Animals

1. Qarwa

   Llama

   Usage

   The big pack camelid; ask the owner before photographing one

2. Allpachu

   Alpaca

   Usage

   Kept for its fleece; the Spanish word alpaca comes from this Aymara form

3. Wari

   Vicuña

   Usage

   A protected wild camelid with the world's finest fleece; herds are seen from altiplano roads

4. Wanaku

   Guanaco

   Usage

   A wild camelid, larger and darker than a vicuña

5. Wank'u

   Guinea pig

   Usage

   Raised in kitchen corners and served at celebrations; decline politely if you would rather not eat it

6. Kunturi

   Condor

   Usage

   The most revered bird in Andean culture; watch for it riding morning thermals above the valleys

7. Wallata

   Andean goose

   Usage

   The black-and-white bird seen in pairs on highland wetlands; said to mate for life and a symbol of couples in songs and dances

8. Suri

   Rhea

   Usage

   The large flightless bird of the altiplano, now protected as numbers fall; a dance called suri sikuri is named after it

9. Parina

   Flamingo

   Usage

   Andean flamingos flocking on the altiplano salt lakes, e.g. Laguna Colorada; those lakes sit above 4,000 m, so dress warmly

10. Qamaqi

    Fox

    Usage

    The Andean fox; in Aymara folk tales the trickster who always comes off worse

11. Titi

    Andean wildcat

    Usage

    A rare wildcat of highland rock fields; the name of Lake Titicaca (Titiqaqa) is said to contain this word

12. Wisk'acha

    Viscacha

    Usage

    A long-tailed rabbit-like rodent living in rock crevices; you see them sunning on boulders morning and evening

13. Anu

    Dog

    Usage

    Every village house has a guard dog; if one barks, stop and do not pretend to pick up a stone

14. Phisi

    Cat

    Usage

    The ph is an aspirated p, said with a strong puff of air

15. Jamach'i

    Bird

    Usage

    The general word for birds when you do not know the species. The ch' is ejective

16. Challwa

    Fish

    Usage

    Lake Titicaca fish; trout and pejerrey dominate the menus in lakeside towns

17. Achaku

    Mouse / rat

    Usage

    Use it to report one at your lodging

18. Kawallu

    Horse

    Usage

    Borrowed from Spanish caballo

19. Asnu

    Donkey

    Usage

    From Spanish asno; still working as a pack animal

20. Waka

    Cow

    Usage

    From Spanish vaca; grazed on the grasslands by the lake

21. Iwija

    Sheep

    Usage

    From Spanish oveja; herds are a common sight on highland slopes

22. Khuchi

    Pig

    Usage

    The kh is aspirated. Aimed at a person the word is an insult, so keep it about the animal

23. Wallpa

    Chicken / hen

    Usage

    In every yard; chicken soup is the standard remedy when you feel unwell

24. Asiru

    Snake

    Usage

    Almost absent at high altitude but present in lower valleys

25. Jamp'atu

    Frog / toad

    Usage

    Lake Titicaca has a large endemic frog; it is protected, so decline if anyone offers to sell one. The p' is ejective

26. Ch'uspi

    Fly

    Usage

    Comes up in markets and street stalls. The ch' is ejective

27. Laq'u

    Bug / worm

    Usage

    A catch-all for small creatures you cannot name. The q' is a uvular ejective

28. Pillpintu

    Butterfly

    Usage

    Variety increases sharply as you drop into the valleys

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