Ainu (アイヌ・イタㇰ, Áynu ıták, Айну итак) is the language of the Ainu people, who are indigenous to the island of Hokkaido in Japan, as well as parts of Russia. Today, the Ainu language is extinct in Russia, and moribund in Hokkaido, where it is only spoken by a handful of elderly, virtually all of whom are also able to speak Japanese. As a tourist, you are most likely to encounter the Ainu language only in cultural performances.

Pronunciation guide

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN CLOSED ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH PULL TOILET MEN WOMEN FORBIDDEN

Hello.

Irankarapte. ( )

Hello. (informal)

He. ( )

How are you?

E=iwanke ya? ( ?)

Fine, thank you.

Ku=iwanke, iyairaykere. ( )

What is your name?

E=re hemanta ya? ( ?)

My name is ______ .

K=ani anakne ______ ku=ne. ( _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

Irankarapte. ( )

Please.

. ( )

Thank you.

Iyairaykere. ( )

You're welcome.

E. ( )

Yes.

E. ( )

No.

Somo. ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Ku=yayapapu. ( )

I'm sorry.

Ku=yayapapu. ( )

Goodbye (for those who leave)

Apunno paye yan. ( )

Goodbye (for those who stay)

Apunno oka yan. ( )

I can't speak Ainu language [well].

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

Amerika-itak ku=hawean eaykap ya? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

 ? ( ?)

Help!

 ! ( !)

Look out!

 ! ( !)

Good morning.

. ( )

Good evening.

. ( )

Good night.

. ( )

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

. ( )

Where is the toilet?

Asinru hunak an ya? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.

. ( .)

Don't touch me!

Somo tempa! ( !)

I'll call the police.

. ( .)

Police!

Keisatu! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

 ! ! ( ! !)

I need your help.

. ( .)

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

. ( .)

I lost my bag.

. ( .)

I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

Ku=sieye. ( .)

I've been injured.

. ( .)

I need a doctor.

. ( .)

Can I use your phone?

 ? ( ?)

Numbers

1

sine ( )

2

tu ( )

3

re ( )

4

ine ( )

5

asikne ( )

6

iwan ( )

7

arwan ( )

8

tupesan ( )

9

sinepesan ( )

10

wan ( )

11

sine ikasma wan ( )

12

tu ikasma wan ( )

13

re ikasma wan ( )

14

ine ikasma wan ( )

15

asikne ikasma wan ( )

16

iwan ikasma wan ( )

17

arwan ikasma wan ( )

18

tupesan ikasma wan ( )

19

sinepesan ikasma wan ( )

20

hotne ( )

21

sine ikasma hotne ( )

22

tu ikasma hotne ( )

23

re ikasma hotne ( )

30

wan ikasma hotne ( )

40

tu-hotne ( )

50

wan ikasma tu-hotne ( )

60

re-hotne ( )

70

wan ikasma re-hotne ( )

80

ine-hotne ( )

90

wan ikasma ine-hotne ( )

100

asikne-hotne ( )

200

( )

300

( )

1,000

( )

2,000

( )

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

( )

less

( )

more

( )

Time

now

tane ( )

later

( )

before

( )

morning

kuneywa ( )

afternoon

sirpeker, tokap ( )

evening

( )

night

kunne ( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM

( )

two o'clock AM

( )

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

tanto ( )

yesterday

numan ( )

tomorrow

nisatta ( )

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

( )

Monday

( )

Tuesday

( )

Wednesday

( )

Thursday

( )

Friday

( )

Saturday

( )

Months

January

toetannecup ( )

February

haprapcup ( )

March

mokiwtacup ( )

April

sikiutacup ( )

May

momawtacup ( )

June

simawtacup ( )

July

moniyorap ( )

August

siniyorap ( )

September

urepokecup ( )

October

suneancup ( )

November

kuekaycup ( )

December

ciwrup ( )

Colors

black

( )

white

retar ( )

gray

katuwa ( )

red

hure ( )

blue

( )

yellow

( )

green

hu ( )

orange

( )

purple

( )

brown

( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )

Learning more

• Ainu language grammar guide by Silja Ijas