🇵🇪Pérou · Bolivie · Équateur
Quechua vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Quechua vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rimaykullayki | Hello (I greet you) | Culture: La salutation quechua la plus formelle. Plus courant : "Allianchu?" (tu vas bien?) |
| Allianchu? | How are you? | |
| Allianmi | I'm fine | |
| Ari | Yes | |
| Manan | No | |
| Pachi | Thank you | Culture: Dans certaines variantes régionales : "Sulpayki" (Bolivie) ou "Agradisyki". |
| Allin p'unchay | Good day (good day) | |
| Allin tuta | Good night | |
| Tupananchiskama | Goodbye (until we meet again) | |
| Mañachisqaykichu | Sorry / Excuse me |
Food & drinks
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mikhuna | Food | |
| Yaku | Water | |
| Aycha | Meat | |
| Challwa | Fish | |
| Papa | Potato | Culture: Le mot "pomme de terre" (potato) vient du quechua "papa". Les Incas cultivaient des centaines de variétés. |
| Sara | Corn | |
| Kiwicha | Amaranth | |
| Kinwa | Quinoa | Culture: "Quinoa" vient du quechua "kinwa". Cette céréale sacrée des Incas est aujourd'hui consommée partout dans le monde. |
| Chicha | Fermented corn drink | |
| Kuka | Coca (sacred leaf) | Culture: La feuille de coca (kuka) est sacrée dans les Andes. Elle est mâchée pour lutter contre l'altitude et l'épuisement. |
Family
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tayta | Father | Culture: "Tayta" est aussi utilisé respectueusement pour s'adresser à un homme âgé ou à Dieu (Taytacha). |
| Mama | Mother | |
| Wawa | Baby / Child | |
| Wawqe | Brother (of a man) | |
| Pani | Sister (of a man) | |
| Qusa | Husband | |
| Warmi | Wife / Woman | |
| Awki | Grandfather | |
| Quya | Grandmother | |
| Amigo | Friend |
Human body
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Uma | Head | |
| Ñawi | Eye / Face | |
| Sinqa | Nose | |
| Simi | Mouth | Culture: "Simi" signifie aussi langue/langage. "Runasimi" = langue des gens. |
| Rinri | Ear | |
| Maki | Hand | |
| Chaki | Foot | |
| Sunqu | Heart | |
| Wiksa | Stomach | |
| Kurku | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| huk | One | |
| iskay | Two | |
| kimsa | Three | |
| tawa | Four | |
| pichqa | Five | |
| suqta | Six | |
| qanchis | Seven | |
| pusaq | Eight | |
| isqun | Nine | |
| chunka | Ten | |
| chunka hukniyuq | Eleven | |
| chunka iskayniyuq | Twelve | |
| chunka kimsayuq | Thirteen | |
| chunka tawayuq | Fourteen | |
| chunka pichqayuq | Fifteen | |
| chunka suqtayuq | Sixteen | |
| chunka qanchisyuq | Seventeen | |
| chunka pusaqniyuq | Eighteen | |
| chunka isqunniyuq | Nineteen | |
| iskay chunka | Twenty |
Colors
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yuraq | White | |
| yana | Black | |
| puka | Red | |
| anqas | Blue | |
| q'umir | Green | |
| q'ellu | Yellow | |
| uqi | Grey | |
| ukuku | Brown |
Animals
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Llama | Llama | Culture: Le lama est l'animal emblématique des Andes. "Lama" est un mot quechua adopté dans toutes les langues du monde. |
| Alpaka | Alpaca | |
| Kuntur | Condor | Culture: Le condor (kuntur) est sacré dans les Andes, symbole de puissance et de liberté. "Condor" vient du quechua. |
| Ukuku | Andean bear | |
| Challwa | Fish | |
| Anka | Eagle / Hawk | |
| Misi | Cat | |
| Allqu | Dog | |
| Waka | Cow | |
| Kuy | Guinea pig | Culture: Le cochon d'Inde (kuy ou cuy) est l'aliment traditionnel des Andes, élevé dans les foyers depuis des millénaires. |
Home & daily life
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wasi | House | |
| Punku | Door | |
| Wasikama | Room | |
| Qhatu | Market | |
| Yachay wasi | School (lit. house of knowledge) | |
| Qullqi | Money | |
| P'acha | Clothes | |
| Nina | Fire | |
| Llank'ay | Work | |
| Kawsay | Life / Way of life | Culture: "Sumaq kawsay" (belle vie / bien vivre) est un concept fondamental quechua, adopté comme principe de développement durable dans la constitution équatorienne. |
Time & weather
| Runasimi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kunan | Today | |
| Qayna | Yesterday | |
| Paqarin | Tomorrow | |
| Inti | Sun | Culture: "Inti" était le dieu Soleil des Incas, divinité principale de l'Empire. |
| Tuta | Night | |
| Para | Rain | |
| Chiri | Cold | |
| Rupay | Heat / Burning | |
| Wayra | Wind | |
| Paray mitta | Rainy season |
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