saaniluk

Greenlandic

Etymology

The stem of the word comes from the noun saaneq (“bone”). The suffix '-luk' means 'bad' or 'ill'. The direct translation of turtle is 'bad bones' or 'bad boned creature'.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /saːni.luk/

Noun

saaniluk (plural saaniluit)

1. turtle, tortoise
   • 2009, ?, Sermitsiaq AG‎^[1]:

     Innga allaanngilaq saaniluk takisuumik qungasilik. Anna soorlu arferujussuaq.

     It looks like a turtle with a long neck. The one that looks like a giant whale.

   • 2016, C.S. Lorentzen, Suluk, page 14:

     Ukiulli 53 millionit matuma siornatigut allaanerulluinnarsinavoq. Ujaranngornerit saanilunnit, kuukkooriarsuarnit, aapakaanit tapirinillu pisut takutippaat, uumasut tamakkua sumiiffinni tamaani uumasinnaasimaneranut naammattumik kiassueqarsimasoq.

     But 53 million years ago, the climate was quite different. Fossils of turtles, alligators, primates and tapirs reveal that it was warm enough for these creatures to survive in this region, although still with the absence of the sun in the winter months.

Declension

Declension of saaniluk

	singular	plural
absolutive	saaniluk	saaniluit
ergative	saaniluup	saaniluit
allative	saanilummut	saanilunnut
ablative	saanilummit	saanilunnit
prosecutive	saanilukkut	saanilutsigut
locative	saanilummi	saanilunni
instrumental	saanilummik	saanilunnik
equative	saaniluttut	saaniluttut

References

• saaniluk in Katersat