Quechua, or runa simi ("language of the people"), is an Indigenous language native to the central Andes. It is spoken in six South American countries (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile) and is considered the most widely spoken native language in South America.

But its importance goes beyond linguistics: Quechua transmits values, ancestral wisdom, Andean worldview, and ways of life deeply connected with the land, the community, and spirituality.

Although it is the same language, its form varies in each country. Each region has shaped its sounds, structures, and expressions according to its cultural environment, always preserving the essence of Quechua.

Although Quechua is commonly associated with the Incas, its origin goes back to much earlier times. It is believed to have emerged in the valleys of Supe and Pativilca, on the northern coast of present-day Peru, and was adopted by ancient cultures such as Caral, the oldest civilization in the Americas (3000 BC).

From there, it expanded inland and was adopted by pre-Inca civilizations such as:

This shows that Quechua was already used as a language of cultural cohesion centuries before the birth of the Inca Empire.

🏞️ Early routes of diffusion

The first Quechua speakers moved through areas such as Yauri, Qanchis, and Chunpiwillkas, and later settled in the Huatanay Valley, in present-day Cusco. There emerged the Ayarmaca ethnic group, speakers of an early variant known as Proto-Quechua.

👑 Quechua in the Tahuantinsuyo: from regional language to imperial language

He ordered its teaching throughout the empire, appointed instructors, and facilitated its learning so that all regions could understand imperial laws, beliefs, and orders.

🏃‍♂️ The chasquis and the Qhapaq Ñan

Quechua spread through the four regions of the Tahuantinsuyo thanks to:

• The Qhapaq Ñan (Inca road network)
• The chasquis, messengers who traveled long distances carrying oral information in Quechua

Thus, the language reached from the Pacific coasts to the forests and mountains, integrating diverse peoples under a common linguistic system.

📘 Official use in evangelization

During the colonial period, Quechua was so influential that missionaries decided to learn it in order to evangelize. Doctrines were translated and sermons were given in this language.

🗓️ Key moments:

🚫 Prohibition after the rebellion of Túpac Amaru II

After the uprising of Túpac Amaru II in 1781, Quechua was banned along with other Indigenous expressions. Despite efforts to eradicate it, many communities preserved it with pride and resistance.

Currently, Quechua consists of multiple variants, grouped into four main branches:

Each variant has phonetic and grammatical peculiarities, but they share a common base officially recognized as part of Peru’s linguistic heritage.

Speaking Quechua is much more than communicating: it is sharing a universe of meanings, a way of seeing the world, and a deep connection with the land and the community.

Through Quechua, unique concepts are transmitted, difficult to translate into Spanish:

In addition, the language preserves knowledge about agriculture, astronomy, natural medicine, rituals, and social organization, many of which are still practiced today.

Fortunately, today we are witnessing a revival of Quechua, thanks to:

• Intercultural bilingual schools
• Artists, writers, and activists who promote it
• Media and social networks that revitalize it

More than seven million people still speak it, many of them by choice and not just inheritance. Being a Quechua speaker today is an act of cultural affirmation, a way of saying "here we are," with our own voice and living memory.