Kichwa - Glossary

 

Kichwa is the ancestral language of the indigenous people of Otavalo. Currently the Kichwa speaking community counts 1 to 2 million speakers in different Latin-American countries of the former Inca-Empire: Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. There is a great variety of dialects depending on the region where it is spoken, its environment and the pre-Incan roots of its speakers (in case of Otavalo the Caranqui and Cayambi). For a long time there has been no written tradition but the language and ancestral knowledge it provides was passed from one generation to the next only through the oral tradition. The lack of written documents is considered a reason why the language could not resist the linguistic domination of Spanish as principle language that well and the number of Kichwa-speakers declined, so that Kichwa could be almost erased within very few generations.

 

We consider the language a very important aspect of the construction of cultural identity of the Kichwa-Otavalo and their positioning as indigenous community. That is why we decided to contribute to the conservation of Kichwa as ancestral language of the indigenous people of Otavalo. In this section you will find a glossary of basic expressions that enable to have a very simple conversation in Kichwa as it is spoken in the region of Otavalo. We hope you enjoy exploring this section, so that you can get an impression of the language. The videos at the bottom of the page will complement the phrases you can read here and give you an impression of how Kichwa sounds in form of short lessons.

 

 

Alli punlla!                                                    Good morning!

Alli chishi!                                                     Good day!

Alli tuta!                                                        Good evening/ Good night!

 

Imanalla?                                                     Hello, how are you?

Allillachu kangi?                                          Are You good?

Sumakmi kani.                                            I am excellent!

Allimi.                                                           Good. / Fine.

Allimi kani.                                                   I am good.

Shina shinallami kani.                                I am o.k.

Allichu kani.                                                 I am not good.

 

Ima shutitak kangi?                                    What is Your name?

...mi kani.                                                     I am ... .

Ñuka shuti ...mi kan.                                  My name is ... .

Mashna watatak charingi?                        How old are You?

... watata charini.                                        I am ... years old.

Maypi kawsangi?                                        Where do You live?

United Statespi kawsani.                           I live in the United States.

Imamantatak shamungi?                          Where do You come from?

Otavalomantami shamuni.                       I come from Otavalo.

Alemaniamantami kani.                            I am from Germany.

 

Haku!                                                           Let’s go!

Haku mikupashun!                                    Let’s go to eat!

Haku ñuka huasimanta ripashun!          Lets go to my house.

Shamuy!                                                      Come here!

 

 

Ishkantishun!                                              Cheers!

May chika punllawmi?                               What time is it?

Kay chika punllawmi.                                 It is that time (indicating the hour).

Ñachu rikupangi?                                       You already go?

Maymantak ringi?                                      Where do You go?

Huasimanta rini.                                        I go home.

 

Mashnatak valin?                                      How much is it?

Shuk (ishky, kimsa …) dollar valin.         It costs one (two, three) dollar.

Kayka.                                                         Take it.

Yupaychani.                                               Thank You.

 

Kaya kama!                                                See You tomorrow!

Ashaka kama!                                            See You soon!

Tuparishun!                                               See You!