Religion & Temples

1. Moõpa oĩ ko tupão?

   Mo-õ-pa o-ĩ ko tu-pão?

   Where is this church?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of a church or chapel

   Grammar Note

   "tupão" (church) is the established native Christian term (Tupã + óga). The question word for a place is "moõpa"; "mba'épe" can only mean "in what". About 90% of Paraguay is Catholic

2. Araka'épa oñepyrũ misa?

   A-ra-ka-'é-pa o-ñe-py-rũ mi-sa?

   When does Mass begin?

   Usage

   Ask about the time of a Catholic Mass

   Grammar Note

   "misa" is borrowed from Spanish/Latin; "oñepyrũ" is the third-person form of "to begin"

3. Tupãsy Marangatu ndive

   Tu-pã-sy Ma-ran-ga-tu ndi-ve

   Together with the Holy Mother (Virgin Mary)

   Usage

   Use as a religious greeting or prayerful expression

   Grammar Note

   "Tupã" is "God/thunder deity" and "sy" is "mother". "marangatu" means "holy", as in "Arapokõindy Marangatu" (Holy Week)

4. Rojerure ndéve, Tupã

   Ro-je-ru-re ndé-ve, Tu-pã

   We pray to God

   Usage

   Religious prayer expression used in worship or gatherings

   Grammar Note

   "ro-" is the exclusive first-person plural prefix; "ndéve" is the dative "to you", and "Tupã" follows as a vocative ("we ask you, God"). Putting Tupã and ndéve in the same object slot would mix persons, so it is avoided

5. Oĩpa ko'ápe tenda ñembo'e hag̃ua?

   O-ĩ-pa ko-'á-pe ten-da ñem-bo-'e ha-g̃ua?

   Is there a place here for prayer/worship?

   Usage

   Use when looking for a place to pray or worship while traveling

   Grammar Note

   "hag̃ua" is a purpose suffix "for/in order to"; useful for travelers seeking a worship space

6. Ko'ápe oĩ peteĩ reducción jesuítica

   Ko-'á-pe o-ĩ pe-teĩ re-duc-ción je-suí-ti-ca

   There is a Jesuit reduction here

   Usage

   Discuss Paraguay's historic Jesuit missions

   Grammar Note

   "There is" is the Guaraní existential verb "oĩ". "ojapo" means "he/she/it makes", so it would not express existence. The Jesuit reductions are UNESCO World Heritage sites in Paraguay and keep their Spanish name

7. Nde ñembo'e iporã

   Nde ñem-bo-'e i-po-rã

   Your prayer is beautiful

   Usage

   Compliment someone's prayer or religious ceremony

   Grammar Note

   After a noun, "porã" (beautiful) is only a modifier ("ñembo'e porã" = "beautiful prayer"), not a sentence. As a predicate it takes i-: "iporã" (is beautiful). "Nde ñembo'e iporã" = "Your prayer is beautiful"

8. Tupã rérape

   Tu-pã ré-ra-pe

   In God's name

   Usage

   Use in religious oaths or opening ceremonial phrases

   Grammar Note

   "réra" (name) plus the locative "-pe". Examples: "Túva Guasu rérape" (in the name of the Great Father) and "ñane retã rérape" (in the name of our country). There is no Guaraní postposition "yhépe"

9. Jaipota jahayhu ñande retã

   Jai-po-ta ja-hay-hu ña-nde re-tã

   We all want to love our homeland

   Usage

   Express communal love and belonging — used in religious and cultural contexts

   Grammar Note

   "ñande" is the inclusive 1pl, so the verbs must take the inclusive prefix "ja-". "ro-" is either exclusive (excluding the addressee) or the 1sg→2sg portmanteau, neither of which agrees with "ñande retã". Example: "Jahayhu ñane retã Paraguáy" (we love our country Paraguay)

10. Aguyjevete ndéve, Tupã

    A-guy-je-ve-te ndé-ve, Tu-pã

    I give thanks to God

    Usage

    Religious expression of gratitude — used to close prayer or worship

    Grammar Note

    "aguyjevete" is a set formal intensification of "aguyje"; e.g. "ame'ẽ peẽme che aguyjevete" (I offer you all my deepest thanks)

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