Festivals & Events

1. Suma Anata Inti Raymi!

   Su-ma A-na-ta In-ti Ray-mi!

   Happy Inti Raymi! (Festival of the Sun)

   Usage

   Greeting for Inti Raymi, the Andean Festival of the Sun celebrated on June 24

   Grammar Note

   Aymara maintains its own structure despite Spanish influence. "Suma" is a modifier placed before the noun.

2. Aka phunchawix kunapachasa qalltani?

   A-ka phun-cha-wix ku-na-pa-cha-sa qall-ta-ni?

   When does this festival start?

   Usage

   Used to ask when a festival or ceremony begins

   Grammar Note

   Anata is limited to 'Carnival', so festivals in general are phunchawi. The 3rd person future -ni is regular, as in lurani / munani / tuyuni

3. Kawkhansa jach'a phunchawix utji?

   Kaw-khan-sa ja-ch'a phun-cha-wix ut-ji?

   Where is the main celebration held?

   Usage

   Used to ask the location of the main festival celebration

   Grammar Note

   Kuna means 'what'. 'Where' is kawki / kawkha, and the standard frame for asking about a place is Kawkhansa … utji?. 'Main' is expressed with jach'a 'big'

4. Nayax phunchawiru mantañax sumati?

   Na-yax phun-cha-wi-ru man-ta-ñax su-ma-ti?

   Can I join in the festivities?

   Usage

   Used to request permission to join an Andean local festival

   Grammar Note

   The old card glossed nayra as 'I', but nayra means 'eye, front' (CONADI: NAYRA ojo); 'I' is naya. Uñtayapxañani derives from uñtaña 'to look' and cannot mean 'to participate'. Joining is expressed with mantaña 'to enter' (Laime 2020: mantaña. v. intr. Entrar)

5. Anata ukanx kuna manq'as manq'apxi?

   A-na-ta u-kanx ku-na man-q'as man-q'a-pxi?

   What traditional food is eaten at this festival?

   Usage

   Used to ask about traditional Andean festival foods

   Grammar Note

   Aymara uses ejective consonants; the 'q'' in 'manq'a' is pronounced with a strong burst of air

6. Anata ukar kuna isis wakisi?

   A-na-ta u-kar ku-na i-sis wa-ki-si?

   What should I wear to the festival?

   Usage

   Used to ask about appropriate clothing for an Andean festival

   Grammar Note

   Traditional Aymara festival attire includes colorful ponchos and the aksu dress worn by women.

7. Anata ukar mantañ qullqi utjiti?

   A-na-ta u-kar man-tañ qull-qi ut-ji-ti?

   Is there an entrance fee?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there is an admission fee for a festival

   Grammar Note

   "Utji" is the Aymara existential verb equivalent to "there is" or "exists." The question marker is "-ti" (utjiti).

8. Anata ukat amtataki alañ muntwa

   A-na-ta u-kat am-ta-ta-ki a-lañ mun-twa

   I would like to buy a souvenir from the festival.

   Usage

   Used when wanting to buy a festival souvenir or handicraft

   Grammar Note

   "Alaña" means "to buy" in Aymara and can also function as a verbal noun (infinitive).

9. Kunsa yatiyañä anata chuyma?

   Kun-sa ya-ti-ya-ñä a-na-ta chuy-ma?

   What are the traditional customs of this celebration?

   Usage

   Used to ask locals about the traditional customs of an Andean festival

   Grammar Note

   "Chuyma" means "heart/spirit" in Aymara and refers to the spirit behind cultural practices.

10. Anata ukax wali sumawa!

    A-na-ta u-kax wa-li su-ma-wa!

    The festival atmosphere is so beautiful!

    Usage

    An exclamation of admiration for the atmosphere of a festival

    Grammar Note

    "Suma" is the most common Aymara adjective for beauty or goodness, frequently used in exclamations.

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