Useful Phrases

1. Aka aplicaciónax nayan luratawa

   A-ka a-pli-ca-ció-nax na-yan lu-ra-ta-wa

   I made this app

   Usage

   Introduce the app in Aymara

   Grammar Note

   Aymara uses SOV word order. Verbs change based on person and evidentiality

2. Aka aplicaciónax inakiwa

   A-ka a-pli-ca-ción-ax i-na-ki-wa

   This app is free

   Usage

   Explain the app is free

   Grammar Note

   The old mana is the Quechua negator; Aymara negates with jani / janiw (CONADI: JANI no). Free of charge has its own word, inaki (Laime 2020: GRATIS = Inaki, que se da o hace sin un pago como contrapartida). juk'a means 'a little', not 'this', so it was replaced by aka

3. Aplicaciónax chiqanchasiñani

   A-pli-ca-ció-nax chi-qan-cha-si-ña-ni

   Please try downloading it

   Usage

   Encourage downloading the app

   Grammar Note

   Aymara expresses suggestions/invitations through suffixes added to the verb stem

4. Naya Japón markan jaqiwa

   Na-ya Ja-pón mar-kan ja-qi-wa

   I'm Japanese

   Usage

   Introduce your nationality

   Grammar Note

   "Jaqi" means "person/human" in Aymara. "Marka" means territory/country

5. Naya sarnaqiriwa

   Na-ya sar-na-qi-ri-wa

   I'm a traveler

   Usage

   Identify yourself as a traveler

   Grammar Note

   Sarnaqiri is the verb sarnaqaña 'to walk around, to travel' plus the agent suffix -iri, giving 'one who walks about', i.e. 'passer-by'. Puriña means 'to arrive', so it cannot be used for 'traveler'

6. Mayakiw sarnaqasktwa

   Ma-ya-kiw sar-na-qask-twa

   I'm traveling alone

   Usage

   Tell others you are traveling solo

   Grammar Note

   "Mayaki" means "only one / by oneself". The progressive -ski plus the first-person -twa gives "I am doing" (the second person is -ta, so -skta would mean "you are doing"). sarnaqaña is "to walk about, to travel"

7. Nayrïr kutiw akar purtwa

   Nay-rïr ku-tiw a-kar pur-twa

   It's my first time here

   Usage

   Express that this is your first visit

   Grammar Note

   'Nayrïr kuti' means 'the first time'. Puriña means 'to arrive', and with the first-person -twa it becomes purtwa 'I arrived'. Aymara grammaticalizes evidentiality

8. Foto apthasiñ atipktaxa?

   Fo-to ap-tha-siñ a-tipk-ta-xa?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Ask for permission to take a photo

   Grammar Note

   "Atipa-" is the verb stem meaning "can/be able to". Questions are marked by suffixes

9. Masiñanakampiw foto apthasiñani

   Ma-si-ña-na-kam-piw fo-to ap-tha-si-ña-ni

   Shall we take a photo together?

   Usage

   Suggest taking a photo together

   Grammar Note

   The suffix "-mpi" in Aymara means "together with"

10. QR código leyt'añapawa

    QR có-di-go ley-t'a-ña-pa-wa

    Please scan the QR code

    Usage

    Ask someone to scan the QR code

    Grammar Note

    "Leyt'a-" = to read. The suffix "-ñapa" expresses a polite request

11. Janiw amuyasisktati / Ama lluqtayita

    Don't cheat me / Stop ripping me off

    Usage

    Protest expression used when overcharged or cheated at a market or tourist site

    Grammar Note

    janiw...kiti is the Aymara negation frame. ama is the direct prohibitive imperative particle

12. Janiw pisirjamäktati

    Don't underestimate me / Don't look down on me

    Usage

    Assertive expression used when you feel disrespected or looked down upon

    Grammar Note

    pisi means "little / insufficient". -rjama means "like / as if", forming "treat me as if I am little"

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