Language/Classical-quechua/Vocabulary/Colors

Classical Quechua Vocabulary - Colors

Hi Classical Quechua learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about colors in Classical Quechua. Color words are important in every language, and Classical Quechua is not an exception. Colors give us the ability to describe things that we see in our surroundings or in our imagination. We will also learn about some cultural aspects related to colors. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize and name different colors in Classical Quechua. Let's get started!

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Geography, Greetings, Drinks & Express Surprise.

Colors in Classical Quechua

Colors in Classical Quechua are mostly formed by combining words that describe the basic colors: warm and cold. Let's see some examples below:

Classical Quechua	Pronunciation	English
q'illa	[ˈχiʎɑ]	yellow
puka	[ˈpu.ka]	red
yana	[ˈjɑ.nɑ]	black
chuqi	[ˈtʃu.qi]	silver-like
q'ullu	[χʊl.ˈlʊ]	white
llimpi	[ɬɪm.ˈpi]	clean

As you can see on the table above, colors in Classical Quechua are mostly one-word adjectives. However, some colors are formed by adding a suffix. For example:

Classical Quechua	Pronunciation	English
maq'aq	[mɑ.ˈqɑq]	greenish-yellow
q'umir	[χʊ.ˈmiɾ]	brownish-red
k'apu	[ˈkʼɑ.pu]	grayish

As we see in the examples above, we use the suffix "-q" to generate a greenish-yellow color, "-r" to generate a brownish-red color, and "-pu" to generate a grayish color.

Colors and Culture

Colors in Classical Quechua have an important role in Andean cosmovision, especially in the pre-Columbian era. For instance, the Inca Empire used colors to identify social groups, region of origin, or rank. The Inca textiles, for example, were mainly produced using wool or cotton that had been dyed. Each color was associated with a particular meaning. Let's see some examples below:

Red (puka)

Red is the most commonly used color in Andean cultures. Red represents the sun, the blood, and the earth. It is associated with war and strong emotions such as love or anger.

Yellow (q'illa)

Yellow represents gold and wealth. It is also associated with the sun and agriculture. In Andean cosmovision, yellow represents the masculine aspects of life.

Black (yana)

Black is associated with death and the underworld. It also represents the negative aspects of life such as sadness, sorrow, and the unknown.

White (q'ullu)

White represents purity and the spiritual world. It is the color of the snow, the mountains, and the clouds. It symbolizes peace and balance.

In Andean communities, colors still play an important role. For example, during the Inti Raymi or the Festival of the Sun, people dress in colorful clothes to celebrate the winter solstice. This festival is a tribute to the sun and its energy, and colors are used to represent the different Andean communities.

Examples in Context

Let's have a conversation where we use color words in Classical Quechua:

• Person 1: Killa rumikunapaq kaypi churayni. (I will wear my yellow dress tomorrow.)
• Person 2: Ñuqakuna puka unancha munaymi. (The flowers are beautiful in red.)
• Person 1: Yana kimsakunaqa huchaynin. (I dreamt about black birds last night.)
• Person 2: Llimpi lluksumanta kawsayni. (Life is better in clean environments.)

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learned about colors in Classical Quechua. We saw that colors are mostly formed by combining words or by adding a suffix. Additionally, we learned about the cultural aspects related to colors, where colors still play an important role in Andean communities. To improve your Classical Quechua Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Common phrases, Alphabet and Pronunciation, Health & Days of the Week.

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