Quichua

language

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July 16, 2026

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Quichua, also spelled Quechua, refers to a family of Indigenous languages spoken in the Andes region of South America. These languages originated in the Andes and spread widely during the Inca Empire. Today, Quechua is one of the most spoken Indigenous languages in the Americas, with millions of speakers across several countries, including Peru and Bolivia, where it is an official language. The term also broadly refers to the diverse Indigenous peoples who speak these languages. While Quechua languages predate the Inca Empire, they were adopted by the Inca for administrative purposes. Despite historical disruptions, Quechua-speaking communities have maintained their languages and cultural practices.123

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Ecuador
The colonial period
The Spaniards used Quichua as a language of evangelization—at one period missionaries were required to know the language—and continued to spread it orally by means of Quichua speakers who travelled with them in further conquests.
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The Spaniards used Quichua as a language of evangelization—at one period missionaries were required to know the language—and continued to spread it orally by means of Quichua speakers who travelled with them in further conquests.
Read More