qu

Qu is a two-letter sequence that appears in various linguistic, linguistic-coding, and onomastic contexts. It is not a single concept with a single meaning, but rather a label that can refer to different things depending on the context.

In the Latin alphabet, qu is a common digraph used in many languages. In English and many languages that borrow from Latin and French origins, the digraph typically represents the /kw/ sound, as in quick or queen. The exact pronunciation can vary by language, word origin, and surrounding sounds, but qu generally functions as a unit rather than as separate letters.

Qu can also denote a language code. The ISO 639-1 code qu stands for Quechua, a family of indigenous languages spoken in the Andean region of South America, including parts of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. Quechua comprises multiple varieties and has a long oral and literary tradition, with ongoing efforts to standardize spelling and grammar in modern contexts.

In Chinese transliteration, Qu is used in the romanization of several surnames and given names. The same spelling may correspond to different Chinese characters, such as 曲 or 瞿, and the pronunciation and meaning depend on the character and its tone. As a result, Qu appears in Chinese personal names, places, and historical records, and its interpretation relies on character identity rather than the spelling alone.

Together, these senses illustrate how Qu functions as a versatile label across languages, codes, and names, rather than as a single, uniform term.