Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [478]
CONVERSATION & ESSENTIALS
In their public behavior, Peruvians are very conscious of civilities, sometimes to the point of ceremoniousness. Never approach a stranger for information without extending a greeting, and use only the polite form of address, especially with the police and public officials. Young people may be less likely to expect this, but it’s best to stick to the polite form unless you’re quite sure you won’t offend by using the informal mode. The polite form is used in all cases in this guide; where options are given, the form is indicated by the abbreviations ‘pol’ and ‘inf.’
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SIGNS
Entrada Entrance
Salida Exit
Información Information
Abierto Open
Cerrado Closed
Prohibido Prohibited
Comisaria Police Station
Servicios/Baños Toilets
Hombres/Varones Men
Mujeres/Damas Women
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DIRECTIONS
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EATING OUT
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EMERGENCIES
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HEALTH
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LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES
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NUMBERS
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SHOPPING & SERVICES
What time does it open/close?
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TIME & DATES
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TRANSPORTATION
Public Transportation
Private Transportation
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AYMARA & QUECHUA
The few Aymara and Quechua words and phrases included here will be useful for those travelling in the Andes. Aymara is spoken by the Aymara people, who inhabit the area around Lake Titicaca. While the Quechua included here is from the Cuzco dialect, it should prove helpful wherever you travel in the highlands too.
In the following lists, Aymara is the first entry, Quechua the second. The principles of pronunciation for both languages are similar to those found in Spanish (see the Spanish pronunciation guide, Click here). An apostrophe (‘) represents a glottal stop, which is the ‘nonsound’ that occurs in the middle of ‘uh-oh.’
Also available from Lonely Planet: Latin American Spanish phrasebook and Quechua phrasebook
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Glossary
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Click here for useful words and phrases about cooking and cuisine. Click here for more useful words and phrases.
albergue – family-owned inn
altiplano – literally, a high plateau or plain; specifically, it refers to the vast, desolate Andean flatlands of southern Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and northern Argentina
aluvión – fast-moving flood of ice, water, rocks, mud and debris caused by an earthquake or the bursting of a dam in a mountainous region
apu – mountain deity
arequipeño – inhabitant of Arequipa
arriero – animal driver, usually of burros or mulas (mules)
avenida – avenue (abbreviated Av)
ayahuasca – potent hallucinogenic brew made from jungle vines and used by shamans and traditional healers
barrio – neighborhood
bodega – winery, wine shop, wine cellar or tasting bar
boleto turístico – tourism ticket
bruja/brujo – shaman, witch doctor, or medicine woman or man
burro – donkey
bus-cama – long-distance, double-decker buses with seats reclining almost into beds; toilets, videos and snacks are provided on board
caballito – high-ended, cigar-shaped boat; found near Huanchaco
calle – street
campesino – peasant, farmer or rural inhabitant
cañón – canyon
carretera – highway
casa – home, house
casa de cambio – foreign-exchange bureau
cerro – hill, mountain
chullpa – ancient Andean burial tower, found around Lake Titicaca
cocha – lake, from the indigenous Quechua language; often appended to many lake names, eg Conococha
colectivo – shared transportation; usually taxis, but sometimes minibuses, minivans or even boats
combi – minivan or minibus (usually with tiny seats, cramming in as many passengers as possible)
cordillera – mountain chain
criolla/criollo – Creole or native of Peru; also applies to coastal Peruvians, music and dance; criollo food refers to spicy Peruvian fare with Spanish,