Inca
UK: ˈɪŋkə | US: ˈɪŋkə
n. 1. A member of the indigenous people dominant in Peru before the Spanish conquest.
n. 2. The ruler or king of the Inca Empire.
n. 3. (attributive) Relating to the Inca civilization or culture (e.g., Inca ruins).
The word "Inca" originates directly from Quechua, the language of the Andean people, where inka referred to the supreme ruler of the empire. Over time, Spanish chroniclers extended the term to describe both the ruling class and the broader civilization. Unlike many loanwords, "Inca" retains its original spelling and meaning without morphological splitting, as it is a culturally specific term adopted into English.
The Inca built Machu Picchu as a royal estate in the 15th century.
Pachacuti was the ninth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco.
Inca textiles are renowned for their intricate designs.
The Spanish conquest devastated the Inca Empire in the 16th century.
Modern Peru preserves many Inca traditions and archaeological sites.