Quechua phrasebook
Quechua phrasebook
Quechua (Kechua or Runasimi) is a Native American language spoken primarily in the Andes of South America. It is unrelated to functionally all other languages on the planet, and therefore the grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary can be challenging for the foreigner.
Pronunciation guide
Quechua was, and remains a primarily oral language, with relatively little written material considering the number of people who speak it. That's due to Spanish dominance in those areas, as well as the socioeconomic situation of many Quechua-speakers. Quechua is also complicated due to its diversity dialect-wise, with multiple dialects with different pronunciation.
Vowels
; a : like "a" in "cat" ; ; i : either like "i" in "bit" , or like "e" as in "bed" ; u : either like "oo" as in hook , or "ough" as in "thought"
Consonants
; ch : like "ch" as in "chat" ; ; chh : like "ch" as in "chat", followed by a puff of air ; ; ch': ejective "ch" ; ; h : like "h" as in "hat" ; ; k : like "k" as in "king" ; ; kh : like "k" as in "king", followed by a puff of air ; ; k' : ejective "k" ; ; l : like "l" as in "lamp" ; ; ll : no exact equivalent in English, similar but distinct from "y" as in "yes" ; ; m : like "m" as in "map" ; ; n : like "n" as in "night" ; ; ñ : like "ny" as in "canyon" ; ; p : like "p" as in "plan" ; ; ph : like "p" as in "plan", followed by a puff of air ; ; p' : ejective "p" ; ; q : not found in English ; ; qh : like "q", followed by a puff of air ; ; q' : ejective "q" ; ; s : like "s" as in "sat" ; ; sh : like "sh" as in "share" ; ; t : like "t" as in "tear" ; ; th : like "t" as in "tear", followed by a puff of air ; ; t' : ejective "t" ; ; y : like "y" as in "yes" ; ; w : like "w" as in "we" ;
Phrase list
Basics
Most of these are the Cusco dialect Common signs
; OPEN : kichaska ; CLOSED : wiskjaska ; ENTRANCE : waykuna ; EXIT : lloksina ; PUSH : wikchuna,thankjana. ; PULL : chutana ; TOILET : hisphana wasi ; MEN : qhari. ; WOMEN : warmi. ; FORBIDDEN :ama ruana
; Hello. :Rimaykullayki.:Napaykullayki. ; Hello. (informal) : . () ; How are you? :Allillanchu toray? (Formal) Imaynallan kakusanki? Imaynallam kaskanki? (informal) Imaynallataq kausakusanki? (formal) ; Fine, thank you. : Allillanmi kashani. () ; What is your name? :Imam sutiyki? (Cusco-Collao) Imataq sutiyki?
Imashutitac canqui? ("EE-mah-shoo-TEE-tahk CAHNG-ee." = Ecuadorian Kichwa) ; My name is ______ . :Nuqaq sutiy ______ .:______ sutiymi. ______-qa sutiymi. ; Nice to meet you. :Anchatam kusikusani riqsisuspayki. ; Please. :Allichu.:Ama hina kaychu. ; Thank you. :Solpayki. (formal) Urpichay sonqoy. (formal) Añay. (informal):Yusulpayki. (informal) ; You're welcome. :Hinallatapas. Ama llakikuychu. ; Yes. :<u>Arí</u> ; No. :Manam. ; Excuse me. (getting attention) :( ). ; Excuse me. (begging pardon) :Pampachariway. ; Sorry. :Pampachaykuway. ; Goodbye :Tupananchikkama. (lit. "until we meet again") Rikunakunakama. (lit. "until we meet again") Cayacaman. (lit. "until later"). Tinkunanchikkama. (lit. "I'll see you later, farewell") ; I can't speak Quechua [well]. :Mana quichuatachu rimani. ("MAH-na kee-chwah-TAH-choo par-LAH-nee" in Ecuadorian Kichwa)<br>Manam [allinta] runasimitachu rimani. ; Do you speak English? :Inglés-simita rimankichu? ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : Kaypichu huk inglés simi rimaq kan? ; Help! :Yanapaway! Yanapaykuway! ; Look out! : Paqtataq! (roughly Cuidado!) ; Good morning.: Allin punchay. ; Good day.:Allin punchaw. ; Good afternoon : allin jatun punchay ; Good evening / Good night. :Allin chisi tuta. ; Good night (to sleep) :Allin tuta. ; I understand. : Yuyachasani. ; I don't understand: Mana umay yuyachanchu. ; Where is the toilet? : Maypi hishpana wasi? Maypi akana wasi?
Problems
; Leave me alone. :Sapallaña kaq munasani! (lit. "I want to be alone") ; Don't touch me! :Ama apihuaychu ! (!) ; Call the police. :Wardiyata waqyay! ; Police! : ! (!) ; Stop! Thief! : ! sua ! (! !) ; I need your help. :yanapaway nokjata . (.) ; It's an emergency. : . (.) ; I'm lost. :chincasca kashani . (.) ; I lost my bag. : . (.) ; I lost my wallet. : . (.) ; I'm sick. : Unqusqa kashani. (.) ; I've been injured. : . (.) ; I need a doctor. : Hampiqta necesitakunim. (.) ; Can I use your phone? : ? (?)
Numbers
- in Ecuadorian Quichua, followed by Cusco-Collao
; 1 : shuc<br>huk
; 2 : ishcai<br>iskay ; 3 : quimsa<br>kinsa ; 4 : chuscu<br>tawa ; 5 : pichca<br>pisqa ; 6 : sucta<br>suqta ; 7 : canchis<br>qanchis ; 8 : pusac<br>pusaq ; 9 : iscun<br>hisqun ; 10 : chunca<br>chunka ; 11 : chunca shuc<br>chunka hukniyuq ; 12 : chunca ishcai<br>chunka iskayniyuq ; 13 : chunca quimsa<br>chunka kinsayuq ; 14 : chunca chuscu<br>chunka tawayuq ; 15 : chunca pichca<br>chunka pisqayuq ; 16 : chunca sucta<br>chunka suqtayuq ; 17 : chunca canchis<br>chunka qanchisniyuq ; 18 : chunca pusac<br>chunka pusaqniyuq ; 19 : ishcai iscun<br>chunka hisqunniyuq ; 20 : ishcai chunca<br>iskay chunka ; 21 : ishcai chunca shuc<br>iskay chunka hukniyuq ; 22 : ishcai chunca ishcai<br>iskay chunka iskayniyuq ; 23 : ishcai chunca quimsa<br>iskay chunka kinsayuq ; 30 : quimsa chunca<br>kinsa chunka ; 40 : chuscu chunca<br>tawa chunka ; 50 : pichca chunca<br>pisqa chunka ; 60 : sucta chunca<br>suqta chunka ; 70 : canchis chunca<br>qanchis chunka ; 80 : pusac chunca<br>pusaq chunka ; 90 : iscun chunca<br>hisqun chunka ; 100 : pachac<br>pacha ; 200 : ishcai pachac<br>iskay pacha ; 300 : quimsa pachac<br>kinsa pacha ; 1,000 : huaranca<br>waranqa ; 2,000 : ishcai huaranca<br>iskay waranqa ; 1,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000,000 : () ; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : () ; half :chaupi () ; less :pisiwan () ; more : astawan
Time
; now : kunan, kunallan, kunitan () ; later : caya ; before : () ; morning : tutamastin ; afternoon : () ; evening : () ; night : tuta
Clock time
; one o'clock AM : huk uras/pacha ; two o'clock AM : iskay uras/pacha ; noon : chunka iskayniyuq uras/pacha ; one o'clock PM : huk uras/pacha ; two o'clock PM : iskay uras/pacha ; midnight :chaupi tuta
Duration
; _____ minute(s) : phasmi(kuna) ; _____ hour(s) : uras ; _____ day(s) : p'unchaw(kuna) ; _____ week(s) : simana(kuna) ; _____ month(s) : killa(kuna) ; _____ year(s) : wata(kuna)
Days
; today : cai puncha (lit. "this day")<br>kunan ; yesterday : qayna p'unchaw ; tomorrow : paqarin ; this week : kay simana ; last week : qayna simana ; next week : q'aya simana
; Sunday : domingo p'unchaw ; Monday : lunes p'unchaw ; Tuesday : martes p'unchaw ; Wednesday : miércoles p'unchaw ; Thursday : jueves p'unchaw ; Friday : viernes p'unchaw ; Saturday : sábado p'unchaw
Months
; January : Qhaqmiy killa / Iniru ; February : Jatunpuquy killa / Phiwriru ; March : Pacha puquy killa / Marsu ; April : Ariwaki killa / Awril ; May : Aymuray killa / Mayukilla ; June : Inti raymi killa / Jawkaykuskiy killa / Hunyu ; July : Anta situwa killa / Chakrakunakuy killa / Hulyu ; August : Qhapaq situwa killa / Chawawarki killa / Chakrayapuy killa / Awustu ; September : Unu raymi killa / Tarpuy killa / Sitimri ; October : Qoya rami killa / Pawqar waray killa / Uktuwri ; November : Ayamarq'ay killa / Nuwimri ; December : Qhapaq inti raymi killa / Disimri
Writing time and date
Colors
; black : yana ; white : yuraq ; gray : uqi ; red : puka ; blue : anqas ; yellow : q'illu ; green : q'umir ; orange : q'illu-puka ; purple : kulli ; brown : ch'umpi
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? : mikhuna wasi(cuna) (lit. "food house(s)" -- "mikhuna" = "food" & "wasi" = "house") ; ...bars? : aqha wasi(kuna) ; ...sites to see? : () ; Can you show me on the map? : () ; street : k'iqllu ; Turn left. : Lloqueman kutiriy () ; Turn right. :pañaman kutiriy () ; left : lloque () ; right : paña () ; straight ahead : () ; towards the _____ : () ; past the _____ : () ; before the _____ : () ; Watch for the _. : () ; intersection : () ; north :chincha ; south :qulla ; east :anti ; west :kunti ; uphill : () ; downhill : ()
Taxi
; Taxi! : (__) ; Take me to ___, please. : () ; How much does it cost to get to _? : () ; Take me there, please. : ()
Lodging
- You are unlikely to find a hotel anywhere in the Andes run by monolingual Quechua/Quicha speakers. Spanish will most likely suffice in such situations. ; Do you have any rooms available? : () ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : () ; Does the room come with... : () ; ...bedsheets? : () ; ...a bathroom? : hispana wasi ; ...a telephone? : karu rimana / tiliwunu ; ...a TV? : karu qawana ; 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. : Mana aychatachu mikhunim. ; I don't eat pork. : Mana khuchi aychatachu mikhunim. ; I don't eat beef. : Mana waka aychatachu mikhunim. ; I only eat kosher food. : () ; Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : () ; fixed-price meal : () ; a la carte : () ; breakfast : () ; lunch : paraqin mikhuy / payquy ; tea (meal) : () ; supper : () ; I want _. : ____-ta munanim. ; I want a dish containing _. : () ; chicken : wallpa aycha, gallina ; beef : waka aycha, carne ; fish : challwa ; ham : khuchi aycha, jamón ; sausage : chicharrón ; cheese : kisu ; eggs : runtu ; salad : () ; (fresh) vegetables : asnapa ; (fresh) fruit : ruru / wayu / phruta ; bread : t'anta ; toast : () ; noodles : () ; rice : arrus ; beans : hawas, arwihas ; May I have a glass of _? : () ; May I have a cup of _? : () ; May I have a bottle of _? : () ; coffee : café ; tea (drink) : maté ; juice : () ; (bubbly) water : () ; (still) water : yaku, unu (Cusco) ; beer : cirwisa ; red/white wine : () ; May I have some _? : () ; salt : k'achi ; black pepper : () ; butter : wira ; Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): () ; I'm finished. : () ; It was delicious. : Sumaqmi! (lit. "Wonderful/Fantastic/Great/Beautiful!") ; 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 : unu, yaku ; club soda : () ; tonic water : () ; orange juice : () ; Coke (soda) : gaseosa ; 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? : hayk'am ; 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. : Apakusaqmi ; Can I have a bag? : () ; Do you ship (overseas)? : () ; I need... : ____-ta necesitanim ; ...toothpaste. : () ; ...a toothbrush. : () ; ...tampons. : . () ; ...soap. : () ; ...shampoo. : () ; ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : () ; ...cold medicine. : () ; ...stomach medicine. : ... () ; ...a razor. : () ; ...an umbrella. : () ; ...sunblock lotion. : bloqueador ; ...a postcard. : () ; ...postage stamps. : () ; ...batteries. : () ; ...writing paper. : () ; ...a pen. : qillqana ; ...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? : ()