Order anything by pointing in Quechua
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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 11 Quechua phrases in this lesson
- ...munaymanmoo-NAI-mahn
- I would like...
- KaytaKAI-tah
- This one
- Hayk'an?HAI-kahn
- How much is it?
- Cuenta-ta, allichuKWEN-tah-tah AH-yee-choo
- The bill, please
- Tarjetawantar-heh-TAH-wahn
- By card
- Qullqiwankohl-kee-WAHN
- In cash
- UnuOO-noo
- Water
- Kafekah-FEH
- Coffee
- MatiMAH-tee
- Tea
- Serbesaser-BEH-sah
- Beer
- ...-nnaq-nahk
- Without...
Literally "I would want ...", the polite conditional.
Literally "this one", while pointing.
Literally "how much is it?". Market prices are said in Spanish soles too.
Cuenta is bill, -ta is the object marker. In cafes you often pay when ordering; in restaurants, ask for staff attention first.
Literally "with card".
Literally "with silver", the word for money.
Quechua word for water. In the highlands, spring water is boiled; tap water quality varies by region. Always ask if it is safe first.
Coca tea, mate de coca, is the highland drink for the altitude.
Any hot infusion. Coca tea is kuka mati (KOO-ka MAH-tee).
From Spanish. Chicha, a corn beer, is the traditional drink.
A suffix meaning "without": "azucarnnaq", without sugar.