Zapotec phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

Zapotec is the language of the Zapotec indigenous culture, spoken in areas of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. It is spoken by about a half million people. Zapotec people in major cities often speak Spanish as either a first or second language, but many people in rural villages speak only Zapotec. Zapotec is often referred to as a language family with several dozen "languages" which might be more accurately termed dialects, though some of them are indeed unable to be understood by some of the other flavors of Zapotec.

Modern concepts, technical innovations, and certain terms that were not commonly used in pre-Colombian society seldom have a good corresponding Zapotec word or phrase. In these cases, it is common to use the Spanish word or sometimes a hybrid version that starts off as a borrowed Spanish word but is modified to reflect Zapotec pronunciation. Zapotec has numerous regional variations and a word (or borrowed word) used in the Oaxaca Valley may be completely different from a term or phrase used in the Zapotec communities on the eastern Pacific coast near Salina Cruz. The words and phrases used here are generally the most common from the Valley Zapotec speakers in communities near Oaxaca.

Hello.

Padiuxi.

How are you?

Xi modo nuulu?

Fine, thank you.

Galán, xquíxepeʼ lii.

What is your name? Tu lá lu?

My name is ______ .

Naa láʼ _____ .

Nice to meet you.

Rieche' ladxiduá' gunebiaaya' lii.

Please.

Lá.

Thank you.

Xquíxepe' lii.

You're welcome.

Maca nannu.

Yes.

Ya.

No.

Có'.

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Atención.

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Permisu.

I'm sorry.

Bitiidi'la'dxi' naa stonda.

Goodbye

Adiós.

Goodbye (informal)

Ti guidu'yanu.

I can't speak Zapotec.

Qué zanda diʼ guiniéʼ zapoteco.

Do you speak English?

Pa guiniʼluʼ inglés la?

Do you speak Spanish?

Pa guiniʼluʼ diidxaʼ español la?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Pa nuu tuuxa ni riníʼ inglés la?

Help!

¡Racané!

Look out!

¡Laguuyaʼ chaahuiʼ!

Good morning.

Padiuxi.

Good evening.

Padiuxi.

Good night. (to sleep)

Gusiáʼndaluʼ galán.

I don't understand.

Qué riene.

Where is the toilet?

Pa nuu bañu ca la?

Leave me alone.

. (Bisaana naa stube'.)

Don't touch me!

! (Cadi guinaazelu naa!)

I'll call the police.

. (Zucaaʼ ridxi puliciá.)

Police!

! (Puliciá!)

Stop! Thief!

! ! (Rizuhuaa! Guba'na!)

I need your help.

. (Caquiiñeʼ gacaneluʼ naa.)

It's an emergency.

. (Ti emergencia ni.)

I'm lost.

. (maʼ biniteʼ)

I lost my bag.

. (Bindaaʼ bolsa stinneʼ.)

I lost my wallet.

. (Bindaa cartera stinneʼ.)

I'm sick.

. (huara'ya'.)

I've been injured.

. (maʼ gucaʼ herida.)

I need a doctor.

. (Caquiiñeʼ ti doctor.)

Can I use your phone?

? (Pa iquiiñeluʼ teléfono stiluʼ la?)

0

(gasti' )

1

(tobi )

2

(chupa )

3

(chonna )

4

(tapa )

5

(gaayu' )

6

(xhoopa' )

7

(gadxe )

8

(xhono )

9

(ga' )

10

(chii )

11

(chii ne tobi )

12

(doce )

13

(chii ne chonna )

14

(chii ne tapa )

15

(chii ne gaayu' )

16

(chii ne xhoopa' )

17

(chii ne gadxe )

18

(chii ne xhono )

19

(chii ne ga' )

20

(gande )

21

(gande ne tobi )

22

(veintidós )

23

(veintitrés )

30

(gande ne chii )

40

(chupa late gande )

50

(chupa late gande ti de chii )

60

(chonna late gande )

70

(chonna late gande ti de chii )

80

(tapa late gande )

90

(tapa late gande ti de chii )

100

(gayuaa )

200

(chupa gayuaa )

300

(chonna gayuaa )

1,000

(mil )

2,000

(chupa mil )

1,000,000

(millón )

1,000,000,000

(mil millón )

1,000,000,000,000

(billón )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

(númeru ____ tren, autobús, ne xcaadxi cosa )

half

(galaa )

less

(menu )

more

(jmá )

now

( )

later

( )

before

( )

morning

( )

afternoon

( )

evening

( )

night

( )

one o'clock AM

( )

two o'clock AM

( )

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

today

( )

yesterday

( )

tomorrow

( )

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

( )

Monday

( )

Tuesday

( )

Wednesday

( )

Thursday

( )

Friday

( )

Saturday

( )

January

( )

February

( )

March

( )

April

( )

May

( )

June

( )

July

( )

August

( )

September

( )

October

( )

November

( )

December

( )

black

nayaase

white

naquichi

grey/gray

nayuu

red

naxiñá'

blue

nasiá

yellow

naguchi

green

nagá'

orange

naranja stiʼ

purple

nagugüí

brown

nayú

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Do you have any rooms available?

Pa nápaluʼ xiixa cuartu ni zanda guicaaluʼ la?

How much is a room for one person/two people?

Padxí nga ti cuartu para ti binni/chupa binni la?

Does the room come with...

¿Ñee zeeda cuartu ca né...

...bedsheets?

ca sábana ca la?

...a bathroom?

ti bañu la?

...a telephone?

i teléfono la?

...a TV?

ti televisión la?

May I see the room first?

Ñee zanda guuyaʼ cuartu ca primé la?

Do you have anything quieter?

Ñee nápaluʼ xiixa ni jma tranquilu la?

...bigger?

jma naroʼbaʼ la?

...cleaner?

jma nayá la?

...cheaper?

jma baratu la?

OK, I'll take it.

Galán, zacaaʼ ni.

I will stay for one night.

Zabezaʼ ti gueelaʼ si.

Can you suggest another hotel?

Ñee zanda guiniʼluʼ sti hotel la?

Do you have a safe?

Pa nápaluʼ ti caja ra dxaʼ bueltu la?

...lockers?

armariu ca la?

Is breakfast included?

Pa guicaaluʼ desayunu la?

What time is breakfast served?

xi hora raca desayunu yaʼ.

Please clean my room.

Biʼniʼ favor, biʼniʼ limpiar cuartu stinneʼ.

Can you wake me at _____?

¿Ñee zanda gusibaniluʼ naa ora....?

I want to check out.

Racaladxeʼ guneʼ cheque.

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

A table for one person/two people, please.

Ñee zanda gapaʼ ti mexaʼ para ti binni/chupa binni la?

Can I look at the menu, please?

Pa guʼyaʼ menú ca la?

Can I look in the kitchen?

Pa guuyaʼ ndaaniʼ cocina la?

Is there a house specialty?

Pa nuu ti yoo especial la?

Is there a local specialty?

Pa nuu ti especialidad ndaaniʼ guidxi ca la?

I'm a vegetarian.

Nacaʼ ti vegetariano.

I don't eat pork.

Qué ró diʼ beela.

I don't eat beef.

Qué róʼ beela .

I only eat kosher food.

Naa si nga róʼ guendaró kosher.

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

¿Ñee zanda gúniluʼ ni «ligera» pur favor la? (menos aceite/mantequilla/manteca)

fixed-price meal

guendaró ni napa ti preciu fiju

a la carte

a la carta

breakfast

guendaré'

lunch

guendaró

supper

guendaroxhi

I want _____.

racaladxe _____

I want a dish containing _____.

Racaladxeʼ ti platu de manzana ni napa ______.

chicken

bere

beef

beela yuuze'

fish

benda

ham

jamón

sausage

chorizu

cheese

chorizu

eggs

huevu

salad

ensalada

fresh vegetables

verdura nacubi

fresh fruit

cuananaxhi nacubi

bread

pan

toast

pan

noodles

fideu

rice

arroz

beans

bizaa

May I have a glass of _____?

Zanda guicaaʼ ti vasu ____?

May I have a cup of _____?

Zanda guicaaʼ ti copa ____?

May I have a bottle of _____?

Zanda guicaaʼ ti botella _____?

coffee

café

tea

tē

juice

jugu

water

nibu

beer

cerveza

red/white wine

vinu quichiʼ/blancu

May I have some _____?

Zanda gapaʼ caadxi _____?

salt

zidi

black pepper

pimienta negra

butter

mantequiá

Excuse me, waiter! (getting attention of server)

¡Perdón, camareru!

I'm finished.

maʼ biluxeʼ.

It was delicious.

Nabé sicarú ni.

Please clear the plates.

Biʼniʼ favor, biʼniʼ limpiar ca placa que.

The check, please.

Cheque que, pur favor.

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )