Quechua

noun
Que·​chua | \ ˈke-chə-wə How to pronounce Quechua (audio) , ˈkech-wə\
plural Quechua or Quechuas

Definition of Quechua

1 : a family of languages spoken by Indian peoples of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina
2a : a member of an Indian people of central Peru
b : a group of peoples forming the dominant element of the Inca Empire

Other Words from Quechua

Quechuan \ ˈke-​chə-​wən How to pronounce Quechuan (audio) , ˈkech-​wən \ adjective or noun

First Known Use of Quechua

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

History and Etymology for Quechua

Spanish, probably from Southern Peruvian Quechua qheswa (simi), literally, valley speech

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