Numbers

1. Huk, iskay, kimsa, tawa, pichqa

   Huk, is-kay, kim-sa, ta-wa, pich-qa

   One, two, three, four, five

   Usage

   Quechua numbers one to five; essential for market transactions and conversation

   Grammar Note

   tawa (four) is the root of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca Empire's four regions. Base-ten system

2. Suqta, qanchis, pusaq, isqun, chunka

   Suq-ta, qan-chis, pu-saq, is-qun, chun-ka

   Six, seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Quechua numbers six through ten

   Grammar Note

   chunka (ten) is the base unit. chunka hukniyuq = 11 (ten with one added)

3. Iskay chunka, kimsa chunka, pachak

   Is-kay chun-ka, kim-sa chun-ka, pa-chak

   Twenty, thirty, one hundred

   Usage

   Larger numbers needed for prices and shopping negotiations

   Grammar Note

   Quechua compound numbers use numeral + chunka. pachak (hundred) was also an Inca admin unit

4. Iskay kiluta quway

   Is-kay ki-lu-ta qu-way

   Please give me two kilos

   Usage

   Ordering a specific weight at a market stall

   Grammar Note

   quway is the imperative of quy (to give) with "to me" already encoded. kilu from Spanish

5. Hayk'a horas?

   Hayk'a ho-ras?

   What time is it?

   Usage

   Asking the time, a practical use of numbers

   Grammar Note

   horas is borrowed from Spanish hora (hour). Modern Quechua incorporates many Spanish loanwords

6. Chunka hukniyuq, chunka iskayniyuq

   Chun-ka huk-ni-yuq, chun-ka is-kay-ni-yuq

   Eleven, twelve

   Usage

   Quechua eleven and twelve, showing the decimal compound structure

   Grammar Note

   Quechua 11 is literally "ten having one". -yuq is the possessive suffix meaning "having/with"

7. Pachak, waranqa, hunu

   Pa-chak, wa-ran-qa, hu-nu

   Hundred, thousand, million

   Usage

   Quechua has native words for large numbers including million

   Grammar Note

   Quechua has native words up to a million (hunu). The Inca Empire's administration required advanced numeracy

8. Kimsa kutita munayman

   Kim-sa ku-ti-ta mu-na-y-man

   Three times please

   Usage

   Asking for something three times or ordering three of something

   Grammar Note

   kuti means "time/turn/occasion". Combined with numbers it expresses repetition. kimsa kuti = three times

9. Pisichu icha achkachu?

   Pi-si-chu i-cha ach-ka-chu?

   Is it too little or too much?

   Usage

   Checking whether a quantity or amount is appropriate

   Grammar Note

   pisi (few) and achka (many) are antonyms. "A-chu icha B-chu" forms the alternative question "is it A or B?". The spelling achka matches the other cards

10. Iskay chunka qanchisniyuq watayuqmi kani.

    Is-kay chun-ka qan-chis-ni-yuq wa-ta-yuq-mi ka-ni

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer with your age. Swap the number to give any other age

    Grammar Note

    Compound numbers are tens + unit + -ni-yuq (chunka hukniyuq = 11, iskay chunka qanchisniyuq = 27). The suffix -yuq means "having", so watayuq (from wata, year) means "… years old". This is the answer to "Hayk'a watayuqmi kanki?" (How old are you?)

11. Kay watapi iskay chunka pusaqniyuq watayuq kasaq.

    Kay wa-ta-pi is-kay chun-ka pu-saq-ni-yuq wa-ta-yuq ka-saq

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Used to state the age you reach in the current year

    Grammar Note

    kasaq is the first-person future of kay (to be). The locative suffix -pi on wata (year) gives kay watapi (in this year)

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