Shopping

1. Akax qawqhasa?

   A-kax qaw-qha-sa?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   The most basic phrase for asking prices at markets or shops

   Grammar Note

   'This' in Aymara is aka. Kunayma means 'of every kind' and is not a word for asking quantity. Price is asked with qawqha (Qawqhasa?)

2. Jani askiwa, askiwa jiwasana

   Ja-ni as-ki-wa, as-ki-wa ji-wa-sa-na

   Too expensive, can it be a bit cheaper

   Usage

   Used during price negotiation at Andean markets

   Grammar Note

   jani is the negation word. aski means "good/fitting" and is a key Aymara adjective

3. Yaqha sami uñachayita

   Ya-qha sa-mi u-ña-cha-yi-ta

   Please show me a different color

   Usage

   Asking to see a different color option for clothing or crafts

   Grammar Note

   Uñachayaña is a verb meaning 'to show'. -ita is a polite request suffix (Aka awayu uñachayita). Uñt'ayaña means 'to make known, to introduce'

4. Uñjasktwaki

   Uñ-jask-twa-ki

   I am just looking

   Usage

   Telling a vendor you are only browsing and not ready to buy

   Grammar Note

   'To look' is uñjaña. The combination of progressive -sk + first person -t + assertive -wa is the same form as unqusisktwa 'I am sick'. The final -ki means 'only'

5. Aka alaja

   A-ka a-la-ja

   I will buy this

   Usage

   Saying you will buy this item

   Grammar Note

   'To buy' is alaña, and its first-person future is alaja. ⚠ Alaña 'to buy' and aljaña 'to sell' look alike, so take care

6. Aka awayu uñachayita

   A-ka a-wa-yu u-ña-cha-yi-ta

   Please show me this woven cloth

   Usage

   Asking to see an awayu, the traditional Andean woven textile, at a market

   Grammar Note

   Awayu alone means 'woven cloth', so nothing more needs to be added (awayu = cloth woven from thread). 'To show' is uñachayaña

7. Rebajapxitama, rugaritama

   Re-ba-ja-pxi-ta-ma, ru-ga-ri-ta-ma

   Please give me a discount, I am asking you

   Usage

   Politely negotiating a price reduction at an Andean market

   Grammar Note

   rebaja is Spanish "discount". rugari is the Aymarized imperative of Spanish rogar (to ask/beg)

8. Tamanxa suma utjiritasa?

   Ta-man-xa su-ma ut-ji-ri-ta-sa?

   Does the size fit?

   Usage

   Checking whether a garment or shoe size fits properly

   Grammar Note

   utjaña means "to exist/be". suma utjiña together means "to fit well / be just right"

9. Bolsata churita, yuspagara

   Bol-sa-ta chu-ri-ta, yus-pa-ga-ra

   Please give me a bag, thank you

   Usage

   Asking for a shopping bag after making a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "To give" is churaña. churita is the polite request form "give me", the same pattern as "Ampi suma, recibo churita." elsewhere in this language (the old quritama used quri 'gold', and -tama is a 1→2 person suffix, so it was not an imperative). bolsa is a Spanish loanword

10. Recibo churita

    Re-ci-bo chu-ri-ta

    Please give me a receipt

    Usage

    Requesting a receipt after a purchase, useful for expense reporting while traveling

    Grammar Note

    recibo is borrowed from Spanish. "Give me" is churita (churaña 'to give' + -ita), the same pattern as "Ampi suma, recibo churita." in banking (the old quritama used quri 'gold')

11. Recibo janiw munkti

    Re-ci-bo ja-niw munk-ti

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Used to decline a receipt when it is offered

    Grammar Note

    Negation is formed by sandwiching the verb between janiw and the verb-final -ti. The object can be placed before janiw (Picante manq'anak janiw manq'kti)

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