Sightseeing

1. Machu Pikchu maypin?

   Ma-chu Pik-chu may-pin?

   Where is Machu Picchu?

   Usage

   Essential for any traveler to Peru asking about the iconic Inca site

   Grammar Note

   maypin (or maypim) = where is it. -pi is locative, -n is emphatic. In Quechua the name is written Machu Pikchu: machu "old" + pikchu "sharp peak"; pichu is an unrelated word meaning "shin bone"

2. Huk billeteta munani

   Huk bil-le-te-ta mu-na-ni

   I would like one ticket

   Usage

   Buying an admission ticket at a tourist attraction

   Grammar Note

   billete is borrowed from Spanish (ticket/bill). It takes native Quechua case suffixes

3. Hayk'a karuta?

   Hayk'a ka-ru-ta?

   How far is it?

   Usage

   Asking about the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   karu means "far/distant". Its antonym is qaylla (near/adjacent)

4. Ñuqanchikwan fotota hurquwankichu?

   Ñu-qan-chik-wan fo-to-ta hur-qu-wan-ki-chu?

   Would you take a photo with us?

   Usage

   Asking someone to take a photo with you at a tourist site

   Grammar Note

   ñuqanchik is "we (including you)": since the listener is in the photo too, the inclusive form is used (ñuqayku excludes the listener). hurquy is "to take (a photo)", as in the Photography category

5. Yaykuy ñiqin hayk'a vale?

   Yay-kuy ñi-qin hayk'a va-le?

   How much is the entrance fee?

   Usage

   Asking about the admission fee at attractions or museums

   Grammar Note

   yaykuy is the nominalized verb "entering". hayk'a vale is a practical phrase for "how much"

6. Inkan suyu museoqa maypin?

   In-kan su-yu mu-se-o-qa may-pin?

   Where is the Inca civilization museum?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a museum about Inca history and culture

   Grammar Note

   suyu means "region/direction". The Inca Empire was called Tawantinsuyu (the Four Regions)

7. Pachamama wasiman riyta munani

   Pa-cha-ma-ma wa-si-man ri-y-ta mu-na-ni

   I want to go to the Pachamama temple

   Usage

   Expressing desire to visit a shrine to Pachamama, the Andean earth goddess

   Grammar Note

   Pachamama combines pacha (earth/time) and mama (mother). She is central to Andean indigenous spirituality

8. Raqchi wasin maypin?

   Raq-chi wa-sin may-pin?

   Where is the Raqchi ruins?

   Usage

   Asking directions to the Raqchi Inca ruins in the Quechua heartland

   Grammar Note

   wasi (house) + -n (3rd person possessive). Raqchi is an Inca sacred site known as the Temple of Viracocha

9. Kusiywanmi qhawani

   Ku-siy-wan-mi qha-wa-ni

   I watch with great joy

   Usage

   Expressing joyful appreciation while watching a cultural performance or sight

   Grammar Note

   -wan is the comitative suffix "with/together with". kusiy is kusi (joy) + -y (my possession)

10. Kay ñan maytam puririn?

    Kay ñan may-tam pu-ri-rin?

    Where does this path lead?

    Usage

    Asking where a trail or road leads during trekking or sightseeing

    Grammar Note

    ñan is the native Quechua word for "road/path". puriy means "to travel/walk"

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