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From The Complete Quechua Phrasebook

Complete first practical phrase chapter, including every subsection and phrase.

Content language: English · Learning language: Quechua

Chapter 1

Survival Essentials

Basic Greetings

Hello.

Allinllachu. (ah-yeen-yah-choo)

Good morning.

Allin p'unchaw. (ah-yeen poon-chow)

Good evening.

Allin ch'isi. (ah-yeen chee-see)

Good night.

Allin tuta. (ah-yeen too-tah)

Goodbye.

Tupananchiskama. (too-pah-nan-chis-kah-mah)

See you later.

Huk ratukama. (hook rah-too-kah-mah)

Nice to meet you.

Anchatam kusikusani riqsisuspayki. (ahn-chah-tam koo-see-koo-sah-nee reek-see-soos-pahy-kee)

Welcome.

Allin hamusqa kay. (ah-yeen hah-moos-kah ky)

How are you?

Imaynallam kachkanki? (ee-my-nah-yam kach-kahn-kee)

I’m fine.

Allinllam kachkani. (ah-yeen-yam kach-kah-nee)

And you?

Qamqa? (kam-kah)

What is your name?

Imataq sutiyki? (ee-mah-tak soo-teey-kee)

My name is ... .

Sutiyqa ... . (soo-teey-kah ...)

Where are you from?

Maymantataq kanki? (my-mahn-tah-tak kahn-kee)

I am from ... .

... llaqtamantam kani. (... yak-tah-mahn-tam kah-nee)

Yes.

Arí. (ah-ree)

No.

Manam. (mah-nam)

Maybe.

Ichapas. (ee-chah-pas)

I understand.

Intindini. (in-tin-dee-nee)

I don’t understand.

Mana intindinichu. (mah-nah in-tin-dee-nee-choo)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Ama hina kaspa. (ah-mah hee-nah kahs-pah)

Thank you.

Añay. (ah-nyay)

Thank you very much.

Anchatam añaychayki. (ahn-chah-tam ah-nyay-chy-kee)

You’re welcome.

Imamanta. (ee-mah-mahn-tah)

Excuse me.

Dispinsaway. (dis-peen-sah-wy)

I’m sorry.

Pampachaway. (pam-pah-chah-wy)

No problem.

Manam imamapas kanchu. (mah-nam ee-mah-mah-pas kan-choo)

That’s okay.

Allinmi. (ah-yeen-mee)

Of course.

Chiqaqmi. (chee-kak-mee)

Don’t worry.

Ama llakikuychu. (ah-mah yah-kee-kuy-choo)

Excuse me, sir.

Dispinsaway, taytay. (dis-peen-sah-wy, ty-ty)

Excuse me, ma'am.

Dispinsaway, mamay. (dis-peen-sah-wy, mah-my)

Can you help me?

Yanapawankichu? (yah-nah-pah-wan-kee-choo)

I need help.

Yanapaytam necesitani. (yah-nah-py-tam neh-seh-see-tah-nee)

Do you speak English?

Inglesta rimankichu? (een-gles-tah ree-mahn-kee-choo)

I speak a little Quechua.

Asllatam runasimita rimani. (ahs-yah-tam roo-nah-see-mee-tah ree-mah-nee)

Please speak slowly.

Allimanta rimariway. (ah-yee-mahn-tah ree-mah-ree-wy)

Can you repeat that?

Kaqmanta niwawaqchu? (kak-mahn-tah nee-wah-wak-choo)

I don't know.

Manam yachanichu. (mah-nam yah-chah-nee-choo)

What is this?

Imataq kay? (ee-mah-tak ky)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need ...

I need water.

Unutam necesitani. (oo-noo-tam neh-seh-see-tah-nee)

I need a taxi.

Taxitam necesitani. (tak-see-tam neh-seh-see-tah-nee)

I need to sleep.

Puñuytam necesitani. (poo-nyuy-tam neh-seh-see-tah-nee)

I need a doctor.

Hampiqtam necesitani. (ham-pik-tam neh-seh-see-tah-nee)

I need a ticket.

Boletotam necesitani. (boh-leh-toh-tam neh-seh-see-tah-nee)

Pattern: I want ...

I want food.

Mikhunatam munani. (mee-koo-nah-tam moo-nah-nee)

I want to buy this.

Kayta rantiyta munani. (ky-tah rahn-teey-tah moo-nah-nee)

I want to go to the center.

Plazaman riyta munani. (plah-zah-mahn reey-tah moo-nah-nee)

I want coffee.

Cafetam munani. (kah-feh-tam moo-nah-nee)

I want to rest.

Samariyta munani. (sah-mah-reey-tah moo-nah-nee)

Pattern: I would like ...

I would like a room.

Huk cuartotam munayman. (hook kwar-toh-tam moo-ny-mahn)

I would like to eat.

Mikhuytam munayman. (mee-kooy-tam moo-ny-mahn)

I would like the bill.

Cuentatam munayman. (kwen-tah-tam moo-ny-mahn)

I would like to pay.

Pagaytam munayman. (pah-gy-tam moo-ny-mahn)

I would like to see this.

Kayta qawaykuyman. (ky-tah ka-wy-kooy-man)

Pattern: Can you ...?

Can you help me?

Yanapariwawaqchu? (yah-nah-pah-ree-wah-wak-choo)

Can you write it down?

Qillqariwaqchu? (kil-kah-ree-wak-choo)

Can you show me?

Qawachiwawaqchu? (ka-wah-chee-wah-wak-choo)

Can you lower the price?

Pisiyachiwaqchu? (pee-see-yah-chee-wak-choo)

Can you wait for me?

Suyariwawaqchu? (soo-yah-ree-wah-wak-choo)

Pattern: Where is ...?

Where is the bathroom?

Maypim hispana wasi kachkan? (my-pim hees-pah-nah wah-see kach-kan)

Where is the hotel?

Maypim hotel kachkan? (my-pim ho-tel kach-kan)

Where is the bus stop?

Maypim paradero kachkan? (my-pim pah-rah-deh-roh kach-kan)

Where is the restaurant?

Maypim mikhuna wasi kachkan? (my-pim mee-koo-nah wah-see kach-kan)

Where is the market?

Maypim qatu kachkan? (my-pim kah-too kach-kan)

This reading preserves the complete source section, including its original examples and any translations already in the book. It has not been rewritten or translated for this preview.