Post Office

1. Kawkhansa korriyu uta utji?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of the post office

   Grammar Note

   The standard frame for asking where something is: "Kawkhansa … utji?" (where is there …). "Korriyu" is borrowed from Spanish "correo" (mail/post)

2. Aka qarttaxa apayañataki muntwa

   I want to send this letter

   Usage

   Used at the post office when sending a letter

   Grammar Note

   "-taki" is the purposive suffix meaning "for/to." "Muntha" is the first-person form of "munt-" (to want). The person markers of the Aymara simple present are -t for the 1st person, -ta for the 2nd and -i for the 3rd, so the bare 1st and 2nd person forms are ambiguous. Only the assertive forms muntwa (1st) and muntawa (2nd) separate them unambiguously, so the 1st person "I want" is muntwa. Munxta is not a person form at all.

3. Japon markaru apayañax qawqhasa?

   Ja-pon mar-ka-ru a-pa-ya-ñax qaw-qha-sa?

   How much is the postage to Japan?

   Usage

   Used to ask about international postage rates

   Grammar Note

   katuqaña means 'to receive' — the opposite direction from sending. To send is apayaña. kuna means 'what' and cannot ask an amount; 'how much' is qawqha. -ru is the directional suffix 'to, toward'

4. Akana sellu aljapxiti?

   A-ka-na se-llu al-jap-xi-ti?

   Can stamps be bought here?

   Usage

   Used to ask if stamps are available for purchase

   Grammar Note

   aljaña means 'to sell', not 'to buy'. To buy is alaña, and alaña / aljaña are a near minimal pair, so take care not to mix them up. Here the shop is the subject and the question is 'do you sell'. ukana means 'there' and akana 'here'. sellu is borrowed from Spanish sello (stamp, seal)

5. Jachha alhwiru markankiriruta apayañataki muntwa

   I want to send a parcel abroad

   Usage

   Used when sending an international parcel

   Grammar Note

   "Marka" means "nation/village." The suffix "-nkiriru" indicates "outward/to another place". The person markers of the Aymara simple present are -t for the 1st person, -ta for the 2nd and -i for the 3rd, so the bare 1st and 2nd person forms are ambiguous. Only the assertive forms muntwa (1st) and muntawa (2nd) separate them unambiguously, so the 1st person "I want" is muntwa. Munxta is not a person form at all.

6. Kunas pachanakachiti?

   How much time will it take?

   Usage

   Used to ask about delivery time

   Grammar Note

   "Pacha" means "time/space/universe" in Aymara. The suffix "-ti" marks a yes/no question

7. Taypiritu número rastreo muntwa

   I want a tracking number

   Usage

   Used when requesting a tracking number

   Grammar Note

   Modern concepts in Aymara often use Spanish loanwords. "Número rastreo" is used directly from Spanish. The person markers of the Aymara simple present are -t for the 1st person, -ta for the 2nd and -i for the 3rd, so the bare 1st and 2nd person forms are ambiguous. Only the assertive forms muntwa (1st) and muntawa (2nd) separate them unambiguously, so the 1st person "I want" is muntwa. Munxta is not a person form at all.

8. Tarjeta postal utjiti?

   Are there postcards?

   Usage

   Used to ask if postcards are available

   Grammar Note

   "Utjaña" means "to exist/to be there." The question is formed with the suffix "-ti" (utjiti); "-ta" is second person, not a question marker

9. Ukat alhwirux kunsa aykat?

   How much does this package weigh?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the weight of a package

   Grammar Note

   "Aykat" relates to weight or measurement. "Kunsa" asks "how much/what kind of amount"

10. Jisk'a tiempun apayarakita

    Send it quickly / by express

    Usage

    Used when requesting express mail service

    Grammar Note

    "Jisk'a" means "small/short." "Tiempun" is the locative of "tiempo" (Spanish: time). "-raki" means "also" and "-ita" is the you-to-me imperative (the same -ita as in churita)

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