pullo

Pullo is a term with multiple meanings across languages and regions, and it can refer to people, names, or place-based identifiers. In linguistic and anthropological contexts, it is most often associated with Andean languages.

In Quechua and Aymara, pullo (often written as pullo in some varieties) is a social label used to denote a person who is non-Indigenous or foreign. Historically, it has been used in relation to outsiders, including Europeans or Spaniards during the colonial period. The connotations of pullo can range from descriptive to pejorative, and its acceptability depends on the speaker, community, and historical moment. As with many ethnonyms, its interpretation is context-sensitive and can be contested or nuanced.

Outside its ethnolinguistic usage, pullo may appear as a personal or family name in some communities, and in rare cases as part of a place name. However, there is no single, widely recognized definition of pullo beyond its linguistic and social senses, and meanings can vary by region and era.

Because of its potential social implications, the term is best understood with attention to context, including who is speaking, to whom, and for what purpose. When encountered in text or conversation, pullo typically signals a reference to foreignness or non-Indigenous identity within Andean cultural-linguistic settings, but its exact nuance may differ.