La Yapa

La Yapa, a pack of pez like candies that would make a good yapa. La Yapa is the name of a pack of pez like candies. La Yapa would make a typical yapa.
La Yapa es el nombre de un paquete de pastillas dulces. La Yapa sería una yapa típica.
Adding the word “yapa” to your vocabulary will change your life in Paraguay, and the rest of Latin America, forever. You see, “yapa” means “freebie” (pronounced “yah” in a Midwestern accent and “pa” in a Southern one). It is totally normal and acceptable to ask for a “yapa” in most “informal” purchasing situations (ie: with market vendors and artesans, not at malls and supermarkets). It can be employed alone or in combination with bartering for a lower price, depending on how much you like to haggle. As mentioned “yapa” is a Spanish term and is used throughout Latin America. In Paraguay many vendors automátically throw in the yapa (chiperas are especially pro-yapa).
Here are some types of purchases that merit yapas:
  • More than 5 chipas

  • More than three of any type of produce at a market (even at Agroshopping, especially towards the end of the day)

  • More than two medium priced artesanal goods (sorry, two keychains might not be yapa-worthy)

  • One expensive item of artesanía

Of course not all yapas are created equal. Sometimes you get worthless candies or random sappy calendars. But sometimes you get something you actually wanted (see all the previous chipa examples). So remember to ask for your yapa by saying “y qué me va a dar de yapa?” (what are you going to give me as a yapa?) or “me va a dar una yapa, verdad?” (you´re giving me a yapa, right?).

Al agregar la palabra “yapa” a tu vocabulario cambiarás para siempre tu vida en Paraguay y el resto de Latinoamérica. “Yapa” es un regalo grátis de un vendedor. Es totalmente normal y aceptable pedir una “yapa” en la mayoría de compras “informales” (ej: en el mercado o con vendedoras de artesanías, no en los supers y shopping). Se puede usar sólo o en combinación con el pedido de una rebaja. Eso depende te cuanto de gusta regatear. Como mencionado anteriormente “yapa” es un término en Latinoamericano. En Paraguay muchos vendedores automáticamente te dan una yapa (chiperas, en especial, son pro-yapa).

Estos son ejemplos de compras que merecen yapas:

  • Más de 5 chipas

  • Más de 3 productos agrícolas en un mercado (aún en Agroshopping, especialmente al final del día)

  • Más de dos artesanías de precio medio (perdón, dos llaveros no ameritan una yapa)

  • Una artesanía de precio alto

Por supuesto no todas la yapas fueron creados iguales. Algunas veces recibes caramelos baratos o calendarios cursis. Pero algunas veces te toca algo que deveras querías (ver los ejemplos previos en relación a la chipa). Asique acuérdate de siempre pedir tu yapa diciendo “”y qué me va a dar de yapa?” o “me va a dar una yapa, verdad?”

January 19, 2009 | Daily life - vida diaria 2 Comments »

2 Responses to “La Yapa”

  1. Curtis Pack says:
    May 9, 2010 at 9:27 pm

    Hello My daughter is in Paragauy for the next few weeks.She is colleg student visiting . Any worries with the unrest. She is in Ascuncion
    Thanks Curtis

  2. paraguay says:
    May 11, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    Hi Curtis,
    The state of emergency is limited to San Pedro, Concepcion, Amambay, Presidente Hayes, and Alto Paraguay and has more to do with elevated military presence than unrest amongst a large group of people. If you daughter is in Asuncion she will be fine.

Leave a Reply