

The longest word in the Greenlandic language
Published: 12/06/2020
Reading time: 2 minutes
Greenlandic is a polysynthetic language
If you go to a website called kalak.gl it claims the longest word is this: “Nalunaarasuartaatee-ranngualioqatigiiffissua-lioriataallaqqissupiloru-jussuanngortartuinnaka-sinngortinniamisaalinn-guatsiaraluallaqqooqiga-minngamiaasiinngooq.” Consisting of 153 letters. It means something along the lines of: “There were reports that they apparently – God knows for how many times – once again had considered whatever I, my poor condition despite, still could be considered to be quite adept and resourceful as initiator to put a consortium together for the establishment of a range of small radio stations.
Now, being the curious soul that I am, and since there has never been an official statement made about the longest word, I thought I would ask the national department of language to see whether or not this was correct, and to my surprise, they had an even longer word: “Nalunaarasuartaatee-raARAnngualioqatigiiffissua-lioriataallaqqissupiloru-jussuanngortartuinnaka-sinngortinniamisaalinn-guatsiaraluallaqqooqiga-minngamiaasiinngooq” – the only difference is the capitalized letters: “ARA“, making the word 156 letters and simply changing the translation of “-small radio stations” to “-tiny radio stations”.

BUT, that is a word which would never actually be said out loud, it’s simply a fun brain teaser, and you’re free to try and come up with an even longer word, which isn’t impossible, just quite difficult.
The longest singular word accepted in the Greenlandic dictionary is: “Inuussutissarsiorsinnaajunnaarnersiutilik.” Consisting of 41 letters, it hardly gets close to the longest word, but could easily be made longer, a fun little fact for you.
If you’d like to learn some Greenlandic yourself check out this tour in Ilulissat!
Read more travel blogs from Lasse Kyed
-
5.00(1)
Northern Lights from a mountain top | Snowshoe tour in Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration3 hoursFrom 2800 DKKSee more -
West Coast and Disko Bay Adventure | 8 Days
Tour startsFrom CopenhagenDuration8 daysFrom 29800 DKKSee more -
Whale & Musk Ox Safari by boat | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration8 hoursFrom 4300 DKKSee more -
4.67(3)
The Great Ice Adventure | 12 Days | Disko Bay & West Greenland
Tour startsFrom CopenhagenDuration12 daysFrom 38400 DKKSee more -
Settlement Tour By Dogsled | Tasiilaq | East Greenland
Tour startsTasiilaqDuration2 daysFrom 2700 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Ice Fishing | Kangerlussuaq | West Greenland
Tour startsKangerlussuaqDuration3 hoursFrom 750 DKKSee more -
5.00(2)2026 departures available!
11-Day Adventure Across Greenland’s Scenic Towns | West Greenland
Tour startsFrom CopenhagenDuration11 daysFrom 44900 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)1 To 6 Passengers Included
Private Whale Safari | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration4 hoursFrom 8400 DKKSee more -
5.00(5)
Meet Sled Dogs | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration1.5 hoursFrom 430 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)1 To 6 Passengers Included
Private Catch’n’Eat | Qooqqut Nuan | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration6 hoursFrom 14500 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
4 hours Dogsledding tour| Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration4 hoursFrom 2595 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)1 To 6 Passengers Included
The Calving Glacier Eqi & Paakitsoq | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration8 hoursFrom 16000 DKKSee more -
Whale Watching and Iceberg Safari | Tasiilaq | East Greenland
Tour startsTasiilaqDuration3 hoursFrom 1400 DKKSee more -
4.00(1)
City Walk | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration2 hoursFrom 1590 DKKSee more -
Snowshoe to the top of Lille Malene | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration5 hoursFrom 3190 DKKSee more -
Price for 4 people!
World Heritage Hvalsey by Helicopter | Qaqortoq | South Greenland
Tour startsQaqortoqDuration1 hourFrom 11200 DKKSee more -
Whale Safari | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration4 hoursFrom 2900 DKKSee more -
3-Day Winter Journey into Ilulissat’s Backcountry | West Greenland
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 daysFrom 7950 DKKSee more -
2026 Departures!
8-day Iceberg Horse Riding Tour | South Greenland
Tour startsNarsarsuaqDuration8 daysFrom 26000 DKKSee more