Nature & Outdoors

1. Kay urqu imatam sutichanku?

   Kay ur-qu i-ma-tam su-ti-chan-ku?

   What is this mountain called?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an Andean mountain. Quechua is spoken in the Andean highlands

   Grammar Note

   "-m" is a confirmative focus suffix. "sutichanku" = 3rd plural of "sutichay" (to name)

2. Maypi mayu tiyan?

   May-pi ma-yu ti-yan?

   Where is the river?

   Usage

   Used to ask the location of a river

   Grammar Note

   "maypi" = "where" with locative suffix "-pi" (at/in). "tiyan" = "there is/exists"

3. Pachamama sumaqmi

   Pa-cha-ma-ma su-maq-mi

   Pachamama (Mother Earth) is beautiful

   Usage

   Used to praise the Andean nature or earth. Pachamama is a central Andean deity

   Grammar Note

   "-mi" = confirmative/direct evidential suffix. Quechua has a system of evidentiality markers

4. Kay pukyupi unuqa upyanapaqmi

   Kay puk-yu-pi u-nu-qa up-ya-na-paq-mi

   The water at this spring is drinkable

   Usage

   Used to confirm whether spring water is safe to drink

   Grammar Note

   "-pi" = locative suffix. "pukyupi" = "at the spring." Quechua uses rich suffix-based case marking

5. Imayna animalkunam kay suyupi kawsanku?

   I-may-na a-ni-mal-ku-nam kay su-yu-pi kaw-san-ku?

   What animals live in this region?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the wildlife that inhabits a region

   Grammar Note

   "-kuna" is the Quechua plural suffix. "animalkuna" = "animals"

6. Llaqlliya wayra hamuchkan

   Llaql-li-ya way-ra ha-much-kan

   A strong wind is coming

   Usage

   Used to warn of strong wind or changing weather. Andean weather can change quickly

   Grammar Note

   "-chkan" is the Quechua progressive suffix. "hamuchkan" = "is coming" (in progress)

7. Kay qucha sumaqmi

   Kay qu-cha su-maq-mi

   This lake is beautiful

   Usage

   Used to express admiration for a beautiful Andean lake like Lake Titicaca

   Grammar Note

   "qucha" = "lake/sea." It appears in place names: "Titicaca" derives partly from this root

8. Pawqar wayra ñuqata kusichiwan

   Paw-qar way-ra ñu-qa-ta ku-si-chi-wan

   The fresh breeze makes me happy

   Usage

   Used to express joy and relaxation while enjoying nature

   Grammar Note

   "ñuqata" = "me" (accusative). "ñuqa" (I) + "-ta" (accusative suffix "-to/ta")

9. Imayna ch'ulla sach'akuna tiyan?

   I-may-na ch'ul-la sa-ch'a-ku-na ti-yan?

   What unique trees are there?

   Usage

   Used to ask about trees or plants unique to the region

   Grammar Note

   "ch'ulla": apostrophe marks an ejective consonant. Quechua has aspirated, ejective, and plain stops

10. Wayna Picchu urqupi wiñaq sach'akunaqa sumaqmi

    Way-na Pic-chu ur-qu-pi wi-ñaq sa-ch'a-ku-na-qa su-maq-mi

    The growing trees on Huayna Picchu mountain are beautiful

    Usage

    Used to express the natural beauty around Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu

    Grammar Note

    "Wayna Picchu" = "young peak" in Quechua. "wiñaq" = "growing/flourishing"

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