Weather & Climate

1. Kunanqa ruphaymi, ichachu?

   Ku-nan-qa ru-phay-mi, i-cha-chu?

   It's hot today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Weather conversation opener in Quechua-speaking regions (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador)

   Grammar Note

   Quechua is an Andean indigenous language. "-mi" is an evidential suffix indicating certainty

2. Paramunman hina rikukun

   Pa-ra-mun-man hi-na ri-ku-kun

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   Used when rain appears likely

   Grammar Note

   "-man hina" means "like / as if". Quechua has rich agglutinative suffixes

3. Wayra hatun chayamun

   Way-ra ha-tun cha-ya-mun

   A storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning when a storm is approaching

   Grammar Note

   "Wayra" means "wind" and with "hatun" (big) describes a large storm

4. Kunanqa chirimi, ichachu?

   Ku-nan-qa chi-ri-mi, i-cha-chu?

   It's cold today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Describe the cold Andean climate

   Grammar Note

   Andean highlands are cold even near the equator. "Chiri" (cold) is used frequently

5. Ama hina kaspa, pacha imaynam kanqa niwaykuway

   A-ma hi-na kas-pa, pa-cha i-may-nam kan-qa ni-way-ku-way

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely ask about the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Pacha" in Quechua means "weather", "time", and "universe" — a polysemous word

6. Intimanta amachaq hampita necesitanichu?

   In-ti-man-ta a-ma-chaq ham-pi-ta ne-ce-si-ta-ni-chu?

   Do I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask before going out under the strong Andean UV rays

   Grammar Note

   "Inti" is the Quechua word for sun — the Inca revered "Inti" as their sun deity

7. Para aparina p'achatachu apasaq?

   Pa-ra a-pa-ri-na p'a-cha-ta-chu a-pa-saq?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Check whether to bring an umbrella

   Grammar Note

   The umbrella is described compositionally: "rain-carrying-cloth" in Quechua

8. Ch'aki pacha hayk'aqmi qallarin?

   Ch'a-ki pa-cha hay-k'aq-mi qal-la-rin?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Ask about the Andean dry season (May–October)

   Grammar Note

   "Dry" is "ch'aki" with an ejective ch', while "foot" is the plain "chaki"; they are two different words forming a minimal pair. The dry season is "ch'aki pacha"

9. Hayk'aqmi para pacha qallarin?

   Hay-k'aq-mi pa-ra pa-cha qal-la-rin?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the Andean rainy season (November–April)

   Grammar Note

   "Para pacha" = "time of rain" — a simple compound in Quechua

10. Inti sinchitam k'anchayan

    In-ti sin-chi-tam k'an-cha-yan

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Describe the intense UV radiation in the Andean highlands

    Grammar Note

    "K'anchay" means "to shine/glow". The ejective consonant "k'" is characteristic of Quechua

11. Para

    Rain

    Usage

    To ask or confirm what the weather will do

12. Rit'i

    Snow

    Usage

    When asking about road conditions at altitude

13. Wayra

    Wind

    Usage

    To ask or confirm what the weather will do

14. Inti kashan

    Sunny

    Usage

    To ask or confirm what the weather will do

15. Phuyu

    Cloudy

    Usage

    To ask or confirm what the weather will do

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