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Glite Dictionary
Kalaallit Nunaat

Kalaallit Nunaat

9.9
The Greenlandic name for Greenland, a large island that governs itself within the Kingdom of Denmark
  • proper noun
translation icon : Groenlandia
  • Kalaallit Nunaat gained greater self-government from Denmark in 2009.

Examples

  • Climate change has had a visible impact on the ice sheets surrounding Kalaallit Nunaat.

  • The people of Kalaallit Nunaat have a rich and unique cultural heritage.

  • I would love to visit Kalaallit Nunaat someday.

  • Did you know that Kalaallit Nunaat is mostly covered by ice?

  • Kalaallit Nunaat is known for its stunning landscapes and vast wilderness.

  • The capital of Kalaallit Nunaat is Nuuk, which is a vibrant city.

  • In Kalaallit Nunaat, traditional practices coexist with modern lifestyles.

Synonyms

Greenland
vsKalaallit Nunaat
49 1.1

A large island between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean that has its own government but belongs to Denmark

is the indigenous language name for the same territory
Gronland
vsKalaallit Nunaat
5.6

A very large island in the North Atlantic near the Arctic that has its own government as part of Denmark

describes it as an autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom

Surface Forms

Kalaallit Nunaat main

Morphology

Kalaallit + Nunaat

Both constituent items are Greenlandic and no English definitions are provided, so an average B1 English learner who knows English vocabulary would not be able to derive the referent from the parts. As a language-specific proper name (a toponym), its meaning 'Greenland' is tied to cultural/lexical knowledge rather than transparent English composition, making it unpredictable for learners.

Etymology

Kalaallit Nunaat comes from two Greenlandic words: Kalaallit meaning 'Greenlanders' and Nunaat meaning 'land'. So Kalaallit Nunaat literally means 'land of the Greenlanders' and is the Greenlandic name for Greenland today.