quechua

Quechua, also known as Runasimi or Quechua, refers to a family of indigenous languages spoken in the Andean regions of South America. It is the principal language family of the Quechuan group, comprising several varieties that are sometimes treated as distinct languages or dialects. Quechua has a long historical presence in the Andes and was the administrative language of the Inca Empire. Today it is one of the most widely spoken indigenous languages in the Americas, with millions of speakers concentrated in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador and smaller communities in Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and other countries.

Geographically, Quechua varieties form major groups commonly referred to as Northern and Southern Quechua, with Southern Quechua including well-known varieties such as Cusco and Ayacucho, and Northern Quechua spoken in parts of Colombia and Ecuador. The language has deep regional diversity, and mutual intelligibility varies across dialects. In most areas, Quechua is used in daily life, local media, and traditional ceremonies, while Spanish remains dominant in education and national administration.

In terms of status, Quechua enjoys official recognition in several Andean countries and is supported by bilingual education programs and public initiatives in many regions. Peru and Bolivia have established state support for Quechua in the public sphere, and Ecuador recognizes indigenous languages in education and public life in areas where they are prevalently spoken. Writing systems are Latin-based, but orthographies differ by country and community, reflecting historical and regional differences.

Quechua has a rich oral and written literary tradition, from colonial-era texts to contemporary poetry, novel, journalism, and digital media, and continues to play a central role in cultural identity and social cohesion for many Andean communities.