The Quechua was the lingua franca of the Inca Empire, which later continued to expand as the language of the Christianization in colonial times. The spread of the Quechua language has led to the disappearance of almost all the original languages of the Andean region.
Quechua is actually a term that encompasses several languages. It represents 17 different emerging constituent languages, languages that have from 3 to 5 centuries of diversification. The Quechua linguistic unit is comparable to the linguistic complex of Romance.
The Spanish settlers, who arrived in Peru in 1531 with Francisco Pizarro (1478-1541), were the first to design an orthographic system to write Quechua.
For this purpose they used the Spanish alphabet as much as possible to reproduce the sounds of the language. However, for those sounds that were not similar to Spanish, the writers designated them rules and symbols.
To date there is no real agreement on spelling and there is no universally accepted alphabet for this language. Currently, Quechua is the language most spoken by the indigenous communities that survive in Latin America.
Six to ten million people in the Andean area, from southern Colombia through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to northwestern Argentina and northern Chile use Quechua as their habitual language.
Quechua characteristics
Quechua is an extremely agglutinating language, that is, by adding infixes and suffixes to a word or its root, a new word is created.
- Infixes, used mainly with verbs, provide nuances or modifications in the meaning of the original word.
- Suffixes are mainly used to conjugate verbs with other elements of the sentence.
A Quechua word can convey a thought that would require the use of one or more phrases to be expressed in another language. For example:
- Aparichimpullawaychehña !: please bring it immediately (Addressing more than one person).
- Chimpachinakuy: to indicate that the person must pass to the other side of the stream and that he will be assisted by the hand of the subject who remains behind. Being on the other side of the stream, the person must help the subject who initially collaborated.
List of words and expressions in Quechua
1- ní
Say (Order).
2- Achkur
Pick up with both hands.
3- Achachakíkan
It is warming up, it is sunning itself.
4- Achachán / achachékun
Is hot!
5- Achachankíku
You have a fever?
6- Achachánku
Is hot?
7- Achacháptin junáqcho
When it's hot during the day.
8- Achacháq yáku
Hot water.
9- Achacháq / chacháq
Hot.
10- Achachár
Warm up, sunbathe.
11- Achachatzíkun
Are you hot or feverish?
12- Álli wíyaqoq
Person who listens well, who obeys.
13- Állina kaptínnam
When he / she has recovered.
14- Allitukúr
Pretend, pretend, try to be good.
15- Allpatár
Covering yourself or getting dirty with dirt or dust.
16- Amp
Night, dark, sunset.
17- Amur
Have and keep something in your mouth.
18- Ballíku
Wild oats.
19- Búnyar
To abound.
20- Chakar
Open the land with a cultivation instrument to sow.
21- haki
Foot.
22- Chakwan
Old woman.
23- Chanin
Price, cost.
24- Cháqru
Uneven, uneven.
25- Chawar
Be raw, uncooked.
26- Chírimpu
Dried wheat, boiled.
27- Chíwi
Fitted shorts adorned with buttons.
28- Cho
Suffix used with the subject. Meaning: in, between.
29- Chúrar
Put, place, save.
30- Chútu
Vulgar, rude.
31- Éka
How much?
32- Ellukar
Gather, gather, shrink, wrinkle.
33- Épa
Much, quite, enough.
34- Ewayá
We go (we walk).
35- Gatéra / Gatéru
Reseller, product retailer.
36- Gaterutáchi rántikushun jarantzikta
We will sell our corn to the retailer.
37- Ichik
Small, tiny.
38- Ichikáchan
Arrogant posture.
39- Íkar
Chop, cut into small pieces.
40- Illa
Light.
41- Imanó
How? How?
42- Ímaq
To what? For what?
43- Ishki
I fall.
44- Ishpé
Urine.
45- Jácha / yúra
Wild forest, mountain bush, kills.
46- Khakan
He yawns, he exhales.
47- Jakan
Swollen, inflamed, irritated.
48- Jáku
Small blanket to carry a child on the back
49- Jampi
Medicinal herb drink, remedy, medicine.
50- Jána
Clothing, clothing, suit (for men).
51- Jaúka
Always, still.
52- Jírpur
Make a patient drink liquid or medicine.
53- Juchu
Collapse, collapse, slide.
54- Chéqlla
Green color.
55- Chéqlli / tzéqllir
Sapling, sprout.
56- Chéqllitzir / tzéqllitzir
Make sprout.
57- Chéqñar
Adjust, secure, tie well with strap, rope, thread.
58- Chéqsa / tzéqtzi
Bat.
59- Chewréqsa / chiwréqsa / árash píshqo
Reddish gray bird.
60- Chícharru
Pork rind.
61- Chíchi
Tit, breast, breasts
62- Chichínmi
She breastfeeds
63- Chichipa púntan
Nipple
64- Chíchu wármim tékan
A pregnant woman is sitting
65- Chíki
Hate, dislike, selfish.
66- Chíksa / tíksha / tíkshi
Tickle.
67- Chíku / káncha
Poultry yard.
68- Chikuti
Whip.
69- Chíla
Pumpkin.
70- Chila hits
Bald.
71- Squeak
That shines, that illuminates.
72- Chípi / Chípsa
Chicken, chick.
73- Chípshir / típshir
Pinch, prick.
74- Chípyan / tzípyan
He / she cleans, organizes, tidies up.
75- Chipyaq
Clear water.
76- Chíqeq
Enemy.
77- Chípara
Drizzle.
78- Chiwa
Goat or goat.
79- Chónta
Heart or mature stem of black palm.
80- Chóqa
Cough
81- Chúñu
Very fine corn or potato flour.
82- Chúnyan / tzúnyan
Empty, lonely, unoccupied.
83- Chúrakar
Fainting, not being able to breathe.
84- Chúran
She puts, places.
85- Chúrana
Shelf, cupboard.
86- Chúrar
Put, place, save.
87- Chúrkar / Chúrkur
Put the pot on the stove.
88- Chúseqyan
Intermittent and fleeting stabbing pain.
89- Chuseqyár
Feeling intermittent and fleeting pain.
90- Chúsku
Four
91- Chuspikúana
The flies.
92- Chusushqa
Plant without optimal development.
93- Chusuyár
Slim down.
94- Ektirisya
Hepatitis.
95- Ellukí / pallakí
Harvest.
96- Élluyan papakúnatam
They harvest the potatoes.
97- Épallan pápakuna
There are enough potatoes.
98- Eparkí
Put or add.
99- Eqinkíkun
You are going to run?
100- era
Place where the grain is threshed.
101- Erayan ewanámpaq
He / she is eager to go.
102- Esqi
Pus
103- Esqin
Is infected
104- Étza
Meat
105- Ewakashqa
Exhausted, fatigued, given up.
106- Ewakullánam júk markakúnapa
I'm going to other places.
107- Winus diyas!
Good Morning
108- Winas tardis!
Good afternoon (until 6 or until dark)
109- Winas nuchis!
Good night (from 6 o'clock or after dark)
110- Imaynalla (tah) kasanki?
How are you?
111- Alli (lIa) npuni. Qanri?
Very good. And you?
112- Ñoqapas aIIi (IIa) n
I'm fine too
113- Mana alÌi (IIa) npunichu
No good
114- Anchata phutikuni
So sorry
115- Anchata kusikuni rehsisuspa (and)
Nice to meet you
116- Ima (n) sutiyki?
What's your name?
117- Imatah Kanki?
What do you do?
118- Pi (tah) chay wayna?
Who is he?
119- Maymanta (n) katiki?
Where are you from?
120- Uh ratukama
See you soon.
121- Goodbye!
Bye.
122- Ima Kaypata Sutin?
How is this called?
123- ¿Wawasniyoh kankichu?
Have children?
124- Hayk'a wawayoh kanki?
How many children do you have?
125- Imatam ruakunki?
What is your job?
126- (H) allp'a llank'ahchu kanki?
Are you a farmer?
127- Mana yachanichu maypi kasan
I do not know where is he.
128- Yanapasuyta atinichu?
I can help?
129- Ninariyta yanapasuyta atinichu?
Can I help you light the fire?
130- Pichari yanapawayta atin?
Can anybody help me?
131- Hay'an llasan?
How much does it weigh?
132- Ima uraña (tah)?
What time is it?
133- Chunka ura (s) ta paqarinmanta hamuni
I will come at 10 in the morning.
134- Q'aya simanata ripusah
I will go next week.
135- Sinchita paramusan
It is raining hard.
136- Qhonqhonnimusanchu?
Was that thunder?
137- Anchata chirimusan
It is very cold.
138- Waranqa
Thousand
139- Payqa, friend
He is my friend.
140- Payqa, ñoqahapta friend
She's my friend.
141- Payqa, ñoqahpata sispa aylluy
He is related to my husband.
142- Payqa, sispawawqey
He is my cousin.
143- Awgustu ñawpahdiyapi humani
I will come the first of August.
144- Dus thousand dis watapi hamusah
I will come in 2010.
145- Chihchi
Hail.
146- Rit'i
Snow.
147- Phuyu
Cloud.
148- Illari
Clear sky.
149- K'uychi
Rainbow
150- Rupha
Burn.
151- Kuchu / K'utu
Cut.
152- Wayk'u / Yanu
Cook.
153- T'impu
Boil.
154- Kanka
Toast.
155- Thehtichi
Fry.
156- Puñu-y
Sleep.
157- Apu
Owner, boss.
158- Apuchaw
Sunday.
159- Aqo
Sand.
160- Aqha
Purple corn liquor.
161- Ari
Yes.
162- Armakuy
Taking a shower.
163- Arus
Rice.
164- Assiriy
Smile.
165- Asiy
Laugh.
166- Donkey
Bad smell.
167- Astah
Person who transports.
168- Atichaw
Tuesday.
169- Aya
Corpse.
170- Ayllu
Family.
171- Aymuray
Harvest.
172- Manchari
Fear-
173- Ñawpa
Old man.
174- Chanta
After.
175- Pas, -pis
Although.
176- Khuska
Along.
References
- Fishman, J. (2005). Can Threatened Languages be Saved? Clevedon, Multilingual Matters Ltd.
- Grenoble, L. and Whaley, L. (1998). Endangered Languages: Language Loss and Community Response. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
- Hornberger, N. (1997). Indigenous Literacies in the Americas. Berlin, Mouton de Gruyter.
- Mosquera, M. (2012). Quechua de Huarás, in Spanish and English: Glossary. Bloomongton, Xlibris Corporation.
- Noble, J. and Lacasa, J. (2007). Introduction to Quechua: Language of the Andes. Indianapolis, Dog Ear Publishing.