Money & Exchange

1. Hayk'am vale?

   HAY-k'am VA-le

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   Asking the price of something at a market or shop.

   Grammar Note

   "vale" is borrowed from Spanish "valer" (to be worth); "-m" is the affirmative evidential. The quantity interrogative is "hayk'a" with an ejective k'; "hayqa" is not a valid spelling

2. Qullqiyta pagarqani.

   qul-LQI-yta pa-gar-QA-ni

   I paid the money.

   Usage

   Telling someone that you have already paid.

   Grammar Note

   "pagar-" is borrowed from Spanish "pagar" (to pay); "-rqa-" marks the past, "-ni" is the 1st person singular ending.

3. Banco maypim kachkan?

   BAN-co MAY-pim kach-KAN

   Where is the bank?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a bank or ATM.

   Grammar Note

   "banco" is a Spanish loanword; "maypim" = "maypi" (where) + evidential clitic "-m".

4. Cambio wasi maypim tarikun?

   CAM-bi-o WA-si MAY-pim ta-RI-kun

   Where can the currency exchange be found?

   Usage

   Looking for a currency exchange office.

   Grammar Note

   "cambio" (Spanish: exchange) + "wasi" (Quechua: house) — a typical Spanish-Quechua compound.

5. Kaypaq qullqiy pisim.

   KAY-paq qul-LQIY PI-sim

   I don't have enough money for that.

   Usage

   Saying the price is too high or you cannot afford it.

   Grammar Note

   "kay-paq" = "for this", "qullqiy" = "my money", "pisi" = "little/few": "my money is little for this" expresses "not enough". "chani" is the noun "price/value", not a verb.

6. Uchuylla qullqita quwankichu?

   u-CHUY-lla qul-LQI-ta qu-WAN-ki-chu

   Can you give me small change?

   Usage

   Requesting coins or small bills.

   Grammar Note

   "quwanki" = "qu-" (give) + "-wa-" (me, indirect object) + "-nki" (2nd person).

7. Sol qullqi kashanchu?

   SOL qul-LQI ka-SHAN-chu

   Do you have Peruvian soles?

   Usage

   Checking if payment in Peruvian soles is accepted.

   Grammar Note

   "kashan" is a variant of "kachkan" (progressive of "to be"); "-chu" marks yes/no questions.

8. Chanikunata pisiyachiy.

   cha-ni-KU-na-ta pi-si-YA-chiy

   Please lower the prices.

   Usage

   Bargaining at a market to get a lower price.

   Grammar Note

   "pisiyachiy" = "pisiy" (decrease) + causative "-ya-chi-" + imperative "-y".

9. Tarjeta credito aceptanchu?

   Tar-JE-ta cre-DI-to a-cep-TAN-chu

   Do you accept credit cards?

   Usage

   Asking whether credit card payment is accepted.

   Grammar Note

   "aceptan" is Spanish "aceptar" (to accept) 3rd plural; freely borrowed into Quechua speech.

10. Recibo mañakuyki.

    re-CI-bo ma-ña-KU-yki

    I am asking for a receipt.

    Usage

    Requesting a receipt after a purchase.

    Grammar Note

    "recibo" is borrowed from Spanish; "mañakuyki" = "I ask you" — a polite request formula.

11. Efectivo qullqi

    Cash

    Usage

    To show how you intend to pay

12. Tarjeta

    Card

    Usage

    To show how you intend to pay

13. Sapankama pagasunchis

    Let's split the bill

    Usage

    Show it when the bill arrives

14. Vueltu

    Change

    Usage

    Point at it when your change does not come back

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