Let Us: ja-

Level 2

Ja- means “we, including you”, and the same form also means “let us”: jaike “let us go in”.

How It Works

Guarani has no separate word for “let us”. It uses the prefix for “we, including you”, ja-. When a speaker is inviting people to join in, the same form works as an invitation.

FormMeaning
Jaike.We go in. / Let us go in.
Ñahaʼarõ.We wait. / Let us wait.
Jaháke.Come on, let us go!

Nasal harmony still applies. Ja- goes on oral words and ña- on nasal words: jaike, but ñahaʼarõ.

The prefix ro-, “we without you”, cannot invite the listener, because the listener is not part of that group.

Speakers often name the group after the verb: Jaha lo mitã “Let us go, children!”

Examples (4)

  1. Jaike.

    Let us go in.

    Ja- is the “we with you” prefix. Here it invites.

  2. Ñahaʼarõ.

    Let us wait.

    Haʼarõ is a nasal word, so the prefix is ña-.

  3. Jaha lo mitã.

    Let us go, children!

    Lo mitã names the children who are invited.

  4. Jaháke.

    Come on, let us go!

    -ke makes the invitation firm. The stress stays on há.

Common Mistakes

  • Using ja- before a nasal word.

    Jahaʼarõ.
    Ñahaʼarõ.

    Haʼarõ is a nasal word, so ja- becomes ña-.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Let Us: ja-Level 2

Learn This First

Let us is a command for a group that includes the listener, so learners need ñande and commands.

Words in This Pattern

-ke