Help and emergencies in Quechua
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Quechua words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Quechua phrases in this lesson
- Yanapay!yah-nah-PAY
- Help!
- Hampiqta waqyayhahm-PEEK-tah WAHK-yai
- Call a doctor
- Policiapoh-lee-SEE-ah
- Police
- Hampi wasiHAHM-pee WAH-see
- Pharmacy
- Ospitalos-pee-TAHL
- Hospital
- Chinkarqanicheen-KAR-kah-nee
- I'm lost
- Mana allinchu kashaniMAH-nah AH-yeen-choo kah-SHAH-nee
- I don't feel well
- Suwakapusqasoo-wah-kah-POOS-kah
- It was stolen
- Usqhay kashanOOS-khai kah-SHAHN
- It's an emergency
- Saqiwaysah-KEE-wai
- Leave me alone
Yanapay is help. Urgent: "Ama hinallachu!", not like this! Quechua speakers help readily; calling out brings neighbors.
Literally "call the healer".
Spanish-origin. In villages, local authorities (varayocs) handle disputes before police are called. Respect for authority is strong.
Literally "medicine house".
Spanish-origin. Large towns have hospitals; villages have health posts (puestos). Quality varies greatly by region.
Literally "I got lost".
Literally "I am not well".
Literally "it got stolen".
Literally "it is urgent". The emergency number in Peru is 105 for police.
Literally "leave me".