Skip to content

Sapimanta Yachakuy

Food

Cuy (Guinea Pig)

Kuy

Comidas Tradicionales

Andean Highlands - [object Object]

Cuy (guinea pig) is a traditional food, cooked and eaten at festivals.

Kuyka ñawpa mikunami, raymipi yanushpa mikunchik.

English

Guinea pigs have been raised in Andean households for thousands of years. Women keep guinea pigs in the house. At festivals and special meals, we cook and eat cuy. Cuy meat is delicious and a true Andean food.

Original Language

Kuyka Andes wasikunapi waranqa watakuna wiñachishka. Warmikunaka wasi ukupi kuykunata charinkuna. Raymikunapi, hatun mikunakunapi, kuyta yanushpa mikunchik. Kuy aychaka mishkimi, allpa mikunami.

Key Terms

Kuy

kuj

Imbabura pronunciation; Chimborazo uses "kui"

Example Sentences

Kuyka wasipi kawsan

Beginner

The guinea pig lives in the house

Raymi punchapi kuyta mikunchik

Intermediate

On festival days we eat guinea pig

← Back to Encyclopedia

Related Entries

Quinoa

Quinoa is a grain crop grown in the Andean highlands, valued for its nutritional content.

Festival of the Sun

Inti Raymi is one of the most important festivals, honoring the Sun Father.

Weaving

Weaving is ancient knowledge, used to create shawls, belts, and other textiles.

Fresh Corn

Chukllu is fresh corn on the cob, boiled and eaten as a snack or meal.

Minka (Communal Work)

Minka is collective voluntary work that strengthens the community.

Pachamama (Mother Earth)

Pachamama is Mother Earth, the giver of life, for the Andean peoples.