In this unit, we will learn the basic greetings in Quechua. In the dialogs that you will observe, pay attention to the key terms like the ablative manta that indicated «place of origin», as well as the term kay that means «to be». In the same way, we invite you to complete the exercises presented in this unit and listen to the audios that accompany each dialog.

NOTE: The ablative manta Also refers to a specific topic of conversation (but we will address this in later units). For example: Quechuamanta rimashani – I am talking about Quechua.

¡Qallarisun! / Let's get started!

The use of the ablative manta

Manta = can mean «from, since, about». In this case, we will learn to indicate where a person is from.
We will use it in sentences that respond to questions of origin, for example: From where?

Let's look at the following sentences that use the ablative manta:

1. ¿Maymanta kanki? | Where are you from?
2. Qusqumanta kani, ¿qamrí maymantakanki? | I am from Cusco (Cusco in Quechua is Qosqo) and you? Where are you from?

When we say Qusqumanta kani literally we are saying «from Cusco I am».

And other examples when we say I am from a determined place:

Abancaymanta kani (I am from Abancay),
Limamanta kani (I am from Lima)
Punomanta kani (I am from Puno)
Boliviamanta kani (I am from Bolivia)
Ecuadormanta kani (I am from Ecuador), among others.

And other examples when we say you are from a determined place:

Let's look at this conversation:

1. Manuel: ¿Maymanta kanki Beatriz? | Where are you from, Beatriz?
2. Beatriz: Punumanta kani | I am from Puno
3. Beatriz: ¿Qamrí maymantakanki manuel? | And you? Where are you from, Manuel?
4. Manuel: Andahuaylasmanta kani. | I am from Andahuaylas.

And other examples when we say you are from a determined place:

Limamanta kanki (you are from Lima),
Paucartambumanta kanki (you are from Paucartambo)
Ayavirimanta kanki (you are from Ayaviri)
Parurumanta kanki (you are from Paruro)
Ecuadormanta kanki (you arę from Ecuador), among others.

Let's look at more examples, and pay attention to the ablative manta which indicates place of origin.

Matilde: Where are you from, Roger?
Roger: I am from Cusco. And you? Where are you from?

Timoteo: Where are you from, Bertha?
Bertha: I am from Sicuani. And you? Where are you from?

Next, pay attention to the images from different places, the word llaqta refers to «place» whether that be city, village, small town, community, etc.

When we say Andahuaylas llaqta we say city or village or small town of Andahuaylas. For example, we can say Andahuaylas llaqta, Huancavelica llaqta, Curahuasi llaqta, Qosqo llaqta, among others.

Also, we can add «manta» after llaqta. For example, if you are from the city of Lima, you can say:

*Limamanta kani          or          *Lima llaqtamanta kani

Let's look at more conjugations:

Ayacuchomanta kani	Ayacucho llaqtamanta kani	I am from Ayacucho
Arequipamanta kani	Arequipa llaqtamanta kani	I am from Arequipa
Huanucomanta kani	Huanuco llaqtamanta kani	I am from Huanuco
Tacnamanta kani	Tacna llaqtamanta kani	I am from Tacna

It's the same when we say were some in the second person (you) is from, we can say «manta» after llaqta. For example, if the person is from the city of Abancay, you can say:

*Abancaymanta kanki          or          *Abancay llaqtamanta kanki

Let's look at more conjugations:

Graumanta kanki	Grau llaqtamanta kanki	You are from Grau
Antamanta kanki	Anta llaqtamanta kanki	You are from Anta
Espinarmanta kanki	Espinar llaqtamanta kanki	You are from Espinar
Tacnamanta kanki	Tacna llaqtamanta kanki	You are from Tacna

Next, click on the following section ruwapakuy (exercises) and you will put into practice what we have learned in units 4 and 5.

Keep in mind that these are words that are repeated throughout this unit and are important to remember to continue enriching your vocabulary.

Llaqta	pueblo, ciudad, comunidad
Ayacuchomanta	De Ayacucho
Arequipamanta	De Arequipa
Huanucomanta	De Huánuco
Tacnamanta	De Tacna
Graumanta	De Grau
Antamanta	De Anta
Espinarmanta	De espinar
Limamanta	From Lima
Paucartambumanta	De Paucartambo
Ayavirimanta	De Ayaviri

Exercise 1

In your notebook, fill in the blanks (___) with the answer that corresponds, for example:

We will look at the case of this image that corresponds to Qosqo llaqta (city of Cusco).

It's not complicated, right? Let's practice together:

Exercise 2:

Pick one of the images (from Exercise 1) and practice the following dialogue.

Example:

1. ¿Maymanta kanki? | Where are you from?
2. Austinmanta kani / Austin llaqtamanta kani | I am from Austin.

Now you try:

1. ¿Maymanta kanki?
2. _________manta kani (iindicate the name of your hometown, city, or place of origin and add the term «manta» or «llaqtamanta» at the end).

For example: Californiamanta / California llaqtamanta, Washingtonmanta / Washington llaqtamanta, Limamanta / Lima llaqtamanta, Tijuanamanta / Tijuana llaqtamanta, Sicuanimanta / Sicuani llaqtamanta.

Add the words that correspond to the blank spaces in the table. Use the examples to say that you are from one of the following places:

Name	manta	llaqtamanta
Santiago	Santiagomanta	Santiagollaqtamanta
Buenos Aires
Cochabamba
La Paz
El Agustino
Comas
Copacabana
Chimborazo
Paucartambo
Sicuani

In this section, there will be a combination of what we have learned initially (greetings), ablative «manta» (of origin), and we will learn how to do a personal introduction (in first person) as well as how to present a third person.

Personal Introduction / Ñuqa kani
Ñuqa Francisco Avalos kani
Ñuqa Curahuasimanta kani
Ñuqa campesino kani

Introduction of a 3rd person / Pay
Pay Emperatriz Alarcón | She is Emperatriz Alarcón
Pay Abancaymanta | She is from Abancay
Pay yachachik | She is a professor

Pay attention to the dialogue and complete the information with one of the following options:

Dialogue 1: *Imaynallan   *wayqey   *allillanmi ñañay   *turay    *ñañay

Dialogue 2: * turay   *kani panay   *panay   *kanki   *kani   *turay *Qosqomanta   *qan maymanta   *wayqey   *kani   *maymanta   *ñañay *qan   *kani waywey

Once you have finished these exercises, you will be able to listen to the answers by clicking on the audios, so that you will also be able to practice your pronunciation.

Answers

Dialogue 1:

Dialogue 2: