Greetings and politeness in Guarani
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Guarani words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Guarani phrases in this lesson
- Maiteimai-teh-EE
- Hello
- Mba'éichapa nde pyharevembah-EH-ee-shah-pah ndeh pee-hah-REH-veh
- Good morning
- Mba'éichapa nde pyharembah-EH-ee-shah-pah ndeh pee-HAH-reh
- Good evening
- Jajotopatajah-joh-toh-PAH-tah
- Goodbye
- Jajohecha peveja-jo-heh-CHA PEH-veh
- See you
- MínaMEE-nah
- Please
- Aguyjeah-goo-JEH
- Thank you
- Mba'evembah-eh-VEH
- You're welcome
- Ñyrõnyuh-ROH
- Sorry
- Permisoper-MEE-soh
- Excuse me
- Avy'a roikuaáguiah-vuh-AH roy-kwah-AH-gwee
- Nice to meet you
The Guarani hello, warm and used across Paraguay. Most Paraguayans mix Guarani and Spanish freely, a blend called jopara.
Literally "how is your morning?". The ' is a glottal stop, a tiny catch in the throat.
Literally "how is your night?", the evening greeting.
Literally "we will meet again".
Until we see each other again.
A softening particle placed after a request: "eju mína", come, please.
"Aguyjevete" (ah-goo-jeh-VEH-teh) is thank you very much.
Literally "nothing".
Literally "forgive", the apology.
Borrowed from Spanish and the everyday way to ask to pass, even in Guarani.
Literally "I am glad to know you".