Quechua

Along with Aymara and the now-defunct Puquina language of the Titicaca basin, Quechua was one of the three principal languages of the land when the first Spanish arrived in what they would name Peru. Known to the native speakers as runasimi, meaning simply "human speech", Quechua was the name given to the language by the Spanish who probably mistook the word qheswa - meaning "valley" - in the phrase qheswa simi "valley speech" for the native name of the language.

The origins of Quechua are difficult to pin down, and there are many competing theories as to where this indigenous language was first spoken. The most viable theory is that it originated somewhere in central Peru, perhaps around the area modern-day Lima is sited, or further inland up in the mountains. From here, an early expansion of Quechua speaking people north into the central regions took place around the first centuries AD, then later further north into northern Peru and Ecuador and south into southern Peru (around 1100 AD). Although the Inca empire used Quechua as its official language and expanded over a great deal of South America, much of the people already spoke it and the Incas certainly did not invent the language.

Today, Quechua is the official state language of Peru and Bolivia alongside Spanish. It is spoken today by about 8 million people in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina. Although in general Quechua is in decline, the recent surge in tourism has brought many positive changes including a general rise in interest in Andean peoples' own heritage, including the Inca and their lingua franca.

Example words and phrases

Niway piwanmi purinki, ñoga nisqayki pin kan
Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you what kind of person you are.

Sonsochakoq
"Acting dumb"; e.g. if somebody is trying to listen to a conversation while pretending not to hear.

Llakita mallispaqa manañan mikuytaqa munanichu.
Sadness takes away my appetite.

Tukuy suwan, llapanmi suwa nin
A thief thinks that everyone else is also a thief.

Chakay
To bridge; to build a bridge.

Haw! Imata ñinki!
Hello!

Hayñi
Spirit; soul; ghost

Inlista parlankichu?
Do you speak English?

Inti
Sun

Machu
Old (man); ancient

Pampachaway!
Excuse me!; Sorry!

Qhapaq
King; Emperor

Ratukama!
See you later!

Tapa
Mosquito

Walaku
Toad

Yupaychani!
Thank you!

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