Food & Drinks

1. Imataq kay mikhuna?

   I-ma-taq kay mi-khu-na?

   What is this food?

   Usage

   Asking what a dish is at a market or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "ima" is "what" and "-taq" marks a question word question. "mikhuna" is "food" (keep the aspirated kh)

2. Ch'uñuta munani

   Ch'u-ñu-ta mu-na-ni

   I want to eat chuño

   Usage

   Ordering chuño, the traditional Andean freeze-dried potato

   Grammar Note

   -ta marks the object (accusative). munay is a versatile verb meaning "to want/love/like"

3. Aychata mana mikhunichu

   Ay-cha-ta ma-na mi-khu-ni-chu

   I do not eat meat

   Usage

   Used to communicate dietary restrictions, especially avoiding meat

   Grammar Note

   Quechua negation uses the mana ... -chu frame. -ta is the accusative; mikhuy is "to eat"

4. Quinoata munayman

   Qui-no-a-ta mu-nay-man

   I would like some quinoa

   Usage

   Ordering quinoa, the superfood native to the Quechua-speaking Andes

   Grammar Note

   -man forms a polite conditional. The word "quinoa" is of Quechua origin via Spanish

5. Sulpayki, allinmi karqan

   Sul-pay-ki, a-llin-mi kar-qan

   Thank you, it was very good

   Usage

   Expressing thanks and satisfaction after a meal

   Grammar Note

   -mi is a direct evidential marker in Quechua, indicating the speaker witnessed it firsthand

6. Papata munayman

   Pa-pa-ta mu-nay-man

   I would like some potato

   Usage

   Ordering potato, the staple Andean food whose name comes from Quechua

   Grammar Note

   papa (potato) is Quechua in origin and the root of the English word "potato". Peru has over 3,000 potato varieties

7. Yakuta quway

   Ya-ku-ta qu-way

   Please give me water

   Usage

   The most basic way to ask for water at a meal or while out

   Grammar Note

   yaku is the native Quechua word for "water". quway is the imperative of quy (to give) with -way (to me)

8. Kay mikhuna ancha misk'i

   Kay mi-khu-na an-cha mis-k'i

   This food is very delicious

   Usage

   Praising the taste of a dish

   Grammar Note

   ancha means "very/extremely". misk'i means "sweet/delicious", a common food compliment

9. Chichata upyayta munani

   Chi-cha-ta up-yay-ta mu-na-ni

   I want to drink chicha

   Usage

   Ordering chicha, the traditional Andean fermented corn beverage

   Grammar Note

   chicha is a traditional drink since Inca times. "Want to V" is the infinitive plus accusative -ta before munay: "upyayta munani" = "I want to drink"

10. Hayk'am vale kay mikhuna?

    Hay-k'am va-le kay mi-khu-na?

    How much does this food cost?

    Usage

    Asking the price of a dish at a market or restaurant

    Grammar Note

    hayk'a is the question word for quantity/price; with the evidential -m it becomes hayk'am. hayk'aq is a different interrogative meaning "when", and there is no suffix "-qmi". vale is borrowed from Spanish valer (to be worth)

11. Arus

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering; some languages use a different word for raw rice

12. T'anta

    Bread

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or shopping

13. Fideo

    Noodles

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or shopping

14. Haya

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Check how hot a dish is before ordering

15. Hanku

    Raw, uncooked

    Usage

    A hygiene check — is it cooked or not

16. Chupi

    Soup

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering

17. Ruru

    Fruit

    Usage

    Point at it in a market or a canteen

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