Transportation

10 phrases · Aymara with romanization, English and audio

  1. Taxi masktha

    Ta-xi mas-ktha

    I am looking for a taxi

    Usage

    Saying you need to find a taxi

    Grammar Note

    maskhaña means "to search". -tha is the first-person singular present ending

  2. Tiwanakuru sarañataki qhanthatatha

    Ti-wa-na-ku-ru sa-ra-ña-ta-ki qhan-tha-ta-tha

    Where is the bus to go to Tiwanaku?

    Usage

    Finding the bus to Tiwanaku, the ancient pre-Inca archaeological site

    Grammar Note

    -ru is the allative directional suffix "to/towards". Tiwanaku is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

  3. Aeropuertoru sarañ muntwa

    Ae-ro-puer-to-ru sa-rañ mun-twa

    I want to go to the airport

    Usage

    Expressing desire to get to the airport

    Grammar Note

    In Aymara, 'house' is uta and 'sky' is alaxpacha. There is a coined word t'uytañchaqa for aeropuerto, but the Spanish word is what will actually be understood when telling a driver where to go

  4. Akana sayt'am

    A-ka-na sayt'-am

    Please stop here

    Usage

    Asking the driver of a taxi or minibus to stop

    Grammar Note

    The old Kayskiri is built on Quechua kay; 'here' is akana. The imperative sayt'am is already used in this language's ay-dir cards. The suffix -pxa marks plurality, not politeness, and -kita is not an imperative suffix — the 2nd person imperative is -m

  5. Qawqhasa?

    Qaw-qha-sa?

    How much does it cost?

    Usage

    Asking the fare or price for transportation

    Grammar Note

    Price is asked with qawqha (the same standalone form as another card "Qawqhasa?"). The old kunayma means 'various' and does not ask a quantity, and the Spanish vale is unnecessary

  6. Autobusax kunahora jutaniri?

    Au-to-bus-ax ku-na-ho-ra ju-ta-ni-ri?

    What time does the bus arrive?

    Usage

    Asking about bus arrival time at a stop or station

    Grammar Note

    jutaña means "to come/arrive". -iri forms agent nouns / habitual meaning ('one who comes'); it is not a near-future marker. Native-speaker confirmation of this form as a 'what time does it come' question is advisable

  7. Titikaka qutaru qawqha jayasa?

    Ti-ti-ka-ka qu-ta-ru qaw-qha ja-ya-sa?

    What is the distance to Lake Titicaca?

    Usage

    Asking about the distance to a destination when planning transportation

    Grammar Note

    Distance follows the hiking pattern "Aka thakhix qawqha jayasa?": qawqha (how much) + jaya (far) + -sa (question). The old kunayma means 'various' and does not ask a quantity, and the Spanish distancia is no longer needed

  8. Uyuniru tren lurasiritasa?

    U-yu-ni-ru tren lu-ra-si-ri-ta-sa?

    Is there a train to Uyuni?

    Usage

    Asking whether a train service exists to Uyuni (gateway to the salt flats)

    Grammar Note

    Uyuni is the gateway town to the world's largest salt flat. Trains are a key mode of transport

  9. Equipajeja cuartun puriritama

    E-qui-pa-je-ja cuar-tun pu-ri-ri-ta-ma

    Please bring my luggage to the room

    Usage

    Asking for help carrying luggage to the room on arrival at a hotel or lodge

    Grammar Note

    puriña means "to bring/carry". -tama encodes the beneficiary "for me" in the verb

  10. Nayrpacharu llegarniri

    Nayr-pa-cha-ru lle-gar-ni-ri

    We will arrive early

    Usage

    Informing fellow travelers or a driver that you expect to arrive ahead of schedule

    Grammar Note

    nayra means "front/eye/ahead". nayrpacha is an adverbial form meaning "early / ahead of time"

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