Quechua is the language of the Incas, still spoken by about 9 million people in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and more marginally in Argentina and Colombia. An official language in several Andean countries, it exists in several variants (Southern Cusco Quechua, Ancashino, Ayacuchano). With this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Cusco, La Paz or the Andes.
Quechua (runasimi, "the language of humans") is the language of the Incas, still spoken today by about 9 million people in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and more marginally in Argentina, Colombia and Chile. An official language in Peru (since 1975), Bolivia and Ecuador, it is among the most spoken Native American languages on the continent. Quechua is not a single language but a family of variants: Southern Quechua (spoken in Cusco, Puno, Ayacucho and Bolivia) remains the best-known form, while Ancashino, more archaic, dominates in northern Peru.
Quechua is an agglutinative language: suffixes stack at the end of words to express tense, possession, place, cause, evidentiality. This last notion is particularly rich in Quechua: the suffixes -mi, -shi, -cha indicate whether information was seen, heard or supposed, making it a remarkably precise language. The phonology has three vowels (a, i, u), some glottalized or aspirated consonants in the south, and a highly regular system that makes pronunciation accessible once a few rules are absorbed. Quechua gave the world many words: condor, llama, puma, quinoa, coca, gaucho.
Traveling in the Andes with a few Quechua words completely transforms encounters. Greeting in Quechua at a Cusco market, in a Lake Titicaca village or at a Pisac inn instantly opens smiles, especially in rural communities. This kit gathers the essentials to greet, ask for directions, eat, handle an emergency and leave respectfully. You will also find cultural tips to understand Pachamama, coca against altitude sickness, bargaining and the codes of Andean culture.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You arrive at Cusco airport after a flight from Lima. You greet the customs officer with Allillanchu, he smiles and replies Allinmi. You thank the porter with Yusulpayki, and at the next-door Bolivian counter you say Sulpayki to please a Quechua grandmother.
You hop in a taxi to reach your accommodation. You tell the driver the house (wasi) is in a small village (llaqta) on the outskirts of the city (hatun llaqta), right next to a school (yachay wasi).
You sit down in a local picanteria in Cusco. You order chilled water (yaku), a coffee with milk (ñukñu), and a traditional dish made of corn (sara) with grilled llama meat (aycha).
You feel altitude sickness after arriving in Cusco. You explain to the pharmacist that you have a headache (uma), your eyes (ñawi) are sensitive, your ears (rinri) are ringing and your mouth (simi) is dry. He prepares a coca tea for you.
On the morning of departure, your host asks if you slept well. You answer Arí with a big smile, and Mana when he worries about something forgotten. You ask Allichu to keep a souvenir, and Pampachayway in case you made noise leaving early.
What you need to know before travelling to a quechua-speaking country.
Quechua exists in several variants. Southern Quechua (Cusco, Bolivia) is the best known. In northern Peru, Ancashino is spoken, more archaic. The variants remain largely mutually intelligible, with some pronunciation and vocabulary differences.
Quechua is an agglutinative language: suffixes stack onto words to change meaning. For example, wasi (house) becomes wasiykipi ("in your house"). Dense, but very regular.
Respect for elders and nature is central in Andean culture. Pachamama (Mother Earth) is honored before drinking or eating: a little drink is poured on the ground as offering. If you are invited to take part, accept.
Coca leaves are used to fight altitude sickness (soroche). You chew them or brew them as coca tea. Legal in Peru and Bolivia, but never try to bring any back to Europe.
At Andean markets, bargaining is normal, but always respectful. Greeting with Allillanchu in Quechua and thanking with Yusulpayki immediately sets you apart from rushed tourists.
Altitude sickness is real in Cusco (3,400 m), Puno (3,800 m) or La Paz (3,600 m). Hydrate, eat light the first days, avoid alcohol, prefer coca tea. If symptoms persist, see a doctor quickly.
Andean communities are welcoming but reserved. Never photograph anyone without asking, especially elders and children. An Allichu (please) with a smile opens almost any door.
Avoid sensitive political topics, especially the Shining Path armed conflict (1980 to 2000) in Peru or current tensions with indigenous communities. These themes remain painful.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Tinkunakama
see you, goodbye
Allin p'unchay
good morning
Allin tuta
good evening, good night
Sumaq hamusqayki
welcome
kay
to be
kapuy
to have
riy
to go
hamuy
to come
mikhuy
to eat
upyay
to drink
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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