Picchu

Picchu is a toponymic element used in the Andean region, derived from the Quechua word pikchu, typically translated as peak or mountain. In Peru and surrounding areas, the form Picchu appears in numerous place names to denote prominent summits or high ground.

The most famous usages are Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu is the Inca citadel located above the Urubamba River, near the town of Aguas Calientes, and is often translated as Old Mountain. Huayna Picchu, meaning Young Mountain, is a nearby summit that rises behind the citadel. These names reflect the descriptive nature of Quechua toponymy, where geographic features are named for their physical characteristics.

Geographic distribution and spelling: The element Picchu occurs in many Andean localities, across present-day Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, in mountain names, archaeological sites, and districts. Variants such as Piccho or Pichu appear in local maps and inscriptions, reflecting dialectal differences and transliteration into Spanish.

Cultural and linguistic context: Picchu illustrates Quechua naming practices that describe landscape features rather than ownership or historical events. In modern times, the term remains common in tourism, cartography, and local administration, though it can cause confusion when used alone without the accompanying qualifier, since many peaks and sites include Picchu as part of a longer name.