Skip to content

inca

Inca

noun adjective EEN-kah Rare
People & Society Government

Origin: From Quechua inka (lord, ruler).

Usage Note

Inca refers to members of the pre-Columbian Andean empire centered in Cusco, and its culture, language, and artifacts. As a noun it is common gender (el inca / la inca); as an adjective it is invariable in gender (la civilización inca, el arte inca). The Quechua origin reflects the direct cultural inheritance of Andean Spanish vocabulary.

Examples

"La arquitectura inca es asombrosa."

Natural Translation

Inca architecture is astonishing.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Spanish by topic