Quechua

noun

Que·​chua ˈke-chə-wə 

ˈkech-wə

plural Quechua or Quechuas

1

: a family of languages spoken by Indian peoples of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina

2

a

: a member of an Indian people of central Peru

b

: a group of peoples forming the dominant element of the Inca Empire

Quechuan

ˈke-chə-wən 

ˈkech-wən

adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

Quechua

noun

Que·​chua ˈkech-(ə-)wə 

kə-ˈchü-ə

plural Quechua or Quechuas

: a family of closely related languages spoken by Indigenous peoples of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina