Accessibility

1. Ikatúpa aike ko tendápe silla de ruedas reheve?

   I-ka-tú-pa ai-ke ko ten-dá-pe si-lla de rue-das re-he-ve?

   Is this place wheelchair accessible?

   Usage

   Use at tourist sites or restaurants; literally "can I enter this place with a wheelchair?"

   Grammar Note

   "aike" is the first-person of "ike" (to enter). Guaraní has no established word for wheelchair, so the Spanish "silla de ruedas" is used as-is (jopara). "reheve" means "together with"

2. Oĩpa ascensor ko ógape?

   O-ĩ-pa as-cen-sor ko ó-ga-pe?

   Do you have an elevator / lift?

   Usage

   Use in hotels or buildings when you need to avoid stairs. In Paraguay the Spanish "ascensor" is the everyday word

   Grammar Note

   "oĩ" is the existential verb and "-pa" the question particle. The locative of "óga" (house, building) is "ógape". The Guaraní coinage "porohupiha" exists, but "ascensor" is what people actually say

3. Aikotevẽ peteĩ koty silla de ruedas-pe g̃uarã.

   Ai-ko-te-vẽ pe-te-ĩ ko-ty si-lla de rue-das-pe g̃ua-rã.

   I need a room with accessibility features.

   Usage

   Use when booking or checking in at a hotel; literally "I need a room for a wheelchair"

   Grammar Note

   "g̃uarã" means "for", as in "mboriahúvape g̃uarã" (for the poor)

4. Oĩpa rampa térã jeikeha ijyvate'ỹva?

   O-ĩ-pa ram-pa té-rã jei-ke-ha i-jy-va-te-'ỹ-va?

   Is there a ramp or step-free entrance?

   Usage

   Use at building entrances to check for ramps or step-free access

   Grammar Note

   "jeikeha" means "entrance", as in "itakua jeikeha" (the entrance of a cave). It is "ike" (enter) + reflexive "je-" + the place nominalizer "-ha", the same pattern as "guataha" (walkway), "pe'aha" (key) and "jupiha" (ladder). "-'ỹ" is the privative suffix, as in "hecha'ỹ" (blind)

5. Moõpa oĩ baño silla de ruedas-pe g̃uarã?

   Mo-õ-pa o-ĩ ba-ño si-lla de rue-das-pe g̃ua-rã?

   Where is the accessible restroom?

   Usage

   Use in public places to ask for the accessible toilet location

   Grammar Note

   "silla de ruedas-pe g̃uarã" (for wheelchairs) is appended to the fixed phrase "Moõpa oĩ baño?"

6. Ndahechái porã — ikatúpa chepytyvõ?

   Nda-he-chái po-rã — i-ka-tú-pa che-py-ty-võ?

   I am visually impaired — can you help me?

   Usage

   Use when you need visual assistance; literally "I do not see well — can you help me?"

   Grammar Note

   Negation is the circumfix nd-...-i (ahecha → ndahechái). For total blindness use "resatũ" or "hecha'ỹ". "chepytyvõ" = che- (me) + pytyvõ (help)

7. Oĩpa menu ojehaíva tai tuicháme?

   O-ĩ-pa me-nu o-je-haí-va tai tui-chá-me?

   Do you have large-print menus?

   Usage

   Use in restaurants to request a large-print menu; literally "is there a menu written in big letters?"

   Grammar Note

   "tai" means "letter, character". "ojehai" (is written), as in "Avañe'ẽ ojehai ñepyrũ" (Guaraní was first written). "-va" forms the relative clause

8. Oĩpa audioguía ko'ápe?

   O-ĩ-pa au-dio-guí-a ko-'á-pe?

   Are there audio guides available?

   Usage

   Use at museums or tourist attractions to check for audio guide availability

   Grammar Note

   The loanword "audioguía" is used for "audio guide"

9. Aiporu audífono — eñe'ẽmina porãve.

   Ai-po-ru au-dí-fo-no — e-ñe-'ẽ-mi-na po-rã-ve.

   I use a hearing aid — please speak clearly.

   Usage

   Use to ask someone to speak clearly when you use a hearing aid. If you are fully deaf you can add "Che apysatũ" (I am deaf)

   Grammar Note

   "aiporu" means "I use". "e-" is the second-person imperative; "-mi" and "-na" soften the request; "-ve" is the comparative "more"

10. Ikatúpa aike che jagua pytyvõha ndive?

    I-ka-tú-pa ai-ke che ja-gua py-ty-võ-ha ndi-ve?

    Can I bring my service / guide dog?

    Usage

    Ask before entering a restaurant or facility with a guide dog

    Grammar Note

    "jagua" is "dog". "pytyvõha" is "pytyvõ" (to help) + the agent nominalizer "-ha"

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