Public Transport

10 phrases · Quechua with romanization, English and audio

  1. Maymantataq busqa hamun?

    May-man-ta-taq bus-qa ha-mun

    Where does the bus come from?

    Usage

    Asking about the bus route or origin

    Grammar Note

    hamuy means "to come". The suffix -taq in questions expresses contrast or emphasis

  2. Ima pachataq busqa chayamunqa?

    I-ma pa-cha-taq bus-qa cha-ya-mun-qa

    What time will the bus arrive?

    Usage

    Asking about the arrival time of a bus or vehicle

    Grammar Note

    pacha is a polysemous Quechua word meaning "time, place, earth". The 3rd-person singular future is -nqa (the same ending as kanqa "it will be" and qallarinqa "it will start"), never spelled -nga

  3. Kay busqa mercadoman rinchu?

    Kay bus-qa mer-ca-do-man rin-chu

    Does this bus go to the market?

    Usage

    Checking if a bus goes to your desired destination

    Grammar Note

    The suffix -man marks direction or goal. rin is the third person singular form of riy (to go)

  4. Pasajeta rantiyta munani

    Pa-sa-je-ta ran-tiy-ta mu-na-ni

    I want to buy a ticket

    Usage

    Asking to purchase a bus or transport ticket

    Grammar Note

    rantiy is the Quechua verb "to buy". munani expresses desire and means "I want to"

  5. Haqaypi uraykachiway

    Ha-qay-pi u-ray-ka-chi-way

    Please drop me off there

    Usage

    Asking the driver to let you off at a certain point

    Grammar Note

    uraykachiy is the causative of uraykuy "to go down/get off", so "to let off". -way is imperative + "to me". (sayk'uy "to get tired" is a different word.)

  6. Taxita maskani

    Ta-xi-ta mas-ka-ni

    I am looking for a taxi

    Usage

    When searching for an available taxi

    Grammar Note

    maskay means "to search for / seek". The suffix -ni marks first person singular present tense

  7. Hayk'ata pagarini?

    Hayk'a-ta pa-ga-ri-ni

    How much do I pay?

    Usage

    Asking about the fare for a bus or taxi ride

    Grammar Note

    pagar is the Spanish "to pay" adapted into Quechua. hayk'a is the question word for quantity

  8. Tren estacionman chayarqanchik

    Tren es-ta-cion-man cha-yar-qan-chik

    We arrived at the train station

    Usage

    Announcing arrival at a train station

    Grammar Note

    The suffix -nchik marks inclusive first-person plural (we, including the listener)

  9. Kunanmi puriyta qallarinchik

    Ku-nan-mi pu-riy-ta qal-la-rin-chik

    We depart right now

    Usage

    Informing passengers that the vehicle is about to depart

    Grammar Note

    qallariy means "to begin / start" and is used for vehicle departure. -nchik is inclusive 1st-person plural "we" (present tense covering the near future; -nqa would be 3rd-person future, a subject mismatch)

  10. Llank'aqmi taxipi kachkani

    Llank'a-q-mi ta-xi-pi kach-ka-ni

    I work as a taxi driver

    Usage

    Explaining one's occupation as a taxi driver

    Grammar Note

    kachkay is an auxiliary indicating ongoing action. llank'ay is the native Quechua verb "to work"

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