Guarani is one of the two official languages of Paraguay, spoken by over 6 million people. Exceptionally in Latin America, it is an indigenous language spoken by the majority of the population, indigenous and non-indigenous alike. With this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Asuncion, Encarnacion or the Paraguayan countryside.
Guarani (avañe'ẽ, "the language of humans") is one of Paraguay's two official languages alongside Spanish since 1992. Spoken by over 6 million people in Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, it is one of the rare indigenous languages of South America still spoken by the majority of the population, including non-indigenous people. This unique situation in Latin America makes Guarani a living, dynamic language deeply integrated into daily life: media, schools, government, songs, family conversations.
Guarani belongs to the Tupi-Guarani family and has an agglutinative grammar rich in suffixes. It is written in the Latin alphabet with some peculiarities: nasal tildes on vowels (ã, ẽ, ĩ, õ, ũ, ỹ), a glottal stop marked by an apostrophe, and the central y. The language distinguishes the "inclusive we" (ñande, including the listener) from the "exclusive we" (ore, excluding them), a precious nuance worth mastering. Many everyday international words come from Guarani: tapir, jaguar, pineapple, piranha, and the name of the country Paraguay itself.
In Paraguay, most conversations blend Spanish and Guarani in a bilingualism called jopara: a sentence may start in Spanish and end in Guarani, or vice versa. Traveling in Paraguay with a few Guarani words is immediately noticed: a Mba'éichapa at reception, an Aguyje to a server, an Iporã to say all is well. This kit gathers survival phrases to greet, ask for directions, eat, handle an emergency and leave respectfully, plus cultural tips to decode terere, sopa paraguaya and Paraguayan tranquilo.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You arrive at Silvio Pettirossi airport in Asuncion in the early morning. You greet the customs officer with Mba'éichapa, which makes him smile, then thank with Aguyje. Before leaving, you say Jajotopáta, and salute the Paraguayan morning with Mba'éichapa nde ko'ẽ.
You hop in a taxi to reach your accommodation. You tell the driver that the house (óga) is past a blue door (okẽ) with a large window (ovetã), in a small town (táva) on the outskirts of Asuncion.
You sit down in a local comedor for lunch. You order chilled water (y), a coffee with milk (kamby), and a traditional dish made of corn (avati) with grilled meat (so'o).
You feel unwell after a long hot day. You explain to the doctor that you have pain in your head (akã), eyes (tesa) and ears (nambi), and a very dry mouth (juru). He prescribes rest and plenty of water.
On the morning of departure, you greet your hosts with a big Maitei and a warm Eguahẽ porã for the new guests arriving. You ask Mba'éichapa reiko to your host to check on him, and he replies with a smile Iporã.
What you need to know before travelling to a guaraní-speaking country.
In Paraguay, people constantly switch between Spanish and Guarani in the same conversation. This mix is called jopara and structures daily life. A few words of Guarani will instantly endear you to locals.
Guarani uses a nasal tilde on certain vowels (ã, ẽ, ĩ, õ, ũ, ỹ). Pronounce them through the nose, like the French "on". The letter y is a central i, between i and u, specific to Guarani.
Guarani distinguishes the "inclusive we" (with you: ñande) from the "exclusive we" (without you: ore). This nuance changes the meaning of a sentence and is worth mastering to avoid misunderstandings.
Terere is the national drink: a cold mate brewed with ice water and herbs (yuyos). It is shared in a circle, drunk in turn with the same bombilla. Refusing is frowned upon, accepting is a true gesture of friendship.
Sopa paraguaya, despite its name, is not a soup but a savory cake made of corn flour and cheese. Chipa (small cassava and cheese bread) goes with terere or morning mate.
Paraguayans are warm but reserved at first. A smile and a Mba'éichapa open doors. Don't be surprised by spontaneous tu-form addressing, it is the norm between adults of similar age.
Paraguayan culture values being tranquilo (patient, relaxed). Do not show stress or impatience, you will be seen as odd. Embrace the local pace, especially in rural areas.
Avoid sensitive political topics, especially the Stroessner dictatorship (1954 to 1989) or the War of the Triple Alliance. These themes remain painful for many families.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Heẽ
yes
Nahániri
no
Epytá
stop
Karai
mister, sir
che
I, me
nde
you (singular)
ha'e
he, she
ñande
we (inclusive)
ore
we (exclusive)
peẽ
you (plural)
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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