Festivals & Events

1. Inti Raymi ima fechain?

   In-ti Ray-mi i-ma fe-cha-in?

   When is Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)?

   Usage

   Asking about the date of Inti Raymi, the most important Andean festival

   Grammar Note

   Both "Inti" (sun) and "Raymi" (festival) are pure Quechua; Inti Raymi is celebrated in June

2. Raymi tantakuypi tusuy munani.

   Ray-mi tan-ta-kuy-pi tu-suy mu-na-ni.

   I want to dance at the festival gathering

   Usage

   Expressing desire to participate in festival dancing

   Grammar Note

   "tantakuy" means "gathering/assembly" in Quechua; "-pi" marks the locative case

3. Quyllur Rit'i raymi maypim?

   Quyllur Rit'i ray-mi may-pim?

   Where is the Quyllur Rit'i festival?

   Usage

   Asking about the location of the Quyllur Rit'i mountain pilgrimage festival

   Grammar Note

   "Quyllur" (star) and "Rit'i" (snow) are Quechua words; the festival is a glacier pilgrimage near Cusco

4. Raymi p'achata churakuni.

   Ray-mi p'a-cha-ta chu-ra-ku-ni.

   I am putting on the festival costume

   Usage

   Putting on traditional festival attire

   Grammar Note

   "p'acha" means "clothing/fabric" in Quechua; "churakuni" is the reflexive form "I put on myself"

5. Pachamama raymi allin kawsaypaqmi.

   Pa-cha-ma-ma ray-mi al-lin kaw-say-paq-mi.

   The Pachamama festival is for a good life

   Usage

   Discussing the spiritual significance of the Pachamama (Mother Earth) festival

   Grammar Note

   "Pacha" (world/time) + "Mama" (mother) = Mother Earth; "allin kawsay" is the Andean "Good Life" philosophy

6. Raymi punkunpi suyashani.

   Ray-mi pun-kun-pi su-ya-sha-ni.

   I am waiting at the festival entrance

   Usage

   Waiting for friends at the festival entrance

   Grammar Note

   "punku" means "door/entrance" in Quechua; "suyashani" is "suyay" (to wait) + progressive "-sha" + first-person "-ni". "tiyakuy" means "to sit/stay", not "to wait"

7. Aymuray raymi mikhunata apamuni.

   Ay-mu-ray ray-mi mi-khu-na-ta a-pa-mu-ni.

   I have brought food to the harvest festival

   Usage

   Bringing food as an offering to a traditional harvest festival

   Grammar Note

   "apamuni" combines "apa" (carry) + directional "-mu" (toward speaker) + first-person "-ni"

8. Qhapaq Raymi wataqa qallarisqam.

   Qhapaq Ray-mi wa-ta-qa qal-la-ris-qam.

   Qhapaq Raymi marks the beginning of the year

   Usage

   Explaining the significance of Qhapaq Raymi in the Andean calendar

   Grammar Note

   "Qhapaq" (great/royal) and "Raymi" (festival) are Quechua; celebrated in December in the Andean calendar

9. Raymi tusuypi llank'akuni.

   Ray-mi tu-suy-pi llan-k'a-ku-ni.

   I am participating in the festival dance

   Usage

   Expressing active participation in festival dancing

   Grammar Note

   "llank'ay" means "to work/be active/participate" in Quechua

10. Raymi sumaq kachun!

    Ray-mi su-maq ka-chun!

    May the festival be wonderful!

    Usage

    Offering a blessing or toast at the start of a festival

    Grammar Note

    "kachun" is the Quechua optative/jussive form expressing a wish or blessing

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