Iñupiaq varieties spoken in Alaska share much of the same vocabulary with variations in terms of pronunciation. Nonetheless, among the varieties there are some striking differences in very common terminology:
| variety | no |
| North Slope | naumi |
| Malimiutun | naagga |
| Ugiuvaŋmiutun | naumi |
| Qawiaraq | naumi |
| variety | thank you |
| North Slope | quyanaq |
| Malimiutun | taikuu |
| Ugiuvaŋmiutun | iliġanamiik |
| Qawiaraq | quyaana |
In addition to differences in basic vocabulary, varieties can also vary considerably in terms of the affixes they use and what they mean.
PRONUNCIATION
Where Iñupiaq varieties vary most is in the area of pronunciation.
Palatalization
As a general rule, the sounds ch, ñ, ḷ, ł̣ are used in Northern Iñupiaq where t (or s), n, l, and ł are used in Seward Peninsula Inupiaq:
| variety | ”he arrives" | ”Iñupiaq" | ”weather" | ”pickaxe" |
| North Slope | tikitchuq | Iñupiaq | siḷa | sikł̣aq |
| Kuuvaŋmiutun | tikitchuq | Iñupiaq | siḷa | sikł̣aq |
| Ugiuvaŋmiutun | tigituq | Inupiaq | sila | sikłaq |
| Qawiaraq | tikittuq | Inupiaq | sila | sikłaq |
Double consonants
Iñupiaq learners will notice that some dialects use double consonants much more than others. North Slope Iñupiaq tends to use double letters more tha other varieties:
| variety | ”other" | ”Siberian" | ”sometimes" | ”s/he is hurt" |
| North Slope | alla | Qulliq | iḷaanni | anniqsuq |
| Kuuvaŋmiutun | atla | Qutliq | iḷaatni | atniqsuq |
| Ugiuvaŋmiutun | ałła | Qułłiq | ilaatni | atnatuq |
SPECIAL SOUNDS
There are several sounds that are unique to specific varieties.
(‘) Glottal Stop
The glottal stop is a little catch in the back of the throat that temporarily stops the flow of air coming from the lungs. An example where English speakers make this sound is between the syllables in the expression « uh-oh».
Speakers of Kuuvaŋmiutun and Ugiuvaŋmiutun use this sound in a small number of words such as ani’ama (when I was born) or na’aa (ouch).
B
B is a sound that is heard in Seward Peninsula. It is almost always heard before an L sound. Most other varieties use a v instead. Shishmaref (Qigiqtaamiutun) spells with a v but pronounces it like a b.
| variety | “eyebrow" | “morning" |
| North Slope | qavlu | uvlaaq |
| Malimiutun | qavlu | uvlaaq |
| Ugiuvaŋmiutun | qablu | ublaaq |
| Shishmaref | qavlu | uvlaaq* |
* In Shishmaref, the written v is pronounced like a b.
Z, ZR
Z and ZR are used in the Bering Straits region, and are usually S or R in other varieties of Iñupiaq. ZR sounds like the “zur” in the word “azure”
| variety | “alone" | “eye" |
| North Slope | kisimi | iri |
| Ugiuvaŋmiutun | kizimi | izri |
CH (Fish River)
CH is used in Northern Iñupiaq after "strong I", but it is also used in Qawiaraq Inupiaq, especially in the Iġałuiŋmiut (Fish River) variety where other varieties would use S :
| variety | “tea" | “also; still" | “White Mountain |
| North Slope | saiyu | suli | Nasirvik |
| Malimiutun | saigu | suli | Nasirvik |
| Ugiuvaŋmiutun | saayu | suli | Nasizrvik |
| Iġałuiŋmiutun | chaiyu | chuli | Nachizrvik |
E (IŊALIQ)
Iŋaliq (Diomede) Inupiaq uses a E in some places where other varieties would use I. This is pronounced like “uh” like in “huh” :
| variety | “place" | a personal name |
| North Slope | ini | Kiminaq |
| Iŋaliq | ene | Kemenaq |
Final Ñ, N, T, or CH
One big difference between varieties is how certain words end. Sounds can also vary from community to community or from speaker to speaker.
| variety | “you" | “and you?" |
| Nuvuŋmiutun | ilviñ | itpiñ? |
| Malimiutun | ilvich | itpich? |
| Ugiuvaŋmiutun | iblin | itpin? |
| Qawiaraq | ilvit | itpit? |