Public Transport

1. Kawkïri busis markaru sari?

   Kaw-kï-ri bu-sis mar-ka-ru sa-ri?

   Which bus goes to the city center?

   Usage

   Used at a bus stop to find the correct bus to the city center

   Grammar Note

   Aymara follows SOV word order with the verb at the end

2. Qawqha sayt'aña utji?

   Qaw-qha sayt'a-ña ut-ji?

   How many stops to [destination]?

   Usage

   Used to ask how many stops to the destination

   Grammar Note

   "qawqha" asks for quantity. "sayt'aña" is a stop (cf. "Bus sayt'aña" in nouns). Say the destination name beforehand

3. Akana sarantayitama.

   A-ka-na sa-ran-ta-yi-ta-ma.

   Please let me off here.

   Usage

   Used to ask the driver to let you off here

   Grammar Note

   'Here' is akana. -tama is a suffix that forms a respectful imperative

4. Ukax tiyanikiwa?

   U-kax ti-ya-ni-ki-wa?

   Is this seat taken?

   Usage

   Used to check if a seat is occupied

   Grammar Note

   '-wa' is an assertive/evidential suffix, not a question marker (questions use '-ti'). 'Uka' means 'that', while 'this' is 'aka'

5. Qhipa busi qawqha pachana sardani?

   Qhi-pa bu-si qaw-qha pa-cha-na sar-da-ni?

   What time is the last bus?

   Usage

   Used to find out when the last bus departs

   Grammar Note

   "qawqha pachana" is the expression for asking time

6. Kawkhansa bulitu alaña?

   Kaw-khan-sa bu-li-tu a-la-ña?

   Where can I buy a ticket?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to buy a transport ticket

   Grammar Note

   'Where' is kawkhansa, 'to buy' is alaña, and 'ticket' is bulitu (borrowed from Spanish boleto)

7. Ukax busix qhaturi sayarapitaniwa?

   U-kax bu-six qha-tu-ri sa-ya-ra-pi-ta-ni-wa?

   Does this bus stop at the market?

   Usage

   Used to confirm whether the bus stops at the market

   Grammar Note

   '-wa' is an assertive/evidential suffix, not a question marker (questions use '-ti')

8. Kawkïri andanat sardani?

   Kaw-kï-ri an-da-nat sar-da-ni?

   Which platform does it depart from?

   Usage

   Used at a station to find the correct departure platform

   Grammar Note

   "kawkïri" means "which" (Laime 2020). "-t" is the ablative "from"

9. Chiqpa thakhi utjiti?

   Chiq-pa tha-khi ut-ji-ti?

   Is there a direct route?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there is a direct route

   Grammar Note

   "utjiti" is the existential question "is there?". The question is formed with "-ti" ("-wa" is assertive)

10. Saraña qawqha pachana apini?

    Sa-ra-ña qaw-qha pa-cha-na a-pi-ni?

    How long does the journey take?

    Usage

    Used to ask how much time the journey takes

    Grammar Note

    "qawqha pachana" asks about duration of time

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