noun Uncommon

Inca

IHNG-kuh

Inca (noun) means a member of the South American people who built a major empire in the Andes before the Spanish conquest. Example: “The Inca built an extensive network of roads across the Andes.”

noun

A member of the South American people who built a major empire in the Andes before the Spanish conquest.

"The Inca built an extensive network of roads across the Andes."

How to use Inca

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRefers to the historical Andean civilization and its people, centered in Peru.

Common pairings

Inca empire Inca ruins the ancient Inca

Word forms

Incas plural, Inca plural, incas plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “Inca” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ built an extensive network of roads across the Andes.

Etymology

From Spanish inca, from Quechua inka, meaning "emperor" or "ruler."

Origin: Spanish

Frequently asked questions

What does “Inca” mean?

The word “Inca” means a member of the South American people who built a major empire in the Andes before the Spanish conquest. In plain terms, refers to the historical Andean civilization and its people, centered in Peru.

How do you pronounce “Inca”?

“Inca” is pronounced IHNG-kuh (/ˈɪŋkə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Inca” in a sentence?

Here is “Inca” used in a sentence: “The Inca built an extensive network of roads across the Andes.”

What part of speech is “Inca”?

“Inca” is a noun.

Where does the word “Inca” come from?

The word “Inca” comes from Spanish. From Spanish inca, from Quechua inka, meaning "emperor" or "ruler.".

Is “Inca” a common word?

“Inca” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include Inca:

Words with Spanish origins