Words for Snow

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In the realm of overkill, we have scoured the Interned and found many words to describe snow in the Inuit (Eskimo) language. Here are some of them we have found and their definitions:

• amaujigaaluk - snow bunting
• amautligaq - snow bunting
• amautlikkauraq - snow bunting
• anamana - space between drifts and obstruction
• anniu - falling snow
• aniu - any snow or packed snow
• aniuvak - snowban
• api - ground snow
• apigaa - snow covered
• apiruq - snow covered
• apun - snow
• aputyaq - snow block shelter or snow patch
• apuyyaq - snow block shelter or snow patch
• aqixuqqaq - soft snow
• auksalaq - melting snow
• auksajaq - melting snow
• aukkaa - melts it (ice, snow)
• avatalibuuvaq - snow bunting
• illuktuq - snow blinded
• kafuq - snow goose (Chen hyperborea)
• Kalutoganiq - arrow shaped snow drift
• Kaioglaq - sharply etched wind eroded surface
• Karakartanaq - crusty snow that breaks under foot
• Kimoaqtruk - snow drift
• mapsuk - overhanging drift
• mapsaq - snowdrift overhang (ready to fall)
• mauruq - steps into, falls into a hole, breaks through (of snow)
• mauyaq - break through snow condition
• mavsa - snowdrift overhang (ready to fall)
• mitaixaq - soft snow on ice floe covering an open spot
• mixik - very soft snow
• natatgonaq - rough surface of large particles
• natibvik - snowdrift

• natibviksuq - snow is ground drifting
• niefiqsimaruq - insulating dwelling by building a wall of snow blocks about it and placing soft snow between the wall and the dwelling
• nuluq - snowshoe webbing
• nutabaq - fresh snow, powder snow
• piqsiqsuq - snow storming
• pukak - sugar snow (near ground)
• puuvruktuq - swims, plows through deep soft snow
• puuvraktuq - swims, plows through deep soft snow
• pukaangajuq - best snow for building an igloo
• pukak - bottom snow layer (depth hoar)
• qali - snow on the boughs of trees
• qamaniq - bowl like depression under tree
• qanigruaqtuq - snowing (no wind)
• qannik - snowflake
• qanniksuq - snowing (no wind)
• qannialaag - light falling snow
• qatiqsubniq - light snow, deep for walking
• qayuqjaq - rippled surface of snow
• qiqsruqaq - glazed snow in thaw time
• qimaugruk - snowdrift blocking a trail or in lee of a building
• quinzhee - snow shelter
• salumaroaq - smooth surface of fine particles
• sisuuq - snowslide, avalanche
• sitxiq - hard crusty snow
• siqoqtoaq - sun crust
• siqoq - smoky (drifting snow)
• sixxiq - hard crusty snow
• tagluk - snowshoes
• tumarinyiq - ripple type drift
• ukalliuraq - snowshoe rabbit, varying hare
• ukalliq - snowshoe rabbit, varying hare
• ukpik - snowly owl
• upsik - wind beaten snow