Martial Arts

1. Tinkuta qhawayta munani

   Tin-ku-ta qha-way-ta mu-na-ni

   I want to see the tinku

   Usage

   Tinku is a ritual bare-handed encounter held in the Quechua- and Aymara-speaking communities of Bolivia's Norte Potosí. It takes place alongside festivals in villages such as Macha, and the blood spilled is understood as an offering to Pachamama, the earth mother. It is a communal rite, not a sport you sign up to learn

   Grammar Note

   "Tinku" derives from the verb "tinkuy" (to meet, to come together) and basically means the meeting of two things. The confluence of two rivers is also called a tinku

2. Maypitaq tinku kanqa?

   May-pi-taq tin-ku kan-qa?

   Where will the tinku take place?

   Usage

   Tinku has no permanent venue; it begins in a village square or wherever the festival gathers. Macha, Pocoata and Sacaca in Norte Potosí are the best known. It is not staged for tourists, so the only way to learn the date is to ask locally

   Grammar Note

   Quechua is agglutinative, stacking suffixes onto nouns and question words. In wh-questions the suffix "-taq" is regularly attached to the question word

3. Hayk'aq p'unchawpitaq tinku ruwakun?

   Hay-k'aq p'un-chaw-pi-taq tin-ku ru-wa-kun?

   On what day is the tinku held?

   Usage

   The Macha tinku is best known for coinciding with the Fiesta de la Cruz in early May. The practice is bound to the agricultural calendar and falls at turning points in the sowing and harvest cycle

   Grammar Note

   The marks in "p'" and "k'" indicate ejective consonants, distinct phonemes from plain p and k. "Ruwakun" is "ruway" (to do) with the reflexive-passive "-ku-"

4. Tinkupi hap'ikuyta atinichu?

   Tin-ku-pi ha-p'i-kuy-ta a-ti-ni-chu?

   Can I take part in the tinku?

   Usage

   The answer will almost certainly be no. Tinku is a rite in which community members stand for their own villages, and outsiders do not join. Ask this not to volunteer but to show that you understand where you stand

   Grammar Note

   Yes-no questions take the suffix "-chu", contrasting with "-taq" in wh-questions. The same "-chu" also appears in negative sentences

5. Fotota hurquyta atinichu?

   Fo-to-ta hur-quy-ta a-ti-ni-chu?

   May I take a photograph?

   Usage

   Photography at a tinku is often strongly resented, and pointing a camera without asking can cause real trouble. Alcohol runs freely at the height of the festival, so keep your distance and always get permission. If told no, accept it

   Grammar Note

   Spanish loanwords take Quechua suffixes without adaptation (foto plus the accusative -ta). When a verb serves as an object, the infinitive carries "-ta"

6. Maqanakuy yachaywasi kanchu kaypi?

   Ma-qa-na-kuy ya-chay-wa-si kan-chu kay-pi?

   Is there a martial arts school around here?

   Usage

   Cities such as Cusco, La Paz and Cochabamba have boxing, karate and taekwondo gyms. Quechua speakers are concentrated in rural areas, and city gyms normally operate in Spanish

   Grammar Note

   "Maqay" (to hit) takes the reciprocal "-naku-" to give "maqanakuy" (to fight one another). "Yachaywasi" compounds "yachay" (to learn) with "wasi" (house)

7. Huk p'unchawllapaq hayk'ataq?

   Huk p'un-chaw-lla-paq hay-k'a-taq?

   How much for just one day?

   Usage

   Peru uses the sol and Bolivia the boliviano. A local gym charges only a few units of currency per session. Cash is the norm, so carry small notes

   Grammar Note

   Suffixes stack in a fixed order: "p'unchaw" plus "-lla" (only) plus "-paq" (for) gives "for just one day". "-Lla" also adds a note of affection or modesty

8. Qallariqllaraqmi kani

   Qa-lla-riq-lla-raq-mi ka-ni

   I am still only a beginner

   Usage

   Say this to the desk or coach and they will start from the basics. Much of the Andean highlands lies above 3,500 metres and visitors from sea level tire fast, so it is worth mentioning that too

   Grammar Note

   Quechua marks evidentiality: "-mi" for what you know first hand, "-si" for hearsay and "-cha" for conjecture. Statements about yourself take "-mi"

9. Ama sinchitachu maqaway

   A-ma sin-chi-ta-chu ma-qa-way

   Please do not hit me hard

   Usage

   Say this before sparring. Gym practice usually runs in Spanish, but saying it in Quechua breaks the ice immediately. Swap "sinchi" (strong) for "aslla" (a little) to ask for just a bit

   Grammar Note

   Prohibition brackets the clause with "ama ... -chu". In "maqaway" the infix "-wa-" is the object marker "me", built into the verb itself

10. Moqoy nanawan, mana hayt'ayta atinichu

    Mo-qoy na-na-wan, ma-na hay-t'ay-ta a-ti-ni-chu

    My knee hurts, I cannot kick

    Usage

    Always declare this before training. Swap "moqo" (knee) for "rikra" (shoulder), "wasa" (back) or "chaki" (foot). Recovery is slower at altitude and pushing through drags an injury out, so speak up early

    Grammar Note

    Negation brackets with "mana" and "-chu", paralleling the prohibitive "ama ... -chu". "Mana" negates a fact, "ama" forbids an action

11. Makiykita hoqariy, awqaykipa ñawinta qhaway!

    Ma-kiy-ki-ta ho-qa-riy, aw-qay-ki-pa ña-win-ta qha-way!

    Raise your hands, look at your opponent's eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. City gyms usually shout "manos arriba" in Spanish, but coaches from rural backgrounds mix in Quechua. It comes as a curt imperative with no rudeness intended

    Grammar Note

    Possession is suffixed to the noun: "-y" (my), "-yki" (your), "-n" (his/her). The imperative is identical in form to the bare infinitive

12. Tukuy kallpaykiwan hayt'ay, ama manchakuychu!

    Tu-kuy kall-pay-ki-wan hay-t'ay, a-ma man-cha-kuy-chu!

    Kick with all your strength, do not be afraid!

    Usage

    Said by the coach during pad work. In actual sparring the instruction would be the opposite, so treat this as aimed at pads and bags

    Grammar Note

    The suffix "-wan" marks instrument or accompaniment, so "kallpaykiwan" means "with your strength". "Manchakuy" is "manchay" (to fear) with the reflexive "-ku-"

13. Pichqa minututa samay, unuta ukyay

    Pich-qa mi-nu-tu-ta sa-may, u-nu-ta uk-yay

    Rest five minutes and drink water

    Usage

    Said by the coach. Andean air is thin and dry, and you lose fluid faster than at sea level. Take longer breaks in your first days in Cusco or La Paz. "Unu" is the Cusco word for water; Bolivia uses "yaku"

    Grammar Note

    "Samay" means both to rest and to breathe, and as a noun it also denotes breath or vital force — a key word in Andean thought

14. Kunanpaq chaylla. Allinta ruwarqanki!

    Ku-nan-paq chay-lla. A-llin-ta ru-war-qan-ki!

    That is all for now. You did well!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line. Reply with "añay" or, in Cusco, "sulpayki" (thank you). In the Andes people commonly part with a light arm around the shoulder after training

    Grammar Note

    The infix "-rqa-" marks past tense and "-nki" is the second-person singular ending, giving "ruwarqanki" (you did). Adding "-ta" turns an adjective into an adverb: allin becomes allinta

15. Sapa killa hayk'ataq?

    Sa-pa ki-lla hay-k'a-taq?

    How much per month?

    Usage

    For stays over a week the monthly rate is cheaper. Some gyms add a separate registration fee ("matrícula"), so check what the month includes. Gyms in central Cusco or La Paz expect cash

    Grammar Note

    "Killa" denotes both the moon and the calendar month. "Sapa" means each or every and precedes its noun: "sapa p'unchaw" (every day), "sapa wata" (every year)

16. Guantes kanchu mañakunaypaq?

    Guan-tes kan-chu ma-ña-ku-nay-paq?

    Are there gloves I can borrow?

    Usage

    Local gyms keep a shared set of gloves and there may not be enough to go round. Wraps ("venda") and a mouthguard should be your own for hygiene, and both are cheap in sports shops in Cusco or Lima

    Grammar Note

    A verb takes "-na" to become a noun, and stacking the possessive "-y" (my) with "-paq" (for) yields "for me to do it". Quechua builds subordinate clauses by piling suffixes in this way

17. Warmikunallapaq yachachiy kanchu?

    War-mi-ku-na-lla-paq ya-cha-chiy kan-chu?

    Is there instruction just for women?

    Usage

    Cusco and Lima have a growing number of women's self-defence and boxing classes, usually scheduled in the evening. Rural clubs tend to be all-male, so checking in advance avoids an awkward arrival

    Grammar Note

    Suffixes line up in a fixed order: "-kuna" (plural), then "-lla" (only), then "-paq" (for). "Yachay" (to learn) takes the causative "-chi-" to give "yachachiy" (to teach)

18. Huk kutillata yachachiway ari

    Huk ku-ti-lla-ta ya-cha-chi-way a-ri

    Please show me once more

    Usage

    The standard request while learning a technique. Ask as often as you need, and gesture if you do not know the name of the move. In city gyms adding "otra vez" in Spanish does the same job

    Grammar Note

    "Kuti" counts occurrences: "iskay kuti" is twice. The suffix "-lla" adds a modest "just a little", and together with the clause-final particle "ari" it softens the request

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