Art & Museums

1. Ikatúpa ajapo foto ko'ápe?

   I-ka-tú-pa a-ja-po fo-to ko-'á-pe?

   Is photography allowed here?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether photography is permitted in a museum or gallery

   Grammar Note

   The question particle "-pa" on ikatu gives "may I…?". Everyday speech uses foto; the native word is ta'ãnga

2. Mávapa pe artista?

   Má-va-pa pe ar-tis-ta?

   Who is the artist?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the creator of an artwork

   Grammar Note

   The interrogative máva ("who") takes the question particle "-pa"; "pe" is a demonstrative used much like a definite article

3. Mba'épa héra ko tembiapo?

   Mba-'é-pa hé-ra ko tem-bi-a-po?

   What is this work called?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the title of an artwork

   Grammar Note

   téra ("name") alternates with the possessor: che réra (my name), nde réra (your name), héra (its name)

4. Araka'épa ojejapo ko museo?

   A-ra-ka-'é-pa o-je-ja-po ko mu-se-o?

   When was this museum built?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the construction date of a museum

   Grammar Note

   "Araka'e" asks "when" (for "where" use moõ). The passive infix je- turns ojapo ("makes") into ojejapo ("is made")

5. Oĩpa audio guía ko'ápe?

   O-ĩ-pa au-di-o guí-a ko-'á-pe?

   Do you have an audio guide?

   Usage

   Used to ask about audio guide availability

   Grammar Note

   "Oĩpa … ko'ápe?" is the standard frame for "is there … here?"; oĩ is the existential verb and -pa the question particle

6. Moõpa oĩ pe ñemuha jopói rehegua?

   Mo-õ-pa o-ĩ pe ñe-mu-ha jo-pói re-he-gua?

   Where is the gift shop?

   Usage

   Used to locate the gift shop

   Grammar Note

   "Moõ" asks for a location; "X rehegua" means "concerning X". In everyday jopara you also hear tienda de regalos

7. Ajoguase ko tembiapo copia.

   A-jo-gua-se ko tem-bi-a-po co-pia.

   I'd like to buy a print of this artwork.

   Usage

   Used when wanting to purchase a print of an artwork

   Grammar Note

   The prefix "a-" marks the first-person singular and "-se" adds "want to": a-jogua-se = "I want to buy"

8. Oĩpa peteĩ visita guiada?

   O-ĩ-pa pe-te-ĩ vi-si-ta gui-a-da?

   Is there a guided tour?

   Usage

   Used to ask if a guided tour is available

   Grammar Note

   Guaraní borrows heavily from Spanish, especially in tourism vocabulary

9. Mba'e óraitépa ojepe'a ko museo?

   Mba-'e ó-rai-té-pa o-je-pe-'a ko mu-se-o?

   What are the museum's opening hours?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the museum's operating hours

   Grammar Note

   "mba'e óraitépa" = "at what time"; the counterpart for closing is ojembotý. The passive infix je- turns oipe'a ("opens it") into ojepe'a ("is opened")

10. Iporãite ko ta'ãnga.

    I-po-rã-i-te ko ta-'ãn-ga.

    This painting is beautiful.

    Usage

    Used to express admiration for an artwork

    Grammar Note

    "Porã" (beautiful/good) takes the third-person prefix i- as a predicate, plus the intensifier -ite: iporãite = "very beautiful". Ta'ãnga shifts to ra'ãnga when possessed (che ra'ãnga = my picture)

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