Electronics

1. Telefonu

   Phone

   Usage

   Spanish teléfono adapted to Quechua sounds

2. Celular

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   The usual word for a mobile; coverage fails in many mountain areas

3. Kargadur

   Charger

   Usage

   From Spanish cargador; show it when asking to use a shared socket at your lodging

4. Cable

   Charging cable

   Usage

   Use it when you need just the cable; town phone shops sell them

5. Pila

   Battery (dry cell)

   Usage

   For torches and headlamps; cold drains them fast, so carry spares

6. Enchufe

   Power outlet

   Usage

   Peru and Bolivia run at 220V, with sockets that usually take both type A and type C. Check your device handles 220V

7. Adaptador

   Plug adapter

   Usage

   Even when the shape fits, the supply is 220V, so voltage-sensitive devices still need a converter

8. Luz

   Electricity / light

   Usage

   Outages are routine in villages. "Mana luz kanchu" = there is no power

9. Internet

   Usage

   Internet cafés (cabinas de internet) still operate in towns

10. Wifi

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    Usually available at lodgings and cafés, but do not count on it in mountain villages

11. Contraseña

    Password

    Usage

    Use it to ask for a Wi-Fi password; asking for it in writing is safest

12. Chip

    SIM card

    Usage

    The Peruvian word for a SIM; you need to show your passport to buy one

13. Laptop

    Usage

    Used as-is from English; better not to have it out on your lap on a long-distance bus

14. Cámara

    Camera

    Usage

    Always ask before photographing people or their animals. "Resmita orqoyta atinichu?" = may I take a photo?

15. Linterna

    Flashlight

    Usage

    Villages have no street lighting and go pitch dark; a headlamp is the practical choice

16. Audífonos

    Earphones

    Usage

    Worth having on a long bus ride; sold at phone-accessory stalls in the market

17. Estufa

    Heater

    Usage

    Highland nights drop below freezing. "Estufa kanchu?" = is there a heater? — a useful question when choosing a room

18. Refrigeradora

    Refrigerator

    Usage

    Many highland homes do without one; the air is cold enough

19. Radio

    Usage

    Quechua-language stations broadcast across the region and remain a main news source in villages

20. Televisor

    Television

    Usage

    Use it to ask whether a room has one

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