llama

Where does the word "llama" come from? It comes from Quechua llama, passing through Spanish before entering English (1600s).

Llama’s story begins in Quechua: llama meant “llama.” The Quechua name for the domesticated Andean animal. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as llama. Adopted after Spanish contact with the Inca Empire. It reached English by 1600s as llama. The Inca bred llamas as pack animals across their road system. Today, llama means a domesticated South American camelid used as a pack animal.

1. Stage 1 · Quechua · pre-1500s llama "llama", the Quechua name for the domesticated Andean animal.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1500s llama "llama", adopted after Spanish contact with the Inca Empire.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s llama "the domesticated Andean camelid", the Inca bred llamas as pack animals across their road system.