Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Quechua words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?
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Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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¿Iman sutiyki? What is your name? ...-n sutiy. My name is ... ¿Imaynallan kashanki? How are you? Allillanmi. ¿Qanrí? Fine. And you? ¿Maypitaq ...? Where is ...? ¿Maypitaq hisp'akuna kashan? Qharikuna/Warmikuna Where is the toilet? Men/Women Pampachayuway. Dispinsayuway. Sorry. Excuse me. Ama llakikuychu. No problem. ...-ta munani. I want ... Manan ...-ta munanichu. I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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¿Maymantan kanki? Where are you from? Nuqa Awstralya-manta kani.* I am from Australia. Allichu kwintata quway. The bill, please. Chinkasqan kashani. I'm lost. Sayay! Suyay! Stop! Wait! Kaypi, chaypi, haqaypi. Here, there, over there. Taksi. Qurpa wasi. Trin sayan. Uniwus sayan. Taxi. Hotel. Train station. Bus station. ...-ta munani. I like ... Manan ...-ta munanichu. I don't like ... huk, iskay, kimsa, tawa (or chusku), pichqa. one, two, three, four, five. suqta, qanchis, pusaq, isqun, chunka. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Amirika - America Kanada - Canada Inlatirra - England Ilanda - Ireland Musuq Silanda / Nuywa Silandya - New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... | |
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¡Ukyaykusun! Cheers! allin / mana allin good / bad hatun / huch'uy big / small sispa / karu near / far pisi / aswan less / more huk / chayllaña another / enough Nuqa manan aycha mikhuqmi kani. I am vegetarian. Manan aychata mikhunichu. I don't eat meat. ... wallpa aychata ... ... chicken. ... challwa aychata ... ... fish. Manan ch'aki rurukunata mikhunichu. Alirhikun ch'aki rurukunata kani. I am allergic to nuts. ... inchikkunata/manikunata ... ... peanuts. ... challwa aychata ... ... fish. ... mama quchamanta mikhunata ... ... seafood. ... runtukunata ... ... eggs. |
Stress is usually on the last syllable unless indicated with an accent.
Vowels:
a is pronounced as a as in hat (æ)
a is pronounced as a as in part (ɑ) when near q, q' or qh
i is pronounced as i as in bin (ɪ)
i is pronounced as e as in pet (ɛ) when near q, q' or qh
u is pronounced as oo as in hook (ʊ)
u is pronounced as o as in pot (ɔ) when near q, q' or qh
Consonants:
' makes the consonant ejective, forceful but without a puff of air (as if "spat" out)
ch is pronounced as ch in church (tʃ)
h adds a puff of air after the consonant, eg. th = tʰ
j is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
ll is pronounced as ly as in million (ʎ)
ñ is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
q is pronounced as a uvular k, far back in the throat (IPA q)
a is pronounced as a as in hat (æ)
a is pronounced as a as in part (ɑ) when near q, q' or qh
i is pronounced as i as in bin (ɪ)
i is pronounced as e as in pet (ɛ) when near q, q' or qh
u is pronounced as oo as in hook (ʊ)
u is pronounced as o as in pot (ɔ) when near q, q' or qh
Consonants:
' makes the consonant ejective, forceful but without a puff of air (as if "spat" out)
ch is pronounced as ch in church (tʃ)
h adds a puff of air after the consonant, eg. th = tʰ
j is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
ll is pronounced as ly as in million (ʎ)
ñ is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
q is pronounced as a uvular k, far back in the throat (IPA q)