mamakuna

== Quechua == === Etymology === Compound of mama (“mother”) +‎ -kuna (“plural suffix”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ma.ma.ˈku.na/ === Noun === mamakuna (historical) A woman who was part of an Inca institution where women performed as matrons ("senior female nurse") along with other positions as religious and community leaders, watchwomen or purveyors, among others. ==== Usage notes ==== In 17th century Quechua, the suffix -kuna seemed to be used not particularly to reflect plurality. In fact, the numeral huk (“one”) could be added to get the meaning of "one of the mamakuna". ==== Declension ==== ==== Descendants ==== → Spanish: mamacona ==== See also ==== aklla === References === Cerrón-Palomino, Rodolfo (2013), Tras las huellas del Inca Garcilaso: el lenguaje como hermenéutica en la comprensión del pasado [Following the footsteps of Inca Garcilaso: Language as hermeneutics in the understanding of the past], Boston: Latinoamericana Editories; CELACP; Revista de Crítica Literaria Latinoamericana, →DOI, page 116