The Eskimos' Hundred Words for Snow
by Phil James
tlapa	powder snow
tlacringit	snow that is crusted on the surface
kayi	drifting snow
tlapat	still snow
klin	remembered snow
naklin	forgotten snow
tlamo	snow that falls in large wet flakes
tlatim	snow that falls in small flakes
tlaslo	snow that falls slowly
tlapinti	snow that falls quickly
kripya	snow that has melted and refrozen
tliyel	snow that has been marked by wolves
tliyelin	snow that has been marked by Eskimos
blotla	blowing snow
pactla	snow that has been packed down
hirtla	snow in beards
wa-ter	melted snow
tlayinq	snow mixed with mud
quinaya	snow mixed with Husky shit
quinyaya	snow mixed with the shit of a lead dog
slimtla	snow that is crusted on top but soft underneath
kriplyana	snow that looks blue in the early morning
puntla	a mouthful of snow because you fibbed
allatla	baked snow
fritla	fried snow
gristla	deep fried snow
MacTla	snow burgers
jatla	snow between your fingers or toes, or in groin-folds
dinliltla	little balls of snow that cling to Husky fur
sulitlana	green snow
mentlana	pink snow
tidtla	snow used for cleaning
ertla	snow used by Eskimo teenagers for exquisite erotic rituals
kriyantli	snow bricks
hahatla	small packages of snow given as gag gifts
semtla	partially melted snow
ontla	snow on objects
intla	snow that has drifted indoors
shlim	slush
warintla	snow used to make Eskimo daiquiris
mextla	snow used to make Eskimo Margaritas
penstla	the idea of snow
mortla	snow mounded on dead bodies
ylaipi	tomorrow's snow
nylaipin	the snows of yesteryear ("neiges d'antan")
pritla	our children's snow
nootlin	snow that doesn't stick
rotlana	quickly accumulating snow
skriniya	snow that never reaches the ground
bluwid	snow that's shaken down from objects in the wind
tlanid	snow that's shaken down and then mixes with sky-falling snow
ever-tla	a spirit made from mashed fermented snow, popular among Eskimo men
talini	snow angels
priyakli	snow that looks like it's falling upward
chiup	snow that makes halos
blontla	snow that's shaken off in the mudroom
tlalman	snow sold to German tourists
tlalam	snow sold to American tourists
tlanip	snow sold to Japanese tourists
protla	snow packed around caribou meat
attla	snow that as it falls seems to create nice pictures in the air
sotla	snow sparkling with sunlight
tlun	snow sparkling with moonlight
astrila	snow sparkling with starlight
clim	snow sparkling with flashlight or headlight
tlapi	summer snow
krikaya	snow mixed with breath
trinkyi	first snow of the year
tronkyin	last snow of the year
shiya	snow at dawn
katiyana	night snow
tlinro	snow vapor
nyik	snow with flakes of widely varying size
ragnitla	two snowfalls at once, creating moire patterns
akitla	snow falling on water
privtla	snow melting in the spring rain
chahatlin	snow that makes a sizzling sound as it falls on water
hootlin	snow that makes a hissing sound as the individual flakes brush
geltla	snow dollars
briktla	good building snow
striktla	snow that's no good for building
erolinyat	snow drifts containing the imprint of crazy lovers
chachat	swirling snow that drives you nuts
krotla	snow that blinds you
motla	snow in the mouth
sotla	snow in the south
maxtla	snow that hides the whole village
tlayopi	snow drifts you fall into and die
truyi	avalanche of snow
tlapripta	snow that burns your scalp and eyelids
carpitla	snow glazed with ice
tla	ordinary snow