Markets & Souvenirs

1. Mboýpa hepy kóva?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   The basic way to ask a price at a market; point at the item as you say it

   Grammar Note

   "Mboýpa hepy?" with "kóva" (this) added. On its own "hepy" also means "expensive"

2. Ikatúpa remboguejy michĩmi hepykue?

   Can I bargain / negotiate the price?

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation at a market; "a little" keeps the request friendly

   Grammar Note

   "mboguejy" (to lower) is the causative of "guejy" (to go down); "hepykue" is the amount charged

3. Ame'ẽta ndéve [precio].

   I'll offer [price].

   Usage

   States your own offer in a negotiation; show the figure on your fingers or phone to be sure

   Grammar Note

   "a-" (1sg) + "me'ẽ" (give) + "-ta" (future). Replace [precio] with your figure

4. Ikatúpa reme'ẽ chéve peteĩ descuento?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   The general way to ask for a discount, in shops as well as markets

   Grammar Note

   "descuento" is a Spanish loanword; jopara uses it as-is when haggling

5. Ojejapópa kóva ko'ápe, po rupive?

   Is this handmade / locally made?

   Usage

   Checks whether a souvenir is locally and hand-made — useful for ñandutí lace or leatherwork

   Grammar Note

   The "oje-" prefix makes a passive: "ojejapo" = "it is made". "rupive" = "by means of"

6. Mba'éguipa ojejapo kóva?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asks what an item is made of — leather, wood, silver — before agreeing a price

   Grammar Note

   "-gui" is the ablative postposition, as in "Mamógui reju?"; the interrogative "-pa" follows it

7. Moõpa oĩ mercado pyharegua?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Used to ask the location of the night market

   Grammar Note

   "pyhare" (night) + "-gua" (of) = "pyharegua" (nocturnal). "Pyahu" means "new", not "night"

8. Ikatúpa reme'ẽ chéve peteĩ recibo?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Asks for a receipt after paying; market stalls often cannot issue one

   Grammar Note

   "recibo" is a Spanish loanword; "me'ẽ" (to give) takes the dative "chéve" (to me)

9. Mba'e óraitépa oipe'a ko mercado?

   What are the market opening hours?

   Usage

   Asks when the market opens; swap "oipe'a" for "omboty" to ask when it closes

   Grammar Note

   Clock time is asked with the Spanish loanword "óra" — e.g. "Mba'e óraitépa oñepyrũ pe clase?" and "Mba'e óra piko?". "aravo" means "time/season"; the form "aravópa" for clock time is uncertain

10. Ahechánte, aguyje.

    I'm just looking, thank you.

    Usage

    Declines politely without committing to a purchase; the closing "aguyje" softens it

    Grammar Note

    "a-hecha" (I look) + the restrictive "-nte" (only), the same suffix as in "Upéichante"

11. Ikatúpa apaga tarjeta ndive?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Checks whether cards are accepted; market stalls are usually cash-only

    Grammar Note

    "paga" is the borrowed stem of Spanish "pagar", taking Guaraní person prefixes — compare "Ojepagapa?"

12. Ajogua kóva recuerdo ramo.

    I'm buying this as a souvenir.

    Usage

    Says you are buying it as a souvenir, which usually prompts advice on packing it

    Grammar Note

    "jogua" (to buy) is the root behind "Ojogua"; "ramo" means "as"

13. Ikatúpa remondo kóva ambue tetãme?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asks whether the seller can ship abroad — worth asking before buying anything bulky

    Grammar Note

    "mondo" is "to send"; "tetã" (country) takes "-me", the nasal allomorph of the dative "-pe"

14. Mba'épa iporãvéva reguerekóva?

    What's your best item?

    Usage

    Invites the seller to bring out their best; a good conversation opener at a stall

    Grammar Note

    The comparative "-ve" plus the relativiser "-va" gives "the better one"; same root as "Iporã"

15. Reguerekópa ambue tamaño?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Asks for another size in clothing or shoes; swap in "tuichave" (bigger) or "michĩve" (smaller)

    Grammar Note

    "Reguerekópa" is the 2sg interrogative of "Areko" (to have); "tamaño" is a Spanish loanword

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