Culture & Etiquette

1. Tawantinsuyupi kawsayninchis sumaqmi.

   ta-wan-tin-SU-yu-pi kaw-SAY-nin-chis su-MAQ-mi

   The culture of Tawantinsuyu (the Inca Empire) is wonderful.

   Usage

   Talking about the cultural heritage of the Inca Empire.

   Grammar Note

   "-mi" is an evidential clitic meaning "certainly/truly", marking direct evidence.

2. Machu Pikchu sumaq llaqtam.

   MA-chu PIK-chu su-MAQ LLAQ-tam

   Machu Picchu is a wonderful city.

   Usage

   Talking about Machu Picchu, the famous Inca citadel.

   Grammar Note

   In Quechua orthography the name is Machu Pikchu (pikchu = a sharp peak); Machu Picchu is the Spanish/English spelling, and spelling it pichu gives an unrelated word meaning "shin bone". "-m" is a shortened form of "-mi" (evidential clitic), suffixed to the predicate noun.

3. Tusuyta yachachiwankichu?

   tu-SUY-ta ya-cha-chi-WAN-ki-chu

   Can you teach me the dance?

   Usage

   Asking someone to teach you traditional Quechua dance.

   Grammar Note

   "yachachi-" (to teach) + "-wa-" (me, object) + "-nki" (you, 2sg) + "-chu" (yes/no question). "Dance" is "tusuy". "rimaq" is the agentive of "rimay" (to speak) and can only mean "a speaker"

4. Inti Raymi sumaq raymim.

   IN-ti RAY-mi su-MAQ RAY-mi-m

   Inti Raymi is a wonderful festival.

   Usage

   Talking about Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun held in Cusco.

   Grammar Note

   Quechua is agglutinative; suffixes carry grammatical meaning; "-m" marks evidentiality.

5. Museoqa ancha sumaqmi.

   mu-se-O-qa AN-cha su-MAQ-mi

   The museum is very wonderful.

   Usage

   Expressing admiration for a museum or cultural site.

   Grammar Note

   "-qa" is the topic marker clitic, functioning similarly to Japanese "wa" (は). The intensifier "very" is the adverb "ancha". "kankitan" contains "kanki" ("you are"), a 2nd-person verb form, and is not an adverb

6. Wiphala tawantinsuyupa unanchanmi.

   wi-PHA-la ta-wan-tin-SU-yu-pa u-nan-CHAN-mi

   The Wiphala is the flag of Tawantinsuyu.

   Usage

   Explaining the Wiphala, the multicolored flag of Andean indigenous peoples.

   Grammar Note

   "-pa" is the genitive suffix ("of") and the possessed noun takes "-n": tawantinsuyupa unanchan = "Tawantinsuyu's flag". The word for "flag" is "unancha"

7. Runasimita rimankichu?

   ru-na-SI-mi-ta ri-MAN-ki-chu

   Do you speak Quechua?

   Usage

   Asking if someone speaks Quechua.

   Grammar Note

   "-nki" is the 2sg verb ending and "-chu" makes it a yes/no question. The autonym of the language is "Runasimi" ("people's language"). "Simi Chaskicha" is a coinage; "chaski" means "messenger / receiving"

8. Qusquqa Tawantinsuyupa llaqtanmi karqan.

   qus-QU-qa ta-wan-tin-SU-yu-pa LLA-qtan-mi KAR-qan

   Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire.

   Usage

   Talking about Cusco's historical significance as the Inca capital.

   Grammar Note

   "karqan" is the past tense of "kani" (to be), meaning "was".

9. Pacha Mamata munanchis.

   PA-cha ma-MA-ta mu-NAN-chis

   We love Pachamama (Mother Earth).

   Usage

   Referring to Pachamama, the Andean earth goddess central to Quechua spirituality.

   Grammar Note

   "-nchis" is the inclusive 1st person plural verb ending meaning "we (you and I) do".

10. Piruwmanta rimayta munankichu?

    pi-RUW-man-ta ri-MAY-ta mu-NAN-ki-chu

    Do you want to talk about Peru?

    Usage

    Starting a conversation about Peruvian culture.

    Grammar Note

    The 2sg ending is "-nki", and with the yes/no marker "-chu" it gives "munankichu" (do you want to …?). "munayki" is the 1sg→2sg portmanteau "I love you" and cannot form this question — "Munakuyki" is its correct use. The country is "Piruw"; also written "Piruw Mamallaqta". "Wira qucha" (Wiraqucha) is the name of the creator deity and an honorific for "sir", never a country name

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