# Nunarput, utoqqarsuanngoravit

"Nunarput, utoqqarsuanngoravit" (Greenlandic:; Danish: "Vort ældgamle land under isblinkens bavn",; English: "You, Our Ancient Land") is the national anthem of Greenland, an autonomous state of the Kingdom of Denmark. Written by Henning Jakob Henrik Lund in 1912, it was officially adopted in 1916. Music for it was later composed by Jonathan Petersen in 1937.
The reference to Kalaallit as "half-grown children" yearning to join the "advanced nations" of the world has been considered controversial in modern times. Since 1979, "Nuna asiilasooq" ("The Land of Great Length"), an ethnic anthem used by the self-governing Kalaallit, has also been officially recognised by the government.

## History

The song was written in 1912 by Greenlandic priest Henning Jakob Henrik Lund, originally set to the melody of the Swedish national anthem, "Du gamla, du fria". It was one of the first Greenlandic national songs and has been suggested to have been written as a national battle song for politicians pushing for a bill on home rule.
In 1937, organist and piano teacher Jonathan Petersen composed a melody for the anthem. In 1916, it was translated into Danish by Eskimologist William Thalbitzer. It was the only Greenlandic song translated into Danish, and remained so for many years, and as such was given official status as the national anthem of Greenland by Denmark. It was performed in this role at the University of Copenhagen in 1921 for the 200th anniversary of missionary Hans Egede's landing in Greenland and in 1937 for King Christian X's 25-year jubilee. In 1985, Thalbitzer's Danish translation was refined by theologian Mads Lidegaard.

## Lyrics

The fifth verse is more often sung after the first verse than the second verse in short versions.
| Greenlandic lyrics | IPA transcription | 1916 Danish translation (by William Thalbitzer) | 1985 Danish translation (by Mads Lidegaard) | Literal English translation of Lidegaard's translation | Poetic English translation |
| I Nunarput, utoqqarsuanngoravit Niaqqut ulissimavoq qiinik. Qitornatit kissumiaannarpatit Tunillugit sineriavit piinik. II Akullequtaasutut merlertutut Ilinni perortugut tamaani Kalaallinik imminik taajumavugut Niaqquit ataqqinartup saani. III Atortillugillu tamaasa pisit ingerlaniarusuleqaagut, nutarterlugillu noqitsigisatit siumut, siumut piumaqaagut. IV Inersimalersut ingerlanerat tungaalittiterusuleqaarput, oqaatsit "aviisit" qanoq kingunerat atussasoq erinigileqaarput. V Taqilluni naami atunngiveqaaq, kalaallit siumut makigitsi. Inuttut inuuneq pigiuminaqaaq, saperasi isumaqaleritsi. | 1 [nʉ.nɑp.put‿ʉ.tɔq.qɑs.su.aŋ.ŋo.ʁa.vit] [ni.ɑq.qut‿ʉ.lis.sy.ma.vɔq qiː.nik] [qi.tɔn.na.tˢit kis.su.mi.aːn.nɑp.pa.tˢit] [tʉ.niɬ.ɬu.ɣit si.nə.ʁi.a.vit piː.nik] 2 [a.kuɬ.ɬə.qu.taː.sʉ.tʉt məɬ.ɬət.tʉ.tʉt] [i.lin.ni pə.ʁɔt.tu.ɣut ta.maː.ni] [ka.laːɬ.ɬi.nik ym.mi.nik taː.ju.ma.vu.ɣut] [ni.ɑq.qu.it a.tɑq.qi.nɑt.tup saː.ni] 3 [a.tɔt.tˢiɬ.ɬu.ɣiɬ.ɬu ta.maː.sa pi.sit] [i.ŋəɬ.ɬa.ni.ɑ.ʁu.sʉ.lə.qaː.ɣut] [nʉ.tɑt.təɬ.ɬu.ɣiɬ.ɬu nɔ.qit.tˢi.ɣi.sa.tˢit] [si.u.mut si.u.mut pi.u.mɑ.qaː.ɣut] 4 [i.nəs.sy.ma.ləs.sʉt i.ŋəɬ.ɬa.nə.ʁat] [tu.ŋaː.lit.tˢi.tə.ʁu.sʉ.lə.qɑːp.put] [ɔ.qaːt.tˢit a.viː.sit qa.nɔq ki.ŋu.nə.ʁat] [a.tʉs.sa.sɔq ə.ʁi.ni.ɣi.lə.qɑːp.put] 5 [tɑ.qiɬ.ɬʉ.ni naː.mi a.tuŋ.ŋi.və.qɑːq] [ka.laːɬ.ɬit si.u.mut ma.ki.ɣit.tˢi] [i.nʉt.tʉt i.nʉː.nəq pi.ɣi.u.mi.nɑ.qɑːq] [sa.pə.ʁa.si i.su.mɑ.qa.lə.ʁit.tˢi] | I Vort ældgamle land under isblinkens bavn med lysende snehår om dit hoved! Du trofaste moder, som bar os i din favn, mens dine kysters havvildt os du loved. II Som umodne børn er vi grot av din jord, hos dig voxet op, blandt dine fjælde. Vort navn er Kalâtdlit, i sagnets dybe spor ærværdigt for dit hvide åsyns ælde. III Og alt mens din rigdom blev brugt til vor gavn, vi længtes mod verdens nye former. Forløst fra de snærende bånd i hjemmets stavn nu fremad, frem mod fjærne mål vi stormer. IV I voxne nasjoner, stræk ud jeres hånd! Jert spor vi nu længes snart at følge. En verden av bøger skal mane frem den ånd, som bær os op på nykulturens bølge. V Umuligt nu længer at dvæle i ro – Kalâtdlit, stand op! Det ny imøde! Som fribårne mennesker herefter vil i gro; begynd at tro på evnens morgenrøde! | I Vort ældgamle land under isblinkens bavn med lysende snehår om dit hoved! Du trofaste moder, som bar os i din favn mens dine kysters rigdom du os loved. II Som halvvoksne børn er vi groet af din jord og trygt vokset op blandt dine fjelde, vi kalder os kalaallit i landet, hvor vi bor ærbødigt for dit hvide åsyns ælde. III Og alt mens vi bruger dit bugnende flor vi længes mod verdens nye former, vi fjerner hver hindring, som hæmmer dig, vor mor og frejdigt frem mod fjerne mål vi stormer. IV De fremskredne folk et eksempel os gav og det vil vi også stræbe efter, mens bøgernes verden er vores vandringsstav, som bær os frem og giver nye kræfter. V Umuligt nu længer at blive i ro, kalaallit, mod store mål vi stævner. Som fribårne folk vi i landet vil bo; begynd at tro på jeres egne evner. | I Our ancient land under ice glimmer's phryctoria with glowing snow-hair around your head! You faithful mother, who carried us in your embrace while your shores' riches you promised us. II As half-grown children, we are sprouted from your soil and safely grown up among your mountains, we call ourselves kalaallit in the land where we live reverently for the oldness of your white face. III And all while we use your abundant bloom we long for new forms of the world, we remove every obstacle that hinders you, our mother and cheerfully towards distant goals we storm. IV The advanced people gave us an example and we will also strive for that, while the world of books is our walking stick, which carries us forward and gives new strength. V It's impossible now to stay in rest longer, kalaallit, towards great goals we meet. As freeborn people we in the country will live; start believing in your own abilities. | I Our country, which has become so old your head is all covered with white hair. Always held us, your children, in your bosom and gave us the riches of your coasts. II As middle children in the family we blossomed here Kalaallit, we want to call ourselves before your proud and honourable head. III With a burning desire to develop what you have to give, renewing, removing your obstacles our desire to move is forward, forward. IV The way of matured societies is our zealous goal to attain; the effect of speech and letters we long to behold V Humbleness is not the course, Kalaallit wake up and be proud! A dignified life is our goal; courageously take a stand |