Traveling with Kids

1. Kunsa yatiqta?

   Kun-sa ya-tiq-ta?

   What are you studying?

   Usage

   Used when talking with Aymara children about their school studies

   Grammar Note

   The old Imañataki is built on Quechua ima; the Aymara for 'what' is kuna. The 2nd person present ends in -ta, and UniMorph aym lists yatiqta (V;PRS;2;SG)

2. Suma yatiqiritawa

   Su-ma ya-ti-qi-ri-ta-wa

   You are studying well (you're doing great)

   Usage

   Used to encourage children and praise their effort in studying

   Grammar Note

   The suffix "-ri" creates agentive nouns: "yatiqi-ri" (learner = student), "yaticha-ri" (teacher). "-wa" is a confirmative/emphatic sentence-final particle

3. Uka wawan sutipax kunasa?

   U-ka wa-wan su-ti-pax ku-na-sa?

   What is that child's name?

   Usage

   Used to ask a parent about their child's name in a friendly conversation

   Grammar Note

   "Wawa" is the warm Aymara word for child/baby. It has been borrowed into Andean Spanish meaning baby. The reduplicated "wa-wa" form is characteristic

4. Wawaxa sumawa

   Wa-wa-xa su-ma-wa

   The child is very lovely

   Usage

   Used to compliment a child. Praising children to their parents is a courteous gesture

   Grammar Note

   "-xa" is the Aymara topic marker (equivalent to Japanese "wa"). "-wa" on "suma" adds emphasis. Aymara's suffix system is structurally similar to Japanese

5. Anataña muntati?

   A-na-ta-ña mun-ta-ti?

   Do you want to play?

   Usage

   Used to invite a child to play, a friendly opener with Aymara children

   Grammar Note

   anataña is the Aymara verb "to play", with the infinitive ending -ña. The verb munaña "to want" is muntwa for "I" and muntati for "do you" (-ta second person + question -ti), which gives the question "do you want to…?"

6. Suma yatiqam, aymara aru yatiqam

   Su-ma ya-ti-qam, ay-ma-ra a-ru ya-ti-qam

   Study well, learn the Aymara language

   Usage

   Used to encourage children to learn and preserve the Aymara language

   Grammar Note

   The imperative adds -m to the stem (yatiqa- → yatiqam). Aymara has millions of speakers but is rated "vulnerable" by UNESCO and faces pressure from Spanish. Transmitting the language to younger generations is a key cultural preservation challenge

7. Kunas sutimaxa?

   Ku-nas su-ti-ma-xa?

   What is your name?

   Usage

   A simple way to ask a child their name

   Grammar Note

   The old Ima is Quechua; the Aymara for 'what' is kuna. Possession is marked by a suffix — -ma for the 2nd person, -ja for the 1st, -pa for the 3rd

8. Suma tuqita utji tele

   Su-ma tu-qi-ta ut-ji te-le

   There is TV in a nice spot

   Usage

   A casual expression used to coax children indoors, mentioning TV as an incentive

   Grammar Note

   "Tele" is a shortening of Spanish "televisión". Colloquial Aymara frequently uses shortened Spanish words. Short forms of 1-2 syllables are especially common in casual speech

9. Nayra yatiqañax suma

   Nay-ra ya-ti-qa-ñax su-ma

   Learning early is good

   Usage

   Used to encourage children to start learning and education at an early age

   Grammar Note

   "Nayra" is polysemous: "eyes", "front", "early/before". "Nayra pacha" means "old times/the past". Spatial and temporal concepts often overlap in Aymara

10. Wawanaka suma utjapxäni

    Wa-wa-na-ka su-ma ut-jap-xä-ni

    May the children be well

    Usage

    A blessing for children's health and wellbeing, used at farewells or ceremonial occasions

    Grammar Note

    "-naka" is the Aymara plural suffix: "wawa-naka" = children. "-pxä-" marks plural subject, "-ni" indicates hortative/optative mood. This serves as a community blessing

Browse all TravelPhrases languages