Post Office

1. Maypim koreo wasin kachkan?

   May-pim ko-re-o wa-sin kach-kan?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to the post office

   Grammar Note

   "koreo" borrowed from Spanish "correo" (mail); "wasi" means "house/building" in Quechua

2. Kay pakita Limaman apachiyta munani.

   Kay pa-ki-ta Li-ma-man a-pa-chiy-ta mu-na-ni.

   I want to send this package to Lima

   Usage

   Sending a package to another city in Peru

   Grammar Note

   "apachiy" is the causative "to send/have carried"; "-man" marks the destination ("to Lima"). "-manta" would mean "from", the opposite direction

3. Hayk'ataq kay karta apachiyta vale?

   Hayk'a-taq kay kar-ta a-pa-chiy-ta va-le?

   How much does this letter cost to send?

   Usage

   Asking about the postage for a letter

   Grammar Note

   "karta" borrowed from Spanish "carta" (letter); "hayk'a" is the question word "how much" (ima qullqi would mean "what kind of money"); "apachiyta vale" = "what it costs to send"

4. Huk sello quwankichu?

   Huk sel-lo qu-wan-ki-chu?

   Could you give me one stamp?

   Usage

   Requesting a postage stamp at the post office

   Grammar Note

   "sello" borrowed from Spanish "sello" (stamp); "quwanki" is second-person of "to give"

5. Kay pakita usqhaylla apachiyta atinichu?

   Kay pa-ki-ta us-qhay-lla a-pa-chiy-ta a-ti-ni-chu?

   Can this package be sent express?

   Usage

   Asking whether a package can be sent by express mail

   Grammar Note

   "usqhaylla" = "quickly / in a hurry". "apachiyta atinichu" = "can I send?" with -chu marking the question. ("kallpasapa" means "strong", not express.)

6. Ima p'unchawpin pakiy chayamunan?

   I-ma p'un-chaw-pin pa-kiy cha-ya-mu-nan?

   When will the package arrive?

   Usage

   Asking about the expected delivery date for a package

   Grammar Note

   "chayamuy" = "chaya-" (arrive) + "-mu" (directional toward speaker) = "arrive here"

7. Kay formulariota llenay atinichu?

   Kay for-mu-la-ri-o-ta lle-nay a-ti-ni-chu?

   Can I fill out this form?

   Usage

   Asking whether you can complete the required postal form

   Grammar Note

   Both "formulario" (form) and "llenar" (to fill) are borrowings from Spanish

8. Pakiyta rastreayta munani.

   Pa-kiy-ta rast-re-ay-ta mu-na-ni.

   I want to track my package

   Usage

   Requesting shipment tracking for a package

   Grammar Note

   "rastrear" is a Quechua adaptation of Spanish "rastrear" (to track)

9. Kay pakita huk llaqtaman apachiyta atinichu?

   Kay pa-ki-ta huk llaq-ta-man a-pa-chiy-ta a-ti-ni-chu?

   Can this package go to another country?

   Usage

   Asking whether a package can be sent internationally

   Grammar Note

   "llaqta" means "town/country/city" in Quechua; "-man" is the allative case "to/toward"

10. Ima horapin koreo wasi wisq'akun?

    I-ma ho-ra-pin ko-re-o wa-si wis-q'a-kun?

    What time does the post office close?

    Usage

    Asking about post office closing hours

    Grammar Note

    "wisq'ay" means "to close/lock" in Quechua; used for business closing times

Browse all TravelPhrases languages