Useful Phrases

1. Che ajapo ko app

   Che a-ja-po ko app

   I made this app

   Usage

   Introduce the app in Guaraní

   Grammar Note

   Guaraní verbs carry person prefixes. "A-" marks first-person singular subject

2. Ko app oñeme'ẽ reiete

   Ko app o-ñe-me-'ẽ rei-e-te

   This app is free

   Usage

   Explain the app is free

   Grammar Note

   oñe- marks the passive; "free" is expressed in Guaraní as "given rei (for nothing)"

3. Emboguejymi ko app

   Em-bo-gue-jy-mi ko app

   Please try downloading it

   Usage

   Encourage someone to download the app

   Grammar Note

   The "e-" prefix marks the imperative; mbo- (causative) + guejy (to go down) = mboguejy, which covers "to download" just as Spanish bajar does

4. Che japones

   Che ja-po-nes

   I'm Japanese

   Usage

   Introduce your nationality

   Grammar Note

   Guaraní needs no copula for nominal predicates: "che + noun" means "I am a ...". Nationality words are Spanish loans

5. Che guatahára

   Che gua-ta-há-ra

   I'm a traveler

   Usage

   Identify yourself as a traveler

   Grammar Note

   guata (to walk / travel) + -hára (agent suffix) = guatahára (traveller). puru means "to use", so puruhára would mean "user"

6. Aguata cheañónte

   A-gua-ta che-a-ñón-te

   I'm traveling alone

   Usage

   Tell others you are traveling solo

   Grammar Note

   che año is "I alone"; the limiting clitic -nte ("only") gives cheañónte

7. Aju ko'ápe peteĩha jey

   A-ju ko-'á-pe pe-te-ĩ-ha jey

   It's my first time here

   Usage

   Express that this is your first visit

   Grammar Note

   peteĩ (one) + -ha (ordinal) + jey (time, occasion) = "for the first time", the set phrase for a first visit

8. Ikatúpa ajapo peteĩ ta'ãnga?

   I-ka-tú-pa a-ja-po pe-te-ĩ ta-'ãn-ga?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Ask for permission to take a photo

   Grammar Note

   A photo or image is ta'ãnga; tembi'u means "food" and has nothing to do with photographs

9. Jajapópa peteĩ ta'ãnga oñondive?

   Ja-ja-pó-pa pe-te-ĩ ta-'ãn-ga o-ñon-di-ve?

   Shall we take a photo together?

   Usage

   Suggest taking a photo together

   Grammar Note

   The inclusive "we" is ja-/ña-; ro- means "I → you" or the exclusive "we", so it does not fit here

10. Emoñe'ẽmi ko código QR

    E-mo-ñe-'ẽ-mi ko có-di-go QR

    Please scan the QR code

    Usage

    Ask someone to scan the QR code

    Grammar Note

    moñe'ẽ means "to read"; a code is something you read, exactly as Spanish says "leer el código". -mi adds politeness

11. Ani chembotavy. Hepyeterei.

    Don't cheat me. That's way too expensive

    Usage

    Strong protest used at markets or tourist sites when being cheated or overcharged

    Grammar Note

    ani is the direct prohibitive particle; che- marks the object "me", so chembotavy means "deceive me"

12. Ani reñembohory cherehe

    Don't underestimate me / Don't look down on me

    Usage

    Assertive expression used when you feel disrespected or belittled

    Grammar Note

    ñembohory ... rehe means "to make fun of"; the target takes the postposition rehe. ñembyai means "to be spoiled", not "to belittle"

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