Maypim mercado kashan?
MAY-pim mer-CA-do ka-SHAN
Where is the market?
Usage
Asking where the market or a destination is located.
Grammar Note
"Maypim" = "Maypi" (where) + "-m" (evidential clitic); "-m" asserts known information.
Chiqanta purinapuni kay ñanta.
chi-QAN-ta pu-RI-na-pu-ni KAY ÑAN-ta
Walk straight along this road.
Usage
Giving directions to go straight ahead.
Grammar Note
"-puni" is an intensifier suffix meaning "definitely/certainly/without fail". "Straight ahead" is "chiqanta", the adverbial of "chiqan" (straight, direct). "haykayta" derives from "haykuy" (to enter) and never means "straight"
Hayk'am killometro kachkan?
HAY-k'am kil-LO-me-tro kach-KAN
How many kilometres is it?
Usage
Asking the distance to a destination.
Grammar Note
"kachkan" is the progressive/present existential form of "kay" (to be/exist). The quantity interrogative is "hayk'a", with an ejective k'; "hayqa" is not a valid spelling
Lluq'iman muyuy.
LLUQ'-i-man mu-YUY
Turn to the left.
Usage
Directing someone to turn left.
Grammar Note
"-man" is the directional case suffix meaning "towards/to". In the three-vowel orthography "left" is "lluq'i" (its counterpart "right" is "paña")
Paymi mapata yachan.
PAY-mi MA-pa-ta ya-CHAN
He/She knows the map.
Usage
Pointing out someone who knows the map or the way.
Grammar Note
The 3rd-person singular verb ending is simply "-n", so "yachay" (to know) gives "yachan"; there is no "-ngan" ending in the Quechua paradigm. The subject carries the evidential "-mi" ("-m" after a vowel)
Chay suyu ñanman ripuy.
chay su-YU ÑAN-man ri-PUY
Go to the road of that area.
Usage
Directing someone towards a specific area.
Grammar Note
"ripuy" is the imperative of "riy" (to go); Quechua imperatives often use "-y".
Kay llaqtapichu kashanki?
kay LLA-qta-pi-chu ka-SHAN-ki
Are you in this town?
Usage
Confirming someone's current location in town.
Grammar Note
"-chu" is the yes/no question marker clitic in Quechua
Hotel maypim tarikun?
ho-TEL MAY-pim ta-RI-kun
Where can the hotel be found?
Usage
Asking where to find a hotel.
Grammar Note
"tarikun" is the reflexive/passive form of "tariy" (to find), meaning "is found".
Chay hatun wasita riqsiy.
chay ha-TUN WA-si-ta riq-SIY
Use that large building as a landmark.
Usage
Using a large building as a reference point for directions.
Grammar Note
The bare verb root serves as the 2nd-person singular imperative. "To recognize, to know" is "riqsiy", with a plain q and no ejective q'. "-yki" is the 1sg→2sg portmanteau and cannot form an imperative
Pawarispa purinapaqmi kachkan.
pa-wa-RIS-pa pu-RI-na-paq-mi kach-KAN
It is necessary to walk quickly.
Usage
Urging someone to walk quickly when time is short.
Grammar Note
"-napaq" is the purposive suffix meaning "in order to do X".
Paña
Right
Usage
Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence
Lluq'i
Left
Usage
Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence
Chiqanta
Straight ahead
Usage
Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence
Kutiy
Go back
Usage
When the driver has gone too far
Sayay
Stop here
Usage
To have a driver pull over where you want
More Quechua phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
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- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
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- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences