Ñe´ênguéra Avañe´ême

Today´s Post: Guaraní Expressions

This is the second of three articles I wrote for The Kuat, Peace Corps Paraguay´s occasional internal newsletter. I hope to have them published in the last edition to come out before I leave the country. That they may serve as nuggets of wisdom for newer volunteers! My introduction, reproduced below, explains what this post is about

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You say it best when you say it in Guaraní. Here are some useful Guaraní idioms, ranging from the common expressions that every decent Guarambaré host family shares with its aspirante to some more exotic gems that I´ve encountered in Caazapá over the last two years. Eaprovechana, che ra´a.

He ne rembiu!
Food Expressions

Heterei naiñakâi! = How delicious! (Lit: It is barely a body; it has no head.)

Dios se lo paguemante = May god repay you. (Use this after finishing your food or if someone won´t let you pay for a gift.)

he´ê = sweet (he´ê azucár) or salty (he´ê juky)

(a)mohe´ê = to sweeten or salt (Ex: Amohe´êta che ryguasurykue.)

(i)pytâ = well-done, golden brown (Lit: red)

(i)morotî = still raw, doughy, not fully cooked (Lit: white)

(i)peky = green, fresh (used in reference to legumes, Ex: Ha´use la kumandapeky.)

(i)piru = dry, hard (used in reference to legumes, Ex: Emoko´ê pe kumandapiru embopupumboyve chupekuéra.)

hi´aju = mature fruit

hi´aky = immature fruit (Ex: Ndahi´ajúi la naranja; hi´akynte.)

pa´i ruvicha = potato (Lit: the Pope)

tajao = broccoli

hu´itî = cornmeal, or foods derived from it

(i)pýra = raw (Ex: Voluntariokuéra ho´usejepi la verdurakuéra pýra.)

týra = whatever food, whether it is bread, mandioca, etc. used to scoop up and accompany food

Ambyasy. Nda´ukuaái la chúra/hyekue guasu/hígado. = I´m sorry. I don´t eat chura/long intestine/liver.

Ikatupa ha´unte michimi pe tykue so´o´ŷre. = Can I just eat a little of that broth without meat?

Mba´epa heise…
Confusing Idioms

Hevi(kua)ja = a guest who overstays his welcome (Lit: Something that sticks in the ass[hole])

(Che)akâraku ___re = to be enthusiastic about (Lit: To be hot-headed about, Ex: Che akâraku las abonos verdesre.)

(che)py´aguasu = to be brave (Lit: to be big-stomached)

(che)py´a mokôi = to be ambivalent (Lit: to be two-stomached)

(che)ry´e raku = to be unlucky (Lit: to be hot-boweled)

(che)po remói = to be lucky (Lit: to have itchy hands)

(che)po tavy = to be awkward (Lit: to have stupid hands.)

Ñakyrâkuaru = light rain, a sprinkle (Lit: cicada piss)

(a)pleitea = to try, to make an effort (Ex: Persona A: ´´Ndevale, che ra´a.´´ Persona B: ´´Apleitea.´´)

(a)liga = to obtain (Ex: Aligase la temity ra´ŷi che comitepeguarâ.)

(che)arrieroporte = done in a way typical of a man (this can mean earnestly, shoddily, or in a genial, embracing way)

(a)pena ___re = to be bothered by something, to mind something (Ex: Oky pero napenái hese.)

(che)gustahaícha = as (the subject) likes it (Ex: Peiporavoke peteî fecha pendegustahaícha.)

(i)deprovecho = useful (Ex: Ideprovecho la kumanda yvyra´i.)

Ivale péa
Handy Guaraníete

(a)ha´anga = to imitate (Ex: Aha´anga ka´i.)

Aguyje ejuhaguere = Thank you for coming.

(che)koygua = timid or shy like a young child

Avy´a nderechavo = I´m happy to see you.

(verb)karia´y = to (whatever) a lot, impressively (Ex: Okykaria´y, che ra´a!)

(a)po´i ___re = to cease, slough off, or stop something (Ex: Hetaiterei atererema. Apo´ita hese.)

(a)jepe´e = to huddle around a fire or brazier

(a)ñeñuvâ = to cover oneself with a blanket, etc. for warmth

(a)momba´eguasu = to value

ñe´êngatu = a chatterbox

Tereho porâ! = Take care! (Lit: Go well!)

apyka = chair, bench (if you use this word, many people will assume you speak amazing Guaraní)

okê = door (same comment as for ´´apyka´´)

reindy = sister (of a man)
ryvy = younger brother (of a man)
ryke´y = older brother (of a man) kyvy = brother (of a woman)
kypy´y = younger sister (of a woman)
ryke = older sister (of a woman)
(As with ´´apyka´´ and ´´okê,´´ using these words to refer to your family makes you seem like you speak excellent Guaraní.)

Tañañemongeta´i´mi
Conversation Pieces

Jarýi! = Great! (Lit: Grandmother!, Ex: Persona A: “Mba’etekopiko.” Persona B: “Jarýi!”)

Ani chene! = Don´t tell me!

A la pinta! = Oh goodness!
Haihue! = Oh goodness!
E´a! = Oh goodness!

Nderasore! = Whoa! (Lit: A corruption of “nde rakore,” which is grosero. Nderasore is safe for most occasions.)

Haku la yvy. = trouble, a bad situation (Lit: The earth is hot.)
Ipo´i la piola. = trouble, a bad situation (Lit: The rope is thin.)
Hendy kavaju resa. = trouble, a bad situation (Lit: The horse´s eyes are on fire.)

(Che)tolongo = to be a moron

(a)ñe´e rei = to speak in a derivative, foolish, or insincere way. (Ex: Oñe´ereinte pe mitâkuimba´e.)

media naranja = significant other, lover
kichiha= significant other, lover
corazonjára = significant other, lover
(all gender neutral, for use by volunteers of all sexualities!)

radio so´o = gossip (Lit: meat radio)

Mba´epa nde vallepe. = Tell me the gossip about your neighbors. (Lit: What’s up in your neighborhood?)

ñandente apytepe = just among us

Ha´ente = I´m just saying…

(Ai)me ___ndive = to be in agreement with or to support someone (Ex: Aime nendive.)

Toje´e oje´ev.a = Say what they will.

Ñe´enganguéra
Adages-Dichos

´´Jajotopata lata´ipe,´´ he´i el burro kavajupe. = See you further up the creek. (Lit: ´´See you in the little can,´´ said the donkey to the horse.)

´´Problema tapere,´´ he´i la pruebera. = Watch out. (Lit: ´´Problem in the road,´´ said the soothsayer.)

´´Eñemboi, eñemboi!´´ he´i la oporo´useva. = ´´Undress, undress!´´ said the one who wanted to have sex. (Grosero)

“Cada uno con su gusto,” he’i la kurejuru oipyte va’ekue. = To each his own. (Lit: “Everyone has his own tastes,”said the one who sucked from the pig’s mouth.)

“Algo es algo,” he’i la tîsyry ho’uva. = Better something than nothing. (Lit: “Something is something,” said the one who eats his boogers.)

Problema ha bigote ñandente jacrea. = Problems and mustaches are our own creations.

(Che)hory jagua ruguaícha. = To be as happy as a dog´s tail.

Chemoingema escuelape. = (S)he taught me a lesson. (Lit: I got sent to school.)

Tata’ŷre tatatî nopu’âi. = Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. (Lit: Without fire, smoke doesn’t rise.)

Necesdidad ñanembovale. = Necessity makes us capable.

Nderechavo poste jepe oñakâity. (Lit: On seeing you, even a post nods its head.)

Nderechavo horcón tuja jepe hoky jey. = I’m happy to see you. (Lit: On seeing you, even an old beam buds again.)

Nderechavo buey tuja jepe okambu jey. (Lit: On seeing you, even an old ox breastfeeds again.)