Note: This is an informal expression and vocabulary list put together from nice people in Cuzco, Peru, former home of the Inca Empire and present day vessel of Quechua culture.

Munai – pretty / nice

Noka Munaquiki – I want you

Munani – I want

Unuta – Water

Tantata – Bread

Papata – Potatoe

Tomatata - Tomatoe

Cachita – Salt

Ima serquitiki? – What is your name?

Mata munanqui? – What do you want?

Maymanta kanki? - Where are you from?

Nokaga kanki Estados Unidos – I am from the USA


(‘Waykey’ or ‘panay’) allillanchu – (man or woman spoken to) are you well?

Allillanmi – I am well


Hatun – big

Unche – small

Tupananchis – Bye

Manan antikunchu – you cannot

Ari atikummi – you can

Warmi – woman

Kari – man

Wayna – young girl (dating age)

Sipascha – really young girl (child)

Maykapin coanki? – When will you give me?

Manan askachu kolgey – I don’t have a lot of money

Pisillan – a little

Warmitan munani – I want a woman

Maypin kashan – where is it?

Note: This is an informal expression and vocabulary list put together from nice people among the Salasaca culture of central Ecuador, one the more traditional Quechua-speaking Indian cultures I came across in the Ecuadorian Andes.

Ecuadorian Salasaca Quechua

Hatun - big

Unchillja – small

Kari – man

Haru danzungo nyunkan – Come have a dance with me

Haru mikungu nyunkan – Come eat with me

Yari hanan – I am hungry

Punyu hanan – I am tired

Masha valin? – How much does this cost?

Carushkaga – very expensive


Solpay – Thank you

Hijotaita – Please

Imashi ningi – its nothing (don’t worry about it)

To pungauchi – bye

Mayvi laza tian? – where is the plaza?

Mayvi khato tian? – Where is the shop?

Ari – yes

Mana – No

Quilla mikuna – Good food

Kanda rikshishi kushisha mini – Nice to meet you

Imalaya nisha “word you want” kechua be? – how do you say “word you want” in Quechua?