Quechua

[ kech-uh-wah, kech-wuh ]

noun

, plural Quech·uas, (especially collectively) Quech·ua

1. the language of the Incan civilization, presently spoken by about 8 million people in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
2. a member of an Indigenous people of Peru speaking Quechua.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Quechua or their language; Quechuan.

Quechua

/ ˈkɛtʃwə /

noun

1. -uas-ua a member of any of a group of South American Indian peoples of the Andes, including the Incas
2. the language or family of languages spoken by these peoples, possibly distantly related to the Tupï-Guarani family

Derived Forms

• ˈQuechuan, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Quechua¹

First recorded in 1680–90; from Spanish Quechua, Quichua, possibly from Quechua qichwa, qhichwa “temperate valley, people who live in a temperate valley”; possibly from Quechua kkechúwa “robber, plunderer”

Example Sentences

This time, a conversation with a Quechua man he met while researching for his dissertation in Peru.

From Voice of San Diego

The word pampa belongs to the Quechua language, language of the Incas.

From Project Gutenberg

Their life is absolutely distinct from that of their Quechua neighbors.

From Project Gutenberg

For the rest, the Incas endeavoured to spread the language of Cuzco, the Quechua, throughout their empire.

From Project Gutenberg

In the south, Aymara is chiefly spoken; but further north, Quechua is the commoner language.

From Project Gutenberg

By this route the long quechua passed amongst the Diaguites populations.

From Project Gutenberg