Yucatec Maya — locals will light up
Yucatec Maya is alive — over 800,000 speakers across the peninsula. Even one phrase ('Yum bo'otik' instead of 'gracias') is a real gift to the person serving you. The apostrophe is a glottal stop — like the catch in 'uh-oh.'
Bix a beel?
BEESH-ah-bell
How are you?
Ma'alob
MAH-ah-lobe
Good / fine / okay
Yum bo'otik
YOOM-bo-OH-teek
Thank you (formal)
Dios bo'otik
dee-OHS-bo-OH-teek
Thank you (heartfelt — 'God repay you')
Bix a k'aaba'?
BEESH-ah-KAH-bah
What's your name?
In k'aaba' …
een-KAH-bah
My name is …
Tu'ux ka taal?
TOO-oosh-kah-TAHL
Where are you from?
Estados Unidos in kaajal
—
I'm from the United States
Jach ki' a wáayak'
hach-KEE-ah-WAH-yahk
Sweet dreams
Ki'imak in wóol
KEE-mahk-een-WOHL
I'm happy
Sáamal
SAH-mahl
Tomorrow / see you tomorrow
Ko'oten!
ko-OH-ten
Come here! / Welcome!
In yakuntik
een-yah-KOON-teek
I love it / I love you
Cochinita pibil
Slow-roasted pork in achiote, banana leaves
Sikil p'aak
Pumpkin-seed & tomato dip
Salbutes
Fried puffed tortillas with toppings
Panuchos
Fried tortilla stuffed with black beans
Papadzules
Tortillas in pumpkin-seed sauce, hard egg
Sopa de lima
Lime, chicken & tortilla soup
Xnipek
Habanero/onion/orange salsa ('dog's nose')
Chiltomate
Roasted tomato + habanero salsa
Marquesita
Crispy thin crepe rolled with cheese & nutella
Cenote
Maya 'dz'onot' — sacred well/sinkhole
Tulum
Wall / fortification
Cobá
Ruffled / chopped waters
Akumal
Place of the turtle
Xcaret
Small inlet
Cancún
Nest of snakes
Yucatán
Likely a misunderstanding by Spanish — 'I don't understand you'