allillanchu
In Quechua, "how are you?" is expressed as allillanchu.
The phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of allin (good/well) and the interrogative suffix -chu (question marker).
Which one should you use?
While allillanchu is the standard form, Imaynallataq? and Imaynallam? are also used to ask "How are you?" in informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase allillanchu is a single-word question that functions as both the greeting and the inquiry into one's well-being. When responding to allillanchu, the question suffix -chu is replaced with the assertive suffix -mi, resulting in the standard response Allillanmi (I am well).
When do people say it?
When someone asks allillanchu, the standard way to respond is Allillanmi.
Did you know?
- The word allin inside the phrase can also mean 'right' or 'correct', meaning the greeting essentially asks if everything is 'in its right place'.
- Because Quechua is an agglutinative language, the greeting allillanchu packs a whole English sentence into a single word by stacking suffixes.
- The suffix -chu used in allillanchu is a specialized marker that tells the listener a question is being asked even if the tone of voice does not rise.
Examples in context
- Allillanchu?How are you?
Example conversation
Sumaq meets Luis on a village path.
- SumaqAllillanchu, Luis?How are you, Luis?
- LuisAllillam, Sumaq. Qanrí?I am well, Sumaq. And you?
- SumaqÑoqapas allillamí.I am also well.
- LuisHaku, yanapasun.Let's go, I will help you.
