killa
/ki.ʎa/
The English word "moon" is killa in Quechua.
killa refers to the natural satellite of planet Earth. When used as a proper name for the Moon, it is written as Killa.
Meaning: the natural satellite of planet Earth (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /ki.ʎa/.
Did you know?
- In Inca mythology, Killa was the goddess of the moon and the sister and spouse of the sun god Inti. She was believed to protect women and control the tides.
- In Quechua, the word killa serves as both the name for the moon and the word for 'month'. This reflects how ancient Andean cultures tracked time based on lunar cycles.
- In many Andean communities, the appearance of Killa is accompanied by specific textile patterns that mimic its light and shape.
Examples in context
- Killaqa sumaqta llipipinmi.The moon is shining very beautifully.This sentence shows how to use killa when describing the moon shining.Tatoeba #6166126 by Killari, translation #6166012 by carlosalberto
- Killaqa hanaqpim kachkan.The moon is in the sky.
- Killaqa llaqtata k'anchaykun.The moon shines on the town.
Example conversation
Maria and Jose are looking at the night sky.
- MariaKillata rikay, Jose.Look at the moon, Jose.
- JoseArí, Maria, sumaqmi.Yes, Maria, it is beautiful.
- MariaKillaqa llipipichkanmi.The moon is shining.
- JoseChaymi ancha sumaq.That is why it is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moon” translations and entries killa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
