QuechuaThe language of the Incas

The Inca empire contained different tribes who spoke

different languages, but the most widely spoken was Quechua, which became the official language of the

Incas. It is still spoken today by over 8 million people. In Peru, about 1/3 of the people speak

Quechua.

QuechuaThe language of the Incas

Since the Spanish took over in the Inca territories, the main language of most of this territory is español, but the Spanish language in these areas, especially in Peru has adopted

hundreds of Quechua words.

Even some English words actually came from Quechua words.

For example, the Incas ate a lot of papas.

That’s the origin of the Spanish word

for

patata

And of the English wordfor

potato

Another Quechua word that came into the English language

is also a type of comida. Kinwa is a

very healthy grain that is used in many

cereals today. Do you know what is is called

in English?

It’s called

quinoaHas anyone ever heard of it?

Los Inca had a word

in Quechua, ch’arki meaning dried.

This is the origin of an English word meaning dried meat. Can

anyone guess the word?

It’s JERKY!!Anyone care for some beef

Jerky??

There is yet another comida word that comes the Inca language…

rimay

Hint: It is a type of bean and it is also the name of the capital city of Peru.

Can anyone guess?

Did you guess…

lima (bean)?

Another word you may know that comes from Quechua is pampa which meant flat.

Now we use pampas in Spanish and English to describe the flatlands in

Argentina.

Los incas used the word wakcha for a poor person. That is the origin of the Spanish and English word gaucho. Has anyone

heard this word?

There are a lot of animal words that come from Quechua.

Los incas used this animal to carry heavy loads.

Hint: it is written the same in Quechua, español and English, but pronounced differently.

You should know we are talking

about ….

LLAMA

Two animals that are similar to the llama, the incas used for

their wool. They are also Quechua words that became English

ones.

Los incas called the first one….

wik’uña

That’s the origin of

the Spanish and English words

vicuña

The second, the Incas called

allpaka

That’s the origin for the Spanish and

English words

alpaca

The name of a type of big gato also comes from Quechua.

Hint: It is not a lion, tiger,

cheetah, jaguar or leopard

It is a …

puma

There is yet another animal word that we got from Quechua.

It is a big flying animal that the Inca called

kuntur.

That’s the origin of the Spanish word

for

cóndor

And of the English wordfor

condor

Preguntas de discusión

• Can you remember some of the Quechua (Inca language) words that became Spanish or English words?

• Why do you think these Quechua words survived and others did not?

Melissa Eve WarhaftigÁngel Lozada

King Juan Carlos I of Spain CenterNew York University

2002

Developed with support from the Coca-Cola Foundationand an anonymous foundation.