angakok: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialised/Technical (Anthropology, Ethnography, Religious Studies), Literary
Quick answer
What does “angakok” mean?
A shaman or spiritual healer in Inuit culture.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A shaman or spiritual healer in Inuit culture.
A traditional Inuit religious leader, mediator, and healer who interacts with the spirit world, often performing rituals, divination, and curing illnesses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The spelling 'angakok' is standard in both. The Inuit term 'angatkuq' (singular) is also used in academic contexts.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same anthropological and cultural connotations. It is a culture-specific term without regional English variation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, encountered almost exclusively in anthropological texts, documentaries, or literature about the Arctic.
Grammar
How to Use “angakok” in a Sentence
The angakok + verb (healed, journeyed, communicated)The community + depended on + the angakokVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “angakok” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The angakok's role was crucial for the community's spiritual wellbeing.
American English
- The angakok performed a ritual to ensure a successful hunt.
adverb
British English
- No adverbial form.
American English
- No adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- No common adjectival use.
American English
- No common adjectival use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in anthropology, cultural studies, and history papers discussing Inuit spirituality.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in high-level travel writing or documentaries.
Technical
Used precisely in ethnographic descriptions and studies of Arctic peoples.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “angakok”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “angakok”
- Using it as a general term for any tribal spiritual leader. Confusing it with a 'chief' or political leader. Misspelling as 'angakak', 'angakuk', or 'angakog'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but more precisely. 'Angakok' is the culture-specific term for an Inuit or Yupik shaman. 'Shaman' is a broader, anthropological category.
Traditionally, the role was often male, but there are historical and modern accounts of female angakoks. The term itself is gender-neutral.
In English, it's commonly pronounced /ˈæŋ.ə.kɒk/ (UK) or /ˈæŋ.ə.kɑːk/ (US), with stress on the first syllable.
No. It is a very low-frequency, specialised term. Most English speakers would not know it unless they have studied anthropology or Arctic cultures.
A shaman or spiritual healer in Inuit culture.
Angakok is usually specialised/technical (anthropology, ethnography, religious studies), literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is too specific for idiomatic use in English.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANGel (spirit) + A + COKe' – an imaginary spirit offering a coke is silly, but an angakok deals with spirits.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A JOURNEY (the angakok journeys to the spirit world), HEALING IS A BATTLE (the angakok battles evil spirits causing illness).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'angakok'?