Greetings

1. Kamisaki

   Ka-mi-sa-ki

   Hello / How are you

   Usage

   Common Aymara greeting used in the Andean regions of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile

   Grammar Note

   Aymara is an official language of Bolivia alongside Quechua. Reply: "Waliki" (I'm fine)

2. Yuspagara

   Yus-pa-ga-ra

   Thank you

   Usage

   The most common Aymara expression of gratitude

   Grammar Note

   Thought to derive from Spanish "Dios pague" (may God repay you)

3. Jikisiñkama

   Ji-ki-siñ-ka-ma

   Goodbye

   Usage

   The Aymara farewell, meaning "until later"

   Grammar Note

   Jikisiñkama is jikisiña 'to meet' + -kama 'until', meaning 'until we meet again'. Jallalla! is also used as a farewell

4. Jisa / Janiwa

   Ji-sa / Ja-ni-wa

   Yes / No

   Usage

   Basic Aymara words for yes and no

   Grammar Note

   "Jani" is the Aymara negation root, used across many negative constructions

5. Jumamp jikisiñax kusisiñawa

   Ju-mamp ji-ki-si-ñax ku-si-si-ña-wa

   Nice to meet you

   Usage

   An Aymara greeting used when meeting someone for the first time

   Grammar Note

   Kusisiña means 'to be glad, to rejoice'. -mpi 'with' shrinks to -mp at the end of a word (as in Andresampi)

6. Waliki

   Wa-li-ki

   I am fine

   Usage

   The standard reply to "Kamisaki" (how are you) in Aymara

   Grammar Note

   waliki expresses being well. Like suma, it is a core Aymara word for health and happiness

7. Jallalla!

   Ja-lla-lla!

   Cheers! / Long live! / Be well!

   Usage

   A versatile exclamation used as a toast, celebration cheer, and farewell in Aymara culture

   Grammar Note

   A multipurpose Aymara exclamation meaning "cheers", "long live", or "be well" depending on context

8. Sapa urukiwa yuspagara

   Sa-pa u-ru-ki-wa yus-pa-ga-ra

   Thank you every day

   Usage

   A formal way to express deep, ongoing gratitude for continued kindness

   Grammar Note

   sapa uru means "every day". -ki is a distributive or adverbializing suffix

9. Aski uru jumataki

   As-ki u-ru ju-ma-ta-ki

   Have a good day

   Usage

   A farewell blessing wishing the other person a good day

   Grammar Note

   Aski uru means 'a good day' (a greeting for the day). The beneficiary is marked with -taki

10. Suma qamaña

    Su-ma qa-ma-ña

    Good living / Living well (Bolivian philosophical concept)

    Usage

    An Aymara philosophical greeting and blessing meaning "harmonious good living," enshrined in Bolivia's constitution

    Grammar Note

    suma qamaña is the Andean philosophy of "good living" — harmonious balance of nature, community, and spirit

11. Kawkhansa baño utji?

    Kaw-khan-sa ba-ño ut-ji?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Basic phrase to ask where the toilet is in a public place

    Grammar Note

    The Aymara existential verb is utjaña. The frame for asking about a place is Kawkhansa … utji?. For 'toilet', locals also use the Spanish baño as is

12. Janiw Aymar arut parlasmkiti

    I can't speak Aymara

    Usage

    Used to tell an Aymara speaker that you cannot speak the language

    Grammar Note

    Aymara negation uses the frame janiw...kiti. aru means "language / speech"

13. Aski arumakipana

    As-ki a-ru-ma-ki-pa-na

    Good night

    Usage

    Bedtime greeting in Aymara

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