A collection of useful phrases in Wayuu (Wayuunaiki), an Arawakan language spoken in northwestern Venezuela and northeastern Colombia.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: pl = plural (said to more than one person), f = said by females, m = said by males
| Phrase | Wayuunaiki (Wayuu) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Antashii jaya (pl) Antashi pia (m) Antasü pia (f) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Ajaa! Jamaya pia! |
| How are you? | Anayaashije'e pia? (m) Anayaasüje'e pia? (f) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Anashi taya (m) Anasü taya (f) |
| What's your name? | Kasaichit pünülia? |
| My name is ... | Tanülia… ... |
| Where are you from? | Jalajeechi pia yaa? (m) Jalajeetü pia yaa? (f) |
| I'm from ... | Chajeejachi taya …jee ... (m) Chajeejatü …jee ... (f) |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Wattamalü, wattachon |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Kale'u |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Aliika |
| Good night | Aipa'a |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
O'uneechi taya (m) O'unerü taya (f) |
| Good luck! | Apeechi Maleiwa kasa anasü pümüin |
| Have a nice day | Anasü wattamat |
| Yes | Aa |
| No | Nnojo |
| Maybe | Yala |
| I don't know | Nnojotsü kasain tatüjain saa'u (m) Nnojoishi tatüjain (m) Nnojotsü tatüjain (f) |
| Do you understand? | Püyawaatüin saa'u? |
| I understand | Tayawaatüin saa'u |
| I don't understand | Nnojoishi ayawaatüin saa'u (m) Nnojotsü ayawaatüin saa'u (f) |
| Please speak more slowly | Kamanee pia, pashajaa jiatta tamüin |
| Please say that again | Kamanee pia, püma türa püchukua |
| Please write it down | Kamanee pia, pashaja türa tamüin |
| Do you speak English? | Atüjüshi pia inkülenaiki? (m) Atüjüsü pia inkülenaiji? (f) |
| Do you speak Wayuu? | Atüjüshi pia wayuunaiki? (m) Atüjüsü pia wayuunaiki? (f) |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Aa, eesü tajatüin |
| Do you speak a language other than Wayuu? |
Pashajaa wayuunaiki |
| Speak to me in Wayuu | Pashajaa wayuunaiki |
| How do you say ... in Wayuu? | Jamaa püshajaaka … sünain wayuunaiki? |
| Excuse me | Jalia pia taa'in |
| How much is this? | Je'raa nnerü sümüin? |
| Sorry | Jalia pia taa'in |
| Please | Kamanee pia |
| Thank you | Anayaawatsuje |
| Reply to thank you | Anasü |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Jarat tü wañokat? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Awalajüinjachi, chi toolokai |
| This lady will pay for everything | Awalajüinjatü, tü majayütkat |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Ayonnajeeshi pia tamaa? (m) Ayonnajeesü pia tamaa? (f) |
| Do you come here often? | O'unapu'ushi pia ya'aya? (m) O'unapu'usü pia ya'aya (f) |
| I miss you | Jülüjasü pia taa'in (f) Jülüjashi pia taa'in (m) |
| I love you | Aisü tapüla pia (f) Aishi tapüla pia (m) |
| Get well soon | Awaleechi pia malü (m) Awaleerü pia malü (f) |
| Go away! | O'una pia! |
| Leave me alone! | Poo'ula taya! |
| Help! | Pükaaliija taya! |
| Fire! | Siki! |
| Stop! | Jimata pia! |
| Call the police! | Pasakaja pia chi polisiakai |
| Christmas greetings | Anasü sükalia jemeliin nüchon Maleiwa |
| New Year greetings | Anasü juyaa jeket |
| Easter greetings | Anasü paskua |
| Birthday greetings | Talata pia sümaa ekettaja juyaa |
| Congratulations! | Anasü taa'in paalii |
| One language is never enough | Wanee anüiki nnojotsü joulain |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Eesü mainma ankila'irua sulu'u taerodesülisadorkat |
Phrases provided by Amaya Uriana
Hear some Wayuu phrases
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Wayuu | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Other collections of Wayuu phrases
https://guajirabirdingtravel.wordpress.com/2020/10/28/10-palabras-en-wayuunaiki-para-tu-viaje/
https://www.radionacional.co/podcast/en-mi-lengua/vocabulario-wayuunaiki-1
Garifuna, Taíno-Quisqueyanaíqui, Wayuu
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