the noun in the nominative singular
guokte diimmu
Two hours
Usage
Expresses a length of time, as in Čájálmas bistá sullii guokte diimmu "The show lasts about two hours"
Grammar Note
After the numeral guokte "two" the noun appears as diimmu instead of diibmu (the genitive/accusative form)
minuhtta
Minute
Usage
A unit of time, as in Busse boahtá viđa minuhta geahčen "The bus comes in five minutes"
Grammar Note
A loanword from Norwegian minutt adapted to North Sami spelling. After a numeral it appears as minuhta
iđit
Morning
Usage
Noun. "In the morning" is the adverb iđđes (Busse vuolgá diibmu gávccis iđđes "The bus leaves at eight in the morning"). Buorre iđit means "good morning"
Grammar Note
Árra iđit means "early morning". The word is also part of the greeting Buorre iđit
gaskabeaivi
Midday
Usage
Noun. "After midday" uses the genitive gaskabeaivve, as in maŋŋá gaskabeaivve
Grammar Note
A compound of gaska "middle" and beaivi "day": the middle of the day
maŋŋelgaskabeaivi
Afternoon
Usage
Noun. "In the afternoon" is maŋŋelgaskabeaivve
Grammar Note
A compound of maŋŋel "after" and gaskabeaivi "midday": the time after noon
eahket
Evening
Usage
Noun. "In the evening" is the adverb eahkes. Buorre eahket means "good evening"
Grammar Note
Eahket is also used in the greeting Buorre eahket
idja
Night
Usage
Noun. Buorre idja means "good night"
Grammar Note
Idja is also part of the greeting Buorre idja. In northern Sápmi the length of the night changes greatly between the midnight-sun summer and the polar-night winter
gaskaidja
Midnight
Usage
Noun, as in Gávpi lea rabas gaskaidjii "The shop is open until midnight"
Grammar Note
A compound of gaska "middle" and idja "night". The illative gaskaidjii means "until midnight"
juohke beaivvi
Every day
Usage
Adverbial phrase, as in …vudjet juohke beaivvi earret lávvordaga "…run every day except Saturday"
Grammar Note
Juohke "every" does not inflect; the noun after it is in the accusative (beaivi → beaivvi)
juohke vahku
Every week
Usage
Adverbial phrase, as in Smávvaskuvllas lea fásta olgobeaivi juohke vahku "The small school has a regular outdoor day every week"
Grammar Note
Juohke + the noun in the accusative (vahkku → vahku)
juohke mánu
Every month
Usage
Adverbial phrase used with dates, as in …12. beaivvi juohke mánu "on the 12th of every month"
Grammar Note
Juohke + the noun in the accusative (mánnu → mánu)
juohke jagi
Every year
Usage
Adverbial phrase, as in Mii lávet lavnnjiid loggut juohke jagi "We lift peat every year"
Grammar Note
Juohke + the noun in the accusative (jahki → jagi)
giđđa
Spring
Usage
Noun. "In spring" is the adverb giđđat, as in Giđđat sáhttet leat dulvvit "Floods can occur in spring"
Grammar Note
The traditional Sami year has eight seasons; here the word means spring of the usual four seasons
geassi
Summer
Usage
Noun. "In summer" is the adverb geasset, as in Dálvet sáhttá čuoigat, muhto geasset ii gal sáhte "In winter one can ski, but not in summer"
Grammar Note
The spelling geassi also matches some verb forms of geassit, so context tells them apart
čakča
Autumn
Usage
Noun. "In autumn" is the adverb čakčat, as in Čakčat álgá skuvla "School starts in autumn". The form čavčča also occurs
Grammar Note
Čavčča is the accusative form used in time expressions (boahtte čavčča "next autumn")
dálvi
Winter
Usage
Noun. "In winter" is the adverb dálvet (also dálvit)
Grammar Note
The traditional Sami year has eight seasons; here the word means winter of the usual four seasons
More Northern Sami phrases
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