In this lesson you will various words used to ask questions. These words are known as interrogative pronouns and are similar to the wh- question words in English (what, when, which, whom, how). Unlike English, K’iche’ does not need an auxiliary verb “do” to form wh- questions.
In this lesson, we are reminded not to try to make one-to-one correspondences between K’iche’ phrases and their corresponding English translations. Some of the phrases below are idiomatic constructions that have developed over time and have nuanced meanings and uses.
Questions in K’iche’
Jachin?
Who…?
-Jachin ruk’ katb’e wi?-Ruk’ le al Talin.
Who are you going with?
With Catalina.
Jachin che?
To whom?
-Jachin che kinya wi le wuj?-Che le tijoxel.
-Who do I give the book to?
-To the student.
Jas?
What?
-Jas ub’i’ le atinamit?-Nawalja’ le ub’i’.
-What’s the name of your town?
-Nahualá (is the name).
Jas uwach?
What kind/type?
-Jas uwach le rikil kakitij le a’j Nawalja’?
–Kakitij le kinaq’, le ichaj, le uwa’l ik ruk’ lej.
-What kind of dishes do the people of Nahualá eat?
-They eat beans, herbs, and soup with tortillas.
Jas ub’anom?
How is someone/it doing?
–Jas ub’anom le nuch’utitat’?
–Utz ub’anom.
-How is my uncle doing?
-He is doing well.
Jas ub’antajik?
What is it like?
-Jas ub’antajik le tinamit Nawalja’?
–Sib’alaj je’l.
-What is the town Nahualá like?
-Very pretty.
Jas ub’anik?
What is it made of?/What is it like?
– Jas ub’anik le kami’x?
-Kaq le upam, k’o uta’k, q’otal le uwi’ uq’ab’.
-What’s the shirt like?
-It has a red background, a collar, and embroidered sleeves.
Jachike?
Which one?
What (when picking from among many?)
-Jachike ik’ le unimaq’ij le tinamit Nawalja’?
–Pa le ik’ noviembre.
-Which month is Nahualá’s (patron saint) feast?
-In November.
Jas che?
Why?
–Jas che xechaqij le ab’ix?
-Rumal maj le jab’.
-Why did the cornfields dry out?
-Because there is no rain.
Jas chemna kixpe chwe’q? (the following verb is not negated)
Why will y’all not come tomorrow?
Jawi? (+wi)
Where?
– Jawi xatwa’ wi?
-Pa le wo’qb’al.
-Where did you eat?
-At the restaurant/dinner.
–Jawi at k’o wi?
-Where are you?
Jampa?
When?
-Jampa kojb’e pa le tyox?
-Pa doming.
-When are we going to church?
-On Sunday.
Janipa
How much?
–Janipa rajil jun su’t pa Nawaja’?
–O’k’al q’uq’.
-How much is a (traditional) handkerchief in Nahualá?
-One hundred quetzales.
E janipa?
How many? (talking about animate entities)
–E janipa le awalk’wal e k’olik?
-E k’o oxib’ le walk’wal: e keb’ alabom, jun ali.
-How many children do you have?
-I have three children: two boys and one girl.
Translate the following phrases into K’ich’e’:
Who went to the library yesterday?
What did you (formal) say?
What is your town like?
What did you not understand?
What do you think?
Where is the cat?
Where did she go?
How many children do you have?
How much is this?
Answers
Jachin xb’e pa le k’olb’al wuj iwir?
Jas xb’ij la?
Jas ub’anik le atinamit?
Jachike le na xak’oxomaj taj?
Jas kachomaj?
Jawi k’o wi le me’s?
Jawi xb’e wi?
E janipa le a’walk’wal e k’olik? O E janipa le a’wal e k’olik?
This unit introduces the most common greetings. Click on each example, listen to the audio, and read along. Repeat each formula aloud paying attention to Juan Manuel’s pronunciation. Finally, you will also learn several common K’iche’ names.
The following are common greetings:
Saqirik!
Good morning!
Xb’e q’ij!
Good afternoon!
Xok aq’ab’!
Good evening!
Jeb’a’!
Good bye!
Tat
Sir
Nan
Ma’am
Ala
Boy
Ali
Girl
Saqirik tat!
Good morning, sir!
Xb’e q’ij nan!
Good afternoon, ma’am!
Xok aq’ab’ ali!
Good evening, girl!
Social status and greetings in K’iche’
K’iche’ greetings change based on the speakers and the context. There are formal and colloquial greetings. In Nahualá, formal address is required to engage town elders, family in-laws, school teachers, church leaders (Catholic priests, catechists, Evangelical pastors) as well as civil authorities (town mayor, departmental governor, and other high government officials). Formal address is also used to address God and other divine beings in religious rituals. It is required to address adult audiences in public functions such as school graduations, political speeches, and masses. Finally, it is commonly used in radio broadcasts to address listeners. Colloquial forms are expected in informal conversations between kin (except between in-laws) as well as between friends. They are also used in market transactions and in brief exchanges between strangers of the same social status.
Watch each of the following short videos paying special attention to the greetings the speakers utilize.
Speaker
Informal greeting
A:
Xb’e q’ij!
Good afternoon!
B:
Xb’e q’ij
Good afternoon!
A:
La utz awach?
How are you (informal)?
B:
Utz maltyox – E k’u ri at – La utz awach?
Well, thank you – And you? – How are you?
A:
Utz maltyox!
Well, thank you!
Speaker
Formal greeting (addressed to persons of high social status such as in-laws and town authorities)
A:
Saqirik tat/nan!
Good morning!
B:
Saqirik tat/nan!
Good morning!
A:
La utz wach la?
How are you (formal)?
B:
Utz maltyox – E k’u ri lal – La utz wach la?
Well, thank you! – And you? – How are you?
A:
Utz maltyox!
Well, thank you!
First names are preceded by a particle known as nominal classifier that indicates gender and marital status of the name holder. Some etymologically Spanish names have their own K’iche’ adapted form.
K’iche’ first name classifiers
masculine
feminine
children / young adults
a
al
older adults / married individuals
tat
nan
Some common first names in Nahualá
a Wel (Manuel)
alWe’l (Manuela)
tat Xwan (Juan)
nan Xwa’n (Juana)
a Pal (Gaspar)
al Xe’p (Isabel)
tat Si’s (Francisco)
nan Ska’ (Francisca)
a Lu’ (Pedro)
al Kante’l (Candelaria)
tat Ku’ (Domingo)
nan Talin (Catarina)
a Tun (Antonio)
al Re’n (Lorenza)
nan Mari’y (Maria)
Jas ab’i’, ali/ala?What your-name, girl/boy? What is your name, girl/boy?
Jas b’i’ la, tat?What your-name (formal), sir?
What is your name, sir?
_________ le nub’i’_________ this my-name
My name is __________
In this lesson we introduce a number of colloquial phrases that will be useful in the classroom. Unless working with a native speaker instructor, we recommend you skip this lesson for now and return to it after finishing lesson 10.
