allinllachu punchaw
The English phrase "good morning" is translated into Quechua as allinllachu punchaw.
This phrase is used when seeing someone for the first time in the morning. In many Quechua dialects, the word allinllachu can be used as a standalone greeting meaning "are you well?", which often functions as a substitute for "good morning".
Meaning: when seeing someone for the first time in the morning (intj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
The forms Sumaq inti punchay and Sumaq p'unchay are specific to Cusco Quechua.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word allinllachu can stand alone to mean "are you well?" and serves as a common greeting.
When do people say it?
When someone greets you with allinllachu punchaw, a common response is allinllam, which means "I am well" or "I am fine".
Did you know?
- The phrase allinllachu is grammatically a question, meaning a 'good morning' greeting in Quechua is actually an inquiry into the other person's well-being.
- Because Quechua is a highly agglutinative language, a single word like allinllam can contain the subject, the state of being, and the affirmation all at once.
- In some traditional Andean contexts, a greeting is considered incomplete if you do not also acknowledge the person's family or work.
Example conversation
Sumaq and Juan meet in the village at sunrise.
- SumaqAllinllachu punchaw, Juan.Good morning, Juan.
- JuanAllinmi, Sumaq. Allinllachu punchaw.It is good, Sumaq. Good morning.
- SumaqAllinllami kachkani.I am doing well.
- JuanAncha allin.Very good.
