Spanish Conversation · Level 67
60 words
Spanish word
quena
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈkena/
Meaning
- feminine nounquena
Example
La quena suena en la fiesta.
The quena is playing at the party.
More examples
Me gusta escuchar la quena en la radio.
I like to listen to the quena on the radio.
Core concept
Straight tubular Andean flute with finger holes.
Common phrases
escuchar la quena
listen to the quena
tocar la quena
play the quena
una quena andina
an Andean quena
Similar words
flauta: General tubular woodwind flute sounded by blowing into or across an opening.
flauta andina: Vertical Andean flutes used in traditional regional music, typically made of wood or cane.
zampoña: Set of tuned cane or bamboo tubes tied side by side and sounded as panpipes.
Definition in Spanish
Instrumento de viento de los Andes similar a una flauta vertical, de tubo recto y varios agujeros, empleado para melodías en festividades y repertorios tradicionales.
Word origin
The Spanish word quena comes from Quechua qina, a traditional name for vertical flutes made in wood, cane, or bone that vary by region across the Andes.
Usage tips
- Pronounced keh-na, quena commonly appears in descriptions of Andean music and is often mentioned together with zampoña (panpipes), while some speakers may loosely call similar instruments flauta.