In temperate countries, or countries that have the typical four seasons, winter holidays are closely associated with snow. Although English is the most universal language in the world and is believed to have a large vocabulary compared to other countries – there are only synonyms for words that are commonly used on a daily basis. That is why in English there is only one word for snow. But to a culture that spends every day in freezing harsh conditions a larger variety of words is required.
The Inuit for example live in communities that are found in the Arctic. The Inuit are sometimes referred to as Eskimos, but this can be offensive. Their language Inuktitut has over 100 words for snow. The word that just means ordinary snow is “tla”, but their descriptions are a lot deeper. Almost one for each letter of the alphabet:
- Allatla – Snow that is baked
- Blotla – Snow that is blowing
- Carpitla – Snow that is glazed with ice
- Depptla – A specific small snowball that had been handled by Johnny Depp that is preserved in Lucite
- Ertla – Snow that is used by Eskimo teenagers for erotic rituals
- Fritla – Snow that is fried
- Geltla – Dollars/money made of snow
- Hiryla – Snow that is in a beard
- Intla – Snow that has drifted indoors
- Jatla – Snow that got between your fingers, toes or in groin-folds
- Klin – Snow that is remembered
- Mortla – Snow that mounds on the dead
- Naklin – Snow that is forgotten
- Ontla – Snow that is found on objects
- Penstla – The mere idea of snow
- Quinaya – Snow that has been mixed with Husky poop
- Ragnitla – Two snowfalls at once that create a wavy pattern
- Slimtla – Snow that is crusty on top but is soft underneath
- Tidtla – Snow that is used for cleaning
- Wa-ter – Snow that is melted
- Ylaipi – Tomorrow’s snow
So many words for snow…
There are so many different categories of ‘snow’ word meanings! The most interesting are:
Food:
Fritla – Snow that is fried
Gristla – Snow that is deep fried
MacTla – Burgers made of snow
Husky associated snow:
Quinaya – Snow that has been mixed with Husky poop
Quinyaya – Snow that has been mixed with the poop of a lead dog (pulling a sleigh)
Dinliltla – Little balls of snow that cling to the fur of Huskies
Dinliltla – Little balls of snow that cling to the fur
Snow for tourists:
Tlalman – Snow that has been sold to German tourists
Tlalam – Snow that has been sold to American tourists
Tlanip – Snow that has been sold to Japanese tourists
Snow associated with Eskimo parties:
Warintla – Snow that is used to make Eskimo daiquiris
Mextla – Snow that is used to make Eskimo Margaritas
Erolinyat – Snow that drifts that contains an imprint of wild lovers
Tlarin – Snow that can be sculpted into the corsages that Eskimo girls pin to their whale parkas at prom time
Huantla – Special snow that is rolled into “snow reefers” and smoked by Eskimo youth
Dangerous snow:
Chachat – Swirling snow that will drive you crazy
Krotla – Snow that blinds you
Tlayopi – Snow drifts that die if you fall into
Truyi – An avalanche of snow
Tlapripta – Snow that burns your scalp and eyelids
Truyi – An avalanche of snow
Other fun snow words:
Puntla – A mouthful of snow because you told a lie (like washing your mouth out with soap)
Hahatla – Small packages of snow that are given as joke gifts
Learn other Inuit words here.
Photos: Shutterstock
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