Both languages belong to the Quechuan language family, which is part of the larger Andean language family. They are spoken by indigenous populations in the Andean region of South America, primarily in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
While Quechua is the most widely spoken language of the Quechuan family, Aymara is closely related and shares many similarities in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and phonology. In fact, they are often considered to be sister languages.
Here are some of the key similarities between Quechua and Aymara:
* Similar grammatical structures: Both languages use a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order and have complex systems of verb conjugation and noun declension.
* Shared vocabulary: A significant number of words are cognates, meaning they share a common origin.
* Similar phonological systems: Both languages have a relatively small inventory of phonemes, with a focus on vowel harmony.
However, there are also some differences between the two languages, including:
* Different dialects: Both Quechua and Aymara have numerous dialects, which can vary significantly in their pronunciation and grammar.
* Different areas of influence: Quechua is spoken over a wider geographical area than Aymara.
Overall, Aymara is considered to be the closest language to Quechua, sharing a common ancestry and many similarities in structure and vocabulary.