What was the language spoken in the Inca Empire?

Quechua was the primary language spoken in the Inca Empire and continues to be an important cultural and linguistic heritage in the Andean region. The Incas, who established one of the largest empires in pre-Columbian America, used Quechua as a common language to facilitate communication across their vast territories, which included parts of modern-day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile. This language served as a means of administration and was utilized in religious practices, education, and daily life among the various ethnic groups within the empire.

While Aymara is another language spoken in the region, particularly by the Aymara people, it did not hold the same official status within the Inca Empire as Quechua. Spanish, introduced after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, became dominant later but was not used during the time of the Incas. Tupi is a language family indigenous to Brazil and was not spoken within the Inca Empire at all. Understanding the significance of Quechua in the context of the Inca Empire provides insight into the cultural and historical continuity of Andean civilizations.