Phrases › K'iche'
Phrases
Early draft: There was little reliable source material for this language, so some lines may be wrong. Check with a speaker before relying on them.
In K'iche', hello is Saqirik and thank you is Maltyox. Here are 10 everyday K'iche' phrases with pronunciation, for travel and a first conversation.
How to say hello in K'iche' · How to say thank you in K'iche' · How to say goodbye in K'iche' · How to say please in K'iche'
| English | K'iche' |
|---|---|
| Hello | Saqirik literally 'good morning'; used in Nahualá as a general morning greeting (COERLL course); K'iche' greetings vary by time of day, see 'note' on Goodbye |
| Goodbye | Jeb'a' Nahualá usage (COERLL course); Momostenango sources give other set phrases such as 'Ch'abej chik' or 'Chwe'q chik', literally 'until tomorrow' |
| Please | Malaq'ij confirmed in the Christenson dictionary (Momostenango): 'malaq'ij (exp) please (por favor)' |
| Thank you | Maltyox also spelled 'maltiox'; add 'chawe' (informal) or 'che la' (formal) for 'to you' |
| Yes | Je' |
| No | Man je' taj built from 'je'' (yes) + the standard negation frame 'man ... taj'; the Christenson dictionary glosses this exact phrase as 'incorrect, wrong', which is how it functions as 'no' |
| I don't understand | Na kink'oxomaj taj from the COERLL K'iche' course (Nahualá): 'Na kink'oxomaj taj' |
| How much is it? | ¿Janipa' rajil? built from 'janipa'' (how much/many, confirmed) + 'rajil' (its price/money, confirmed) |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Jawi' k'o wi ri chulub'äl? built from 'jawi'' (where), 'k'o' (existential 'there is', confirmed) and 'chulub'äl' (toilet, confirmed) |
| Where is …? | ¿Jawi' k'o wi ri …? fill the gap with the thing or place, e.g. 'ri ajkun' (the doctor) |
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