Looking For Professional Inuktut Translation Services? We Can Help.
Inuktut
Inuktut is an umbrella term used to represent the wide spectrum of dialects spoken across Inuit Nunangat (Inuit Homeland) – a large territory which spans from Alaska in the west to Greenland in the east. The landscape of Inuit dialects is just as vast as the lands populated by indigenous peoples inhabiting Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland and Alaska. Scholars have different views on the exact number of dialects that exist, depending on region and purpose of the classification.
Inuktut is recognized as an official language in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, and is the official language of the government of Nunatsiavut in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement recognizes Inuktut in the education system throughout the province of Quebec.
The Indigenous Languages Act (an Act supporting the advancement of the Indigenous languages of Canada and the recognition and respect of Indigenous language rights), drafted in 2019, is expected to change the status of Inuktut to an original language of Canada once it becomes a law.
Wintranslation is proud to offer Inuktut into English and English into Inuktut translation services. We have established fruitful partnerships with 40+ translators, to whom we outsourced over 100,000 words last year alone.
Wintranslation is proud to offer Inuktut into English and English into Inuktut translation services.
What do I need to know about Indigenous Languages?
Inuktitut and Inuktut Distinction
The term Inuktitut is still being widely used and accepted, and in many cases is a synonym to Inuktut. However, it doesn’t include some dialects (Inuinnaqtun, Inuvialuktun).
Some linguists argue that the term Inuktitut may be a result of a miscommunication that took place in the early contact period. It has been used for decades to refer to a language spoken by the Inuit people.
The term Inuit Language is also widely accepted when referring to all dialects of all Inuit people.
Why does Wintranslation use the term Inuktut?
Because we want to be respectful of our translators’ history and supportive in building their future. The term Inuktut was chosen by the Government of Nunavut to represent different dialects, including Inuvialuktun and Inuinnaqtun, as a single language, and we are proud to support the efforts.
Inuktut Dialects
The dialects (including Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuttut, Inuvialuktun) vary greatly from one end of the Arctic to the other. Nonetheless, Inuktut is remarkably consistent in structure and grammar. The difference between dialects is often a question of pronunciation and range of vocabulary. Wintranslation provides translation into any Inuktut dialect and can consult on which dialect to choose based on geographic location, age, and background of your target community.
Here’s a list of Inuktut languages and dialects and places where you can hear them:

Communities where Inuinnaqtun is commonly spoken:
- Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay)
- Qurluqtuq (Kugluktuk)
- Ulukhaqtuq (Ulukhaktok)
- Umingmaktok
- Bathurst Inlet
- Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay)
Communities where Nattiliŋmiut is commonly spoken:
- Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay)
- Uqšuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven)
- Talurjuaq (Taloyoak)
Communities where Qamani’tuaq is commonly spoken:
- Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake)
- Kangiqłiniq (Rankin Inlet)
- The Kivalliq Region
Communities where Paallirmiutut is commonly spoken:
- Arviat
- Tikirarjuaq (Whale Cove)
- Kangiqłiniq (Rankin Inlet)
Communities where Aivilingmiut is commonly spoken are located on the northern Hudson Bay shore:
- Kangiqłiniq (Rankin Inlet)
- Igluligaarjuk (Chesterfield Inlet)
- Salliq (Coral Harbour)
- Naujaat (Repulse Bay)
Communities where Baffin is commonly spoken:
- North Baffin
- Iglulik (Igloolik)
- Qausuittuq (Resolute)
- Ikpiarjuk (Arctic Bay)
- Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet)
- Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord)
- Sanirajaq (Hall Beach)
- Kangiqtugaapik (Clyde River)
- Central Baffin
- Qikiqtarjuaq
- Panniqtuuq (Pangnirtung)
- South Baffin
- Iqaluit
- Kinngait (Cape Dorset)
- Kimmirut
Communities where Sanikiluarmiut is commonly spoken:
- Sanikiluaq
Communities where Nunavik is commonly spoken:
- Kuujjuaq
- Kuujjuarapik
- Umiujaq
- Inukjuak
- Puvirnituq
- Akulivik
- Ivujivik
- Aupaluk
- Kangiqsualujjuaq
- Kangiqsujuaq
- Kangirsuk
- Quaqtaq
- Salluit
- Tasiujaq
- Whapmagoostui
Communities where Nunatsiavut is commonly spoken:
- Hopedale
- Postville
- Nain
- Makkovik
- Rigolet
- St. John’s
Communities where Siglitun is commonly spoken:
- Paulatuk
- Sachs Harbour
- Tuktoyaktuk
- Aklavik
What to do if you’re not sure which dialect you need?
Ask us! Wintranslation proudly translates all Inuit dialects and can provide guidance on which dialect is most suitable for a specific region and audience you’re targeting.
What are the 5 main challenges that you need to know about when looking for an Indigenous translation? Learn here.
We also have a map of Inuit Languages and an infographic that can help you navigate the Inuktut linguistic landscape.
An award-winning translation service provider based in North America, wintranslation has a fifteen year track record in managing complex multimedia and large-scale projects on time and on budget. Our company specializes in the translation of Canada’s aboriginal languages including Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, Malecite and Ojibwe. Please see our languages page for a full list of languages.
We would love to help you with your next Inuktut project!
Related Services
Montagnais Translation Services
The Montagnais language is one of the languages from the Aglic family and is spoken by over 8000 people called…
Oneida Translation Services
Oneida is an aboriginal language spoken by the Oneida people, mainly in New York and Wisconsin in the US and Ontario…
Algonquin Translation Services
Algonquin (Anicinàbemowin or Anishinàbemiwin) is an Indigenous language spoken by Algonquin First Nations communities primarily in the Ottawa River area…



