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In K’iche’, the positional k’o and other words derived from it refer to location and existence. Its range of meanings include “to have,” “to exist,” and “to be.”

Intransitive positional verb k’oji’(k):

Incompletive aspect Kink’oji’(k)                    I am/I will be. Completive aspect xink’oji’(k)                    I was. Imperative aspect (stem: k’ol) Chink’oloq!                 Let me be!

 

Perfective aspect (stem: k’olinaq) In k’olinaq.                   I have been. Stative form (stem: k’o/ k’olik)

In k’olik.                       I am.

 

Negated stative (maj)

 

Possession: k’o + possessed noun

 

Some examples:

Ajkun	doctor, curandero, healer
Kunab’al	medicine
Yawab’	sick
K’ax	pain, ailment
“Utz b’a la”	“Alright, then.” Common phrase to express agreement.
Amaq’	country
Nimaq’ij	party, celebration, fair
B’is	sadness

Translate the following sentences to K’iche’:

1. Is your father home, children?
2. There is no one home.
3. Have you (alaq) been in the town behind that mountain there?
4. Do you have your medicine?
5. Were you at the party?

Answers

1. La k’o le itat, ak’alab’.
2. Maj k’o pa ja.
3. La k’olnaq alaq pa le tinamit je la’, chirij le juyub’
4. La k’o akunab’al.
5. La xatk’oji’ pa le nimaq’ij.

Translate the following sentences to English:

1. Naj xujk’oji’ pa tinamit aretaq xujb’e pa nimaq’ij.
2. Jawi k’o wi le ro’ch le ajkun?
3. Naj k’o wi le tinamit che le wo’ch.
4. In k’olinaq pa le amaq’ Estados Unidos.
5. La katk’oji’ na, nan?

Answers

1. We stayed a long time in the town when we went to the party.
2. Where is the doctor’s house?
3. The town is far from my house.
4. I have been to the United States.
5. Will you still be here, ma’am?

Positionals form a word class in K’iche’ defined by meaning and special word structure. They refer to “states” or “positions” of people or objects.

Positionals form a word class in K’iche’ defined by meaning and word structure. They refer to “states” or “positions” of people or objects. Usually, they do not appear in root form but require additional suffixes and/or prefixes. Positional roots are of the form CVC (V is short). The following are some examples:

1.

Positionals as intransitive verbs

Positional roots become intransitive verbs when the suffix –i’(k) is added (instead of –ik for regular intransitive verbs). In non phrase final position, the suffix looses the –k, but the glottal stop remains. The intransitive positional verb can be paraphrased as: to bring oneself into X position or state.

2.

3.

4.

Positionals as adjectives/stative verbs

Positional roots become statives the suffix –V_rl is added, ( V is the root vowel). This stative stem is used is various ways, as outlined below. It can be paraphrased as “to be in X position/state”. These forms take the suffix –ik when in phrase-final position.

5.

6.

7.

Please note that the stative verb also (as well as the positional verb) takes phrase-final –ik

8.

When the positional root ends in –V’, only –l forms the adjective/stative stem

9.

10.

11.

Cho’l upam le t’u’y                  the pot has still some space in it

12.

If the second consonant of the positional CVC root is –l or –r, the adjective/stative suffix becomes –Vn, in which case V does not necessarily repeat the root vowel.

13.

14.

15.

16.

Plural forms

Plural forms require adding the plural pronouns uj, ix, alaq or e.

There is another plural positional form with an additional distributive semantics. It is formed by –V_r C₁oj/uj. When the root vowel is –u-, the suffix is –uj, otherwise it is –oj. In the distributive the verb/event acts on each individual component, similar to English: each one of you, instead of just you.

17.

T’uyul                          E T’uyut’uj.                    They are seated. Tak’al                          Oj tak’atoj.                    We are standing. Mulan                         E mulumuj.                   They are gathered together. K’ulan                         Oj k’uluk’uj.                 We are married (everyone of us). Q’a’l                            E q’a’q’oj.                     They are leaning.

Commands and requests for positional verbs

The  imperative of intransitive positional verbs derives from the stative stem. The latter is treated like a regular intransitive imperative stem, taking  aspect, and dependent/imperative suffixes. Lesson 27 will deal with these forms specifically.

18.

Perfective aspect of positional intransitive verbs (we will also look at the perfect in coming lessons) 

The perfective aspect refers to actions begun in the past but whose effects or induced states carry into the present, like the English perfect “I have stood” or “I have sat.” The perfective aspect of the positionals is based on the stative positional stem and the suffix –inaq.

19.

T’uy (positional root)	to sit
Q’oy (positional root)	to lie down
K’ul (positional root)	to marry
K’ulanem	wedding/ marriage
Sepi’ (positional root)	to kneel (to sit on one’s legs, folded underneath)
Xuki’ (positional root)	to kneel (legs at a 90 degree angle)
Wa’lij(ik)	to rise, to get up
Q’ax(ik)	to pass, to go by
Tz’umaj	to kiss
Pixab’	speech, advise, words told to the couple in preparation for married life

Translate the following phrases to English:

1. Chatak’ab’a le ne’.
2. Xukul le ixoq pa le tyox.
3. Chint’uyuloq.
4. In sepelik (sepel: sentarse sobre los pies)

Answers

1. Make the baby stand up.
2. The woman is kneeling in the church.
3. Let me sit.
4. I am sitting on my feet.

Translate the following phrases to K’iche’:

1. I fell asleep on grandfather’s bed.
2. They are in the middle of the path.
3. You stand up on the chair.
4. Let’s sit down.

Answers

1. Xinwar pa le uch’at le numam.
2. Xeq’e’i’ pa le b’e.
3. Kattak’i’ pa le tem.
4. Kojt’uyuloq.

In this lesson we will learn reflexive and reciprocal constructions, as well as some nominal phrases that utilize them.

In reflexives constructions, the subject and object of transitive verbs are the same. In K’iche’ they are formed with the relational noun –ib’ “self” following the verb. With some exceptions, -ib’ agrees in person and number with the verbal subject, as in English.

Reflexives constructions require a transitive verb, which may be a completive passive.  In honorific address, the pronouns la/alaq are used once, after the reflexive noun (see the example below).

 

w-ib’	myself	q-ib’	ourselves
aw-ib’	yourself (informal)	iw-ib’	y’all’s selves (informal)
ib’ la	yourself (formal)	ib’ alaq	y’all’s selves (formal)
r-ib’	her/his/its self	k-ib’	themselves

An example of an incompletive reflexive verb:

In the plural, reflexive constructions can have a reciprocal meaning “with each other”

A colloquial way to say good-bye:

The reflexive marker –ib’  occurs also in nouns. It does not take possessive markers if it is not possessed.

chajij	to guard; to take care of
chajij -ib’	to be careful; to take care of one’s self
ch’ab’ej	to talk with somebody
ch’ab’ej -ib’	to talk with each other
xe’j ib’//xib’ij	to be frightened, scared; to frighten
kamsaj	to kill
riq(o)	to find
riq -ib’	to meet up
esaj/elesaj	to take out; to remove
esaj ib’	to remove one’s self (from); to quit something
tijoj	to teach
tijoj -ib’ (che)	to study; to teach one’s self
ch’aj	to wash/to bathe/shower
ch’ajoj -ib’	to wash one’s self
b’an ub’anik -ib’	to prepare
tas -ib’	to become independent, to isolate oneself

Translate the following phrases into English:

1. Kaqatijoj qib’ che le chak.
2. Kachajij ib’ alaq.
3. Xinxe’j wib’.
4. La xich’ab’ej iwib’ iwir?
5. Kariq ib’ alaq pa k’ayb’al.
6. Kaqachajij qib’ pa b’e.
7. Karesaj rib’ pa le chak.
8. Kich’ab’ej iwib’ ruk’ le nunan.

Answers

1. .We get trained for the job.
2. Take care of yourselves (formal, plural).
3. I got scared.
4. Did you all talk to each other yesterday?
5. You all meet each other at the market.
6. We take care of each other on the way.
7. He/she resigned from his/her job.
8. You all talk to my mother.

Translate the following phrases into K’iche’

1. I am going to become independent from my parents.
2. They were killing each other when I arrived.
3. Did you meet each other this morning?
4. We are studying for the class.
5. Did you (formal, pl) frighten yourselves?
6. We are taking care of each other.
7. Tomorrow we are talking again.
8. Did you wash yourself?
9. Did you prepare yourself for the meeting?
10. I am seeing myself.

Answers

1. Kintas wib’ chkij le nutat nunan.
2. Tajin kakikamsaj kib’ aretaq xinopanik.
3. La xiriq iwib’ nimaq’ab’.
4. Kaqatijoj qib’ che le tijonik.
5. La xe’j ib’ alaq?
6. Kaqachajij qib’.
7. Kaqach’ab’ej qib’ chwe’q.
8. La xach’aj awib’?
9. La xab’an ub’anik awib’ che le chomal?
10. Kinwil wib’.

K’iche’ numbers beyond three have been mostly replaced by Spanish numbers. Most people count to three in K’iche’ but for higher numbers they count in Spanish. Numbers up through 20 are generally understood but rarely used. The K’iche’ numerical system is vigesimal, base-20.

 

Jun	1
Keb’	2
Oxib’	3
Kajib’	4
Jo’ob’	5
Waqib’	6
Wuqub’	7
Wajxaqib’	8
B’elejeb’	9
Lajuj	10
Julajuj	11
Kab’lajuj	12
Oxlajuj	13
Kajlajuj	14
O’lajuj	15
Waqlajuj	16
Wuqlajuj	17
Wajxaqlajuj	18
B’elejlajuj	19
Juk’al	20
Juwinaq	20

Winaq is generally used for counting up to 40, then it switches to k’al.

Juk’al jun	21
Juwinaq jun	21
Juwinaq kajlajuj	34
Oxk’al jo’ob	65
Jumuch’	80
Kajk’al	80
O’k’al	100
Juq’o’	400
Kaq’o’ lajk’al	1000
Oq’o’	2000

Ordinal numbers

Nab’e	first
Ukab’	second
Urox	third
Ukaj	fourth
Uro’	fifth
Uwaqaq	sixth
Uwuq	seventh
Uwajxaq	eighth
Ub’elej	ninth
Ulaj/ulajuj	tenth
Ujulaj	eleventh
Ujuwinaq	twentieth
Nab’e mul	(for the) first time
Are le ukab’ wal.	She is my second child.
Are le urox nuwuj.	This is my third book.

Distributive Numbers

Jujun	one by one
Kakab’	two by two
Ox’ox	three by three
Kajkaj	four by four
Jo’taq	five by five
Waqtaq	six by six
Wuqtaq	seven by seven
Wajxaqtaq	eight by eight
B’elejtaq	nine by nine
Lajtaq	ten by ten
Jujun qech	one for each one of us
Kaya jujun qech le wuj.	You give each of us a piece of paper.
Jun chqe.	One of us.
Jujun chqech.	Some of us.
E keb’ chqech.	Two of us.
Chi jujunal	(as) one by one
Le tïjonik pa jujunal	The individual lesson / One-on-one lesson
Kakab’ chi qajujunal	two for each of us
chi kakab’il	as two by two

Marking Time

Kamik	today
Chanim	right now
Miyer	a little time ago/recently
Chwe’q	tomorrow

-(ij)ir	Time past
Iwir	yesterday
Kab’ijir	the day before yesterday
Oxjir	three days ago
Junab’ir	a year ago
Wuqub’xir	a week ago

-ij	Time to come
Kab’ij	day after tomorrow
Oxij	in three days
Kajij	in four days
Wuqub’ix	in a week

Pa jun junab’ aq’anoq	a year from now
Pa keb’ ik’ aq’anoq	two months from now
Pa le jun chi junab’	next year
Pa jun uwuqq’ij kanoq	a week ago
Pa oxib’ uwuqq’ij aq’anoq	in three weeks
Junab’ir	a year ago
Kab’ir	two years ago
Oxb’ir	three years ago
Pa kakab’ q’ij	every two days
Pa ox’ox ik’	every three months
Pa kajkaj junab’	every four years
Pa oxib’ ik’	in three months

Telling time

Ramaj	hour/moment
Ch’utiq ramaj	minute(s)
Nik’aj	half
Jachike ramaj chanim?	What time is it now?
Oxib’ ruk’ nik’aj.	Half past three.
Jachike ramaj kumajij le qatijonik?	When does our class start?
Pa julajuj ruk’ lajuj ch’utiq ramaj.	ten after eleven.
Karaj na lajuj ch’utiq ramaj pa le wuqub’ ramaj.	ten ’til seven / 6:50
Karaj diez minutos pa las diez.	ten ’til ten / 9:50
Xq’ax lajuj ch’utiq ramaj chech le lajuj ramaj.	ten past ten / 10:10
Xq’ax diez minutos chech a las diez.	ten past ten / 10:10
Kumajij pa b’elejeb’ ramaj, katani’ pa kab’lajuj ramaj.	It goes from nine to twelve. (lit: it begins at nine and ends at 12)

Times of the day

Saqirik	Good morning!; sunrise
Xsaqir chanim	It has dawned
Nimaq’ab	Morning
Xpaqi’ le q’ij	Mid-monring (10 am)
Tik’il le q’ij	Noon
Pa q’ij	Noon
Xb’e le q’ij	Afternoon
B’enaq’ij	Afternoon
Xulan q’ij	Afternoon; sundown
Xulan q’ij kimb’e pa nutaqkil.	In the afternoon I run my errands.
Xok aq’ab’	Good evening! (It is night already)
Nik’aj aq’ab’	Midnight
Aq’ab’il	Early morning right before or at sunrise
Aq’ab’il ximb’e pa si’.	Early in the morning I went to gather firewood.

Indefinite numbers and related words

Jun	a/one
Jujun	some
Keb’ oxib’	a few
-onojel	all; each
Ronojel le…	all (of) the…
Le (e) nik’aj chik	the rest; the others
K’o jujun k’o kichak, le e nik’aj chik ku’xlanik.	There are some who have work, but the others are on vacation.
K’o e jujun Kechakunik, k’o e jujuj na kechakun taj.	There are some who work and others who do not work.

Shopping/Money

Pwaq	money
Ch’ich’apwaq	(metal) coins
Wuj	bills (money)
Real	coins (antiquated)
Pajb’al	measure (pound if referring to weight)
Nik’aj	half
Ajlanik pa le k’ayb’al	counting in the market
Kaya jun pajb’al nusaqwach.	Give me a pound of potatoes.
Kaya keb’ pajb’al we le pix.	Give me two pounds of these tomatoes.

The following words act as spatial markers. They place objects and people in relation to a set of spatial coordinates having the speaker at the origin. The first two (naqaj, naj) place distance from the speaker on a relative scale: near, far away. The following three (waral, chi’, chi’ la’) are deictic forms, that is, words that require ostensive gestures to reference their objects (here, there).

A) NAQAJ Naqaj is a relational noun that indicates a close distance between people/objects. It is complemented by a prepositional phrase with -E (chi+ -E + naqaj).

1. Le wo’ch k’o chunaqaj le nimatijob’al. My house is near the university.
2. Chinunaqaj xk’oji’ wi. He/she was/stayed near me.
3. Naqaj kint’uyi’ wi chawe. I am sitting close to you.
4. Naqaj k’o wi le nutinamit. My town is near.

B) NAJ Naj is an adverb that indicates a large distance between two people/objects. It is never possesed unlike naqaj.

5. Naj k’o wi le wo’ch. My house is far away.
6. Naj kint’uyi’ wi chawe. I am sitting far from you.
7. Naj k’o wi le wo’ch chuwach le tijob’al. My house is farther away than the church (as seen from a third location).
8. Naj k’o wi le wo’ch che le tijob’al. My house is far from the school.Naj is also used to quantify duration (a long time):
9. Naj xtz’e’n le ne’. The baby cried for a long time.
10. Naj xub’an le chomal. The meeting took a long time.
11. Naj xub’an le b’inem. The walk took a long time.

C) WARAL Waral is a deictic form, it can be translated as here. It references the speaker’s proximal space, which depending on the context may be the precise point where he/she is located, his/her abode, village, city etc.

12. Waral kint’uyi’ wi. I am sitting here.

D) CHI’ Another deictic form, chi‘ it can be translated as right here. It references the speaker’s precise location.

13. Chi’ kewar wi le ak’alab’. Here are the kids sleeping.

E) CHILA’ Chila’ is another deictic from, it can be translated as there. It references a more or less precise space located distally both from speaker and addressee.

14. Chila’ kewar wi le ak’alab’. The kids are sleeping over there.

nojim katb’ek	(lit: go slowly) an idiomatic expression that is used to tell someone to be careful/be safe/ take care when going somewhere
chomal	meeting
b’inem	(noun) walk; stroll
k’achelaj	forest
b’inel ja’	river
tzalij(ik)	to return
tz’e’n(ik)	to cry (also refers to certain animal cries)
t’uyi'(k) (vit)	to sit (positional: see unit 25)
tij(o) anim	to run

Translate the following sentences to K’iche’:

1. Where are we going?
2. The university is very far from my house.
3. My classmate lives near the river.
4. The forest is over there.
5. My town is far from your town.
6. I am from _______________.
7. Is there food here, at the meeting?
8. I run over there, on the road.

Answers

1. Jawi katb’e wi?
2. Le nimatijob’al naj k’o wi chech le wo’ch.
3. K’o le ro’ch le wachi’l chunaqaj le b’inel ja’.
4. Je la’ k’o wi le k’achelaj.
5. Le nutinamit naj k’o wi chech le atinamit.
6. Pa __ kimpe wi.
7. La k’o wa waral, pa le chomal?
8. Je la’ kintij anim, pa le b’e.

We have studied the imperative forms. In this unit we will look at how to form negative imperatives: commands that tell someone to not do something.

Negative imperatives in K’iche’ are inflected as indicative verbs but take m(a)- as aspect marker instead. Negative imperatives, therefore, neither take imperative suffixes (-a/-oq; -v(‘)), nor the imperative ch- prefix. They do take, however, the same phrase final markers as incompletive transitive/intransitive verbs.

Negative imperatives can also be formed in passive and antipassive constructions, as we will see later on.

1.Chinq’ab’aroq Let me get drunk! 2.Qach’aya’! Let us hit him/her/it! 3.Chrelaq’aj! Let him/her/it steal it!

4. Chaloq’o jun tara’s! Buy a peach!

Maloq’ le tara’s! m-ø-a-loq’ Don’t buy the peach!

5. Chab’isonoq

Mab’isonik ma-ø-b’ison-ik May he/she/it not be sad!

 

nikaj chik	the rest of, half, remainder
chanim	now
ixim	corn
chajinel	guard; police
jab’	rain
q’oyi'(k) (vit)	to lie down (positional: see unit 25)
b’in(ik) (vit)	to walk
ch’aw(ik) (vit)	to talk
b’insaj (vtr)	to walk something; to make something walk (as in walking a dog); to drive a vehicle
mub’a (vtr)	to soak
koj(o) (vtr)	to use; to believe
ta(to) (vtr)	to listen
esaj (vtr)	to take out
tara’s	peach

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Mib’an ix jas kakib’an le e nik’aj chik winaq!
2. Mita ix jas kakib’ij le e nik’aj chik winaq!
3. Mamub’a le ixim!
4. Minril le chajinel!
5. Match’awik!
6. Mojb’e cho (chuwach) le jab’!
7. Mitij le iwa!
8. Miniwiye’ej!
9. Matq’oyi’ pa le ch’at!
10. Mamub’a awib’ cho le jab’!

Answers

1. Do not do what other people do! (you all, formal)
2. Do not listen to what other people say! (you all, formal)
3. Do not soak the corn!
4. Let the police not see me!
5. Do not talk!
6. Let us not go out in the rain!
7. Do not eat! (you all)
8. Do not wait for me!
9. Do not lie down on the bed!
10. Do not get wet in the rain!

Translate and rewrite the following phrases with negated imperatives:

1. Wara alaq pa le ja kamik!
2. Qakojo le k’ak’ atz’yaq!
3. Chiya’a le nik’aj chi rikil pa le t’u’y!
4. Chatija le awa chanim!
5. Chinto’o la che le chak!
6. Katchakuna pa wulew chwe’q!

Answers

1. ¡Mawar alaq pa le ja kamik!
2. ¡Maqakoj le k’ak’ atz’yaq!
3. ¡Miya’ le nik’aj chi rikil pa le t’u’y!
4. ¡Matij le awa chanim!
5. ¡Minto’ la che le chak!
6. ¡Matchakun pa wulew chwe’q!

Translate the following phrases into K’iche’:

1. Don’t take the cookie (kaolin wa) out of the cookie jar (k’olb’al wa)!
2. Let her not walk the dog!
3. Let him not walk around at night!
4. You all, don’t get drunk!
5. Don’t put your stuff in my backpack (chin)! Put it in your backpack!
6. Don’t eat my food! Eat your food!
7. Let them not help him! He needs to fend for himself. (to’ –ib’)
8. Don’t fall! (very common phrase used for leave-taking)

Answers

1. Mawesaj le kaxlan wa pa le k’olb’al kaxlan wa!
2. Muk’am b’i le tz’i’ pa jun b’inem!
3. Mab’in chaq’ab’!
4. Mixq’ab’arik!
5. Maya ajastaq chupam le nuchim! Chaya’a chupam le achim.
6. Matij le nuwa! Chatija le awa at!
7. Makito’o! Rajawaxik kuto’ rib’.
8. Mattzaqik!

Relational nouns play the same syntactic role as English prepositions but are inflected as nouns. Unlike the locative prepositions chi and pa, relational nouns are always possessed. They mark a relationship of belonging, causality, reflexivity, temporality or spatiality between two phrases.

A) -ECH

It indicates a relationship of possession, association or purpose. The possessor may be emphasized by being followed by a Set B pronoun (absolutive pronoun). It may also be contracted as can be seen in the examples below.

We(ch) (in)                             mine

Awe(ch) (at)                       yours

Re(ch) (ri are)                        his/hers

Ech la (lal)                              yours (formal)

Qe(ch) (oj)                              ours

Iwe(ch) (ix)                             you all’s

Ke(ch) (ri a’re’)                        theirs

Ech alaq (alaq)                        you all’s (formal pl)

 

Possession

Wech in le tz’ib’ab’al. The pencil is mine. Ronojel le ulew ech alaq. All this land is yours (formal pl)

“Association”- The possessor is generally non-agentive and does not “own” the object but rather expresses a close association between them.

Sib’alaj utz kinwil le atz’yaq rech Nahuala. I really like the clothing of Nahuala. Jawi k’o wi le wuj re le qatijonik? Where is the paper with/about/concerning our lesson?

Purpose/beneficiary (dative)

Constructions in which (ch)–ech expresses the recipient/indirect object: Xloq’ ulew chiwech ix. The land was bought for you all. Maltyox chiwe. Thank you all. Jas kub’ij chwe? What is s/he saying to me? Kuya’ le wuj chqe. S/he is giving the book to us.

Other functions

(Ch)-ech also introduces oblique objects after antipassive verbs.

In combination with rumal after intransitive verbs and passive forms, it introduces indirect causes:

Following a nominal, -ech indicates a quality or state of the corresponding person: Utz awe la’! Lucky you! You have it good! Sidenote: The shortened form e is used as the word for girlfriend/boyfriend La k’o awe? Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? B) –UK’ It is equivalent to English with, but can also be a locative as in the last two examples below. Kinch’aw ruk’ le nunan pa le ch’aweb’al. I am speaking with my mom on the phone. Awuk’ xb’e wi ri ala. The boy went (together) with you. Kimb’e ruk’ le ajkun. I am going to the doctor. Kel b’i ruk’ le ajkun. He leaves from the doctor. C)–UMAL The noun –umal introduces agents in passive constructions: by, by agency of … , because of… Xkamsax le me’s rumal le tz’i’. The cat was killed by the dog.

It also introduces indirect causes, beneficiaries, or instigators in intransitive clauses.

D) –ONOJEL This noun is a quantifier meaning all (pl) or every (sg).

Saqirik iwonojel! Good morning you all!/Good morning everybody! Ronojel q’ij kinch’aj le nuware. I brush my teeth everyday. E) -TUKEL -tukel means by oneself; alone. The referent appears as the possessive marker. Utukel kakanaj kan pa ja. S/he stays behind in house all alone. Nutukel kimb’ek. I am going alone.

F) -ij The relational noun -ij introduces verbal goals. It is comparable to English “after” in “He threw himself after her.”

The relational noun -ij can also be used in the sense of “about” as in “to talk about  something.” For example, “xojch’aw chirij ri nuwakatem pa Xela” (we talked about our trip to Xela)

We will learn about a few other relational nouns in later units.

k’olb’al wuj	library
rikil	dish (of prepared food)
nimaq’ij	party, holiday
kos(ik) (vit)	to become tired
kosnaq	tired
ki’kot(ik) (vit)	to be(come) happy
b’ison(ik)	to be(come) sad
sik’ij (vtr)	To invite, to call to read (sik’ij uwach)
tz’ib’aj (vtr)	to write
ch’aweb’al	telephone
E-achi’il	classmate; friend

Translate the following phrases into K’iche’:

1. Are you going to the library alone?
2. The cat is ours.
3. I go to work everyday.
4. I am tired because I have a lot of work.
5. Do you want to go to the park with us?

Answers

1. La atukel katb’e pa le k’olb’al wuj?
2. Qech oj le me’s.
3. Kimb’e pa nuchak ronojel q’ij.
4. In kosnaq rumal k’i le nuchak.
5. La kawaj katb’e quk’ pa le uxlanb’al?

Translate the following phrases into English:

1. Sib’alaj utz kinna’ le wa rech Iximulew.
2. Na kojb’e ta pa k’ayb’al rumal maj le qarajil.
3. Kaqab’an le rikil re le nimaq’ij.
4. Chwe’q kimb’e pa le juyub’ kuk’ le e wachi’il.
5. Kinb’ison rumal na karaj ta le nunan kab’e wuk’ pa le tinamit.

Answers

1. I really like food from Guatemala.
2. We are not going to the market because we do not have money.
3. We are making the food for the party.
4. Tomorrow I am going to the mountain with my friends.
5. I am sad because my mother does not want to go with me to the town.

In this unit you will learn to make requests and commands in K’iche’ (hortative forms). We will start with morphology of the imperative, the verbal forms required for requests and commands.

Imperative verbs are marked with a prefix, called TAM marker (time, aspect, and mood marker) and a series of ad-hoc suffixes. These prefixes and suffixes vary between intransitive and transitive verbs.

The primary TAM marker used in the imperative is ch- which attaches at the verbal TAM slot. The incompletive prefix k- prefix may be used as well entailing a more forceful request/command. The ch- marker has multiple functions in K’iche’. It is also used as a sort of subjunctive called also relative aspect (Mondloch) or dependent mood.

In contrast to English, in K’iche’ the addressee is marked on every imperative verb. Just like in normal active verbs, imperative intransitive verbs use Set B pronouns and imperative transitive verbs use Set A and Set B pronouns to indicate the agent/subject and object. These imperative/hortative forms can also be derived from other intransitive verb stems like passives, or anti-passive verb stems (later lessons will delve into these verb stems).

Intransitive verbs The imperative/hortative of intransitive verbs is marked by the prefix k-/ch- and a phrase-medial suffix –a, or a phrase final suffix –oq.

The intransitive imperatives in phrase medial position are not stressed on the last syllable but rather on the penultimate syllable, usually part of the verb root.

TAM prefix: ch-/k- Suffix: -a/-oq (phrase final)

1. Katwaroq! Sleep!
2. Chinuxlanoq Let me rest!
3. Chixwara cho ja! You all sleep at home!

The verbs “enter,” “come,” and “go” take irregular forms in the imperative as can be seen below:

4. ok – enter (verbal root)

Katojo’! Come in! Sa’j alaq! You all come in! (formal, pl)

5. pe(t) – come (verbal root)

Chatpetoq! Come here! (you, informal) Peta la jewa’ Come over here! (formal)

6. b’e(k) go (verbal root)

Jo! Let’s go!

Transitive verbs

There are two kinds of transitive imperatives:

Non-CVC/derived transitive verbs The imperative/hortative of non-CVC/derived verbs is marked by the either of the prefixes k- or ch-. No phrase final markers or suffixes exist.

TAM prefix: ch-/k- Suffix: none

7. Chatijoj! Teach him/her!

8. Chkitijoj! Let them teach him/her!

9. Chinkitijoj! Let them teach me!

10. Chawesaj le apowi’! Take off your hat!

CVC/ root transitive verbs The imperative of root transitive verbs is marked by either of the prefixes k- or ch- as well as the suffix –V (vowel) followed by a glottal stop.

TAM prefix: ch-/k- Suffix: CoC (root vowel o) –o(’) CuC (root vowel u) –u(’) Ca/e/iC (root vowel everything else) –a(’)

Phrase-final glottal stop A final glottal stop is required in hortative forms in final position when the verb ends the phrase or when it is followed by a vowel different from the terminal marker vowel

11. Chaloq’o’! Buy it!
12. Chab’ana’! Do it! (you, sg. informal)
13. Loq’o’ alaq! Buy it! (formal, pl.)

If the verb is not in phrase final position or if the vowel that follows is the same vowel as that of the terminal marker, the glottal stop is dropped and terminal marker vowel is lengthened.

14. Loq’o la! Buy it! (you sg., formal)
15. B’ana la! Do it! (you sg., formal)
16. b’ana alaq! Do it! (you pl., formal)

Imperatives can be formed with reflexives as well (reflexives are discussed in further detail in lesson 24):

17. Chichajij iwib’! (You all) Take care!

Exceptions: A. The prefix ch- does not appear when the agent is 1st person plural and the object 3rd person singular:

18. Qabana’! Let’s do it!
19. Qatijoj! Let’s teach him/it!

B. In formal imperative forms (la/alaq) a 3rd person singular object pronoun (Ø) is used, the TAM ch-/k- is sometimes dropped to avoid a consonant cluster: *indicates non-grammatical form

20. *Chwara la!
21. Wara la! Sleep! (you, formal)

21. *Chtijoj la!
22. Tijoj la! Teach! (you, formal)

When the first element after the ch-marker is a vowel, no such cluster appears and the ch- marker is retained:

22. Chesaj la! Take it out! (you sg., formal)

b’an(o) (vtr)	to do
mes(o) (vtr)	to sweep
il(o) (vtr)	to see
loq'(o) (vtr)	to buy
loq’oj (vtr)	to love
tij(o) (vtr)	to eat, to drink, to consume, to ingest
k’ut(o) (vtr)	to show, to teach
ya'(o) (vtr)	to give
q’i'(o) (vtr)	to bear, to withstand; to tolerate
to'(o) (vtr)	to help someone
su'(u) (vtr)	to wipe
chakuj (vtr)	to work
chajij (vtr)	to take care, to guard
k’ayij (vtr)	to sell
tzuq(u) (vtr)	to nourish, feed
iye’j (vtr)	to wait for
ux(ik) (vit)	to become (indicates a change of state)
num(ik) (vit)	to be hungry
aj ik’	maid (monthly worker)
chi(k)	again, already. Spanish: ya.
si’	firewood
we	if, whether.

Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Chateloq!
2. Chixopanoq!
3. Chatq’ab’aroq!
4. Wara alaq!
5. Chachakuj le ulew!
6. Chichajij le kej!
7. Chuk’ayij le qasi’!
8. Chiloq’oj le iwalk’wal!
9. Chinawiye’ej!
10. Chawila’!
11. Chu’tijoj le ak’alab’!
12. Chajij ib’ alaq!
13. Chichajij iwib’!

Answers

1. Get out! Or Move aside!
2. Arrive (you all)!
3. Get drunk!
4. Rest (you all, formal)!
5. Work the land!
6. Take care of the horse!
7. Let him/her sell our firewood!
8. Love your children!
9. Wait for me!
10. Go!
11. Let him/her teach the children!
12. Take care (you all, formal)!
13. Take care (you all)!

Translate the following sentences from English to K’iche’.

1. Take care of yourself, sir!
2. Teach (k’ut) your (sg.) children every day!
3. Work (alaq) the land in the hills (pa le juyub’)!
4. You all speak with the woman!
5. Let him carry the firewood!
6. Carry (sg.) the baby in your arms / Hold the baby!
7. Take care of me!
8. Talk (you all) to us!
9. Kill the animals!
10. Work (lal) the land!

Answers

1. Chajij ib la, tat!
2. Chak’utu chkiwach le awalk’ual ronojel q’ij!
3. Chakuj alaq le ulew pa le juyub’!
4. Chixch’awa ruk’ le ixoq!
5. Chreqaj le si’!
6. Chreqaj le ne’!
7. Chinachajij!
8. Chojich’abej!
9. Chikamsaj taq le chikop!
10. Chakuj la le ulew!

In this lesson, we will learn about the basic family relationships.

Family Tree (PDF)

Read the following phrases. They are based on the information provided in the video and the family tree.

Kinship terms

upa ja	family
upa w-o’ch	my family
aj upa ja	family member
ati’t	grandmother
mam	grandfather
uwi’ E-mam	grandchild
nan	mother
tat	father
E-ixoqil	wife (always possessed)
E-achajil	husband (always possessed)
E-achalal	sibling: brother, sister
E-alaxik	family member; people that are “born with you,” relative

Terms for children

E-alk’wal	child (of father). This describes children belonging to a family without specifying which gender. Always possessed. Absolutive form: alk’ualaxel(-ab’)
E-al	child (of mother) (always possessed, no plural form)
mi’al	daughter (of father); no plural
k’ajol	son (of father), plural: k’ajolab’
nab’e al	first born child in the family; said by father and mother
ch’i’p	last child (youngest) child in the family
ne’	baby (pl.: ne’ab’)

Terms for siblings. The sibling uses one term for siblings of the opposite gender, but differentiates same-gendered siblings according to relative age to speaker.

-xb’al	brother (of sister), no plural
-anab’	sister (of brother), no plural
-atz	older sibling of the same gender
-chaq’	younger sibling of the same gender

Terms for extended family:

ch’uti nan	aunt
ch’uti tat	uncle
ch’utiq tat nan	aunts and uncles
ch’uti E-al	niece, nephew (of woman)
ch’uti E-k’ajol	nephew (of man)
ch’uti E-mi’al	niece (of man)
ch’uti E-anab’	female cousin of male
ch’uti E-xb’al	male cousin of female
ch’uti E-atz	older cousin of same gender as speaker
ch’uti E-chaq’	younger cousin of same gender as speaker

Terms for affinal family (in-law relationship)

ji’ achi	father-in-law (use formal address lal, spoken by man)
ji’ ixoq	mother-in-law (use formal address lal, spoken by man)
tat	father-in-law (use formal address lal, spoken by woman)
nan	mother-in-law (use formal address lal, spoken by woman)
alib’	daugther-in-law; sister in law (of woman)
alib’	daughter-in-law (of man)
ji’	son- in- law (of man)
ji’	son-in-law (of female)
b’aluk	brother-in-law (of man)
echam	brother-in-law (of woman)
ixnam	sister-in-law (of man)
achalka’n	the wife of your spouse’s brother (concuña)
achji’	the husband of your spouse’s sister (concuño)
uq’ab’ alaxik	wider family, extended family

If you are in a class with other students, come up with 5 questions to ask a partner about their family. Otherwise, answer the following questions:

1. La k’o awixoqil/awachajil? Jas ub’i?
2. Jas ub’i le anan? Jas ub’i le atat?
3. La k’o le axb’al/awanab’? Jas ub’i?
4. Janipa le alaxik e k’o pa le upa awo’ch?
5. La k’o le awati’t? La k’o le amam? Jas kib’i?

K’iche’ prepositions are of two kinds: standard and complex. Standard prepositions are single words similar to English to, on and in. Complex prepositions consist of several elements, usually a standard preposition followed by a possessed noun. We use these complex phrases to reference spatial relationships (on top of, at the side, in front of, etc.).

STANDARD PREPOSITIONS

PA Pa marks a location in which something happens or is located. It can be translated in different ways into English. For example:

1. K’o jun xa’r pa ja. There is one jar in the house.

2. Xekos le ixoqib’ pa le b’e. The women got tired on the road

When combined with verbs of movement (go, come, arrive), pa introduces the location while the trajectory/path of the event is indicated in the semantics of the verb.

3. Kape le a Wel pa Nawalja’. a. Manuel comes from Nahuala. (=he is from there) b. Manuel is coming to Nahuala.

4. Kintzalij pa le nutinamit. I return to my hometown

5. Kul le al We’l pa Nashville chaq’ab’. Manuela arrives (here) to Nashville tonight.

6. Ke’l le e winaq pa le tyox. The people are coming out of (leaving) the church.

CHI Chi means at or towards, but is mostly as a component of toponyms (place names):

7. Pa le jun wokaj ub’i’ Chi Masat kape wi le achi. lit: From a hamlet called Chi Masat comes the man The man comes from a hamlet called Chi Masat (Place of Deers).

8. Chi kaj. lit.: In the sky Above

Nota bene: Chi is also a conjunction introducing object complement clauses of transitive verbs (Ex. I see that you did this). It is also part of complex prepositions as we will see below. Be careful not to confuse the preposition chi with the adverb chi(k) “again”; “already” or the locative demonstrative chi’ “here.” The complex preposition Ch(i) + E+ chi’ “along side; at the edge of” (see below) may be shortened to chi:

9. E k’i le taq che’ tikil chi le b’e. There are many trees planted on the side of the road.

Please also note that chi is sometimes used with the special meaning “with.”

10. Xkamisax chi ch’ich’. He/she was killed with a machete.COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS

K’iche’ shows a variety of complex prepositions made of three elements:

pa or chi         + possessive pronoun (E)     + (relational) noun.

Pa                    +   qa                                       +wi’

On                   our                                           top (lit.: hair) i.e. on top of us/above us

Relational nouns are nouns, often body parts, which are inflected with the possession markers and never occur without a possessive marker (see lesson 40 for more on body parts). Their function is to relate two arguments in a phrase with each other in terms of belonging, causal, reflexive, temporal, or spatial relationships (we will have a full lesson on relational nouns in Lesson 20).

Sometimes, the i in chi, or the a in pa are dropped:

When honorific or formal possessive pronouns are used, they follow the relational noun:

-WACH Chi + E + wach This preposition of one of the most commonly used. meaning in front of, before.

• In the third person singular (chuwach), it is often used in its contracted forms:

Chuwach                                                before her/him/it Chwach                                                  before her/him/it Chuwa                                                    before her/him/it Cho                                                          before her/him/it

11. Le ro’ch le a Te’k k’o chwach le uk’ay le nunan. Diego’s house is in front of my mom’s (market) stall.

12. Xink’ut le elaq’om chiwach. I showed you the thief. (Lit.: I showed the thief in front of you/to your face).

13. Xuk’ut le K’iche’ ch’ab’al le al Nela chqawach. Nela taught us the K’iche’ language. (Lit.: Nela taught us the K’iche’ language in front of us/to our faces).

*Some verbs require an indication of how the event is acting upon its referent. In those cases chuwach refers to the surface of something, but it cannot always be translated to English:

14. Xatxuli’ chuwach le juyub’. You came down (the surface of) the hill.

*The shortened forms of chuwach (chuwa/chwa/cho) are used together with ja (house) for home or patio.

15. Xb’e le achi chwa ro’ch. The man went home

16. K’o chwa ro’ch le pare. He/she is at the priest’s house.

17. K’o cho ja. He/she is at home.

Remember that chi + E + wach is also used phrases with a comparative sense. Comparative phrases can usually be recognized by a focused element (are for third person) followed by a form of chi + E + wach as the expression introducing the comparison (see lesson on adjectives).

-ECH chi + E + ech This complex preposition introduces an event’s beneficiary. It can be translated with English to; for; from. The majority of speakers use a contracted form (indicated in bold), but the complete form is also heard.

chwe(ch) for me/to me

chawe(ch) for you/to you

che(ch) la for you/to you (formal)

che(ch) for him, her/to him, her

chqe(ch) for us/to us

chiwech(ch) for you all/to you all

che(ch) alaq for you/to you (formal pl.)

chke(ch) for them/to them

18. Xaya’ jun awuj chwech. You gave me one of your books. (lit.: you gave your book to me)
19. Maltyox chawe Thank you. (lit.: thanks to you)
20. Maltyox chech la Thank you (formal). (lit.: thanks to you)

The third person sg. che is used to introduce “infinitive constructions” which include passive verbal nouns (see later lesson on passives). -XE’ chi +E+ –xe’ This preposition means under, at the foot of (see example 22)

20. K’o jun chikop chuxe’ le tz’alam. There’s an animal under the wooden plank.

21. Xinxuli’ chuxe’ le juyub’. I went down to the foot of the mountain.

22. Xekanaj kan chuxe’ le ul. They stayed/remained under the land slide.

It can also indicate before in terms of time, not space

23. Kink’uli’ chuxe’ unimaq’ij le qanan Talin. I will marry before St. Catharine’s (Day). (St. Catherine is Nahuala’s patron saint)

24. Chuxe’ le qachomal kaqatij wi jun qameq’in. We drink a hot beverage (coffee, atole) before our meeting.

-WI’ chi + E + wi’ This preposition appears in composition with pa and chi meaning on top of or above. When -wi’ and -chi’ are part of a complex preposition, the glottal stop is often omitted when not phrase final position.

25. Xintik’ib’a le q’eb’al chuwi le wanke’t. I put the jar on the table.

26. Xeqil le chikop puwi le ja. We saw the animals on top of the house.

27. Le alkalte k’o paqawi oj, le oj ajch’amiyab’. The mayor is above all of us, town marshals.

–IJ chi + E + ij In combination with chi it means behind as locative expression, about when introducing a ‘topic’, or after when referencing time.

28. Ke’tz’an le ak’alab’ chiqij. The children play behind us.

29. K’o le qachet chirij le tuj. Our granary is behind the sweat bath.

30. Xinsik’ij jun wuj chirij le ub’antajik le tinamit Chwimeq’ina. I read a book about the ways of the town of Totonicapán (lit.: above hot water).

31. Chirij le qachomal kaqatij le qameq’in. After the meeting we drink a hot beverage (coffee, atole).

-XO’L chi + E + xo’l This preposition translates as among or in between

32. K’o jun alaj tz’i’ chikixo’l le alaj taq ak’. There is a puppy dog among the chicks.

33. Q’alaj le tyox chuxo’l taq le ja. The church is visible among the houses.

-PAM chi+ E+ pam This preposition translates as inside of.

34. K’o kinaq’ chupam le t’u’y. There are beans in the cooking pot.

-TZALAJ pa+E+ tzalaj This preposition follows both pa and chi, both meaning to/at the side of.

34. K’o le ixoq pakitzalaj le achijab’. The woman is to the side of the men.

36. Are le nuchaq’ le k’o pa kitzalaj le e wanab’.It is my younger brother who is beside my sisters.
37. Keb’in le achijab’ chikitzalaj le ixoqib’. The men are walking at the women’s side.

-MOX Left and right are used in K’iche’ only to describe stationary objects. They are rarely used for spatial directions. Going up or going down are used instead. pa+E+ mox to the left of…

38. Pa umox le tyox kilitaj le uwachib’al le nunan. On the left of the church my mother’s picture can be seen.

-WIKIQ’AB’ pa+ E+wikiq’ab’ to the right of…

39. Puwikiq’ab’ le tyox kilitaj le uwachib’al le nunan. On the right of the church my mother’s picture can be seen.

toq’ob	favor
kaxlan tzij	Spanish
ak’al	child
k’ut(u) (vtr)	to show, to teach
k’olb’al pwaq	bank
uxlanb’al	park
tyox (ja)	church
qatb’al tzij	government; municipality
komon	community; neighborhood; in Spanish comunidad
wokaj	hamlet; a group of houses; in Spanish caserío
ojer tzij	a long time ago
k’ayb’al	market
ichaj	herbs
saqwach	potatoes
rikil	dish (as in prepared food)

Translate the following sentences to K’iche’.

1. My house is next to the park.
2. There is a dog on the side of the road.
3. My sister gives the food to me.
4. I am going to the game after my lesson.
5. Do you want to go to the market before class?

Answers

1. Le wo’ch k’o chutzalaj le uxlanb’al.
2. K’o jun tz’i’ chuchi’ le b’e.
3. Kuya le nuwa le wanab’ (or watz/nuchaq’ see lesson 18).
4. Chirij le nutijonik kimb’e pa etz’anem.
5. La kawaj katb’e pa k’ayb’al chuxe le tijonik.

Translate the following phrases from K’iche’ to English.

1. K’o le k’ayb’al chirij le uxlanb’al.
2. K’o le ak’al chikixol le utat unan.
3. Rajawaxik kab’an jun toq’ob chwe.
4. We kiwaj, kaqak’ut le ch’ab’al kaxlan tzij chiwach.
5. Maltyox chech alaq.

Answers

1. The market is behind the park.
2. The boy is between his parents.
3. You need to do me a favor.
4. If you all want, we will teach you the Spanish language.
5. Thank you all.