imaynalla
The English word 'how' is translated into Quechua as imaynalla.
The word imaynalla is used to ask about the manner in which something is done. It is the standard way to ask 'how' when inquiring how someone is doing.
Meaning: in what manner (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is built from the root imay, which means 'in what manner' or 'how' and the suffix -lla, which is used to soften the tone or add a sense of 'just' or 'simply'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The suffix -lla is often attached to interrogatives like imay to soften the tone. To form a complete interrogative phrase, the particle -taq is frequently added to the end of the question word, resulting in the form imaynallataq. In a response such as 'Allillanmi', the suffix -m acts as an affirmative particle to validate the statement being made.
Did you know?
- The language uses 'evidentiality' markers, meaning a person answering imaynalla must grammatically specify if they witnessed the state of being themselves or heard about it from another person.
- The addition of -taq to imaynalla serves as a 'verbal question mark', meaning the listener knows a question is being asked even if the speaker's intonation does not rise at the end.
- Quechua organizes its questioning words around the root ima-, meaning 'what', 'which' and 'how' are all linguistically related as variations of a single core concept.
Examples in context
- "Imaynallam kachkanki?" "Allillanmi, añayki.""How are you?" "I am fine, thank you."The phrase using imaynalla is useful for asking someone how they are.Tatoeba #2871446 by Wayra, translation #73914 by Zifre
- Imaynallataq kasanki, Mike?How are you, Mike?This sentence shows how to use imaynalla to ask Mike how he is.Tatoeba #773462 by marloncori, translation #32975 by CN
Example conversation
Luis and Rosa meet in the street.
- LuisImaynallam kachkanki, Rosa?How are you, Rosa?
- RosaAllillanmi kachkani, Luis.I am doing well, Luis.
- LuisImaynalla kachkanki kunan?How are you feeling now?
- RosaSumaqta kachkani, añayki.I feel great, thank you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
