peteĩ
A and One
Peteĩ means “one” and also works like “a”.
How It Works
Peteĩ is the number one. It is also the nearest thing Guarani has to “a” or “an”.
- To count: peteĩ jagua “one dog”.
- To bring in something new: Eho egueru chéve peteĩ apyka “Go bring me a chair”.
The noun after peteĩ does not change. A describing word comes after the noun: peteĩ porandu iporãva “a beautiful question”.
Guarani does not need “a” the way English does. A bare noun makes a complete noun phrase: Kuña ikatupyry “Women are skilful” or “The woman is skilful”. Use peteĩ to say that there is exactly one, or to introduce something the listener does not know yet.
Examples (5)
- Upe ára, ou peteĩ kuimbaʼe.
That day, a man came.
Peteĩ brings in a man the listener has not heard about.
- Eho egueru chéve peteĩ apyka.
Go bring me a chair.
Peteĩ works like “a” in front of apyka.
- Roreko peteĩ jagua.
We have a dog.
Peteĩ works like “a” in front of jagua.
- Aporanduse ndéve peteĩ mbaʼe.
I want to ask you something.
Peteĩ mbaʼe is “one thing”, so it means “something”.
- Kóva peteĩ huʼy.
This is an arrow.
Peteĩ works like “an” in front of huʼy.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Peteĩ stands before a noun, so learners need to know that a root can be a noun.
Related Patterns
- peteĩ / mokõi / mbohapy / irundyCounting to Four
Peteĩ is the first of the four counting words.
Level 1 - A Noun With No Plural
A noun with no number word can mean one or many.
Level 1 - Describing Words After the Noun or Verb
A describing word follows the noun that peteĩ introduces.
Level 1 - la / lo Before a NounLa and Lo Before a Noun
Speakers also use la or lo before a noun, but they do not mean “one”.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice peteĩ in Bubblegum
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