A2 · Getting around Lima
On the street and at the market
Buying, asking, catching transport and getting out of a scrape. Includes the Peruvian words you will hear on day one and that no course teaches.
Buying
¿A cómo está el kilo?Peruvian
How much is a kilo?
More natural in a market than ¿cuánto cuesta?
- México
- ¿A cómo el kilo?
- España
- ¿A cuánto está el kilo?
- Argentina
- ¿Cuánto vale el kilo?
¿Me da un solcito de yapa?very Peruvian
Could you throw in a little extra?
La yapa is the little extra the seller throws in. Asking for it is normal and even endearing.
¿Me lo deja en veinte?Peruvian
Would you take twenty for it?
The polite way to haggle. Fine in markets, not in shops.
Solo estoy viendo, gracias.
I am just looking, thanks.
In a shop, to stop the sales pitch politely.
Transport
¿Va para Miraflores?Peruvian
Are you going to Miraflores?
What you shout to the fare collector before getting on.
- México
- ¿Va para el centro?
- Argentina
- ¿Va para el centro?
Baja en la esquina, por favor.
Drop me at the corner, please.
In a taxi, with your hand pointing.
Se me fue el bus.Peruvian
I missed the bus.
The bus left without me. Presented as something that happened to you.
¿Cuánto me cobra hasta el centro?Peruvian
How much to the centre?
In Lima the taxi fare is agreed before you get in.
Peruvian words you will hear on day one
al toquevery Peruvian
right away
Right now, immediately. Heard constantly in Lima.
- México
- al chile, ahorita
- Argentina
- al toque
- España
- en un momento
- Colombia
- ya mismo
la chambavery Peruvian
work, the job
Work, in the sense of a job. Chambear is to work.
- México
- la chamba
- Argentina
- el laburo
- España
- el curro
- Chile
- la pega
mi patavery Peruvian
my mate, my friend
A friend. Not related to the animal.
- México
- mi cuate
- Argentina
- mi flaco
- Colombia
- mi parcero
- España
- mi colega
- Chile
- mi compadre
la jatovery Peruvian
home, the house
Home. Vamos a mi jato means let's go to my place.
- México
- el cantón
- Argentina
- la casa
- España
- la casa
- Colombia
- la casa
¿ya?very Peruvian
okay? right?
Closes sentences and asks for agreement. Used constantly.
- México
- ¿va? / ¿sale?
- Argentina
- ¿dale?
- Chile
- ¿cachái?
- España
- ¿vale?
ya estáPeruvian
that's it, done
That is done, that is settled.
- México
- ya quedó
- Argentina
- listo
- España
- ya está
- Colombia
- listo
un plancitovery Peruvian
a little plan, something to do
The diminutive makes the suggestion casual.
- México
- un planecito
- Argentina
- un plancito
- España
- un plan
15 expressions in this pack