Common Phrases and Words in Wechua

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Manco Capac
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Common Phrases and Words in Wechua

Post by Manco Capac »

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

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

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

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.

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

Suwasqa wasi hina simiyoq
"Your mouth is as vacant as a house that was just robbed", ie: you don't have any teeth. In old times, this was a common problem in the Wechua Nation as there used to be a serious scarcity of dentists. The typical solution at the time for tooth pain was to simply pull out the offending teeth. This is also used as an expression similar to "Lights are on, but no one is home" in other, less literal contexts.

Siki
Frequently used word in Wechua, it means "rear end" or "bottom".

Ruiro siki
Literal translation is a "round rear end" but refers to someone who can't sit still on their 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.

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.

Yuraq siki
Literal translation "white rear end" but it refers to someone who is white.

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.

Muyoq siki
Literal translation is "a rear end which goes around in a circle." It is used to refer to someone who likes to dance a lot, without regard for talent at dancing - especially if they are very bad at it.

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.

Sip'u siki
Literal translation is "wrinkled rear end" but it refers to a promiscuous person.

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.

PHRASES WECHUA GRANDMOTHERS SAY OFTEN

Ama anchata rimaychu, mana upa kayta munspaqa.
It is better to be thought a fool, then to open your mouth, and remove all doubt.

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.

Llakita mallispaqa manañan mikuytaqa munanichu.
Sadness takes away my appetite.

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.

Allinta Uyariyta yachaspaqa, allintataqmi yachanki.
If you listen and pay attention, you will learn well.

Khuyakuyqa yachaypaqmi, mana yachaspaqa usuchiwaqmi.
If you don’t know how to love, you will lose your love.

Wañuymi aswan allin, qonqorchaki kausaytaqa.
It'’s better to die while standing, than live on your knees.

Llaqtakunaq atipayninwan, teqrimuyuta kuyuchisunchis.
When the villages work together, we will turn this world around.
By the Hand of the One and Only Divine Leader of the Wechua -
MANCO CÁPAC
King of the Wechua; Sovereign Lord of the Four Regions;
Son of Inti; Lord and Governor of the Wechua Realms.

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