Merry Christmas in Quechua
Sumaq kausay kachun Navidad qampaq
Say it like this: SOO-mak KOW-sigh KAH-choon nah-vee-DAHD KAHM-pak
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Quechua, Merry Christmas is Sumaq kausay kachun Navidad qampaq, said like SOO-mak KOW-sigh KAH-choon nah-vee-DAHD KAHM-pak.
- Happy New Year is Mosoq watapi sumaq kausay kachun qampaq.
- People say it in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina.
What Sumaq kausay kachun Navidad qampaq means
'Sumaq' (beautiful, good) + 'kausay' (life, living well) + 'kachun' (let there be) + 'Navidad' (Christmas, from Spanish) + 'qampaq' (for you). Together it means may there be a good life this Christmas for you.
Other ways to say it in Quechua
Happy New Year
Mosoq watapi sumaq kausay kachun qampaq
Say it like this: MOH-sok wah-TAH-pee SOO-mak KOW-sigh KAH-choon KAHM-pak
may there be a good life for you in the new year
Where people speak Quechua
PeruBoliviaEcuadorArgentina
Quechua (Runasimi) belongs to the Quechuan language family.
Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Quechua today, then follow his trip.
Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →Christmas traditions where people speak Quechua
- Nativity scenes with llamas and alpacas: Most Peruvian homes build an elaborate nativity scene called a nacimiento. Some include native animals such as llamas and alpacas, and the baby Jesus figure is traditionally added on Christmas Day.[3]
- Chocolatadas: In the weeks before Christmas, communities hold chocolatadas, gatherings where people drink hot chocolate and eat panetón. They began as a way to share food and gifts with people in need.[3]
- Noche Buena: The main celebration is Christmas Eve, called Noche Buena. Many people go to the Misa de Gallo, the Rooster Mass, count down to midnight, open gifts and toast, and some set off fireworks.[3]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Quechua
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- Haitian CreoleJwaye Nwèl
- NavajoNizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł
- CherokeeᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᏓᏂᏍᏓᏲᎯᎲ
- GuaraniFeliz Navidad
- SpanishFeliz Navidad
- Greenlandic (Kalaallisut)Juullimi pilluarit
- PortugueseFeliz Natal
- MalteseIl-Milied it-Tajjeb
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Quechua?
You can say "Sumaq kausay kachun Navidad qampaq". Quechua has many regional varieties, so greetings differ from place to place. This one is listed in Omniglot's Quechua phrase list, and many Quechua speakers also say Feliz Navidad in Spanish because they are bilingual.[1]
How do you pronounce "Sumaq kausay kachun Navidad qampaq"?
Say it like this: SOO-mak KOW-sigh KAH-choon nah-vee-DAHD KAHM-pak. The capital letters show the part to stress. Say each word separately. In Quechua, the stress usually falls on the second last syllable. The q is said further back in the throat than an English k.
What does "Sumaq kausay kachun Navidad qampaq" mean?
It means may there be a good life this Christmas for you. Sumaq kausay is a Quechua idea of living well, qampaq means for you, and Navidad is borrowed from Spanish. It is a warm wish rather than a simple label.[1]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Quechua?
Quechua is written in the Latin alphabet, and spellings differ by country and variety. You may see kausay or kawsay, and qampaq or qanpaq. Peru's Congress published Christmas greetings in the Áncash, Chanka and Cusco varieties, and each one is spelled differently. For a school card, pick one spelling and keep it.[1][2]
How do you say Happy New Year in Quechua?
Happy New Year is "Mosoq watapi sumaq kausay kachun qampaq", said like MOH-sok wah-TAH-pee SOO-mak KOW-sigh KAH-choon KAHM-pak. It means may there be a good life for you in the new year. The Omniglot phrase list also gives Allin wata kachun qampaq, a general wish for a good year.[1]
Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Quechua?
The long greeting is warm and slightly formal. Many Quechua speakers also say Feliz Navidad in Spanish, because most are bilingual in Spanish. Both are polite, and children can use either with family, teachers and friends.[1][2]
When do people say Merry Christmas in Quechua?
People say it on Christmas Eve, Noche Buena, around the midnight toast, and on Christmas Day. In Peru, many families celebrate with a Rooster Mass, hot chocolate, panetón and a countdown to midnight. Omniglot notes that the Inca themselves did not celebrate Christmas.[3]
Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Quechua speakers?
Christmas Eve, Noche Buena, is the main celebration in Peru, with the Misa de Gallo, the Rooster Mass, and a countdown to midnight, a toast and gifts. December 25 is the day when the baby Jesus is added to the nativity scene.[3]
What is a Christmas tradition for Quechua speaking families?
Peruvian families build a nativity scene, often with llamas and alpacas, and add the baby Jesus on Christmas Day. In the weeks before, communities share hot chocolate and panetón at chocolatadas. Ask families about their own customs, since homes differ.[3]
How can I teach Quechua Christmas words to kids?
Start small. Teach Navidad first, since it sounds like the Spanish word. Then try sumaq, which means beautiful or good. Say the greeting together a few times, then write it on a card. Show children the Quechua q, made further back in the throat than an English k.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonSources
We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- Useful phrases in Quechua (Christmas greetings), Omniglot
- Saludo navideño en ocho lenguas originarias, Congreso de la República del Perú
- Christmas in Peru, WhyChristmas.com
