Directions

1. Kawkirus sarañani?

   Kaw-ki-rus sa-ra-ña-ni?

   Which way should we go?

   Usage

   Used when deciding which direction to go or confirming a destination

   Grammar Note

   Kawkiru means 'to where'. -ñani is the 'let's ...' form (sarañäni 'let's go')

2. Qhathux nayraqatankiwa.

   Qha-thux nay-ra-qa-tan-ki-wa.

   The market is straight ahead

   Usage

   Used when giving directions to a market or pointing someone straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   'Market' is qhathu. The 'located at' suffix -nki is used as in Mä k'uchunkiwa 'it is in the corner'. Nayraqata means 'first, ahead'

3. Kupir sarañani.

   Ku-pir sa-ra-ña-ni.

   Let's turn right

   Usage

   Used when giving directions to turn right

   Grammar Note

   There is no dedicated verb for 'turn', so it is rephrased as 'let's go to the right'. 'Right' is kupi and the direction is -ru

4. Ch'iqar sarañani.

   Ch'i-qar sa-ra-ña-ni.

   Let's turn left

   Usage

   Used when giving directions to turn left

   Grammar Note

   'Left' is ch'iqa. Dropping the ejective ch' and writing chiqa gives a different word meaning 'truth, place'

5. Kawkhansa utji?

   Kaw-khan-sa ut-ji?

   Where is it?

   Usage

   The most basic expression for asking about location. Effective when used while pointing at a map

   Grammar Note

   The Aymara question marker is -sa. The frame for asking about a place is Kawkhansa … utji?

6. Titicaca qutar kunjamas saraña?

   Ti-ti-ca-ca qu-tar kun-ja-mas sa-ra-ña?

   How do I get to Lake Titicaca?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to Lake Titicaca, the spiritual center of Aymara culture

   Grammar Note

   Lake is quta (CONADI: QUTA lago // laguna). How is kunjama; the old kawkiri means 'which / where' and cannot ask for a means. The lake name is kept in its Spanish spelling to match local maps and bus signs

7. Aka thakhir saram.

   A-ka tha-khir sa-ram.

   Please go this way

   Usage

   Used when guiding someone along the correct path or road

   Grammar Note

   'Road, path' is thakhi. The imperative is the root + -m (the same form as Escuelar saram 'go to school')

8. Janiw yatkti. Mä mapa qillqt'am.

   Ja-niw yat-kti. Mä ma-pa qill-qt'am.

   I don't know, could you draw a map for me?

   Usage

   Used when verbal directions are insufficient and you need a drawn map for clarification

   Grammar Note

   To write is qillqaña (Laime 2010: ESCRIBIR. tr. Representar las ideas por signos graficos. Qillqana). The negative frame is janiw … -kti (Laime 2010: Janiwa kunasa utjkiti). The old qhispisimawa is built on qhispiyaña 'to save, liberate' and cannot mean to draw

9. Akan sayt'am.

   A-kan say-t'am.

   Please stop here

   Usage

   Used in taxis or buses when you need the driver to stop at your destination

   Grammar Note

   Kayu means 'foot, leg'. 'Here' is aka / akana. 'To stop' is sayaña ('to stand'), and the imperative is Sayt'am

10. Kawkhansa jach'a uta utji?

    Kaw-khan-sa ja-ch'a u-ta ut-ji?

    Where is the large building?

    Usage

    Used when asking for directions using large buildings or landmarks as reference points

    Grammar Note

    The old -pis is a Quechua suffix. The Aymara location frame is Kawkhansa … utji?. jach'a is glossed grande, voluminoso and uta casa in CONADI

11. Kupi

    Right

    Usage

    Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence

12. Ch'iqa

    Left

    Usage

    Show it to a driver; one word beats a sentence

13. Sayt'am

    Stop here

    Usage

    To have a driver pull over where you want

14. Kutim

    Go back

    Usage

    When the driver has gone too far

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