CULTURES OF THE ANDES
Culturas de los Andes

colored line

lamas in town

Phrases in Quechua --- frases:


Phrases and idioms in kechwa, which are frequently used, but don't have literal translations.

Frases en Kechwa que se usa con frecuencia, pero no tienen traduccion literal.


Sonsochakoq

Literaly means "acting dum". A person is up to something, maybe he is trying to listen in on a conversation by acting as a dummy, or maybe he doesn't want to work, so he is pretending to be working, but really he is just fooling around.

Traducción literal es "hacerse el tonto" Significa que una persona tiene algo en mente, tal vez está tratando de escuchar conversación ajena haciendose el tonto ó tal vez no desea trabajar y para que le vean los demas tiene que actuar como si estuviese trabajando.


Warmichakoq

Literaly means: hunting for women. If a guy leaves the house without telling where he is going, they assume he is looking for girlfriend.

Literalmente dice "cazar mujeres" pero si un jóven sale de su casa sin decir donde vá, es porque se va en busca de una muchacha.


Qaritukoq

Literally reads "pretending to be a man" This refers to someone who is trying to act like a strong-brave man, pretending he is powerful when he is not.

Literalmente dice"pretende ser muy hombre" Se llama "qaritukoq" a una persona que actua como un macho, pretendiendo ser muy fuerte cuando no lo es.


Champ'a Uma

Literally means "head, weed" it is a name given to a woman with messy hear, as if saying weeds are growing from her head.

Literalmente significa "mala yerba, cabeza" se llama champ'a uma a una persona que tiene el cabello desordenado como si estuviesen creciendo malas yerbas de su cabeza.

Suwasqa wasi hina simiyoq

Your mouth is as vacant as a house that was just robbed, ie: you don't have any teeth, (Common problem in the andes, not the theft of meager possesions, but the scarcity of dentist; The typical solution to tooth pain is to pull out the offending teeth.)

Vacía, como una casa robada: tu Boca. (se refiere a la persona que ya no tiene un solo diente)




"Siki" is a frequently used word in kechwa, it means "rear end, or bottom".

"Siki" es una palabra muy importante en la cultura kechwa, su significado el "trasero, sentadera or poto como algunos decimos".

Ruiro siki

Literal translation is a "round rear end" but refers to someone "who can't sit still on her seat, (like a ball that rolls off the chair, because it is round on the bottom) they keep moving or standing up constantly for nothing", annoying other people.

Traducción literal es "sentadera redonda" pero se usa para llamar a una "persona que no puede estar quieto en su asiento" alguién que se mueve mucho sin motivo alguno pero que molesta a los demas.


Iskay siki

Literal translation is "two rear ends" but it is used to refer to a "person who wants to sit down in two homes", For example, a husband spends as much time at his parents home as with his wife, so he is undecided about which home he should be in.

Tradución literal es "dos potos ó traseros" pero se usa como sobrenombre para esas "personas que viven en dos casas" uno puede ser con sus padres y otro con su esposa, pero el ser Iskay siki indica que ese tipo no está totalmente seguro conquien vivir, está aquí ó está allá.


Yuraq siki

Literal translation "white rear end" but it means a "white person, or Gringo".

Traducción literal es"poto ó trasero blanco" pero se le llama así a una "persona blanca".


Rupaq siki

Literal translation is "hot rear end" but it is used to refer to a "woman who is anxious to jump into bed with a man".

Traducción literal es "poto ó trasero caliente" pero se usa para llamar a "una mujer que está lista para ir a la cama con cualquier hombre".


Muyoq siki

Literal translation is "a rear end which goes around in a circle" but it is used to refer to "someone who likes to dance a lot" no matter if s/he knows how to dance, but dances as if they have ants in their pants.

Literalmente significa "un trasero que da bueltas en círculo" pero se usa como sobrenombre a esa persona que le gusta bailar mucho. No importa que si él/la sepa bailar pero le gusta bailar.


Q'oyo siki

Literal translation is "rear end with bruises" but refers to someone who always complains they feel cold, so you reply that their skin will turn purple (a bruised color) because of the cold weather.

Traducción literal es "trasero morado" pero se usa para llamar a gente que se queja del frío y su piel se pone de un color morado oscuro, alguien que siente mucho frío


Sip'u siki

Literal translation is "wrinkled rear end" but it refers to a promiscuous woman.

Traducción literal es "sentadera arrugada" pero se le llama así a "una mujer que tiene mucho contacto sexual.


Siki sapa

Literal translation is a "big rear end", but refers to someone who can hardly walk, because they are very overweight, and their bottom is too heavy to move around.

Literalmente significa un "trasero grande" pero se usa como sobrenombre a esa persona que es muy gorda que inclusive le inpide caminar porque le pesa el trasero.



Phrases, your grandmother might say = Frases = Niykuna

Ama anchata rimaychu, mana upa kayta munspaqa.
It is better to be thought a fool, then to open your mouth, and remove all doubt.
No hables mucho, si no quieres hablar tonterias.

Niway piwanmi purinki, ñoga nisqayki pin kanki.
Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you what kind of person you are.
Díme con quién andas, te diré quién eres.

Tukuy suwan, llapanmi suwa nin.
A thief thinks that everyone else is also a thief.
Todo ladrón dice que todos son ladrones.

Llakita mallispaqa manañan mikuytaqa munanichu.
Sadness takes away my appetite.
Cuando me siento triste pierdo el apetito.

Pisin p’unchau llank’ay munaqpaqqa.
For those who want to work, the day seems too short, to do all the work that needs to be done.
Es corto el día para el quien quiere trabajar.

Allinta Uyariyta yachaspaqa, allintataqmi yachanki.
If you listen and pay attention, you will learn well.
Si escuchas bien, también aprenderas bien.

Khuyakuyqa yachaypaqmi, mana yachaspaqa usuchiwaqmi.
If you don’t know how to love, you will loose your love.
Hay que saber querer, si no sabes lo echarás a perder.

Wañuymi aswan allin, qonqorchaki kausaytaqa.
It'’s better to die while standing, then live on your knees.
Es mejor morir que vivir de rodillas.

Llaqtakunaq atipayninwan, teqrimuyuta kuyuchisunchis.
When the villages work together, we will turn this world around.
Con el poder de los pueblos moveremos el mundo.

Maypi qollqe kashan, chaypi songo kashan.
The heart loves to be where the money is.
Donde está el dinero ahí está el corazón.

colored line

 please type this address into your email tool, to send mail to Ada & Russ Gibbons, (we do this to reduce spam)

Return to the "Cultures of the Andes" Home Page -- Regrese a la página principal


Updated Mar 15, 2004; All Rights Reserved -- Todos los Derechos Reservados