Basic Verbs

1. mannat

   To go

   Usage

   The infinitive ("to go"), which is the dictionary form

   Grammar Note

   Infinitives end in -at / -it / -ut. Other forms change the ending, for example the imperative Mana! "go!"

2. boahtit

   To come

   Usage

   The infinitive "to come"

   Grammar Note

   Infinitive. The 2nd person singular present is boađát, where gradation turns ht into đ, sounding like the th in English "this"

3. borrat

   To eat

   Usage

   The infinitive "to eat"

   Grammar Note

   Infinitive. The 1st person singular present is boran (Mun boran láibi "I eat bread"), where gradation weakens rr to r

4. juhkat

   To drink

   Usage

   The infinitive "to drink"

   Grammar Note

   Infinitive. The 3rd person singular present is juhká (Son juhká "he/she drinks"); there is no gender distinction

5. oastit

   To buy

   Usage

   The infinitive "to buy"

   Grammar Note

   Infinitive. The 1st person singular present ends in -án, as in oastán

6. oaidnit

   To see

   Usage

   The infinitive "to see"

   Grammar Note

   Infinitive. It follows auxiliaries, as in Mun in sáhte oaidnit du "I cannot see you"

7. vuordit

   To wait

   Usage

   The infinitive "to wait"

   Grammar Note

   Infinitive. uo is a diphthong, pronounced as a single vowel

8. Háliidan vuolgit

   I want to go

   Usage

   Says you want to leave or set off. vuolgit means "to leave, to go away"

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Háliidan is followed by an infinitive, and the subject mun is dropped. For several people háliidan changes form

9. Háliidan borrat

   I want to eat

   Usage

   Says you want to eat

   Grammar Note

   Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Háliidan + infinitive, with the subject mun dropped. For several people háliidan changes form

10. Háliidan dán

    I want this

    Usage

    Said while pointing at something you want

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The object stands in the accusative dán "this". The subject mun is dropped; for several people the verb changes form

11. In dárbbaš dan

    I don't need it

    Usage

    Declines something you are offered

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. The negative verb in is followed by the fixed form dárbbaš, and the object is the accusative dan. When several people decline, the negative verb changes form

12. Mus lea dat

    I have it

    Usage

    Says that you have something. Literally "at me there is it"

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. There is no ordinary verb "to have"; the locative mus plus leat "to be" is used. For several items lea becomes leat

13. Mus ii leat dat

    I don't have it

    Usage

    Says that you do not have something

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Ii leat expresses "there is no". The negative verb agrees with the thing possessed; for several items it is eai leat

14. Sáhtát go veahkehit mu?

    Can you help me?

    Usage

    A courteous way to ask for help; North Sami has no polite/informal "you", so it suits anyone

    Grammar Note

    Composed sentence from known words and a known pattern. Sáhtát go veahkehit plus the object mu. The particle go follows the verb. Asking two people needs dual forms

15. Čájet munnje!

    Show me

    Usage

    An imperative for asking someone to show you something

    Grammar Note

    There is no word for "please", so the plain imperative is used. Gender is not marked. For several addressees the form changes

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