What does "quechua" mean?
A member of one of several South American ethnic groups that spans Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, northern Chile, and in Ecuador and southern Colombia.
Quechua
/ˈkɛt͡ʃwə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of one of several South American ethnic groups that spans Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, northern Chile, and in Ecuador and southern Colombia.
- Grammar: quechua is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: quechuan, andean, andean language, andean people.
- Useful contrasts: non Quechua culture, non Quechua language, non Quechua languages.
- Usage evidence: As I found out later, the man who showed up on my doorstep asking for help was speaking Quechua.
How to use "quechua"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "quechua" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "quechua" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "quechua" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "quechua" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "quechua" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "quechuan" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "quechua", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A member of one of several South American ethnic groups that spans Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, northern Chile, and in Ecuador and southern Colombia.
"The Quechuas, a tribe of the Inca people, were Indians of the red race and with an appearance and trait which is distinctly American. “They are”, says Victor W. Von Hagen in his book, Realm of the Incas, “of medium height, and inclined to be thickset, with large hands, small wrists, a disproportionately large chest (developed for breathing at high altitudes), well-developed legs, and wide-spreading feet. They are broad-headed, with high cheekbones, prominent aquiline noses, and small, almond-shaped eyes.” There are still five million of them in the Andes."
- 2 the language of the Quechua which was spoken by the Incas wordnet
- 3 a member of a South American Indian people in Peru who were formerly the ruling class of the Inca empire wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 The language spoken by these people.
"If the idea of “exotic” and complex languages with features you’ve never imagined thrills you, I guarantee you’ll get more out of studying Navajo, American Sign Language, Kikuyu, Vietnamese, Cree, Cantonese, Quechua, or Nuuchahnnulth than Quenya, Klingon, or attempting to make your own."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
non Quechua culturenon Quechua languagenon Quechua languagesnon Quechua people
Example
"As I found out later, the man who showed up on my doorstep asking for help was speaking Quechua."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "quechua"?
Common synonyms include: quechuan, andean, andean language, andean people, english, ethnic quechua.
How do you use "quechua" in a sentence?
As I found out later, the man who showed up on my doorstep asking for help was speaking Quechua.
How do you pronounce "quechua"?
Pronounced /ˈkɛt͡ʃwə/.
Etymology
Spanish, from Quechua qhichwa (literally “temperate valley”).