Fashion & Clothing

1. Oĩpa ko ao che tamañópe?

   Do you have this in my size?

   Usage

   Asking whether your size is in stock; Paraguayan shops use the Spanish word "tamaño"

   Grammar Note

   "ao" is the Guaraní word for clothing. "che" (my) precedes the noun. The Spanish loanword "tamaño" takes the locative suffix "-pe", written "tamañópe"

2. Ikatúpa aha'ã ko ao?

   Can I try this on?

   Usage

   Requesting to try an item on; say it while holding up the garment

   Grammar Note

   "ikatu" (it is possible) plus the question suffix "-pa" asks permission. "ha'ã" means to try or attempt; "a-" marks first-person singular

3. Moõpa oĩ probador?

   Where is the fitting room?

   Usage

   Asking where the fitting room is; shops use the Spanish word "probador"

   Grammar Note

   The interrogative for place is "moõ"; with the question suffix "-pa" it becomes "moõpa". "Where is X?" is "Moõpa oĩ X?"

4. Ko ao ipo'i / ipe / ipuku / imbyky.

   This is too tight / loose / long / short.

   Usage

   Describing fit problems. Add "-eterei" to intensify: "ipo'ieterei" means it is far too tight

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives follow the noun and take the third-person prefix "i-" to become a predicate: po'i (narrow) gives ipo'i (it is narrow)

5. Oĩpa ko ao ambue sa'ýpe?

   Do you have this in a different color?

   Usage

   Asking for another colour

   Grammar Note

   "ambue" means another and "sa'y" means colour. The locative "-pe" draws the accent, hence "sa'ýpe"

6. Mba'éguipa ojejapo ko ao?

   What material / fabric is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking what the item is made of; the answer usually comes back in Spanish — algodón, seda, lana

   Grammar Note

   "mba'e" (what) takes the ablative "-gui" (from) to give "mba'égui", then the question suffix "-pa". "ojejapo" is the passive of "japo" (to make)

7. Ikatúpa ajohéi ko ao máquinape?

   Is this machine washable?

   Usage

   Checking whether the item can go in the machine; the washing machine is also called "lavarropa"

   Grammar Note

   "johéi" is the verb to wash. The locative "-pe" covers both place and instrument

8. Oĩpa ko estilo tamaño tuichavévape?

   Do you have the same style in a larger size?

   Usage

   Looking for the same style in a bigger size; swap in "michĩvéva" for a smaller one

   Grammar Note

   The comparative adds "-ve" to the adjective: tuicha (big) gives tuichave (bigger). The relativiser "-va" then gives "tuichavéva", the bigger one

9. Mboýpa hepy kóva?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Asking the price. The currency is the guaraní and the figures are long, so it helps to have the number written down

   Grammar Note

   "Mboýpa hepy?" is the set phrase for asking a price. "hepy" covers both "expensive" and "cost". "kóva" is the demonstrative pronoun "this one"

10. Oĩpa oferta térã descuento?

    Is there a sale or discount?

    Usage

    Asking about sales. Haggling is normal in markets, but shop prices are usually fixed

    Grammar Note

    "térã" (or) is the Guaraní conjunction. "oferta" and "descuento" are established Spanish loanwords in commerce and stay in Spanish even in otherwise Guaraní speech

11. Ajoguáta kóva.

    I'll take it.

    Usage

    Deciding to buy; pointing at the item as you say it is enough

    Grammar Note

    "jogua" means to buy; "a-" marks first-person singular and "-ta" marks future or intention, giving "ajoguáta" (I will buy)

12. Ahechánte, aguyje.

    I'm just looking, thank you.

    Usage

    Politely declining help while browsing; a smile keeps it friendly

    Grammar Note

    "-nte" is the limitative suffix meaning "only"; it attaches straight onto the verb, ahecha giving ahechánte

13. Mba'éichapa ikatu amoambue térã agueru jey ko ao?

    What is your return / exchange policy?

    Usage

    Asking how returns and exchanges work; a receipt ("recibo") is usually required, so always take one

    Grammar Note

    "moambue" means to change or exchange. "gueru" (to bring) with "jey" (again) gives the sense of bringing an item back

14. Peguerekópa tamaño internacional?

    Do you carry international sizes?

    Usage

    Asking for international sizing; Paraguayan labels use S/M/L or numbers and do not always line up with European or US charts

    Grammar Note

    "guereko" means to have. The prefix "pe-" is second-person plural (here addressing the shop staff collectively), and "-pa" makes it a question

15. Iporãiterei ndéve ko ao.

    That looks great on you.

    Usage

    Complimenting a companion's outfit. The intensifier is "-iterei"; note that "hete" is the noun for "body" and cannot be used to mean "very"

    Grammar Note

    "porã" (good, beautiful) takes the intensifiers "-ite" and "-rei" to give "porãiterei" (very beautiful); the third-person prefix "i-" makes it a predicate

16. Ko estilo ojeporúpa heta ko'ág̃a?

    Is this style popular right now?

    Usage

    Asking whether a style is current. Guaraní has no single word for "fashionable", so you ask whether it is widely worn

    Grammar Note

    "ojeporu" is the passive of "poru" (to use). "Fashion" is "ojeporumeméva", literally what is always used, so this phrasing is the natural one

17. Ikatúpa pemombyky ko ao chéve?

    Can you shorten this for me?

    Usage

    Asking for a hem. Markets and shopping streets have a "costurera" who will often do the alteration on the spot

    Grammar Note

    The causative prefix "mo-" turns the adjective "mbyky" (short) into "mombyky" (to shorten). "pe-" is second-person plural (here addressing the shop staff collectively)

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